Showing posts with label Kansas City Athletics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kansas City Athletics. Show all posts

Friday, September 5, 2025

#339 Rance Pless - Kansas City Athletics


Rance Pless
Kansas City Athletics
Third Base

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'0"  Weight:  195
Born:  December 6, 1925, Greeneville, TN
Signed:  Signed by the New York Giants as an amateur free agent before 1947 season
Major League Teams:  Kansas City Athletics 1956
Died:  November 11, 2017, Greeneville, TN (age 91)

Rance Pless played professionally over 14 seasons, primarily within the New York Giants' minor league system.  Playing mostly the outfield and third base, Pless won two minor league batting championships with the Double-A Nashville Volunteers in 1952 (.364) and the Triple-A Minneapolis Millers in 1955 (.337).  Seemingly blocked at the big league level in the Giants' system, Pless' contract was sold to the Athletics on October 7, 1955.  He spent most of the season in the majors with the Athletics, appearing in 48 games, but making only 17 starts.  Pless returned to the minors for four more seasons, playing within the Yankees, Cardinals and Tigers organizations between 1957 and 1960.  He batted .271 in the majors, but at least .303 in the minors, collecting a known 1,807 hits.

Building the Set
July 30, 1994 in Ocean City, NJ - Card #132
My Dad and I bought this card at the annual Ocean City baseball card show held within the famous Music Pier during the summer between my sophomore and junior years in college.  We spent $41 on six cards for our 1956 Topps set at this show, with the most expensive card being (for some reason) the Rip Repulski (#201) card for $9.  This Pless card was $5.

From the flyer (right), it looks as if The Eastern Pennsylvania Sports Collectors Club (EPSCC) had abandoned its sponsorship of this baseball card show by 1994.  Honestly after they pulled out, the show was never quite the same and the quality definitely suffered.  My Dad would have grumbled at the fact that comic books were now encroaching on the floor space of his beloved baseball card show.  1994 and 1995 were strange years for the baseball card hobby as the player's strike that prematurely ended the 1994 season chased a lot of fans away from the hobby, and some of them have never come back.

Johnny Callison was back signing autographs though, and the former Phillies player was ubiquitous at these events back in the 1980s and early 1990s.

The Card / Athletics Team Set
This is Pless' first and last Topps card, and it's great that a player like Pless, who had spent nine seasons trying to work his way up the majors, received a card in the set.  The action shot would have been taken earlier in the season, as Pless did in fact wear #8 with the Athletics.  The back of the card highlights his successful 1955 season, when he won the batting title and was named the league's MVP.

1956 Season
Pless was with the Athletics every month of the season except most of July and all of August, and he appeared in 59 games for the Richmond Virginians, batting .298.  With the Athletics, and as mentioned above, he batted .271 (23 for 85) with three doubles and a triple.  Of his 17 starts, 12 were at first base and five were at third base.

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1956 Topps #339
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (1):  1956
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  1979 TCMA The 1950s #176

4 - Pless non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 9/1/25.

 Sources:  
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database

Blog Update
I've been admittedly slow-walking my way to the end of this blog, as I'm not quite ready to walk away from it after nearly 10 years of off and on posting.  This Pless card and the Mickey McDermott (#340) card are the final two player posts, to be followed by posts on the two checklists.  I still have my sights on wrapping this thing up by the end of 2025.
Posted by at 2 comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Friday, February 7, 2025

#319 Jack Crimian - Kansas City Athletics


John Melvin Crimian
Kansas City Athletics
Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'10"  Weight:  180
Born:  February 17, 1926, Philadelphia, PA
Signed:  Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent before 1944 season
Major League Teams:  St. Louis Cardinals 1951-52; Kansas City Athletics 1956; Detroit Tigers 1957
Died:  February 11, 2019, Middletown, DE (age 92)

The Philadelphia Phillies signed local product Jack Crimian prior to the 1944 season, but the right-handed pitcher would never suit up for either of the two major league teams then playing in his hometown.  Crimian spent six seasons in the minors, with a year of playing time lost while he served in the U.S. Army during World War II.  He'd earn brief promotions in 1951 and 1952 with the Cardinals, pitching in 16 games, all in relief, but struggling with a 9.24 ERA over 25 1/3 innings pitched.  He'd be back in the minors for three more full seasons between 1953 and 1955, finding success with the International League's Toronto Maple Leafs.  Crimian's sole full year in the majors came in 1956 with the Athletics and he led the 102-loss team with 54 appearances, including seven starts.

