1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Allie Reynolds

"Allie led his team's pitchers in 1947 with 19 victories. In the World Series of that year he won the second game. His 1947 pitching record includes 129 strikeouts and an earned run average of 3.20.

He's a graduate of Oklahoma A&M. Playing with the Cleveland Indians from 1943 to 1946, he won 51 games. Baseball experts consider the trade that brought Allie to the Yankees one of the smartest in baseball."

-1948 Bowman No. 14

"Allie had a 16-7 record for the Yankees in 1948. He led New York pitchers in victories in 1947 with 19. In the World Series that year he won the second game.

Allie is a graduate of Oklahoma A&M. Playing with the Cleveland Indians from 1943 to 1946, he won 51 games. Baseball experts consider the trade that brought him to the Yankees one of the smartest in baseball."

-1949 Bowman No. 114

"Allie appeared in 35 games for the 1949 World Champions, winning 17, losing 6. His 1948 record was 16-7. He led Yankee pitchers in 1947 with 19 wins.

A graduate of Oklahoma A&M, Allie began in the majors with the Cleveland Indians. Not inappropriate, since he is part Indian. With the Cleveland outfit, from 1943 to 1946, he chalked up 51 victories."

-1950 Bowman No. 138

"Allie won 16 and lost 12 in 1950. In 31 games his earned run average was 3.73.
He had a 17-6 record in 1949, and a 16-7 record in 1948. In 1947, he led the Yankees with 19 wins.
Allie is part Indian. A graduate of Oklahoma A and M, he began in the majors with Cleveland and was with them from 1943 to 1946. In that time he chalked up 51 victories. Allie the led American League pitchers in strikeouts in 1943."

-1951 Bowman, No. 109 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Vic Raschi

"Vic divided the 1947 season between the Portland club of the Pacific Coast League and the New York Yankees. However, it wasn't until last season that Vic came into his own. He won 19 games and lost 8. He missed three opportunities late in the season to win his twentieth game.

His .704 percentage was one of the best in the American League. He struck out 124 batters and had an earned run average of 3.84."

-1949 Bowman No. 35

"In 1949 Vic was one of the league's five pitchers to win 20 games or more. His record was 21-10 and his earned run average was 3.34, sixth lowest in the league.

Vic spent three seasons in military service. He divided 1947 between the Yankees and Portland of the Pacific Coast League. He is one of the few players whose major league record is better than the one which was compiled in the minors."

-1950 Bowman No. 100

"Vic won 21 while losing 8 in 1950. His winning percentage (.724) was best in the league, his earned run average was 3.99, and he starred in the World Series.
He has three complete seasons with the Yankees- 1948, 1949 and 1950. He won 19 games in 1948 and 21 in 1949. Vic had two flings with the team before 1948 but divided his time between the majors and minors. He really hit his stride when joining the majors to stick.
Vic spent three years in the service."

-1951 Bowman, No. 25 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Joe Page and Stubby Overmire

JOE PAGE

"A relief artist and true successor to great Yankee bull pen masters Wilcy Moore and Fireman Johnny Murphy.

In the wild seven-game Series of 1947 against the Brooklyn Dodgers, Joe ambled in from the bull pen to win the final crucial game as he shut out the Dodgers. He allowed only one hit and pitched air-tight ball for the last five innings.

He possesses a keen knowledge of batters' weaknesses."

-1948 Bowman No. 29

"A relief artist and true successor to great Yankee bull pen masters Wilcy Moore and Fireman Johnny Murphy.

In the wild seven-game Series of 1947 against the Brooklyn Dodgers, Joe ambled in from the bull pen to win the final crucial game as he shut out the Dodgers. He allowed only one hit and pitched air-tight ball for the last five innings.

He possesses a keen knowledge of batters' weaknesses."

-1949 Bowman No. 82

"Joe's expert relief pitching had a lot to do with making the Yankees World Champions in 1949. He appeared in 60 games. Credited with winning 13, charged with losing 8, he saved many that do not show in the records.

Joe first reached the Yankees in 1944 but was sent back to the minors when his hot streak cooled off. But he was back in 1945 and has been there ever since."

-1950 Bowman No. 12

"Relief pitching has become an honored chore largely through the performance of Joe Page.
He was one of the most valuable men in the Yanks' 1949 championship drive. His expert emergency hurling produced a 13-8 record and saved many games in addition. He recorded an earned run average of 2.60.
Joe struck an off season in 1950, with a 3-7 record. He was released to Kansas City on May 16, 1951."

-1951 Bowman, No. 217 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)


STUBBY OVERMIRE

"Stubby was bothered by a sore arm last season, which accounts for his 3-4 record and 6.00 ERA. Ordinarily, however, he's very, very tough to beat. He won 11 and lost 5 in 1947 with an ERA of 3.77.

Stubby has good control and an excellent curve ball. He has the makings of a great star."

-1949 Leaf No. 17

"Stubby had a 9-12 record in his first year in the livery of the St. Louis Browns.

A graduate of Western Michigan State Teachers' College, he began in pro ball in 1941 with Muskegon of the Michigan State League. With the Tigers from 1943 until joining the Browns for 1950, Stubby won 11 and lost 11 in 1944. In 1945, he won 9 and lost 9 and had an 11-5 record in 1947.
To the Yankees at press time."

