#317 Al Aber - Detroit Tigers

Albert Julius Aber
Detroit Tigers
Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  195
Born:  July 31, 1927, Cleveland, OH
Signed:  Signed by the Cleveland Indians as an amateur free agent before 1946 season
Major League Teams:  Cleveland Indians 1950, 1953; Detroit Tigers 1953-57; Kansas City Athletics 1957

Died:  May 20, 1993, Garfield Heights, OH (age 65)

On September 15, 1950, Al Aber made his big league debut with his hometown Indians, pitching a complete game victory over the Nationals and allowing just a pair of runs.  It would be his last baseball action until 1953, as Aber served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War for two years.  Back with the Indians for at least the start of the 1953 season, Aber was soon included in an eight-player deal with the Tigers that June 15th.  He'd have his best seasons pitching out of the Tigers' bullpen, relying on his effective sinker ball to keep hitters off-balance.  Aber pitched in 39 games in 1955, going 6-3 with a 3.38 ERA over 80 innings.  He'd convert a career-best seven saves in 1956 while also appearing in a career-high 42 games.  Aber would finish up his playing days with the Athletics, after the team picked him up on August 27, 1957 via a waiver claim.

Aber had a lifetime major league record of 24-25 in 168 games pitched, with a 4.18 ERA and 14 career saves.

Building the Set

May 1997 - College graduation

July 19, 1997 in Ocean City, NJ - Card #158
My Dad and I added this card to our set at the Ocean City baseball card show held inside the Music Pier.  We purchased 11 cards that July day - Aber and eight other commons, along with the Warren Giles (#2) card for $10 and the Ray Boone (#6) card for $5.

I graduated college in the spring of 1997, and that summer was a good one as I worked on the Sea Isle Promenade at a few t-shirt stores.  My days were spent jogging, barely working, reading and sitting on the beach.  Dinner would usually come from Phil's on 37th and Landis Avenue, and ice cream was consumed nightly.

Dad was still working in Millville at the time, and we probably met up in front of the Music Pier prior to his show.  The baseball card collecting landscape changed drastically in the ten year period between 1987 and 1997, with autographed cards making their way into packs and multiple parallel versions of the same card confusing us as "old school" collectors.  Still, I'd give anything to be back inside the Music Pier with my Dad searching for the next 1956 Topps card to add to our set.  I'm sure he was thrilled to find a dealer selling a bunch of '56s in good shape and at around $2 a card.  

The Card / Tigers Team Set
Aber was exclusive to Bowman in 1955, and this card, his return to Topps, uses the same photo as his 1954 Topps card.  The cartoons on the back highlight his control, his successful minor league season in 1950 and his trade to the Tigers along with Ray Boone (#6) and Steve Gromek (#310).  Dick Welk, a right-handed reliever who also went with Aber, Boone and Gromek to the Tigers, was omitted from the final panel of the cartoon.  Welk last pitched for the Tigers in 1954, and had a 10.85 in 21 games with the club.

1956 Season

Aber got the call from the Tigers' bullpen more than any other pitcher in 1956.  He was 4-4 with a 3.43 ERA, pitching only 63 innings over his 42 relief appearances.

1953 Topps #233

1954 Topps #238

1955 Bowman #24

1957 Topps #141

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1953 Topps #233
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (4):  1953-54, 1956-57
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  1994 Topps Archives 1954 #238

11 - Aber non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 1/3/25.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database

SABR
The Trading Card Database

Wikipedia

Previous Card / Next Card

Set Order: #316 Jerry Coleman - New York Yankees / #318 Fred Hatfield - Detroit Tigers

Order Collected: #279 Johnny Groth - Kansas City Athletics / #335 Don Hoak - Chicago Cubs

#316 Jerry Coleman - New York Yankees

Gerald Francis Coleman
New York Yankees
Infield

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'0"  Weight:  165
Born:  September 14, 1924, San Jose, CA
Signed:  Signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent before 1942 season
Major League Teams:  New York Yankees 1949-57

