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Wilmer David Mizell
St. Louis Cardinals
Outfield
Born: August 13, 1930, Leakesville, MS
Signed: Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent before 1949 season
Major League Teams: St. Louis Cardinals 1952-1953, 1956-1960; Pittsburgh Pirates 1960-1962; New York Mets 1962
Died: February 21, 1999, Kerrville, TX (age 68)
Wilmer Mizell first played baseball as a youth in Vinegar Bend, Alabama, giving him his lifelong nickname. With the Cardinals he won 10 games in 1952 and another 13 games in 1953 before missing two full seasons while serving in the military. Mizell returned and picked up where he had left off, winning 14 games in 1956. He was a reliable starter for the Cardinals throughout the 1950s, starting at least 20 games in each of his seven full seasons with the club. In 1959, Mizell was named to both All-Star teams although he didn't appear in either game. He was dealt to the Pirates in May 1960, and he'd spend his final two and half seasons with the Pirates and expansion Mets. Mizell won a World Series ring in 1960 with Pittsburgh, although he didn't make it out of the first inning in his Game 3 start. Mizell gave up three singles and a walk to the potent Yankees line-up to start the game, and was relieved with only one out by Clem Labine (#295). The Pirates would lose Game 3, 10-0, but would ultimately prevail in seven games.
Mizell retired following the 1963 season with a career record of 90-88 and a 3.85 ERA in 268 games. He was later elected to the U.S. House of Representatives serving three terms as a Republican representing North Carolina's 5th congressional district between 1969 and 1975.
Building the Set
July 19, 1997 in Ocean City, NJ - Card #154
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 - Mizell 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 / Cardinals Team Set
We probably didn't notice it at the time, but this Mizell card has several creases running parallel down the left side of the card, almost as if a paper clip had been affixed to it at some point. I also found it interesting the man best known as Vinegar Bend Mizell, who had a first name of Wilmer, signed his name David Mizell. He's absent from the 1955 Topps set, but this card uses the same main photo as his 1954 Topps card.
Building the Set
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| May 1997 - College graduation |
July 19, 1997 in Ocean City, NJ - Card #154
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 - Mizell 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 / Cardinals Team Set
We probably didn't notice it at the time, but this Mizell card has several creases running parallel down the left side of the card, almost as if a paper clip had been affixed to it at some point. I also found it interesting the man best known as Vinegar Bend Mizell, who had a first name of Wilmer, signed his name David Mizell. He's absent from the 1955 Topps set, but this card uses the same main photo as his 1954 Topps card.
The first cartoon panel on the back references his unusual nickname, as does his "home" in the biographical write-up.
1956 Season
Mizell returned to the majors after a two-year absence and went 14-14 in 33 starts with a 3.62 ERA. He struck out 153 over 208 2/3 innings pitched and was arguably the ace of the fourth place Cardinals' staff. Mizell threw 11 complete games, including three shutouts. His best game of the year came on September 7th when he threw a complete game, two-hit shutout against the Reds.
Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card: 1952 Topps #334
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (6): 1952-1954, 1956-1958
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1994 Topps Archives 1954 #249
26 - Mizell non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 3/7/22.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
1956 Season
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First Mainstream Card: 1952 Topps #334
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (6): 1952-1954, 1956-1958
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1994 Topps Archives 1954 #249
26 - Mizell non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 3/7/22.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
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