#324 "Rocky" Bridges - Cincinnati Redlegs

Everett Lamar Bridges
Cincinnati Redlegs
Infield

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'8"  Weight:  170
Born:  August 7, 1927, Refugio, TX
Signed:  Signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers as an amateur free agent before 1947 season
Major League Teams:  Brooklyn Dodgers 1951-52; Cincinnati Redlegs 1953-57; Washington Senators 1957-58; Detroit Tigers 1959-60; Cleveland Indians 1960; St. Louis Cardinals 1960; Los Angeles Angels 1961

Died:  January 28, 2015, Coeur d'Alene, ID (age 87)

The popular and at times comedic Rocky Bridges played in parts of 11 major league seasons with seven different teams.  Drafted by the Dodgers, there was no hope of Bridges cracking the middle infield for the club as it was already covered by Pee Wee Reese (#260) and Jackie Robinson (#30).  He was dealt to the Redlegs as part of big, four-team trade in February 1953.  Bridges was Cincinnati's everyday second baseman in 1953, but he'd go back to a bench role with the club for the next three seasons.  Claimed off waivers by the Senators in May 1957, Bridges would have the best span of his career between 1957 and 1959.  He was an All-Star in 1958, finishing the season with a .263 average and a career-best five home runs.  Bridges was on the move frequently in the final two years of his career, playing for four different teams.  In 919 games, he collected 562 hits and batted .247 with 16 home runs and 187 RBIs.

At the end of his career, Bridges was quoted as saying, "I've had more numbers on my back than a bingo board."  He'd coach with the Angels (1962-63, 1968-71) and Giants (1985), and when he wasn't coaching at the major league level, he was a minor league manager in the Angels, Giants, Padres and Pirates organizations through the 1989 season.

Building the Set
December 28, 2007 from Dad's eBay purchases - Card #339
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.

December 24, 2007 - Doug and Dad

Our son Doug had just turned one, and on Christmas morning 2007, we were anxiously awaiting the arrival of our families to our house to celebrate the day.  I've had a few rough Christmases, but this was one of the worst as my Dad ended up in the hospital that day and it was the beginning of his health struggles that would continue until he passed away in late 2011.  He was discharged from the hospital three days later, and it was only then we celebrated Christmas together, on December 28th, and I opened the package containing the last of the cards needed for our 1956 Topps set.

Dad was understandably distraught that Christmas, but not solely because of his own health issues.  Because of his unselfish nature, he was worried that he had ruined Christmas for everyone since we had spent the holidays in a hospital.  He was also upset that his surprise package containing those last 29 baseball cards sat in the back seat of his car for three days until he recovered enough to come home.  I was just happy to have him out of the hospital, but I do remember feeling confused and somewhat hopeless as we weren't quite sure yet what was wrong with him.

I don't have any pictures from December 28th, which is unusual for me.  I'm assuming I was just happy that Dad was out of the hospital and taking pictures never crossed my mind.  Among the "big" cards in that final haul were the cards of Roberto Clemente (#33), Monte Irvin (#194), Whitey Ford (#240), Pee Wee Reese (#260) and the Checklist covering Series 1 and 3.

The Card / Redlegs Team Set
The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book said Bridges "looked like a ballplayer. In fact, he may have looked more like a ballplayer than any other ballplayer who ever lived."  

That's quite an action shot on the card of Bridges mid-air, about to dive into second base.  This card marks Bridges' return to Topps after being exclusive to Bowman between 1953 and 1955.  He's wearing a Dodgers' road jersey here, colored red, as the Redlegs' uniforms did not have any piping around the color and the Dodgers' did.

1956 Season

In 71 games with the Redlegs, Bridges batted .211 (4 for 19) with nary an extra-base hit and not a single RBI.  Manager Birdie Tebbetts didn't pencil Bridges' name into the starting line-up once all season.  His contribution to the team was as a defensive replacement at each infield position, but most frequently filling in for third baseman Ray Jablonski (#86).  Bridges only pinch-hit twice all year, and was used as a pinch-runner 21 times.  It's amazing Topps included him in this set, as those numbers would definitely see him omitted from the 2025 Topps set. 