-1951 Bowman, No. 280 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Tom Morgan and Gil McDougald

TOM MORGAN
Tom's outstanding showing in spring training this year was no surprise to those who have been following this youngster's progress over the last two seasons.
In 1949, with Ventura of the California League, Tom was 12-9 over 33 games including 21 starts. He also helped himself with the bat with a .278 batting average and a .407 slugging average. With Binghamton of the Class A [AA] Eastern League in 1950, the right-hander boosted his record to 17-8 in 29 games, 28 of them starts. And Tom helped himself even more with the bat, batting .354 with a .427 slugging average.


GIL MCDOUGALD
Gil has had three successful seasons with the bat in three years as a pro. He's also a smooth fielder at either second base or third.
Starting with Twin Falls of the Class C Pioneer League in 1948, he batted .340 with a .523 slugging average and 16 homers. With Victoria of the Class B Western International League in '49, Gil hit .344 with a .521 slugging average, with 44 doubles and 13 homers. And last season with Beaumont of the Class A [AA] Texas League, this boy yet again rose to the challenge by hitting .336 and slugging .490 with 21 doubles, 13 triples and 13 home runs.
Can Gil hit with such success in the majors? His manager at Beaumont, a former ballplayer named Rogers Hornsby, seems to think so.

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Johnny Mize

"Big John has been swinging a big and potent bat in the National League since 1936. He bats left, throws right and has a lifetime batting average of .332. He was traded from the St. Louis Cardinals to the New York Giants in December 1941."

-1943 M.P. & Co.

"With a lifetime batting average of .328, Johnny swings the heaviest bat in the National League. He tied with Ralph Kiner to lead all players with 51 home runs last year. He is the only National Leaguer to four times hit three home runs in one game.

Johnny spent three years in the Navy. Married since 1947, he makes his home in Florida during the off-season."

-1948 Bowman No. 4

"With a lifetime batting average of .308 and a tremendous slugging average, Johnny swings one of the heaviest bats in the National League. 

For the second consecutive season, Johnny and Ralph Kiner tied for the lead in the NL home run department. It was also the third time he had hit 40 or more home runs, a new NL record.

Johnny is the only National Leaguer who has four times hit three home runs in one game."

-1949 Bowman No. 85

"Johnny batted .289 last season but smashed 40 home runs to tie Ralph Kiner of Pittsburgh for top honors. He also tied Kiner for homer honors in 1947 with 51. Johnny finished the 1947 season as the third best slugger in the National League.

He has driven in 1,096 runs in his career as a Cardinal and Giant- topped only by Mel Ott."

-1949 Leaf No. 46

"Johnny was in 106 games for the Giants last season, batting .263 and driving in 62 runs. He then went to the Yankees by waiver route. He was in 13 games for the Bronx Bombers, hitting .261. A shoulder injury kept Johnny inactive in the latter half of the season.

He led the National League in home runs in 1939, 1940, 1947 and 1948. He's now with Kansas City, subject to 24-hour recall by the Yankees."

-1950 Bowman No. 139

"Johnny slugged out 25 homers and drove in a total of 72 runs in 1950. He batted .272 in 90 appearances.
He began 1949 with the Giants. After hitting .263 for them in 106 games, and belting 18 homers, he was switched to the Yankees. He hit .261 in 13 games for the Bombers but was kept idle by a shoulder injury toward the end of the season.
Johnny has wielded one of the heaviest bats in baseball for many years. He served in the Navy."

-1951 Bowman, No. 50 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Billy Martin

"Nicknamed 'Billy the Kid,' Martin was born in Berkeley, May 16, 1928, of Italian-Portuguese descent. He throws right, bats right, is 5'11" and weighs 160. He attended Berkeley High School where he won awards in baseball and basketball, making all-star teams in both sports."

-1948 Signal Gasoline Oakland Oaks

1951

Billy announced his arrival in the majors with two hits in one inning during the Yankees' 1950 season opener in Boston. His first big league at-bat in the eighth inning resulted in an RBI double off Red Sox ace Mel Parnell. His second at-bat that inning was a two-out two-RBI single as the New Yorkers went on to a 15-10 victory. This brash youngster is a favorite of Yankee skipper Casey Stengel.
In 1947 Billy excelled with a .392 average and 230 hits in 130 games for Phoenix of the Arizona-Texas League. Joining Stengel on the Oakland club of the Pacific Coast league later that season, he saw regular duty at second base in 1948 as the Oaks captured the PCL pennant. In his final season with Oakland in 1949, Billy saw action in 172 games.

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Cliff Mapes and Billy Johnson

CLIFF MAPES

"During Cliff's first two seasons in baseball (1940, 1941), he played the infield and outfield, pitched and caught. He settled on being an outfielder in 1942. He was on the Cleveland Indians' roster when he entered military service in 1944.

Cliff returned to baseball in 1946 with Seattle and Wilkes-Barre. He first donned a Yankee uniform in 1948."

-1950 Bowman No. 218

"During Cliff's baseball career he has pitched, caught, and played first base in addition to patrolling the outfield. He batted .247 in 108 games in 1950. He had 88 hits, which included 12 homers, and drove in 61 runs.
Cliff began with Flint of the Michigan State League in 1940. He was on the Cleveland roster, 1944-45, but spent the time in service. He divided 1946-47 among three minor league clubs. Cliff joined the Yankees in 1948."

-1951 Bowman, No. 289 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)


BILLY JOHNSON

"Billy led the American League's third basemen in 1943 in put-outs and assists and tied for most double plays. He was named to the All-Star team in 1943. He spent two years in military service.

He's a heavy hitter. His 1947 average was .285, with 141 base hits 95 runs batted in. In the World Series that year, three of his seven hits were triples."

