Bill Posedel is Possibly the Most Nautical Card in ’52 Topps
It’s understandable why “Barnacle Bill” Posedel is associated with the water. He spent more time in Navy ships than pitching in the major leagues.
Set Collecting
Boston’s Last .400 Hitter Isn’t Who You Think
No, this isn’t an article about Ted Williams hitting .406 in 1941. It’s not about his batting .400 and .407 in his war-shortened 1952 and 1953 seasons. Wade Boggs is the last .400 hitter since Ted Williams retired in 1960. But wasn’t Boggs’ highest single season batting average “just” .368? Aren’t the closest approaches to .400 George Brett’s .390 in 1980 and Tony Gwynn’s .394 from 1994?
I Have Most of an Archie Wilson Card
Sometimes you have to round upwards to claim ownership of a single baseball card. That is certainly the case with the first 1952 high number entering my collection.
Steve Finley Never Retired From Baseball
The career 300/300 ballplayer quietly had a very impressive decade in the 1990s.
456 Strikeouts in a Single Season
Bill Kennedy gets overlooked when baseball fans discuss the greatest strikeout pitchers.
Ralph Houk Saw Plenty of Action (And Occasionally Played Baseball)
“The Major” didn’t earn the MVP, an All-Star nod, or even a regular spot in the lineup. He was, however, decorated with a Silver Star and Purple Heart.
What’s Better Than a 5th Grade Teacher? One That Played for the Mariners
The winning pitcher of Nolan Ryan’s final game now teaches elementary school. He also appears on an alarmingly green refractor card.
Phil Masi Left Behind a Confession
Phil Masi appears in the 1952 Topps set in his final card as a player. His stats show a solidly average major-leaguer and he carried a reputation as an excellent catcher and battery mate. Unusually fast for a catcher, he was used on occasion as a pinch runner. I imagine young Indians fans cursing under their breath as they pulled a Masi card from a pack while Braves fans smirked under similar circumstances. Why would the card of the White Sox backstop engender such a reaction?
One of Baseball’s Best Closers Played Less Than 400 Innings
There was a brief period in baseball history where Bryan Harvey ruled the bullpen.