1952 Topps #239

1957 Topps #294

1958 Topps #274

1959 Topps #318

1961 Topps #508

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1952 Topps #239
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (7):  1952, 1956-61
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2010 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #ROA-RB

63 - Bridges non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 3/7/25.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database

SABR
The Trading Card Database

Wikipedia

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Set Order: #323 Willard Schmidt - St. Louis Cardinals / #325 Don Liddle - New York Giants

Order Collected: #311  Hal Naragon - Cleveland Indians / #326 Connie Johnson - Chicago White Sox

#308 "Chuck" Harmon - Cincinnati Redlegs

Charles Byron Harmon
Cincinnati Redlegs
Outfield

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  175
Born:  April 23, 1924, Washington, IN
Signed:  Signed by the St. Louis Browns as an amateur free agent before 1947 season
Major League Teams:  Cincinnati Redlegs 1954-56; St. Louis Cardinals 1956-57; Philadelphia Phillies 1957

Died:  March 19, 2019, Golf Manor, OH (age 94)

Chuck Harmon was a high school and college baseball star, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, briefly played professional basketball as a player-coach in the American Basketball League and was the first African American to play for the Reds' franchise in 1954.  A 30-year-old rookie in 1954, Harmon served as the back-up third baseman to regular Bobby Adams (#287), batting .238 in a career-high 286 at-bats.  He played in 96 games in 1955, batting .253 with five home runs and 28 RBIs for the Redlegs.  He switched teams twice in 1956 and 1957, finishing up his major league career as a bat off the bench for the Cardinals and Phillies.  Harmon played 289 games overall, batting .238 with 25 stolen bases, 15 doubles, seven home runs and 59 RBIs.

May 15, 2010 - Harmon waves to the crowd before the Civil
Rights Game in Cincinnati

He continued to play in the minor leagues through the 1961 season, within the organizations of the Phillies, Pirates, Tigers and Athletics.  Following his playing days, Harmon was a scout for the Indians and Braves, along with the NBA's Indiana Pacers.  He was inducted into the University of Toledo Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977 and the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995.

Building the Set

December 28, 2007 from Dad's eBay purchase - Card #337

I last shared this full story with the Foster Castleman (#271) post in late December, 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.  

This Harmon card was one of the final 29.  It was one of the commons included in a memorable haul that included the cards of Pee Wee Reese (#260), Roberto Clemente (#33), Whitey Ford (#240) and a spotless checklist card for the 1st and 3rd Series.

The Card / Redlegs Team Set
We're getting pretty close to the end of the set, and I found it interesting that Harmon is only the third player featured, so far, to appear in the 1954, 1955 and 1956 Topps sets, with his 1956 Topps card using a different photo than his previous Topps cards.  The other two are Sherm Lollar (#243) and Johnny Schmitz (#298).  For comparison, and again this number isn't final, there are 46 players in the set with identical photos used for their 1954, 1955 and 1956 Topps cards.

That's likely Harmon sliding into second base, given he wore #10 during his Redlegs' tenure.  The cartoons on the back of the card highlight his collegiate basketball career, his successful minor league career and his ability to play multiple positions on the field.

1956 Season

Harmon once again made the Redlegs' opening day roster, appearing in 13 games, with eight appearances as a pinch-runner.  Used sparingly, and only 0 for 4 at the plate, Harmon was traded to the Cardinals on May 16th for outfielder Joe Frazier (#141) and infielder Alex Grammas (#37).  His troubles at the plate continued, and Harmon was 0 for 17 before being demoted to Triple-A in mid-July.  Harmon's hitless streak ended while playing for the Omaha Cardinals, and in 58 games he batted .360 with 17 doubles, 10 home runs and 49 RBIs.

Phillies Career
Harmon began the 1958 season back with the Cardinals, and was traded to the Phillies on May 10, 1957 for outfielder Glen Gorbous (#174).  He appeared in 57 games overall, batting .256 with a pair of doubles, seven stolen bases and five RBIs.  Manager Mayo Smith (#60) gave him 18 starts - 11 in left field, five at third base, and one each at first base and right field.  Harmon's final big league action came on September 15, 1957, when he pinch-ran for Willie Jones (#127) and scored a game-tying run in the ninth inning with the Braves' Warren Spahn (#10) on the mound.