-1948 Bowman No. 33

"Billy led the American League's third basemen in 1943 in put-outs and assists and tied for most double plays. He was named to the All-Star team in 1943. He spent two years in military service.

He's a heavy hitter- his 131 hits in 1948 drove in 64 runs, and his average was .294. In the World Series of 1947, three of his seven hits were triples.

Billy lives in Augusta, Georgia."

-1949 Bowman No. 129

"Billy is one of the outstanding infielders in baseball today. He's a consistent hitter who finished 1948 with a batting mark of .294, including 12 home runs and 64 runs batted in. He is one of the sparkplugs of the team. Billy scores plenty of runs- 59 last season and 67 in 1947."

-1949 Leaf No. 14

"In 113 games for the 1949 pennant winners, Billy batted .249. Most of his games were at third, but on 21 occasions he held down the initial sack.

In 1943 he led American League third basemen in putouts and assists and tied for most double plays. He hit two triples in the 1947 World's Series.

Billy spent two years in military service."

-1950 Bowman No. 102

"Billy hit .260 in 108 games for the Yanks in 1950 and batted in 40 runs.
He led American League third baseman in putouts and assists in 1943, and tied for making the most double plays, then spent two years with the armed forces. During the 1947 World Series, three of Billy's seven hits were triples. He hit .249 in 1949; Billy was in 113 games that year, mostly at third, although he did appear in 21 games at first."

-1951 Bowman, No. 74 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Mickey Mantle

"Mickey is the Yankee rookie of whom so much is expected in 1951. Everyone was talking about him during spring training in which he batted over .400. Mickey kept on clicking when the regular season got underway.
He spent most of the 1950 campaign with Joplin of the Western Association. In 137 games, Mickey hit .383 and drove in 136 runs. He got 199 hits, which included 30 doubles, 12 triples and 26 homers."

-1951 Bowman, No. 253 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Ed Lopat

"Ed joined the Chicago White Sox in 1944 after seven seasons in the minors. He spent four seasons with the Chisox and compiled a total of 50 wins and 49 losses. In 1947, he won 16 and lost 13.

He was sold to the Yankees for the 1948 season. He won 17 games for them while losing only 11 and had an earned run average of 3.65."

-1949 Bowman No. 229

"He won 15 and lost 10 in 1949. He had an earned run average of 3.27, fourth best in the league.

Ed first came to the majors in 1944, with the Chicago White Sox. This followed seven seasons in the minors. In four seasons with the Sox, he compiled a win-lose record of 40-49.

Ed was sold to the Yankees for the 1948 campaign. He won 17 games and was the loser in 11."

-1950 Bowman No. 215

"Ed hurled great ball for the 1950 champs in 35 games, stacking 18 wins against 8 losses for a .692 percentage. He had an earned run average of .3.47, fourth lowest in the league.
He began in the majors with the White Sox in 1944 after seven seasons in the minors. Acquired by the Yankees for the 1948 campaign, Ed compiled a 17-11 record with an earned run average of 3.65. In 1949 he won 15, lost 10 and had a 3.27 ERA."

-1951 Bowman, No. 218 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Yankees Minor Leaguers

KANSAS CITY BLUES

GEORGE SELKIRK (Manager)

"George Selkirk, Yankees, a Canadian by birth, drew the unenviable task of replacing Babe Ruth when the latter finished his  Yankee career in 1934 and went to join the Boston Braves. Although he fell short of equaling the great slugging feats of the immortal Bam, he hit the respectable figure of .312 in his first year as a major league regular and, with Ben Chapman and Roy Johnson, gives the Yankees a heavy-hitting, sharp fielding outfield and restores some of the old glory of 'Murderers Row,' as the batting order of the club was known when Combs, Koenig, Ruth, Gehrig, Meusel and Lazzeri made up the leading end of the list."

-Austen Lake, Boston American (1936 National Chicle Diamond Stars No. 88) 

"Born in Huntsville, Ontario, on January 4, 1908, George bats left and throws right. He is of Scotch-Irish extraction.

George batted .355 for Newark in 1934. His career [highlight] came one afternoon in 1935 when he blasted in eight runs against the Athletics."

-1936 World Wide Gum No. 11

"The only Canadian in the Big Leagues, George was born in Huntsville, Ontario, January 4, 1908. He played professional ball in the Eastern League in 1927. He was brought to New York in 1934 to replace Babe Ruth.

His batting average for three years is .310. George played in the 1936 World Series, where he had a very fine average of .333.

George throws right and bats left. He is six feet tall and weighs 182 pounds."

-1937 O-Pee-Chee Batter Ups No. 108

"George Selkirk was given the task of filling the right field position for the New York Yankees when Babe Ruth left. Even though not the home run hitter the Babe was, he accounts for many of the Yankee runs, being a consistent hitter.

He started his baseball career with Rochester of the International League in 1927. After seven years of playing with minor league clubs, Selkirk was acquired by the Yankees in 1934 and since being with them has batted below .300 only one year. He has taken part in three World Series, batting .333 in 1936. His five-year major league record shows that he has taken part in 488 games, getting 329 hits for a batting average of .302."

-1939 Play Ball No. 26

"After a dismal year in 1938, George Selkirk made a brilliant comeback last year. He batted .306, drove in 100 runs, scored 103, and poled out 21 homers. His fielding percentage of .989 was tops among the regular outfielders in the league.

This is Selkirk's seventh year with the Yankees and in that time he has compiled a batting average of .303. Selkirk is one of the fastest outfielders in the league and he carries his speed to the basepaths as well. He stole 12 bases last year.