As a Manager:  San Diego Padres 1980

Died:  January 5, 2014, La Jolla, CA (age 89)

Joe Coleman was an All-Star second baseman and World Champion with the Yankees, a highly decorated veteran of World War II and the Korean War, and a Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster whose career in the booth spanned over five decades.  Not a bad run!  In between stints in the military, Coleman played in nine seasons for the Yankees with his best season coming in 1950.  He hit career highs with his .287 batting average, six home runs and 69 RBIs and his clutch hitting in the 1950 World Series against the Phillies earned him World Series MVP honors.  Injuries forced Coleman from the game following the 1957 season, and his last action came in the 1957 World Series in which he batted .364 against the Braves.

Coleman's broadcasting career began in 1960.  He was a member of the Yankees (1963-69) and Angels (1970-71) broadcast booths before joining the Padres in 1972.  Coleman was the beloved radio voice for the Padres every year between 1972 and 2013, with the exception of the 1980 season when he left the booth to briefly manage the Padres for a year.  The Padres finished in sixth place in the National League West under Coleman, with a 73-89 record.  Coleman was inducted into the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame in 2001, and was the Ford C. Frick Award winner for broadcasting excellence in 2005.  

August 1989 - Trip to Cooperstown

Building the Set
August 13, 1989 in Bridgeton, NJ - Card #88
We went nuts at the Bridgeton Baseball Card Show in August 1989, buying 12 different cards for our 1956 Topps set, all at $1.50 a piece.  That's an impressive haul for $18!

I have no other information on the location of this show, other than it was held in the nearby city of Bridgeton, New Jersey.  What I do have however is the checklist I brought with us to the show.  I believe this is the second full checklist we carried around, having retired the prior version I created in 1988 and posted with the William Harridge (#1) card.

Just looking at this checklist (shown here) brings back fond memories of finding the cards, deciding to make a purchase, negotiating a price and then finding a flat surface so that we could cross off the newest additions.

The Card / Yankees Team Set
Coleman returned to Topps sets with this card after a four-year absence, and that definitely looks to be Coleman turning the double play in the action photo.  There's no telling who the runner, wearing #8, could be.  The back of the card highlights his military service and his career year in 1950.  While Ted Williams (#5) also served in World War II and the Korean War, Coleman was the only major league player to see combat in both wars.

1956 Season

Manager Casey Stengel had four interchangeable infielders at his disposal with Coleman, Billy Martin (#181), Gil McDougald (#225) and Andy Carey (#12) all getting playing time.  Coleman made 51 starts throughout the season - 27 at second base, 18 at shortstop and six at third base - while appearing in 80 games overall.  He batted .257 with 18 RBIs, and started Game 2 of the World Series, going 0 for 2.  The Yankees defeated the Dodgers in seven games, giving Coleman his fifth World Series ring with the club.

1949 Bowman #225

1952 Topps #237

1954 Bowman #81

1957 Topps #192

1980 Topps #356

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1949 Bowman #225
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (5):  1951-52, 1956-57, 1980
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2011 Topps Lineage Autographs #RA-JC

60 - Coleman non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 1/3/25.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database

SABR
The Trading Card Database

Wikipedia

Previous Card / Next Card

Set Order: #315 Milt Bolling - Boston Red Sox / #317 Al Aber - Detroit Tigers

Order Collected: #314 Hobie Landrith - Chicago Cubs / #322 Karl Olson - Washington Nationals

#315 Milt Bolling - Boston Red Sox

Milton Joseph Bolling
Boston Red Sox
Shortstop

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  177
Born:  August 9, 1930, Mississippi City, MS
Signed:  Signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent before 1948 season
Major League Teams:  Boston Red Sox 1952-57; Washington Senators 1957; Detroit Tigers 1958

Died:  January 19, 2013, Mobile, AL (age 82)