Before the 1957 season, Crimian was part of an eight-player deal with Detroit, and he'd pitch in his final four big league games with the Tigers.  Crimian returned to Toronto for the 1958 and 1959 seasons before retiring from baseball.  In 74 big league games, he was 5-9 with a 6.36 ERA, collecting 69 strikeouts and 65 walks in 160 innings pitched.  Crimian was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.

Building the Set
September 15, 2007 from Dad's eBay purchases - Card #302
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.

August 2007 - Dad with Jenna, Doug and me riding a merry-go-round
in Ocean City, NJ
This background is needed to better explain how this Crimian 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 Harshman card on September 15, 2007, along with a Jack Harshman (#29) card.

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.

1957 Topps #297
The Card / Athletics Team Set
This is Crimian's rookie card, and he'd appear on one more Topps card in 1957.  His only other baseball card following 1957 came in the form on a reprint of his 1957 Topps card for the 2006 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs insert set, which Crimian signed.  The back of this card highlights his MVP win in 1955 while pitching for the Maple Leafs.  It was by far his best professional season, leading directly to his spot in the Athletics' bullpen in 1956.  Crimian was 19-6 in 1955 with a 2.10 ERA in 40 appearances, including 21 starts.  He threw 16 complete games, with four of those shutouts.

1956 Season
As mentioned above, Crimian was frequently used throughout the season by manager Lou Boudreau, and over 80% of his major league output came during the 1956 season.  He was 4-8 with a 5.51 ERA in 129 innings pitched, converting three saves.  On December 5th, Crimian, Jim Finigan (#22), Bill Harrington and Eddie Robinson (#302) were traded to the Tigers for Wayne Belardi, Ned Garver (#189), Gene Host, Virgil Trucks (#117) and $20,000.

Phillies Connection
Crimian pitched for the Wilimington Blue Rocks and the Bradford Blue Wings, both low-level Phillies minor league teams, during the 1944 season.  He'd miss all of 1945 while in military service, and then return to the Blue Rocks in 1946.  On November 5, 1946, the Cardinals selected Crimian from the Phillies in the minor league draft. 

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1956 Topps #319
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (2):  1956-57
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2006 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #ROA-JCR

5 - Crimian non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 1/26/25.

 Sources:  
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Friday, February 23, 2024

#279 Johnny Groth - Kansas City Athletics


John Thomas Groth
Kansas City Athletics
Outfield

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'0"  Weight:  182
Born:  July 23, 1926, Chicago, IL
Signed:  Signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent, August 6, 1946
Major League Teams:  Detroit Tigers 1946-1952; St. Louis Browns 1953; Chicago White Sox 1954-1955; Washington Senators 1955; Kansas City Athletics 1956-1957; Detroit Tigers 1957-1960
Died:  August 7, 2021, Palm Beach, FL (age 95)

Johnny Groth played 15 seasons in the majors, with 11 of those seasons spent with the Tigers.  A highly touted prospect, Groth's best year professionally came in 1948 as a member of the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.  He batted .340 that season with 30 home runs and 97 RBIs, marks he wouldn't attain again during his career.  Groth was the opening day center fielder for the Tigers in 1949 and while he started off hot, a mid-season slump saw him lose playing time and a broken wrist in August ended his season early.  He'd have his best season in the majors in 1950, batting .306 with 12 home runs and 85 RBIs.  Dealt to the Browns in December 1952, Groth's playing time would steadily decrease over the next eight seasons.  He returned to Detroit for four more seasons at the end of his career, serving as a back-up outfielder and pinch-hitter.