Harmon spent part of the 1958 season with the Miami Marlins, then the Phillies' top farm team, but never earned another promotion to Philadelphia or the majors.  His time with the club is marked by a Phillies card in the 1958 Topps set.

1954 Topps #182

1955 Topps #82

1957 Topps #299

1958 Topps #48

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1954 Topps #182
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (5):  1954-58
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2007 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #ROA-CH

10 - Harmon non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 9/14/24.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database

SABR
The Trading Card Database

Wikipedia

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Set Order: #307 Hoyt Wilhelm - New York Giants / #309 Don Blasingame - St. Louis Cardinals

Order Collected: #306 Curt Roberts - Pittsburgh Pirates / #311 Hal Naragon - Cleveland Indians

#305 Brooks Lawrence - Cincinnati Redlegs

Brooks Ulysses Lawrence
Cincinnati Redlegs
Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'0"  Weight:  205
Born:  January 30, 1925, Springfield, OH
Signed:  Signed by the Cleveland Indians as an amateur free agent before 1949 season
Major League Teams:  St. Louis Cardinals 1954-55; Cincinnati Redlegs 1956-58; Cincinnati Reds 1959-60

Died:  April 27, 2000, Springfield, OH (age 75)

Brooks Laurence pitched in parts of seven seasons with the Cardinals and Reds, enjoying his best seasons in Cincinnati in 1956 and 1957.  Lawrence was a 15-game winner for the Cardinals in his rookie season of 1954 and he'd mainly work out of the bullpen for the club in 1955.  Dealt to Cincinnati on January 31, 1956 with Sonny Senerchia for Jackie Callum, Lawrence entered the best two years of his career.  He was an All-Star in 1956, finishing the season with a 19-10 record and a 3.99 ERA in 49 games, including 30 starts.  Lawrence had slightly better numbers in 1957, going 16-13 with a 3.52 ERA over a career-high 250 1/3 innings pitched.  He'd pitch nearly 200 innings again in 1958, but he'd see his output decline over his final two seasons with the Reds, retiring following the 1960 season.

Lawrence was 69-62 for his career, with a 4.25 ERA in 275 games pitched.  He struck out 481 batters over 1,040 2/3 innings.  He remained with the Reds for several years after his playing days as a scout, minor league coach and broadcaster, and was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1976.

1955 Red Man #NL4

Building the Set
August 13, 1989 in Bridgeton, NJ - Card #86
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 / Redlegs Team Set
Like a lot of recent cards, this is Lawrence's first appearance in a Topps set after his rookie card had appeared in the 1955 Bowman set.  The picture used is the same as appears on his 1955 Red Man card, with Topps replacing a Cardinals hat with a Redlegs hat.  The back of the card highlights his success from 1954 and 1955, and explains how he ended up with Cincinnati before the 1956 season.

1956 Season

As mentioned above, Lawrence was a 19-game winner in 1956 and made the National League All-Stars, although he didn't appear in the game.  He led Cincinnati's pitching staff in wins and innings pitched (218 2/3), and tied Johnny Klippstein (#249) for the team lead in complete games with 11.  At the outset of the season, Lawrence set a franchise record by winning 13 games before his first loss.

Phillies Connection
Lawrence's last action in professional baseball came with the Indianapolis Indians in 1960, then the top farm team for the Phillies.  He was 2-7 with a 6.05 ERA in 26 games with the Indians.

1955 Bowman #75

1957 Topps #66

1958 Topps #374

1959 Topps #67

1960 Topps #434

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1955 Bowman #75
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (5):  1956-60
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  1979 TCMA The 1950s #217

36 - Lawrence non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 8/18/24.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database

SABR
The Trading Card Database

Wikipedia

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Set Order: #304 Frank Malzone - Boston Red Sox / #306 Curt Roberts - Pittsburgh Pirates

Order Collected: #298 Johnny Schmidtz - Boston Red Sox / #314 Hobie Landrith - Chicago Cubs