One of 11 call-ups by the Red Sox in September 1952, Bolling would return to the team in 1953, winning the everyday shortstop job.  He'd have his best season in 1954, playing in a career high 113 games and batting .249 with six home runs and 36 RBIs.  Bolling struggled defensively however, leading the league with 33 errors committed.  He missed almost the entire 1955 season after suffering a broken left elbow in a spring training game.  Bolling returned to the Red Sox in 1956, but Don Buddin had taken over the regular shortstop duties.  Dealt to the Senators in April 1957, Bolling would see his last regular playing time, appearing in 91 games for Washington and making 51 starts at second base.  His final action in the majors came with the Tigers in 1958.  Bolling appeared in exactly 400 games, batting .241 with 50 doubles, 19 home runs and 94 RBIs.  Following his playing days, he returned to the Red Sox organization, where he'd spend more than 30 years working in the team's front office and as a scout.

His younger brother, Frank Bolling, was an infielder for 12 seasons with the Tigers (1954, 1956-60) and Braves (1961-66).  The Bolling brothers were teammates in 1958 with the Tigers, and Frank Bolling was an All-Star with the Braves in 1961 and 1962.

September 15, 2007

Building the Set
September 22, 2007 from Dad's eBay purchases - Card #304
Our first son Doug was born in December 2006, and this happy event led directly to my Dad visiting us on a more regular basis.  Dad was living by himself at this point in Mays Landing, New Jersey and he didn't enjoy the 40 minute drive north to our house.  Among all the very positive memories I have of my Dad, one of my few negative memories is the fact he absolutely seemed to loathe driving and that loathing increased exponentially if there was traffic or if it were dark.  But he made the trips anyway, sometimes staying no more than an hour, because he was so incredibly anxious and excited to spend time with his grandson.

By the time his second grandson (Ben) was born in April 2010, my Dad's health had started to fail and whatever visits we had were pre-arranged or consisted of us visiting him.  Which is why these visits during Doug's infancy and first few years are so special to me.  My Dad would show up usually unannounced, ecstatic to see Doug, there would be some small talk and we'd complain about the Phillies, and then he'd leave.  But on his way out, he'd always say he'd see us again in a few days and I'd look forward to these visits.

This background is needed to better explain how this Bolling card came into our set.  In 2007, My Dad's days mostly consisted of an occasional round of golf, calls and visits to his kids - my sister and me, watching cable news, an afternoon nap and scouring eBay.  Most (but not all) of his eBay purchases benefitted me in the form of 1956 Topps cards we needed for our set.  He'd show up at our house for a visit with Doug and nonchalantly hand me one of his recent purchases.  He brought this Bolling card, by itself, on September 22, 2007.

Throughout 2007, I suspect he had a backlog of purchased 1956 Topps cards piled up on his desk at his house, and he'd grab one or two to deliver to me as he was heading out the door to make the 40 minute drive to visit Doug.

The Card / Red Sox Team Set
In a rare occurrence this late in the set, Topps re-used Bolling's photo from his 1954 and 1955 Topps cards here.  Perhaps that's Mickey Mantle (#135) sliding into third base with Bolling applying the tag?  The runner is wearing #7, a number Bolling didn't wear, and the fielder appears to be wearing Red Sox-style stirrups.  The back of the card explains the lack of action the prior year because of Bolling's fractured elbow.

1956 Season

Bolling appeared in only 45 games with the Red Sox, batting .212 with three home runs and eight RBIs.  He wouldn't get his first start until August 16th, eventually starting 17 games at shortstop and eight games at second base.

1953 Topps #280

1954 Topps #82

1955 Topps #91

1957 Topps #131

2007 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #ROA-MB

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1953 Topps #280
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (6):  1953-58
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2007 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #ROA-MB

Topps erroneously pictured Lou Berberet (#329) on Bolling's final flagship card in 1958, but they corrected the error 50 years later with Bolling's card in the 2007 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs insert set.