Groth batted .279 for his career, collecting 1,064 hits, 60 home runs and 486 RBIs.  His 75 assists as a center fielder currently rank 83rd all-time.  Following his playing days, Groth served as a long-time scout for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves, ultimately retiring from baseball in 1990.

Building the Set
May 1997 - College graduation

July 19, 1997 in Ocean City, NJ - Card #157
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 - Groth 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 / Athletics Team Set
Groth was exclusive to Bowman in 1954 and 1955, and this card marks his return to Topps sets.  He wore #3 with the Tigers between 1949 and 1952, and with the Browns in 1953.  He's likely wearing a Tigers jersey in the action photo, given the piping around the neck, which was found on Tigers' jerseys but not Browns' jerseys.  Given the pinstripes on his jersey in the main photo, he's either wearing a White Sox or Nationals jersey.  

The first cartoon on the back highlights his two home runs hit in his first start on April 19, 1949 against the White Sox.  It's a little misleading as Groth had played two full games in September 1946, another full game in September 1947, and four more complete games in September 1948.

1956 Season
Groth was sold by the Washington Nationals to the Athletics on April 16th, the day before opening day.  He'd play in 95 games for the 102-loss Athletics, making 44 starts in center field, 15 starts in right field and a pair of starts in left field.  The Athletics shuffled outfielders in and out of the starting line-up all season with Gus Zernial (#45), Al Pilarcik and Harry Simpson (#239) receiving most of the starts.  Groth batted .258 with five home runs and 37 RBIs.

1950 Bowman #243
1952 Topps #25
1954 Bowman #165
1959 Topps #164
1960 Topps #171

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1950 Bowman #243
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (8):  1951-1953, 1956-1960
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2011 Topps Lineage Autographs #RA-JG

47 - Groth non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 1/30/24.

 Sources:  
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Friday, September 15, 2023

#261 Bobby Shantz - Kansas City Athletics


Robert Clayton Shantz
Kansas City Athletics
Pitcher


Bats:  Right  Throws:  Left  Height:  5'6"  Weight:  139
Born:  September 26, 1925, Pottstown, PA
Signed:  Signed by the Philadelphia Athletics as an amateur free agent before 1948 season
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Athletics 1949-1954; Kansas City Athletics 1955-1956; New York Yankees 1957-1960; Pittsburgh Pirates 1961; Houston Colt .45s 1962; St. Louis Cardinals 1962-1964; Chicago Cubs 1964; Philadelphia Phillies 1964

Bobby Shantz pitched in 16 big league seasons, winning A.L. MVP honors in 1952 and earning eight consecutive Gold Gloves between 1957 and 1964.  Shantz was one of the last All-Stars for the Philadelphia Athletics, winning 18 games in 1951 and a career-high 24 games in his MVP season of 1952.  He was dealt to the Yankees following the 1956 season.  In 1957, Shantz was named to his third All-Star team and he'd lead the league with a 2.45 ERA.  He appeared in the World Series with the Yankees in 1957 and 1960, and won a ring with the team in 1958 although he didn't get into any of those Series games against the Braves.  Shantz was selected in back-to-back expansion drafts by the Senators in 1960, and by the Colt .45s in 1961.  He returned to Philadelphia for his final season, appearing in 14 games for the Phillies in their disastrous 1964 season.

1992 Philadelphia Phillies Photo Cards
ALS Autograph Party
Shantz owned a lifetime record of 119-99 with a 3.38 ERA and 1,072 strikeouts over 1,935 2/3 innings pitched.  He was inducted into the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame in 1994, back when the Phillies inducted a former member of the Athletics each year.  As of this writing, the soon to be 98-year-old Shantz is scheduled to appear as an autograph guest at the late September Philly Show.  He's the last surviving member of the Philadelphia Athletics, and the oldest living former player from the Phillies, Astros and Cubs.  His brother Billy Shantz was a catcher for the Athletics and Yankees between 1954 and 1960.

