The Closest Thing to a Rookie Pitcher in ’93 Finest
Topps generally avoided putting rookies in the ’93 Finest set. Cal Eldred’s incredible rookie performance in 1992 got him into the checklist.
CardBoredom
1993 Finest: Darryl Hamilton
A hidden ball trick, sneaky trade demands, and a murderous girlfriend.
VIEW From the Mound
My first 1993 refractor features the lead singer of two different alternative rock bands.
A Desire to Remain Firmly Grounded
A seemingly unstoppable football and baseball talent was pushed off the field by recurring panic attacks.
1952 Topps #83 Billy Johnson
Cardinals third baseman Billy Johnson wasn’t going to make it to the big leagues on name recognition alone: He has one of the most generic sounding names in the sport.
The Cowboy Appearing in 1952 Topps
Dave Philley’s 1952 Topps card casually ends the biographic text on the back of the card with, “Dave raises cattle during the off-season.” Oh really? It turns out Dave was a genuine Texas cowboy working a ranch with his brother in Paris, Texas.
Forerunner to the Closer
The original template for starter to reliever conversions, Jerry Staley had some sharp years for the St. Louis Cardinals. Primarily a sinkerball artist, he could induce easy outs without throwing too many pitches. His 1952 Topps baseball card was issued right in the middle of a three-year run in which he nearly averaged 20 wins per season.
An Off Speed Route to Becoming A World Series Winning Pitcher
Junk ball pitchers are a crafty bunch. They have a goal in mind but lack the firepower to go straight for it, electing instead to attack a batter with off speed pitches incorporating movement. Ed Lopat was one such pitcher, though he didn’t start out that way.
Hard Luck, Indeed
Detroit Tigers pitcher Art Houtteman was having a rough year when he was pictured on his 1952 Topps card.
Burnishing Credentials
Figures lie and liars figure. I have a whole lot of baseball statistics in my hand and want to tell you some stories about Monty Kennedy.