22 - Bolling non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 1/3/25.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database

SABR
The Trading Card Database

Wikipedia

Previous Card / Next Card

Set Order: #314 Hobie Landrith - Chicago Cubs / #316 Jerry Coleman - New York Yankees

Order Collected: #301 Marv Grissom - New York Giants / #254 George Crowe - Milwaukee Braves

#314 Hobie Landrith - Chicago Cubs

Hobert Neal Landrith
Chicago Cubs
Catcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'10"  Weight:  170
Born:  March 16, 1930, Decatur, IL
Signed:  Signed by the Cincinnati Reds as an amateur free agent before 1949 season
Major League Teams:  Cincinnati Reds 1950-52; Cincinnati Redlegs 1953-55; Chicago Cubs 1956; St. Louis Cardinals 1957-58; San Francisco Giants 1959-61; New York Mets 1962; Baltimore Orioles 1962-63; Washington Senators 1963

Died:  April 6, 2023, Sunnyvale, CA (age 93)

Hobie Landrith played parts of 14 seasons in the majors, almost entirely as a second or third string catcher for seven different teams.  In terms of longevity, he spent the most time with his original team, the Reds/Redlegs, playing in six seasons as the back-up to Andy Seminick (#296) or Smoky Burgess (#192).  Landrith would have two seasons in the majors as a team's regular catcher, which also happened to be his best seasons - 1956 with the Cubs and 1959 with the Giants.  In the latter season, he played in 109 games for the Giants and batted .251 with three home runs and 29 RBIs.  His success in San Francisco led the Mets to select him as their first pick (and second overall) in the 1961 expansion draft.  Landrith was the first catcher in Mets' franchise history, getting the start on opening day 1962 and catching starting pitcher Roger Craig (#63).  But manager Casey Stengel gave up on Landrith after a poor showing on opening day, leading to a parade of different catchers for the Mets and Landrith's eventual trade to the Orioles that June. 

After a final season with the Senators in 1963, Landrith joined Washington's coaching staff for the 1964 season.  He'd quit after one season, leaving baseball behind, but coming back at least once as a guest instructor at Giants' spring training in 1998.  A lifetime .233 batter, Landrith appeared in 772 games, collecting 450 hits, 34 home runs and 203 RBIs.

Building the Set
August 13, 1989 in Bridgeton, NJ - Card #87
We went nuts at the Bridgeton Baseball Card Show in August 1989, buying 12 different cards for our 1956 Topps set, all at $1.50 a piece.  That's an impressive haul for $18!


I have no other information on the location of this show, other than it was held in the nearby city of Bridgeton, New Jersey.  What I do have however is the checklist I brought with us to the show.  I believe this is the second full checklist we carried around, having retired the prior version I created in 1988 and posted with the William Harridge (#1) card.

Just looking at this checklist brings back fond memories of finding the cards, deciding to make a purchase, negotiating a price and then finding a flat surface so that we could cross off the newest additions.

The Card / Cubs Team Set
This is Landrith's first Topps card, as he appeared only in the Bowman sets in 1954 and 1955.  Topps would have had to swap the Redlegs' logo on his cap with a Cubs' logo, and the action shot didn't need to be retouched given Landrith's catching gear.  The cartoons on the back of the card summarize his brief stints with Cincinnati prior to the 1952 season, his strong throwing arm and his acquisition by the Cubs.

1956 Season

On November 28, 1955, the Redlegs dealt Landrith to the Cubs straight up for converted pitcher Hal Jeffcoat (#289).  He was the opening day catcher for the Cubs, ultimately starting 90 games behind the plate in a semi-platoon with Harry Chiti (#179).  Landrith batted .221 in 111 games with four home runs and 32 RBIs, a career best.  He led all catchers with 14 errors, but was fourth in caught stealing percentage with 51.1%.  On December 11th, with the Cubs hoping to start a rebuild, Landrith, Jim Davis (#102), Sam Jones (#259) and Eddie Miksis (#285) were traded to the Cardinals for Wally Lammers, Jackie Callum, Ray Katt and Tom Poholsky (#196).