Building the Set
October 10, 1993 in Winston-Salem, NC (Tommy's Collectibles) - Card #121
This is one of three cards purchased right around my 20th birthday in 1993 from Tommy's Collectibles in Winston-Salem, not far from the campus of Wake Forest University, where I had just started my sophomore year.  We only added 13 cards to our 1956 Topps set in 1993, and this is one of seven cards we purchased for our set from Tommy's Collectibles between October 1993 and December 1996.  My records show this Shantz card cost us $10.

I have mostly wonderful memories of my early college years, as I was in that sweet spot between leaving behind high school and figuring out what I would do next.  Majors hadn't yet been declared and while there was plenty of studying, I also recall having my share of fun too.  My family visited for my birthday in early October 1993, and this card was purchased shortly after their visit.

The Card / Athletics Team Set
Shantz returned to a Topps set after a one-year absence.  This is the first card of the fourth and final series in the set, and Topps used a star of the day to kick off each of its second, third and fourth series of cards.  Roy Campanella (#101) was the first card of the second, while Billy Martin (#181) was the first card of the third series.  The back of the card highlights his 1952 MVP win, but also mentions Shantz was frequently injured.  Over three seasons between 1953 and 1955, Shantz was limited to just 41 games due primarily to a lingering shoulder injury.  His excellent fielding skills are highlighted in the final cartoon panel, foreshadowing his eight Gold Glove wins beginning in 1957.

1956 Season
In his final season with the Athletics, Shantz was used mainly as a reliever and occasional closer.  He was 2-7 with a 4.35 ERA in 45 games, recording nine saves.  That mark led the team, as the Athletics won only 52 games to 102 losses in 1956.  Only Jack Crimian (#319), with 47 relief appearances was used more than Shantz, as Shantz came in to relieve 43 times.  Shantz made two starts all season, including a game on April 19th when he threw a complete game, allowing just a run against the Tigers.

Phillies Career
Shantz began the 1964 season, his last in the majors, with the Cardinals and was dealt to the Cubs on June 15th as part of the Lou Brock deal.  Two months later, on August 15th, the Cubs sold Shantz to the Phillies, as the Phillies were desperate for pitching reinforcements as they attempted to win the National League pennant.  Shantz pitched fairly well in his big league swan song, appearing in 14 games and earning a 1-1 record with a 2.25 ERA over 32 innings pitched.  He had one last stellar performance, pitching seven shutout innings of relief against the Dodgers on September 19th, in a game lost by the Phillies, 3-1.

The Phillies asked Shantz to return for the 1965 season, but the veteran pitcher opted to retire.

1950 Bowman #234
1952 Topps #219
1954 Topps #21
1958 Topps #419
1964 Topps #278

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1950 Bowman #234
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (13):  1952-1954, 1956-1964, 1975
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2013 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #ROA-BS

137 - Shantz non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 9/10/23.

 Sources:  
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

Friday, August 11, 2023

#258 Art Ditmar - Kansas City Athletics


Arthur John Ditmar
Kansas City Athletics
Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  185
Born:  April 3, 1929, Winthrop, MA
Signed:  Signed by the Philadelphia Athletics as an amateur free agent before 1948 season
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Athletics 1954; Kansas City Athletics 1955-1956; New York Yankees 1957-1961; Kansas City Athletics 1961-1962
Died:  June 11, 2021, Myrtle Beach, SC (age 92)

Art Ditmar pitched in nine seasons in the majors, all with the Athletics or Yankees.  He was the Athletics' starting pitcher on September 19, 1954, the franchise's final home game at Philadelphia's Shine Park before their move to Kansas City in 1955.  He'd lead the league with 22 losses in 1956, a year in which he pitched a career-high 254 1/3 innings.  Ditmar was dealt to the Yankees in February 1957 in a massive 13-player deal that saw the Yankees also add Bobby Shantz (#261) and Clete Boyer.  With the Yankees, Ditmar settled in as a swingman and fifth starter, winning 13 games in 1959 and 15 games in 1960.  He appeared in the World Series with the Yankees in 1957, 1958 and 1960, starting Games 1 and 5 in 1960 against the Pirates.  Ditmar was hit hard in both starts, not lasting through the first inning in Game 1 and getting pulled in the second inning of Game 5, as the Pirates would win the Series in seven games.