His greatest feat was hitting five homers in four consecutive games in August 1938."

-1940 Play Ball No. 8

ROY PARTEE

"After four seasons of minor league ball, Roy hit the majors with the Boston Red Sox in 1943, when he caught 96 games and hit .281. In 1946, after returning from a year of military service, he batted .315 for the Bosox.

After the 1947 season, Roy was traded to the St. Louis Browns in the deal that brought Vern Stephens and Jack Kramer to Boston. He'll spend the 1949 season as a Yankee."

-1949 Bowman No. 149

HANK WYSE

"In only his second big league season, Hank emerged as the top winner on the Cubs' staff in 1944. Used primarily as a starter after spending most of his rookie season in the bullpen, Hank posted a 16-15 record with a 3.15 ERA in 41 games. He gave up more hits (277) than any other pitcher in the National League but his 257 1/3 innings pitched ranked among the league leaders. Hank also demonstrated pinpoint control by walking only 57 batters.

Hank gave an inkling of things to come in his rookie campaign of 1943 when he posted a 9-7 record with a 2.94 ERA and five saves."

-1944 Play Ball No. 34 (1983 TCMA)

"Hank is having his second fling at the majors and his first in the American League. He entered baseball in 1940 and came up to the Cubs at the end of the 1942 season. He remained with the Baby Bruins through 1947, then spent some in the minors.
With the Philadelphia Athletics in 1950, Hank won 9, lost 14. He began 1951 with the A's but was switched on May 16 to the Washington Senators."

-1951 Bowman No. 192 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

SAN FRANCISCO SEALS

LEFTY O'DOUL (Manager)

"Long-distance hitters like O'Doul know the value of powerful wrists, which give the ball the last extra ounce of drive that sends it over the fence. Many boys who begin with weak wrists develop into strong hitters by constant exercise. One method practiced by major league players is to carry small rubber balls in each side pocket (handballs usually) which they continually squeeze as they sit in their hotel rooms or walk along the streets. In time this exercise develops the wrists to the proper degree of strength and allows them to swing a bat with increasing force."

-Austen Lake, Baseball Editor, Boston Transcript (1933 DeLong No. 10)

"Lefty twice led the National League in batting, in 1929 and 1932. Last year he hit .368 in 148 games.

He first came to the Big League with the Yankees as a pitcher. He failed to make the grade and was sent back to the minors. Lefty won a berth with the Giants in 1928 as an outfielder, was traded to the Phillies the next year and joined Brooklyn in 1931.

Born in San Francisco in 1897, Lefty is six feet tall and weighs 180 pounds. He bats and throws left-handed.

Last winter O'Doul went to Japan and taught batting to the University of Tokyo players. He likes to play golf and does it well."

-1933 Goudey No. 58

"O'Doul appeared in only one game of the 1933 World Series, pinch-hitting in the 6th inning of the second game, but his hit drove in the first two Giant runs to give his team a 2 to 1 lead. The Giants scored six runs in this inning and won the game 6 to 1.

O'Doul was secured by the Giants from the Brooklyn Dodgers during the season of 1933. He is 36 years old, an outfielder, six feet tall, bats and throws left-handed and weighs 180 pounds.

O'Doul led the National League in batting in 1929 and 1932."

-1933 Goudey No. 232

EDDIE LAKE

"Eddie first hit the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals at the end of the 1939 season. He spent parts of 1940 and 1941 with the Cards and then was with Sacramento in 1942.

The next three seasons were spent with the Red Sox. He was traded to the Tigers for the 1946 season. Last season he hit .263 in 64 games with the Tigers."

-1949 Bowman No. 107

"Eddie began in organized baseball in 1937. He first struck the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals at the end of the 1939 season and spent parts of 1940 and 1941 with the Cards.

He was with Sacramento in 1942, then came three seasons with the Red Sox. He was traded to the Tigers for the 1946 season.

Eddie ran into bad luck in August 1948. He broke a finger and was out for the rest of the year."

-1950 Bowman No. 240

"In organized baseball since 1937, Eddie has played second, short and third. He hit the majors at the end of the 1939 season with the Browns. He was with them, and with the Sacramento Solons of the Pacific Coast League, through 1942.

Eddie was acquired by the Red Sox for the 1943 season and remained with Boston until traded to the Detroit Tigers during the winter of 1946. He was with the Tigers through 1950 and is now with San Francisco."

-1951 Bowman No. 140 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

BEAUMONT ROUGHNECKS

HARRY CRAFT (Manager)

"Harry Craft, one of the greatest grid stars in the history of Mississippi State College, started his professional career with the Monessen club in 1935, with whom he had a batting average of .317. After two more years in the minor leagues, he was acquired by the Cincinnati Reds in 1937, with whom he played 10 games, getting 13 hits for an average of .310.

Harry played his first full season with the Reds last year, driving in 83 runs with 165 hits. His two-year major league batting average for 161 games is .272."

-1939 Play Ball No. 65

"Defensively, there are few outfielders in the National League better than Harry Craft. Craft, whose brother Tom is a Southwestern scout for the Cincinnati Reds, is one of the fastest men in the league and covers an amazing amount of ground in center field.

His batting average is deceiving, for although he hit only .257 last year, he brought in 67 runs. He hit 13 homers, seven triples and 20 two-baggers.

At Mississippi State College, which he attended for three and a half years, Craft was one of the outstanding football players in the history of the college."

