Wanted! - 1962 Topps

Please note that this want list (and any of my want lists prior to 1971) is intended for my use.  While I would never turn down a trade to obtain one of these cards, I do not expect anyone to knock cards of this list.

#	Player	#	Player	#	Player
1	Roger Maris	175	Frank Howard	360	Yogi Berra
3	Pete Runnels	199	Gaylord Perry	370	Ken Boyer
5	Sandy Koufax	200	Mickey Mantle	380	Lew Burdette
10	Roberto Clemente	210	Roy Face	382	Dick Williams
21	Jim Kaat	213	Richie Ashburn	385	Early Wynn
25	Ernie Banks	217	Walter Alston	387	Lou Brock
28	Minnie Minoso	218	Joe Torre	400	Elston Howard
29	Casey Stengel	230	Camilo Pascual	425	Carl Yastrzemski
30	Eddie Mathews	243	Robin Roberts	460	Jim Bunning
33	Don Larsen	260	Billy Pierce	463	Hank Bauer
40	Orlando Cepeda	270	Dick Groat	480	Harvey Kuenn
45	Brooks Robinson	286	Al Lopez	500	Duke Snider
50	Stan Musial	288	Billy Williams	505	Juan Marichal
70	Harmon Killebrew	297	Ron Perranoski	509	Dave Giusti
73	Nellie Fox	300	Willie Mays	513	Whitey Herzog
80	Vada Pinson	310	Whitey Ford	522	Lindy McDaniel
85	Gil Hodges	320	Hank Aaron	530	Bob Gibson
100	Warren Spahn	322	Alvin Dark	544	Willie McCovey
150	Al Kaline	325	Luis Aparicio	545	Hoyt Wilhelm
152	Mickey Vernon	340	Don Drysdale	575	Red Schoendienst
170	Ron Santo	350	Frank Robinson	590	Curt Flood
172	Fred Hutchinson	353	Bill Mazeroski	591	Sam McDowell

The Curious Case of Carl Mathias

I’m pretty sure most everyone knows of the perfect game/career of John Paciorek, the eldest brother of the Paciorek clan. John played one game in his career, and it was the last game in the Colt 45s 1963 season. In that game, John went 3 for 3, scored four runs and knocked in three ribbies. 

But, have you ever heard about Carl Mathias? No, he didn’t play in only one game, but he does have one rather dubious distinction… 

Carl spent six years in the minors before playing two years in the majors, where he pitched in seven games for the Cleveland Indians and four games for the Washington Senators. Carl was 0-2 in his career and had a rather woeful ERA of 7.14. Carl then returned to the minors for four more seasons and then hung up his cleats at the age of 28. While Carl’s career numbers are not impressive, Carl does have a what I believe is a beautiful history in the game. 

During Carl’s brief career, he gave up 5 dingers. Three of those home runs were to the one and only Mickey Mantle. In fact, The Mick had four plate appearances in two games against Mathias, and the Commerce Comet got a hit in all four at bats. Three homers and one double for a ridiculous OPS of 4.500. 

 

And apparently Carl did not have much luck against Hall of Fame players. Both Luis Aparicio and Nellie Fox had perfect batting averages against Mathias, and Brooks Robinson was .667. All told, HOFers went 9 for 12 against Mathias with three doubles, three dingers and eight RBIs. 

I wonder if Mr. Mathias tells his grandchildren that Mickey Mantle ate his fastball for breakfast? It doesn’t sound like something to be proud of, but it links Carl to baseball history, and I think that is something special to talk about.

2013 MLB Tournament Prizes #21 through #25

Are you ready for the next batch of potential prizes for the 2013 MLB Tournament?  Good!  This week, you're either going to think I've lost my mind, or I have little faith that any of these five teams will win the tournament.  I'd go with the latter, BUT, if they do win the tourney, you're going to get a SWEET card for free!

As noted previously, there will be 30 prizes available, however, only the tournament winner will receive a prize.  The prizes consist of one card from my collection for each of the 30 teams. Seeds are not open for claiming, and the prizes are based on a sliding scale using Las Vegas' odds for winning the 2013 World Series.