Ditmar returned to the Athletics for the final two seasons of his career, and he'd retire in early 1963 after not making the Yankees' squad as a non-roster invitee in spring training.  In 287 games pitched, including 156 starts, Ditmar was 72-77 with a 3.98 ERA and 552 strikeouts over 1,268 innings pitched.

Building the Set
December 2, 2000 from Raleigh, NC - Card #219
I went nuts and bought 16 cards for our 1956 Topps set on this day at the Sports Card & NASCAR Collectibles Show in Raleigh.  My records show the 16 cards set me back $55 which I would have considered to be a small fortune back then.  I hadn't yet moved back north yet, so I was still living in Raleigh at this time planning for my eventual escape.  I would have provided my Dad with an updated checklist following this show as he was back in New Jersey.

The Card / Athletics Team Set
Ditmar's rookie card can be found in the 1955 Bowman set, and this is his first Topps card.  The first cartoon panel on the back of the card refers to Ditmar as the "No. 2 man on the A's pitching staff in '55," and I'm assuming the top pitcher was Alex Kellner (#176).  Ditmar was 12-12 with a 5.03 ERA in 1955 over 22 starts.  Kellner made 24 starts and was 11-8 with a 4.20 ERA.  The final cartoon panel references his education at American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts.  Ditmar would receive his bachelor's degree in 1962 and would later return to the school as their basketball and baseball coach.

1956 Season
Ditmar was a workhorse for the Athletics, and as mentioned above, he threw 254 1/3 innings in 44 appearances, including 34 starts.  He was 12-22 with a 4.42 ERA for the last place Athletics, making 14 more starts than the next closest starting pitcher - Lou Kretlow, who started 20 games.  He threw 14 complete games, including a pair of shutouts, which made him the key to the 13-player deal the Yankees swung with the Athletics following the season.

1955 Bowman #90
1957 Topps #132
1959 Topps #374
1961 Topps #510
1962 Topps #246

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1955 Bowman #90
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (7):  1956-1962
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2011 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #ROA-AD

50 - Ditmar non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 8/11/23.

 Sources:  
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Sunday, April 16, 2023

#246 Tom Gorman - Kansas City Athletics


Thomas Aloysius Gorman
Kansas City Athletics
Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  190
Born:  January 4, 1925, New York, NY
Signed:  Signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent before 1946 season
Major League Teams:  New York Yankees 1952-1954; Kansas City Athletics 1955-1959
Died:  December 26, 1992, Valley Stream, NY (age 67)

Tom Gorman pitched in parts of eight seasons in the major leagues, winning World Series rings with the Yankees in 1952 and 1953.  As a middle reliever and occasional closer for those Yankees teams, he appeared in two World Series games against the Dodgers, recording the final outs in the ninth inning in Game 3 of the 1952 World Series (the Yankees would lose 5-3), and pitching three innings of relief in a 7-3 loss to the Dodgers in Game 4 of the 1953 World Series.  He was sold to the Athletics, along with Ewell Blackwell and Dick Kryhoski on March 30, 1955, with the Yankees receiving $50,000 for all three players.