#289 Hal Jeffcoat - Cincinnati Redlegs

Harold Bentley Jeffcoat
Cincinnati Redlegs
Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'10"  Weight:  185
Born:  September 6, 1924, West Columbia, SC
Signed:  Signed by the Chicago Cubs as an amateur free agent before 1946 season
Major League Teams:  Chicago Cubs 1948-1955; Cincinnati Redlegs 1956-1958; Cincinnati Reds 1959; St. Louis Cardinals 1959

Died:  August 30, 2007, Tampa, FL (age 82)

Hal Jeffcoat served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and was awarded with a Purple Heart after being wounded during the Italian Campaign.  His professional baseball career began after the war, and as a rookie center fielder for the Cubs in 1948 he compiled his best season.  In 134 games that year, a career high, Jeffcoat batted .279 with 16 doubles, four home runs and 42 RBIs, also a career high.  Playing all three outfield positions, Jeffcoat had several solid seasons with the Cubs and his pivot to full-time pitching came somewhat unexpectedly.  He had a surprisingly strong five inning outing toward the end of spring training in 1954, leading manager Stan Hack to make him a member of the team's bullpen.

Jeffocat recorded a team-leading seven saves in 1954 for the Cubs.  Dealt to the Redlegs in November 1955 for Hobie Landrith (#314), Jeffcoat joined Cincinnati's starting pitching rotation in 1957.  He was 12-13 that season with a 4.52 ERA in 31 starts, throwing 10 complete games and 207 innings.  Jeffcoat threw his only career shutout on June 9, 1957 against the Dodgers.  His final action in the majors came in 1959 with the Cardinals, and Jeffcoat retired from baseball following a comeback attempt with the Reds' top farm team in 1960.  As a batter, Jeffcoat earned a career .248 average with 26 home runs and 188 RBIs.  As a pitcher, he was 39-37 lifetime, with a 4.22 ERA in 245 games pitched.

Building the Set
December 25, 1994 from San Diego, CA - Card #138
The Roy Campanella (#101) card was my "big" present from Santa for Christmas 1994.  With my Dad's help, Santa secured the Campanella card from Kit Young Cards in San Diego for what my notes say was $75.  That price seems steep, but there were six other cards from the 1956 Topps set under the Christmas tree that year from Kit Young Cards, including this Jeffcoat card, with the other six cards costing a combined $20.  In December 1994, I would have been home from college for the winter break of my junior year.

This was the last Christmas my family and I spent in the house on 12th Street in my hometown where I grew up.  My parents were in the process of building a new house and we'd visit the construction site throughout that winter break.  I had a tough time leaving my childhood home behind and the 1994-1995 timeframe brought about quite a few major changes in my life.

The Card / Redlegs Team Set
Jeffcoat returned to Topps with this card following a two year absence and exclusive appearances in the 1954 and 1955 Bowman sets.  He's wearing Cubs gear in both photos, with Topps taking the time to update the logo on his hat for the portrait, but apparently leaving the rounded Cubs C on his hat in the action photo.  The cartoons on the back highlight his ability to both pitch and play the outfield and also show him leaving a cub behind following his trade from Chicago.

1956 Season

In his third season as a full-time pitcher, and his first season in Cincinnati, Jeffcoat was 8-2 with a 3.84 ERA in 38 games, which included 16 starts.  He threw 171 innings overall and a pair of complete games.  On June 23, 1956 against the Dodgers, Jeffcoat hit Don Zimmer (#99) in the face with a fastball, breaking Zimmer's cheekbone and causing permanent damage.  Zimmer was never the same player after the beaning.

1951 Bowman #211

1952 Topps #341

1953 Topps #29

1957 Topps #93

1959 Topps #81

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1951 Bowman #211
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (6):  1952-1953, 1956-1959
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  1991 Topps Archives 1953 #29

30 - Jeffcoat non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 5/3/24.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database

SABR
The Trading Card Database

Wikipedia

Previous Card / Next Card

Set Order:  #288 Bob Cerv - New York Yankees / #290 Curt Simmons - Philadelphia Phillies

Order Collected:  #284 Ike Delock - Boston Red Sox / #290 Curt Simmons - Philadelphia Phillies

