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Topps included full team photos in its baseball card set for the first time in 1956, having previously experimented with team cards in a limited edition 1951 stand-alone set.
Building the Set
December 28, 2007 from Dad's eBay purchase - Card #326
The Card / Tigers Team Set
Tigers Cards That Never Were
There are some easy choices here and if I were put in charge of a fifth series for the set, listed below are the Tigers cards I'd include. Infielder Bob Kennedy appeared in 70 games for the Tigers, and he's in the set with the White Sox (#38).
December 28, 2007 from Dad's eBay purchase - Card #326
I first shared this story with the Roberto Clemente (#33) post, but I'll repeat myself, in an edited version, here. The way my Dad and I finished the 1956 Topps set was somewhat anti-climatic but nevertheless a joyful memory. Leading up to the Christmas of 2007, my Dad (with the help of my Mom) scoured eBay and other online baseball card stores for the remaining 29 cards we needed to complete the set. Throughout the weeks and months leading up to the holidays, he knew we had completed the set but he kept it quiet, wanting to surprise me on Christmas morning. I have no idea, and I'll never know, what the true last card was that he acquired to finish off the set. And I have no record, nor was he able to tell me, how much they had paid for any of these final 29 cards. Wildly off-center but in great shape, this Tigers team card was one of three team cards, along with the Nationals team card (#146) and the White Sox team card (#188) in the final 29.
The Card / Tigers Team Set
Listed below are the players, coaches, and club personnel featured on the card. The team's batboys must have been told to stay out of the picture. This photo was taken at some point in mid to late July 1955 as Joe Coleman was signed as a free agent on July 8th, and he's in the back row of the photo. Coleman is standing next to Earl Torgeson who was purchased from the Phillies on June 15th. Coach Jack Tighe is misidentified as "Tie" on the front of the card. Tighe would replace future Hall of Famer Bucky Harris as the team's manager in 1957.
I couldn't find a first name for "Contway" although other team photos from the era have him listed as the club's traveling secretary. I found it interesting that he'd be in full uniform here. The "Fox" on the back row continues to elude me too. The Tigers had no players by that name in 1955 and I can't find anyone with the Fox surname on their minor league teams either.
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The back of the card mentions the "proud 55 year history" of the club, given its formation in 1901. In terms of all-time greats name checked in the historical summary of the franchise, the "immortal" Ty Cobb is of course mentioned. Cobb was 69 years old when this card was released, and he'd pass away five years later in 1961. Also mentioned are Harry Heilmann, Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg, Rudy York, Schoolboy Rowe and Hal Newhouser. Rowe is also featured on the front of the card as one of the team's coaches.
Here are the updated statistical categories through the 2021 season, and surprisingly there wasn't much that needed to be updated:
Most Home Runs - 225 in 1987
Most Games Won - 104 in 1984
Additional Pennant Winning Teams - 1968, 1972, 1984, 1987, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Additional Championship Teams - 1968, 1984
Additional Championship Teams - 1968, 1984
Briggs Stadium opened in 1912 as Navin Field, and in 1961 changed its name to Tiger Stadium. The Tigers played their home games in Tiger Stadium through the 1999 season, moving to the newly built Comerica Park for their 2000 season.
1956 Season
The Tigers finished in the middle of the pack again in 1956 with manager Bucky Harris leading his team to a 82-72-1 record and a fifth place finish. Starting pitcher Frank Lary was arguably the team's MVP with a 21-13 record and 3.15 ERA in 41 appearances. Billy Hoeft was also a 20-game winner. Shortstop Harvey Kuenn led the team with a .332 average and was second on the club behind Al Kaline with 88 RBIs. Kuenn finished fourth in the league's MVP voting, again behind Kaline who finished third. Right fielder Kaline enjoyed his second straight All-Star season, batting .314 with 27 home runs and 128 RBIs. Left fielder Charlie Maxwell led the team with 28 home runs.
The Tigers finished in the middle of the pack again in 1956 with manager Bucky Harris leading his team to a 82-72-1 record and a fifth place finish. Starting pitcher Frank Lary was arguably the team's MVP with a 21-13 record and 3.15 ERA in 41 appearances. Billy Hoeft was also a 20-game winner. Shortstop Harvey Kuenn led the team with a .332 average and was second on the club behind Al Kaline with 88 RBIs. Kuenn finished fourth in the league's MVP voting, again behind Kaline who finished third. Right fielder Kaline enjoyed his second straight All-Star season, batting .314 with 27 home runs and 128 RBIs. Left fielder Charlie Maxwell led the team with 28 home runs.
Tigers Cards That Never Were
There are some easy choices here and if I were put in charge of a fifth series for the set, listed below are the Tigers cards I'd include. Infielder Bob Kennedy appeared in 70 games for the Tigers, and he's in the set with the White Sox (#38).
- Bucky Harris (manager) - Bucky Harris was in his 29th and final season as a big league manager, and he'd retire following the season with a lifetime record of 2,158-2,219 and World Series rings with the 1924 Senators and the 1947 Yankees.
- Frank Bolling (second base) - Bolling missed all of the 1955 season while in the military, so the team's regular second baseman was omitted from the set.
- Charlie Maxwell (left field) - Regular left fielder and team home run champ Maxwell was also left off the 1956 Topps checklist.
- Jim Bunning (pitcher) - Future Hall of Famer Bunning would receive his rookie card in the 1957 Topps set, but he pitched in 15 games for the 1956 Tigers.
- Paul Foytack (pitcher) - Foytack started 33 games for the Tigers, third most behind Lary and Hoeft.
Sources
Baseball ReferencePrevious Card / Next Card
Order Collected: #194 Monte Irvin - Chicago Cubs / #214 Bob Rush - Chicago Cubs
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