Gorman assumed closer duties for the Athletics in 1955, and was one of the team's best pitchers with a 7-6 record to go along with a 3.55 ERA and a team-leading 18 saves over 57 appearances.  He'd finish second that season behind the Indians Ray Narleski (#133) for the league leader in saves as Narleski notched 19.  Gorman continued as a steady and frequently used reliever for the Athletics through the 1958 season, and he appeared in only 17 games in 1959 with his last big league game coming on June 23, 1959.  He'd attempt a brief comeback in 1960, but his pitching days would soon end.  In 289 games, Gorman was 36-36 with a 3.77 ERA over 689 1/3 innings pitched with 44 career saves.

Building the Set
February 9, 2002 in Cooperstown, NY - Card #234
This is one of only four cards I purchased in 2002, which was one of the tougher years for me personally.  I made a solo unscheduled and unplanned trip to Cooperstown in early 2002 in an attempt to clear my mind one weekend.  It was an escape.  Thinking back on that time now 21 years later, I realize Cooperstown was a logical choice for me to make my escape as I could leave my present worries behind and live in the past for a few days.  I spent a lot of time walking around the Hall of Fame, taking my time and actually relaxing.

I didn't have a lot of money for this trip, but I visited Baseball Nostalgia that Saturday afternoon and purchased four cards for our 1956 Topps set, including this Gorman card.  The other three cards purchased were Jim Davis (#102), Don Kaiser (#124) and Joe Frazier (#141) and the four cards together cost me $18.50.  That's a fairly low price to pay for some much needed baseball card therapy.

I took my family to Cooperstown for the first time in November 2021, and I was happy to see Baseball Nostalgia was still open.  Unbeknownst to us at the time, the shop would close permanently (in January 2022) soon after our visit.  Had I known closure was imminent, I would have made a better effort to make one last purchase.

The Card / Athletics Team Set
This is Gorman's first mainstream baseball card to feature him with the Athletics, as he was omitted from both the 1955 Bowman and Topps sets.  This is also his first Topps flagship set appearance.  The middle cartoon panel on the back diplomatically explains Gorman had been buried in the Yankees' farm system for nine seasons and he was finally getting his chance to pitch with the Athletics.  The third panel seems to be inaccurate, as Baseball Reference shows Gorman only combined on one shutout, saving a 2-0 game over the Orioles on June 24, 1955, and securing the win for Arnie Portocarrero (#53).  The Athletics pitching staff threw nine shutouts in 1955, with Gorman only appearing in the June 24th game.

1956 Season
Gorman was 9-10 with a 3.83 ERA for the Athletics, making a career-high 13 starts and relieving in 39 games.  He pitched 171 1/3 innings and converted only four saves, as Bobby Shantz (#261) closed the majority of the team's games and earned nine saves.  Only starting pitcher Art Ditmar (#258) pitched in more innings for the 102-loss Athletics than Gorman, with Ditmar throwing 254 1/3.

Phillies Connection
Gorman wrapped up his professional pitching career with 34 games for the Indianapolis Indians in 1960, then the top farm team for the Phillies.  He's not to be confused with another Tom Gorman, a lefty pitcher, who pitched primarily for the Mets in the mid-1980s.  The lefty Gorman appeared in eight games for the 1986 Phillies, going 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA.

1952 Bowman Black & White #61
1954 Bowman #17
1957 Topps #87
1958 Topps #235
1959 Topps #449

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1953 Bowman Black & White #61
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (4):  1956-1959
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  1959 Topps #449

15 - Gorman non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 4/16/23.

 Sources:  
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Saturday, February 18, 2023

#239 Harry Simpson - Kansas City Athletics


Harry Leon Simpson
Kansas City Athletics
Outfield

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  180
Born:  December 3, 1925, Atlanta, GA
Signed:  Signed by the Cleveland Indians as an amateur free agent before 1949 season
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Stars 1946-1948; Cleveland Indians 1951-1953, 1955; Kansas City Athletics 1955-1957; New York Yankees 1957-1958; Kansas City Athletics 1958-1959; Chicago White Sox 1959; Pittsburgh Pirates 1959
Died:  April 3, 1979, Akron, OH (age 53)