#249 Johnny Klippstein - Cincinnati Redlegs

John Calvin Klippstein
Cincinnati Redlegs
Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  173
Born:  October 17, 1927, Washington, DC
Signed:  Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent before 1944 season
Major League Teams:  Chicago Cubs 1950-1954; Cincinnati Reds 1955-1958; Los Angeles Dodgers 1958-1959; Cleveland Indians 1960; Washington Senators 1961; Cincinnati Reds 1962; Philadelphia Phillies 1963-1964; Minnesota Twins 1964-1966; Detroit Tigers 1967
Died:  October 10, 2003, Elgin, IL (age 75)

Johnny Klippstein enjoyed an 18-year major league career, playing for eight different teams and winning a World Series ring with the Dodgers in 1959.  Klippstein spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Cubs and Reds as a swing man, appearing in at least 30 games and making at least 11 starts in each season between 1950 and 1957.  He was at his peak in 1955 and 1956 with the Reds, going 21-21 over the two-year period with a 3.82 ERA over 76 games pitched, including 14 complete games and two shutouts.  He went 4-0 for the National League Champion Dodgers in 1959, and was often on the move over the next eight seasons.  Along with Jack Baldschun, he was one of the Phillies' most effective relievers in 1963, pitching to a 1.93 ERA over 49 appearances and saving eight games.  Klippstein also played a key role in the Twins' clinching of the American League pennant in 1965, as he appeared in 56 games, all in relief, while compiling an impressive 2.24 ERA over 76 1/3 innings pitched.

He retired following the 1967 season having appeared in 711 games.  Klippstein had a record of 101-118 with a 4.24 ERA and 1,158 strikeouts to go along with 65 career saves.

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

October 4, 2007 - Before NLDS Game 2

Building the Set
October 3, 2007 from Dad's eBay purchases - Card #306
My records show my Dad gave me this card on my actual birthday, and I received five more cards four days later when we officially celebrated with family.  I'm not sure why my Dad pulled this Klippstein out of the pile of five cards I'd receive a few days later, other than maybe he felt Klippstein didn't have the star power of the other five.  On October 7th, he gave me Roger Craig (#63), Bill Bruton (#185), Bob Feller (#200), Don Newcombe (#235) and Don Larsen (#332).

The day after my birthday, I attended my first ever Phillies playoff game with my wife Jenna.  The Phillies were unceremoniously rocked by the Rockies, 10-5, with Kaz Matsui hitting a crushing grand slam off Phillies' reliever Kyle Lohse in the fourth inning.

The Card / Redlegs Team Set
Klippstein was omitted from the 1955 Topps set, and the portrait photo used here is the same as his 1954 Topps card.  The back of the card highlights his success with the Reds in 1955, following his trade from the Cubs on October 1, 1954, with Jim Willis for Jim Bolger, Harry Perkowski and Ted Tappe.  His one-hitter came on September 11, 1955 in the first game of a double header against the Dodgers at Crosley Field.  Pee Wee Reese (#260) singled to right field with one out in the ninth, spoiling the no-hit bid.

1956 Season

Klippstein won a career-high 12 games with the Reds, appearing in 37 games and making 29 starts.  He was 12-11 with a 4.09 ERA, with 11 complete games and 211 (also a career-high) innings pitched.  Klippstein was a solid number three starter for the third place Reds, behind Brooks Lawrence (#305) and Joe Nuxhall (#218), who won 19 and 13 games respectively.

Phillies Career
The Reds sold Klippstein to the Phillies on March 25, 1963, and he was the team's best reliever that season.  He made one spot start, but relieved in 48 games, going 5-6 over 112 innings pitched.  Five of his relief appearances went at least six innings, and he was one of the reasons the Phillies finished with 87 wins, their highest total since 1952.  Klippstein saw his role in the bullpen diminish in 1964 and he was used only 11 times in the team's first 61 games.  Needing a roster spot for returning starting pitcher Cal McLish, Klippstein was placed on waivers and eventually had his contract sold to the Twins.  The Twins and Phillies fortunes went in opposite directions from that point forward.  In 60 games with the Phillies, Klippstein was 7-7 with a 2.28 ERA and nine saves.

