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Harry Chiti
Chicago Cubs
Catcher
Born: November 16, 1932, Kincaid, IL
Signed: Signed by the Chicago Cubs as an amateur free agent, June 29, 1950
Major League Teams: Chicago Cubs 1950-1952, 1955-1956; Kansas City Athletics 1958-1960; Detroit Tigers 1960-1961; New York Mets 1962
Died: January 31, 2002, Haines City, FL (age 69)
Harry Chiti made his debut with the Cubs in 1950 at the age of 17, but it took five years, including a two-year stint while serving during the Korean War, before he became a regular in the Cubs line-up. In 1955, Chiti got the chance to start everyday, ultimately appearing in 113 games and batting .231. He led the league in assists (69) and runners caught stealing (34) that season. Chiti would settle back into a platoon or back-up role over the next seven seasons. Chiti spent a full season in the Yankees' minor leagues in 1957 before being dealt to the Athletics where he shared catching duties with Frank House (#32) and then Pete Daley between 1958 and 1960. After a few seasons with the Tigers and minimal playing time, Chiti was on the move again, first to the Orioles and then to the Indians. He was dealt to the expansion Mets at the start of the 1962 season for a player to be named later, with the Mets ironically sending Chiti back to the Indians a few months later to satisfy the deal. Thus making Chiti the first player traded for himself.
In 502 career big league games, Chiti batted .238 with 41 home runs and 179 RBIs.
The Card / Cubs Team Set
This is Chiti's first appearance in a Topps set, and he had previously appeared in the 1953 and 1955 Bowman sets. The mystery runner in the action photo looks to be out to me. The cartoon panels on the back of the card highlight his stint in the military, his signing with the Cubs out of high school, and his league leading defensive prowess from the prior season.
1956 Season
After starting the majority of the Cubs' games in 1955 behind the plate, Chiti entered into a platoon role with Hobie Landrith (#314) in 1956. On May 30th, while in the process of being intentionally walked by the Braves' Ray Crone (#76), Chiti connected with a pitch that wasn't quite outside enough for a triple. He led the league in caught stealing percentage with a 48.7% mark. In 72 games, including 63 starts behind the plate, Chiti batted .212 with four home runs and 18 RBIs. On December 14th, he was dealt to the Yankees as the player to be named later in an earlier deal that had sent catcher Charlie Silvera and cash to the Cubs. Chiti never played for the Yankees, spending all of 1957 with their Triple-A affiliate, the Richmond Virginians.
Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card: 1953 Bowman Color #7
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (6): 1956, 1958-1962
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1979 TCMA Diamond Greats #119
19 - Chiti non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 12/10/21.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
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| December 25, 2006 |
Building the Set
December 25, 2006 from Mays Landing, NJ - Card #281
I was officially given this card on Christmas Day in 2006, but my Dad had purchased it several weeks (months?) earlier at a baseball card show held at the Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing, New Jersey.
This was one of nine cards I received that Christmas from my Dad, and he spent a total of $210 on all nine cards with the Hank Aaron (#31) card being the big ticket item at $150. Like all his purchases, he was extremely proud of this card's condition and I'm sure there was a negotiation story that went along with the acquisition.
Our first son Doug was born a few weeks before Christmas that year and we brought him home just in time for the big day. He obviously doesn't remember much from his first Christmas, but he spent the holidays being held and loved by his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. The picture shown here is from Christmas Day 2006, shortly after I had added those nine cards to our (and one day Doug's) 1956 Topps set. One of the great joys of my life was seeing how proud my Dad was to have a grandson.
December 25, 2006 from Mays Landing, NJ - Card #281
I was officially given this card on Christmas Day in 2006, but my Dad had purchased it several weeks (months?) earlier at a baseball card show held at the Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing, New Jersey.
This was one of nine cards I received that Christmas from my Dad, and he spent a total of $210 on all nine cards with the Hank Aaron (#31) card being the big ticket item at $150. Like all his purchases, he was extremely proud of this card's condition and I'm sure there was a negotiation story that went along with the acquisition.
Our first son Doug was born a few weeks before Christmas that year and we brought him home just in time for the big day. He obviously doesn't remember much from his first Christmas, but he spent the holidays being held and loved by his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. The picture shown here is from Christmas Day 2006, shortly after I had added those nine cards to our (and one day Doug's) 1956 Topps set. One of the great joys of my life was seeing how proud my Dad was to have a grandson.
The Card / Cubs Team Set
This is Chiti's first appearance in a Topps set, and he had previously appeared in the 1953 and 1955 Bowman sets. The mystery runner in the action photo looks to be out to me. The cartoon panels on the back of the card highlight his stint in the military, his signing with the Cubs out of high school, and his league leading defensive prowess from the prior season.
1956 Season
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First Mainstream Card: 1953 Bowman Color #7
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (6): 1956, 1958-1962
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1979 TCMA Diamond Greats #119
19 - Chiti non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 12/10/21.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
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