Harry Simpson began his professional baseball career with the Philadelphia Stars in the Negro National League, playing three seasons between 1946 and 1948.  The Indians signed him before the 1949 season and he was one of the earliest black players in the American League when he made his debut in April 1951.  Simpson appeared in a career-high 146 games for the Indians in 1952 as their regular right fielder, batting .266 with 10 home runs and 65 RBIs.  He was sold to the Athletics in May 1955 and he'd enjoy the best stretch of his career between 1956 and 1958.  In 1956, Simpson would experience his best professional season, making his only All-Star Team on the strength of his first half with the Athletics.  He'd lead the league with 11 triples while batting .293 with 21 home runs and 105 RBIs - both career bests.  In June 1957, Simpson would depart Kansas City and move to New York in the deal that exiled Billy Martin (#181), Ralph Terry and a few other players from the Yankees following a nightclub brawl.  With the Yankees, Simpson couldn't recapture his success from 1956 and he was traded back to the Athletics exactly a year later in June 1958.

Simpson played for three different teams in 1959, his final year in the major leagues.  He'd continue to play in the White Sox minor league system, then in Mexico, through the 1964 season, retiring at the age of 38.  In nine seasons in the majors, Simpson appeared in 888 games, batting .266 with 101 doubles, 41 triples, 73 home runs and 381 RBIs.

Building the Set
September 25, 2005 in Ft. Washington, PA - Card #267
This was a late edition to our set and one of 11 cards we purchased at the 92nd Philadelphia Sports Card Show held at the convention center in Ft. Washington.  My records show we paid $4 for this card. With the Ocean City baseball card shows long gone by now, our only options for local baseball card shows were the "Philly Shows" held in Ft. Washington at the time or the occasional mall baseball card show.

August 14, 2005 - Dad and me at Yankee Stadium
My Dad didn't like the drive to Ft. Washington, and this would have been one of only a few shows we attended together in this location.  Our next show together was a few months later in December, also in Ft. Washington.  Looking at my records of when and where we purchased our cards, a full year would go by before we'd add any more cards to the set after that December show.

The year-long hiatus in collecting the set came at a time my wife and I were expecting our first son and as we moved into our first real house, so we had a pretty good excuse not to be purchasing baseball cards at the time.

The Card / Athletics Team Set
I'm immediately drawn to the action photo here, as it shows Simpson in his follow-through after connecting with the ball in a game that could be in Yankee Stadium with Yogi Berra (#110) making yet another cameo appearance.  A lot of the "action" shots in the 1956 Topps set are posed, or feature game action on the base paths where the outcome is hard to discern.  This is one of more dynamic action photos in the set with batter, catcher, umpire and a sea of fans in the background.  If that is in fact Berra, it would mark his ninth cameo, so far, in the set.  He's potentially on the cards of Bob Kennedy (#38), Sandy Amoros (#42), Roy Campanella (#101), Jim Piersall (#143), Clint Courtney (#159), Billy Pierce (#160), Sammy White (#168) and Carl Furillo (#190).  I'll need to put together a gallery of Berra cameo cards once I've reached the end of the set.

This marks Simpson's return to baseball cards, as he wasn't in any 1954 or 1955 mainstream sets.  He spent all of 1954 in the minor leagues and was omitted from both Bowman and Topps sets in 1955, despite  playing in 112 games for the Athletics.

1956 Season
As mentioned above, this was Simpson's career year.  He was the regular right fielder for the Athletics, on their way to a 102 loss season and guided by manager Lou Boudreau.  In the All-Star Game, Simpson pinch-hit for pitcher Pierce in the third inning, striking out against Pirates' pitcher Bob Friend (#221).

1952 Topps #193
1953 Topps #150
1957 Topps #225
1958 Topps #299
1960 Topps #180

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1952 Bowman #223
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (7):  1952-1953, 1956-1960
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  1991 Topps Archives 1953 #150

34 - Simpson non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 2/18/23.

 Sources:  
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)