1951 Bowman #248

1955 Bowman #152

1959 Topps #152

1964 Topps #533

1967 Topps #588

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1951 Bowman #248
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (15):  1952-1954, 1956-1967
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  1994 Topps Archives 1954 #31

53 - Klippstein non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 5/6/23.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database

Wikipedia

Previous Card / Next Card

Set Order: #248 Bob Porterfield - Boston Red Sox / #250 Larry Doby - Chicago White Sox

Order Collected: #254 George Crowe - Milwaukee Braves / #63 Roger Craig - Brooklyn Dodgers

#242 Hershell Freeman - Cincinnati Redlegs

Hershell Baskin Freeman
Cincinnati Redlegs
Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  220
Born:  July 1, 1928, Gadsden, AL
Signed:  Signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent before 1948 season
Major League Teams:  Boston Red Sox 1952-1953, 1955; Cincinnati Reds 1955-1958; Chicago Cubs 1958

Died:  January 17, 2004, Orlando, FL (age 75)

Hersh Freeman spent parts of six seasons in the majors, finding his most success as a Reds' reliever in the mid-1950s.  He was a September call-up by the Red Sox in 1952, and despite being used primarily as a relief pitcher in the minor leagues, manager Lou Boudreau assigned him the start on September 26th against the Senators.  Freeman threw a complete game victory, his only complete game in the majors, and in one of only three starts he'd make in his big league career.  Used sparingly by the Red Sox over the next few seasons, Freeman was claimed off waivers by the Redlegs in May 1955.  He immediately became one of the most frequently used relievers out of Cincinnati's bullpen, making 52, 64 and 52 appearances respectively in 1955, 1956 and 1957.  Freeman pitched a career high 108 2/3 innings in 1956, leading the league with 47 games finished and earning MVP votes following the season.

Freeman's decline was swift, and after only 12 games in 1958 with the Reds and Cubs, his big league pitching career was over.  He'd stay with the Reds' organization until 1963 as a scout and minor league manager.  For his career, Freeman was 30-16 in 204 games pitched, with a 3.74 ERA and 36 saves.

October 27, 2007 - First Halloween

Building the Set
October 31, 2007 from Dad's eBay purchases - Card #312
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 detested the 40 minute ride north to our house.  Among all the very positive memories I have of my Dad, one of my few negative memories is the fact that 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 begun failing 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, 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 Freeman 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 handed me this Freeman card on Halloween 2007, as he was visiting to watch Doug go Trick or Treating for a little bit.

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.  Not to ruin the ending for this blog, but this is how we finished the 1956 Topps set.  Not with one last glorious purchase at a baseball card show, but with my Dad systematically and methodically checking off cards from our checklist through eBay purchases.

Together with my Mom, he'd deliver the last 29 cards we needed to complete the set as a Christmas present to me that year.

The Card / Redlegs Team Set
Freeman's rookie card can be found in the 1955 Bowman set, and this is his first Topps card.  In the first cartoon panel on the back of the card, Topps refers to Freeman as a "reliefer," which of course isn't actually a word.  His two seasons pitching for the Triple-A Louisville Colonels, then the Red Sox top farm team, are highlighted in the last cartoon panel.  Freeman was 19-16 in 105 games for the Colonels between 1952 and 1954, pitching to a 2.79 ERA.

With 342 cards in the 1956 Topps set, this blog is just 100 posts away from wrapping up.  If I stick to one post a week (usually Fridays), that puts the date for the final post at February 7, 2025.  Having started this blog in October 2015, I like the symmetry of having collected the set for 20 years and then writing about it for 10.

1956 Season

Freeman's statistics were a little better in 1955, but 1956 was a very good year for the reliever too.  He was 14-5 overall with a 3.40 ERA and 17 saves, second in the league behind the 19 saves by Brooklyn's Clem Labine (#295).  Freeman's 64 relief appearances doubled the next closest Reds' reliever as Joe Black (#178) made it into 32 games.

1955 Bowman #290

1957 Topps #32

1958 Topps #27

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1955 Bowman #290
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (3):  1956-1958
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  1979 TCMA 50's #120

12 - Freeman non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 3/8/23.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database

SABR
The Trading Card Database

Wikipedia

Previous Card / Next Card

Set Order: #241 Don Mueller - New York Giants / #243 Sherm Lollar - Chicago White Sox

Order Collected: #332 Don Larsen - New York Yankees / #329 Lou Berberet - Washington Nationals