1954 Bowman #220

1957 Topps #182

1959 Topps #422

1962 Topps #279

1963 Topps #209

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1954 Bowman #220
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (8):  1956-63
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2012 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #ROA-HL

38 - Landrith non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 1/3/25.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database

SABR
The Trading Card Database

Wikipedia

Previous Card / Next Card

Set Order: #313 Gene Stephens - Boston Red Sox / #315 Milt Bolling - Boston Red Sox

Order Collected: #305 Brooks Lawrence - Cincinnati Redlegs / #316 Jerry Coleman - New York Yankees

#313 Gene Stephens - Boston Red Sox

Glen Eugene Stephens
Boston Red Sox
Outfield

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  175
Born:  January 20, 1933, Gravette, AR
Signed:  Signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent before 1951 season
Major League Teams:  Boston Red Sox 1952-53, 1955-60; Baltimore Orioles 1960-61; Kansas City Athletics 1961-62; Chicago White Sox 1963-64

Died:  April 27, 2019, Granbury, TX (age 86)

Gene Stephens enjoyed a 12-year big league career serving mostly as a back-up outfielder for four American League teams.  His only time as a true starter came when he was the regular left fielder for the Red Sox in the late 1950s.  He enjoyed his best seasons in 1955 (career high .293 average) and 1959 (career high 39 RBIs) and led all American League left fielders with assists in both those seasons as well.  He entered the record books on June 18, 1953 when he became the first player in the modern era to collect three hits in one inning.  Stephens, seeing regular playing time while Ted Williams (#5) was serving with the Marines, had a double and two singles off three different Tigers pitchers in a 23-3 Red Sox rout.  His record has since been tied by Johnny Damon, also of the Red Sox, who collected three hits in an inning on June 27, 2003.

For his career, Stephens hit .240 with 37 home runs and 207 RBIs over 964 games.  Although he appeared in his last Major League game in 1964, he continued to play in the minor league systems of the Braves, Yankees, Pirates and Cubs through 1967.  He appeared in 109 games in 1966 for the Chunichi Dragons of the Japan Central League, batting .224.

Some text for this post originally appeared on my 1965 Topps blog.

Building the Set

Summer of 1983 or 1984 in Millville, NJ - Card #42
This was one of the Original 44, and I re-told the story of how my Dad and I started collecting this set with the Walker Cooper (#273) post in January.  Seven of the Original 44 came from series one, with 11 coming from series two, and 16 from series three.   This is the eighth of ten cards to come from the final series four.

The Card / Red Sox Team Set
Topps gave Stephens his first card in its 1953 set, passed him over for two years, and added him back into the checklist for its 1956 set.  Stephens had spent all of 1954 in the minor leagues, but appeared in 109 games for the Red Sox in 1955.  He wore #38 during most of his time in Boston, and the "3" is visible on the back of his uniform in the action photo.  The cartoons on the back highlight his three hits in an inning feat, his strong minor league performance in 1954, and his role as a defensive back-up.

1956 Season

With Williams, Jim Piersall (#143) and Jackie Jensen (#115) as the regulars in the outfield, Stephens proved to be a reliable fourth outfielder, ultimately appearing in 104 games.  He made just two starts all season - one in right field in June, and one in left field in September.  Stephens batted .270 (17 for 63) with seven RBIs.  A successful pinch-hitter, he batted .304 (7 for 23) and his lone home run came during a pinch-hitting appearance.  Most of his action came as either a pinch-hitter, pinch-runner, or a late-inning defensive replacement  for Williams in left.

1953 Topps #248

1959 Topps #261

1961 Topps #102

1962 Topps #38

1965 Topps #498

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1953 Topps #248
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (10):  1953, 1956-62, 1964-65
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  1991 Topps Archives 1953 #248

43 - Stephens non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 11/17/24.