For further information, check out the 2013 MLB Tournament Rules and Prizes. 

As mentioned before, this batch of prizes promises to deliver, and I might actually turn a head or two!

#21 - Odds 50/1 - NL Seed #10	1970 Topps Roberto Clemente
#22 - Odds 75/1 - AL Seed #13	1956 Topps Bob Lemon
#23 - Odds 75/1 - AL Seed #14	1962 Topps Harmon Killebrew
#24 - Odds 75/1 - NL Seed #12	1968 Topps Tom Seaver
#25 - Odds 75/1 - AL Seed #9	1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey, Jr.

PS - Seeds are not open for request, and will not be opened until all 30 prizes have been announced.

PPS - Here is the bracket...

Trade #2 - GCRL: Dodgers4Gold

After fruitlessly checking the mail non-stop over the past few days, I finally got a text message yesterday from my wife that unenthusiastically exclaimed, "You got baseball cards in the mail...", I knew that my trade with GCRL was complete.  This trade is my first venture in trading for vintage cards, and I was not disappointed.  To trade 30 dodgers for 5 vintage Topps seems like a deal to me, and based on how trades work, I'm sure it seemed like a deal to GCRL.

I came through the side door, crept to the kitchen and found the package on the bar.  Like a kid in a five and dime, I tore into the padded envelope, which to me looked like a 5 card, 5 cent pack of Topps, and found the following gold.

 

First up is a 1962 Dick Donovan (#15), who oozes that 1950s suburbian charm.  Short haircut, check, bland stoic look, check, no trace of uniform, logo, etc., check.  Mr. Donovan looks like he'd be more comfortable in an accounting firm, than a ballfield because he's Dick Donovan, CPA.  Methinks he his whistfully thinking about sitting in his barka-lounger sipping on a Manhattan without vermouth because that is for sissies, while listening to Bing Crosby on the phonograph.  I do dig the blurry palm tree and the way his collar flips like the "peeling" picture off the wood laminate.

  

Donovan was the 61 AL ERA leader for what appears to be the Senators based on the huge W on the cartoon ballcap, yet the front has him down as a Cleve. Indian.  At least he's not airbrushed.

 

Next up is a sweet 1964 Don McMahon (#122) that is another logo-less, cap-less wonder that pitches for the Cleve. Indians.  At least Mr. McMahon looks like he eats barbwire and shits napalm, instead of filling out 1040s.

Again, he is an offseason castoff from Houston to the Indians, which explains the uniform-less front.  My favorite part of 64 Topps is the quiz, which has long been eradicated by an exuberant child, which leads me to this quote "Rub edge of nickel or dime over blank box for magic answer."  So, sorry little Johnny, you cannot use a penny, two-bit piece or that shiny new 50 cent piece to find your magic answer.  I wonder if kids actually did only use dimes and nickels to rub off the answer?

 

Next is a 1968 Jerry McNertney (#14), which begs the question, Does Jerry have corneas or the largest irises in the world?  Added bonus is the burlap sack print that some of the 68 cards were blessed with.

The fourth card is a 68 Topps Jim Nash (#324) who is sporting the lovely black domed A's hat.  This must have been during the move from Kansas City to Oakland.  I guess Topps must have thought the logo was going to chance.  Also, dig those sliding AAAAs.

Finally, a 1968 Topps Bill Singer (#249). Really, a Dodger fan sending a Padres fan a Do-ho.  I can only surmise that this is a subversive attempt at a Dodger-Blue blood transfusion.  It won't work GCRL, but the card is awesome, especially the ratty, moth eaten sleeve.  The Dodger Nation should be ashamed of his tattered garb.

Thank you so much for the great cards, and one final blurb.  While I was washing dishes last night, I apparently did not put the cards up high enough because while I was with soapy hands, my 2 year old son walked in to kitchen holding the 1962 Topps, to which he proclaimed, "Mine!"  I sense this kid has a future!