-1940 Play Ball No. 79

FORD GARRISON

"The Athletics obtained Ford from the Boston Red Sox in the first month of the 1944 campaign, and he became the A's regular left fielder. Appearing in 121 games for the A's, Ford hit .269 with four home runs and 37 RBIs. He also scored 63 runs and stole 10 bases.

Ford broke into the major leagues with the Red Sox in 1943 and hit .279 in 36 games."

-1944 Play Ball No. 14 (1983 TCMA)

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Bob Kuzava

"During 1949 Bob appeared in 29 games with the bogged down Chisox and copped a record of 10-6.

He won 14 for Baltimore in 1947 and was voted the outstanding left-hander of the International League. With the same club in 1948, he got a bit wild, issuing 113 walks, but struck out 154 men.

Bob once belonged to the Indians. He spent some time in military service."

-1950 Bowman No. 5

"Bob was switched from the White Sox to the Senators after 10 games in 1950. On the mound 22 times for the Nats, he won 9 lost 10.
He belonged at one time to the Indians. While with the Baltimore Orioles in 1947, Bob was voted the outstanding southpaw of the International League. He was bothered by wildness with the Orioles in 1948. In 1949, with the White Sox, Bob had a record of 10-6.
Bob was in military service for three years."

-1951 Bowman, No. 97 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Jack Kramer and Bob Muncrief

JACK KRAMER

"He started in baseball in 1936, playing with Toledo and the St. Louis Browns. Handsome Jack came to the Boston Red Sox from the St. Louis Browns in a trade that involved eight other players and $310,000 cash.

He had his best season in 1948 with the Bosox, winning 18 games and losing 5 for a percentage of .783, best in the American League. He's been in one World Series and on two All-Star teams."

-1949 Bowman No. 53

"Handsome Jack came to the Giants from the Red Sox at the completion of the 1949 campaign. Plagued with a sore arm through most of the season, he won 6 and lost 8 in 21 games.

He began in organized baseball with Toledo and the St. Louis Browns. He went to the Red Sox in 1948, which proved Jack's best season. He won 18, lost 5, for a league leading .783."

-1950 Bowman No. 199

"In 1950- Jack's first season in the National League after coming to the Giants from the Red Sox- he won 3 and lost 6 in 35 appearances. Hampered by a sore arm for the last two seasons, he had a 6-8 record in 21 games for the Red Sox in 1949.
Jack began with Toledo and the St. Louis Browns in 1936. He went to Boston after the 1947 season in a big deal. Released by the Giants on May 16, 1951, he was signed by the Yankees on May 28."

-1951 Bowman, No. 200 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

BOB MUNCRIEF

"Bob spent seven seasons in the minors before he made the majors to stick, although he had two trials with the St. Louis Browns. In four different seasons with the Browns, he won 13 games (1941, '43, '44, '45).

He was with the Browns until the end of the 1947 season until he was traded to Cleveland. Last season he was 5-4. Bob went to the Pittsburgh Pirates at the end of 1948."

-1949 Bowman No. 221

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Jackie Jensen

"Jackie is a triple-threat back. He's California's top offensive player and ranked third in the Pacific Coast Conference with 434 yards gained rushing and 271 in the air for 705 total. He scored a 64-yard touchdown as California beat Navy, 14-7, last season.

Also an outstanding pitcher, Jackie is engaged to Zoe Ann Olson, America's springboard diving queen."

-1948 Leaf No. 73

"Jackie got into 45 games for the Yanks in 1950, hitting .171. He played in 125 games for the Oakland Oaks in 1949, hitting .277 and driving in 77 runs.
He won fame as an All-American backfield star at the University of California. He made a 70-yard touchdown run in the 1949 Rose Bowl game. Six major league clubs were seeking Jackie's services when the Yanks signed him in one of their biggest rookie deals."

-1951 Bowman, No. 254 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Johnny Hopp

"Johnny came to the majors at the end of the 1939 campaign with the St. Louis Cardinals after four seasons in the minors. He remained with the Redbirds until sold to the Boston Braves in 1946. Johnny hit .333 for the Braves in '46.

At the end of the 1947 season, the Braves traded him to the Pirates. In 120 games for the Bucs last year he hit .278."

-1949 Bowman No. 207

"Johnny played with the Cardinals and Braves before coming to the Pirates in 1948. His best season in the majors was 1946 when he hit a nifty .333. He hit .288 in 1947 and fell to .278 last season.

Johnny is very fast and equipped with a good throwing arm. He once starred on the University of Nebraska football team."

-1949 Leaf No. 139

"Johnny began 1949 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was sent to the Dodgers for whom he played in eight games. He was then switched back to the Pirates. Johnny hit .306 in 105 games for Pittsburgh.

He broke into the majors with the Cardinals at the end of 1939 after four years in the minors. He remained with the Cards until sold to the Braves in 1946. He was traded to the Pirates after the 1947 season."

-1950 Bowman No. 122

"Johnny began 1950 with the Pirates, hitting .340 in 106 games. He was switched to the Yanks toward the end of the season, hitting .333 in 19 games for the Bombers.
Prior to 1950, Johnny had spent nine full seasons in the National League; coming to the Yankees was his first experience in the Junior Circuit. He entered the majors with the Cardinals in 1939, was sent to the Braves in 1946, to the Pirates in 1948, and divided 1949 between the Pirates and the Dodgers."

-1951 Bowman, No. 146 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Yankees Coaches

FRANKIE CROSETTI

"Crosetti is one of the most valuable members of the New York Yankees, as he can play either at third base or at shortstop. He came to the Yankees in 1932 from the San Francisco team in the Pacific Coast League, where he walloped .343 in 183 games, hitting five home runs and steading 23 bases.

