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Milton Joseph Bolling
Boston Red Sox
Shortstop
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.
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| September 15, 2007 |
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.
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
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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
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
The Trading Card Database
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
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