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.
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.
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.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Art Houtteman was having a rough year when he was pictured on his 1952 Topps card.
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.
Someone opening a pack of baseball cards in 1952 would have been quite happy to find card #106 between folds of wax paper wrapping. It pictured Washington Senators first baseman Mickey Vernon. The former batting champion was the best player on his team, racking up respectable totals in home runs and doubles.
What’s that Mr. Hamner? You say you’ve never seen the Final Destination movie series? Then this should all be new to you.
Before Bobby Thomson, Dick Sisler had the most famous walk off home run in the game.
A mailman kept making the rounds while carving out a baseball career that started prior to D-Day and ended well after the Six Days War.