Crosetti was born in San Francisco. After starring in independent baseball circles, he signed with the San Francisco club in 1928. He played with them until secured by the Yankees."

-1933 Goudey No. 217

"Frankie, it is said, started to learn the art of batting by swinging a home-made bat against corncobs tossed by an older brother. It's landed him the regular shortstop berth with the Yankees."

-1936 Goudey 

"Frank Crosetti, Yankees, one of a steadily increasing number of Italian-American boys coming into the major leagues. Crosetti is the best Yankee shortstop since the time of Everett Scott, the little iron man whose record of consecutive games was recently broken by Lou Gehrig. Crosetti and Tony Lazzeri form the all-Italian keystone combination for the Yankees, a double play team that is equalled only by Detroit's Rogell-Gehringer duo.

Joining the Yankees in 1932, Crosetti helped his team to a pennant and then to a World Championship in which the Yankees beat the Cubs in four straight games."

-Austen Lake, Boston American (1936 National Chicle Diamond Stars No. 86) 

"Many diamond luminaries trace their start back to the San Francisco Winter League, among the number being Frankie Crosetti. The Seals gave him a chance in 1928 and he made rapid strides. In 1930 he hit .334, compiling 261 wallops [hits], and the next season batted .343 to win his berth with the New Yorkers."

-1936 World Wide Gum No. 91

BILL DICKEY

"Bill went from April 19, 1931, to July 2 of the same campaign handling 235 putouts without a miscue, and starting again on July 31, 1931, accepted 322 consecutive chances perfectly.

Lena Blackburne discovered Bill catching in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and induced the latter to sign with Little Rock at the age of 17. Bill has been a Yankee since 1928."

-1936 World Wide Gum No. 34

"Probably the greatest tribute paid Bill Dickey is the saying 'As Dickey goes, so goes the Yankees.' And the Yankees have gone pretty well.

There isn't a catcher in baseball today who can match Dickey's record. After 11 full seasons as top man behind the Yankee plate, Dickey boasts a .320 batting average- he hit under .300 only once in 11 years. There isn't a more dangerous man in a pinch than Dickey. For the last four years he has batted 100 or more runs, and in five World Series with the Yanks brought in 19 tallies, five of them in the last classic. He has caught 100 or more games for 11 successive years, a feat equalling the major league record."

-1940 Play Ball No. 7

"Bill Dickey, one of the greatest of modern catcher, had an off year in 1940, but even the greatest must slip sometime. For the second time since he became the regular catcher with the Yankees back in 1929, Dickey fell below .300 in batting. But he set a major league record by catching 100 or more games for the 12th consecutive year, and tied Rollie Hemsley for the top defensive honors for the season.

After 12 years Dickey shows a batting average of .315 and 1,058 runs batted in."

-1941 Play Ball No. 70

"Bill Dickey has been a stellar and dependable catcher for the Yankees for fifteen years. He has a life-time batting average of .313 and is considered one of the top-flight catchers of the American League. Bill has played in seven World Series and performed very well in all of them."

-1943 M.P. & Co.

BILL DICKEY'S LAST HOME RUN

"The St. Louis Cardinals had drubbed the Yankees 4 games to 1 in the 1942 World Series. Now, in 1943, the two teams met again. The Series stood at 3 games to 1 in favor of the Yankees. Another victory would reverse last year's defeat. But big Mort Cooper, who had beaten the Yanks for the Cardinals' sole victory thus far, was pitted against them.

For five innings Cooper was locked in a scoreless pitching duel with Spud Chandler. Two were out in the Yankee sixth. Charlie Keller was on first when Bill Dickey came to bat. Cooper reared back and pitched a high, fast one. Dickey swung his bat around and timed it perfectly.

It was a home run- Bill Dickey's last major league home run- and it won a World Series for the Yankees."

-1948 Swell Sport Thrills No. 6

"Bill Dickey is among baseball's greatest catchers. His playing career went from 1925 through 1947. It began and ended with Little Rock.

Bill joined the Yankees in 1928 and was with them as a catcher through 1946. He managed the Yanks during part of 1946.

He caught 100 or more games for 13 straight seasons for the big league record. He led American League receivers in fielding five times, in putouts six times and in assists three times."

-1951 Bowman, No. 290 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

TOMMY HENRICH

LOST THIRD STRIKE CHANGES TIDE OF 1941 WORLD SERIES

"Three strikes may be out but that didn't happen in the 1941 World Series between the Yankees and the Dodgers. Brooklyn faced New York trailing two games to one. Victory was in their grasp in the fourth game. It would tie the Series.

The Yankees came up for their final turn at bat in the ninth with the score 4 to 3 against them. Big Hugh Casey was pitching for the Dodgers. Quickly he retired Sturm and Rolfe. Two out, Tommy Henrich up, and one out to go for victory.

With the count three and two, Henrich swung lustily at the payoff pitch and missed for the third strike- ending the game- but the pitch got away from catcher Mickey Owen. It tailed to the grandstand and Henrich raced to first on the error. Then Joe DiMaggio singled, Charlie Keller doubled and Bill Dickey walked. Joe Gordon followed with a slashing double to left and the Yankees had scored four runs.

A weird error on a ball which should have ended the game in Dodger triumph turned the tables into an ultimate Yankee World Championship."