Sources:  
1965 Topps Blog

Baseball Reference
Beckett Database

SABR
The Trading Card Database

Wikipedia

Previous Card / Next Card

Set Order: #312 Andy Pafko - Milwaukee Braves / #314 Hobie Landrith - Chicago Cubs

Order Collected: #307 Hoyt Wilhelm - New York Giants / #323 Willard Schmidt - St. Louis Cardinals

#312 Andy Pafko - Milwaukee Braves

Andrew Pakfo
Milwaukee Braves
Outfield

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'0"  Weight:  190
Born:  February 25, 1921, Boyceville, WI
Acquired:  Purchased by the Chicago Cubs from the Green Bay Blue Sox (Wisconsin State) for $1,000, November 1941
Major League Teams:  Chicago Cubs 1943-51; Brooklyn Dodgers 1951-52; Milwaukee Braves 1953-59

Died:  October 8, 2013, Bridgman, MI (age 92)

Andy Pafko was a veteran of 17 big league seasons, enjoying four straight All-Star seasons with the Cubs between 1947 and 1950, and playing in four different World Series with the Cubs, Dodgers and Braves.  Pafko had his best years with the Cubs and saw his first World Series action with the club in 1945.  He batted .300 and averaged 23 home runs and 82 RBIs per season during his four seasons as an All-Star.  Pafko drove in at least 100 runs in 1945 and 1948.  Dealt to Brooklyn as part of a eight-player trade in June 1951, perhaps Pafko's most memorable moments with the Dodgers were being the left fielder when the Giants' Bobby Thomson (#257) hit his "Shot Heard 'Round the World," and for earning the spot as card #1 in the iconic 1952 Topps set.

After a year and a half with the Dodgers, Pafko was traded to his home-state Braves, where he'd play the remaining seven seasons of his big league career.  A fan favorite, he helped guide the Braves to the World Series in 1957 and 1958, with his club winning over the Yankees in seven games in 1957.  Pafko batted .285 for his career, with 1,796 hits, 213 home runs and 976 RBIs.  He served as a coach for the Braves between 1960 and 1962, and briefly managed in their minor league system.  Pafko was among the many inaugural members inducted into the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame in 2021.

January 27, 2007 - Celebrating the 63rd

Building the Set
February 7, 2007 in Voorhees, NJ - Card #294
This is one of six cards I purchased at the Echelon Mall Baseball Card show in February 2007, spending $70 total, including $7.50 on this Pafko card.  At the time, Doug was a few days away from turning two months old and we had just celebrated my Dad's 63rd birthday a few weeks earlier.

I think my wife Jenna had been out shopping on this day when she texted (or called) me to let me know there was a baseball card show being held at what used to be the Echelon Mall.  The former mall has since been converted as part of the Voorhees Town Center.

The Card / Braves Team Set
Pafko was absent from the 1955 Topps set, and this marks his return to the brand after a one year absence.  That's likely him sliding head first into home plate, as he wore #48 with the Braves and the number eight is clearly visible on the runner's back.  It looks as if the catcher is a Pirate, given the "P" on his hat and dark uniform coloring.  The cartoons on the back summarize his career highlights, including his proclivity for power, his successful 1948 season and his role helping the Dodgers win the pennant in 1952.

1956 Season

Now a veteran at 35 years old, Pafko settled into a back-up role for the Braves, appearing in 45 games and making only 21 outfield starts throughout the season.  He batted .258 with a pair of home runs and nine RBIs.

1949 Bowman #63

1951 Bowman #103

1952 Topps #1

1957 Topps #143

1959 Topps #27

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1948-49 Leaf #125
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (8):  1951-52, 1954, 1956-60
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2003 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #RO-AP

123 - Pafko non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 11/1/24.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database

SABR
The Trading Card Database

Wikipedia

Previous Card / Next Card

Set Order: #311 Hal Naragon - Cleveland Indians / #313 Gene Stephens - Boston Red Sox

Order Collected: #227 Russ Meyer - Chicago Cubs / 2nd / 4th Series Checklist