-1948 Swell Sport Thrills No. 5

"One of the greatest outfielders in baseball and a born competitor, Tommy upped his batting average for last year over 1947 to the tune of .308. He banged out 25 homers, 15 at home, and hit at least one in every park. He hit four home runs with the bases loaded, a feat equalled by only five other players in the history of the game. A top performer in the clutch; his slugging average was .554."

-1949 Leaf No. 55

"One of the all-time greats of the Yankees. In 1950 a bad knee held Tommy's games down to 73 and his batting average to .272. Now he has hung up his active spikes and donned coaching shoes.
'Old Reliable' had one of his best seasons in 1949. He hit .287, had 20 doubles, three triples, 24 homers and drove in 85 runs.
Tommy has served in the Coast Guard."

-1951 Bowman, No. 291 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

JIM TURNER

After toiling in the minor leagues for 14 seasons, Jim enjoyed an outstanding rookie season with Boston's National Leaguers in 1937. The 33-year-old won 20 games with a league-high five shutouts and a circuit-best 2.38 ERA. Jim was an All-Star in 1938, and in 1940 posted a 14-7 record for Cincinnati's most recent World Series winner. He concluded his playing days as a valuable relief pitcher for the Yankees.

When this longtime baseball man returned to the Bronx as Yankee pitching mentor, he was no stranger to manager Casey Stengel. Jim had pitched for the 'Old Perfesser' in Boston and managed against him in the Pacific Coast League.

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Whitey Ford

"Whitey joined the Yankees mid-way in their 1950 pennant drive. He wowed the fans by winning nine games while losing only one. He hung up a .900 percentage and an earned run average of 2.81 and won the last game of the World Series.
Whitey is not wearing a baseball uniform in 1951. He is occupied with a more important job for Uncle Sam. Good luck, Whitey, in the Army and on your return."

-1951 Bowman, No. 1 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Tom Ferrick and Bob Porterfield

TOM FERRICK

"After appearing in 16 games for the 1950 Browns, winning one and losing three, Tom was acquired by the Yanks. He proved valuable to them in their pennant drive. His relief hurling netted eight wins against four losses. He took part in 30 games.
Tom has been playing ball since 1936. He made the majors in 1941 and has played for five big league outfits, beginning with the Athletics. Tom was in the service for three years."

-1951 Bowman, No. 182 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

BOB PORTERFIELD

"Bob joined the Yankees late last season after setting the International League on fire with his pitching. He had a 15-6 record when he got the call from the Yanks. For New York he compiled a 5-3 record.

Early in the season Bob pitched 36 shutout innings and won his first nine ball games. Overall he had a sensational ERA of 1.91 and struck out 133 batters in 178 1/3 innings.

Originally a catcher, Bob went to the mound in 1946 for the Class D Radford club. He spent the 1947 season with Norfolk."

-1949 Bowman No. 3

"Due to a sore arm, Bob was farmed out to Newark for conditioning during part of 1949. Back with the Yankees, he had a 2-5 record in 12 games.

With Newark in 1948, Bob won 15 and lost 6. Early in the season Bob pitched 36 shutout innings and won his first nine ball games. Overall he had a 1.91 earned run average. He was brought up to the Yankees when the season was over.

Bob saw action as a paratrooper in the war."

-1950 Bowman No. 216 

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Joe DiMaggio

"Born in California, November 25, 1914, Joe signed with San Francisco in the Pacific Coast League in 1932. He compiled a batting average of .398 in 1935 and came to New York. Joe was the most sensational rookie of 1936 and played in the last World's Series when his batting average was .346.

He will make up for some of the color lost when Babe Ruth retired. Joe bats and throws right-handed, his height is 6'2" and his weight is 195 pounds."

-1937 O-Pee-Chee Batter Ups No. 118

"Joe began his professional baseball career with the San Francisco club in 1932. He entered the majors in 1936 with the New York Yankees with whom he is now playing."

-1938 Goudey Heads-Up No. 250

"Joe DiMaggio, regarded as the greatest outfielder in baseball today, began his baseball career as a shortstop with the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League in 1932. Switching to the outfield the next year saw him in action in 187 games, getting a batting average of .340. The following year for San Francisco he hit .341 and in 1935 hit .398.

He joined the Yankees in 1936 as an outfielder for whom he hit .323 (.346 in the World Series), getting 206 hits in 138 games- a feat which only 13 other first-year men have ever been able to do. In 1937 he was crowned the home run king of the American League, with 46, led the league in runs scored, with 151, and led the league in total bases, with 418.

Joe has been selected as a center fielder in three All-Star Games, and in 1938 was selected by the largest number of votes, 241 out of a possible 249. He also received 106 votes for the Most Valuable Player award the same year. His three-year major league record shows 615 hits in 434 games for a batting average of .331."

-1939 Play Ball No. 26

"They call Joe DiMaggio 'The Yankee Clipper' and he certainly lived up to his nickname last year. Experts are comparing Joe to outfielders like Cobb and Speaker. 

Without a doubt, he was the outstanding fly-chaser in the American League last year. It appeared most of the season that DiMaggio might finish with a .400 batting mark, but he slipped to .381, still good enough for the league batting crown. He was second in runs-batted-in with 126 and clouted 30 home runs.

In the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, Joe batted .313, getting four singles and a home run. His only hit in the All-Star Game was a home run.

Joe holds numerous batting records, but one record he is most proud of is being the only player to participate in four World's Series during his first four major league years."

-1940 Play Ball No. 1

"The Yankees, after four successive pennants, fell to third place last year, but Joe DiMaggio, the Yankee Clipper, kept right on going. For the second straight year, the American League batting title went to DiMaggio, this time with an average of .352. The brilliant Yankee, whose fielding ability is as great as his batting, drove in 133 runs and hit 31 home runs.

In five years with the Yankees, Joe displays a lifetime batting average of .343, with 691 runs batted in. He has played in every one of the last five All-Star Games."

-1941 Play Ball No. 71

"Joltin' Joe came to the Yankees from the Pacific Coast League in 1936 and has been the bright star of baseball ever since. He is considered by experts as the finest player in both leagues and not without cause. Joe has played in six World Series. His 1942 batting average was .305."

-1943 M.P. & Co.

IT TOOK FOUR MEN TO STOP JOE DIMAGGIO'S BAT STREAK

"No individual batting performance has ever equalled in drama and thrills the amazing 56-game batting streak of Joe DiMaggio in 1941. And it took four men, two pitchers and two infielders, to snap the string of hitting in consecutive games which set a new major league record.

In Cleveland, June 17 in the first inning, Ken Keltner made a sensational backhand stop. In the fourth, DiMaggio was walked- not intentionally- by Al Smith. In the seventh, Keltner again made a brilliant catch.

And then came the game's most dramatic moment- DiMaggio's last trip to the plate in the eighth. Jim Bagby had replaced Smith for the Indians. There was one out and the bases were loaded. The count was two balls and one strike when DiMaggio connected. The ball blazed on the ground to Lou Boudreau who made a great stop and turned the ball into a double play. The greatest batting streak in major league history was over."

-1948 Swell Sport Thrills No. 15

"Joe smashed out 39 home runs (tops) and 190 hits for a .320 average last season. He has a lifetime bat mark of .330.

He topped the American League in hitting in 1939 (.381) and 1940 (.352). Joe holds the major league record of hitting safely in 56 consecutive games- from May 15, 1941 through July 16, 1941- finally being stopped by Al Smith and Jim Bagby of Cleveland."

-1949 Leaf No. 1

Outfield, New York Yankees

Member of the 1950 New York Yankees World Champions
Born Martinez, California November 25, 1914
Height 6-2, Weight 200
Bats Right, Throws Right
1950 Hit .301 in 139 Games

-1951 Berk-Ross No. 2-5 (Berk-Ross Inc.)

Another outstanding year for the Yankee Clipper.
Playing for his eighth World Champion and ninth pennant winner, Joe earned his 12th All-Star selection in 12 seasons. His .301 average, 32 home runs and 122 RBIs placed him ninth in the MVP voting.
Joe's .308 World Series average included a round-tripper off Robin Roberts in the 10th inning of Game 2 that would give the Yankees a commanding two-game lead en route to a sweep of Philadelphia. Joe had helped the Yankee cause with his glove in the sixth inning of that game with an outstanding catch of a 400-foot drive to center by Del Ennis.

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Joe Collins

Joe has been in the Yankee organization since 1939, missing time for military service in 1944 and '45. He established himself as a top prospect with outstanding seasons in 1948 and '49.

In 139 games with Newark in '48, Joe batted .273 with a .480 slugging average. He registered 25 doubles and 23 home runs along with 76 RBIs. Joe enjoyed even greater success with Kansas City in '49, hitting .319 with 83 RBIs in 146 games, with a  .547 slugging average. His 169 hits included 25 doubles, 18 triples and 20 homers.

1950 was Joe's first full season in the majors. His throw home from first in the ninth inning of Game 3 of the World Series prevented the Phillies from scoring the winning run in a contest eventually won by the Yankees.

Joe can also play the outfield.

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Jerry Coleman

"With the Yankees' farm team, the Newark Bears, in 1948, Jerry played in 142 games, hitting .251 and driving in 62 runs. He played short, second and third for the Bears. He spent 1947 with Kansas City where he hit .278 in 131 games.

Jerry played prep, Legion and semi-pro ball before he joined organized ball in 1942. He served as a Marine pilot."

-1949 Bowman No. 225

"One of last year's outstanding rookies. In 128 games for the Champs, Jerry fielded .981 to lead league second basemen. He made only 12 errors in 625 chances. He hit .275 and drove in 42 runs.

He played second, short and third for the Newark Bears in 1948. He played Legion and semi-pro ball before turning pro in 1942.

Jerry saw service as a Marine pilot."

-1950 Bowman No. 47

"Jerry begins his third season with the Yankees in 1951. The former Marine combat pilot batted .287 in 1950. This was 12 points higher than the average he compiled during his rookie year, 1949.
Jerry put over an impressive fielding performance in the 1950 World Series. He also came through with timely hits.
He joined organized baseball in 1942 and worked his way up the Yankee chain into big-time competition."

-1951 Bowman, No. 49 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Tommy Byrne

"Tommy gave up 160 bases on balls in 1950- the most in the League- yet had the excellent win-lose record of 15-9.
He began in organized baseball in 1940 with the Yankees' Newark farm team. Tommy joined the parent club in 1943 after compiling a record of 17-4 to lead the International League in winning percentage (.810).
In the service for the next three years, Tommy was with the Yanks in 1946 and has been since the end of 1947."

-1951 Bowman, No. 73 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Bobby Brown

"He batted .267 in 95 games in 1950. He hit well in the World Series.
Bobby had graduated from medical school and had completed his internship when he signed with the Yankees for a reported $50,000 bonus. He was farmed to Newark for his first season (1946). In a utility role for the Yanks in 1947, Bobby hit .300 in 1948, and .283 in 1949.
He's now completing his hospital internship in preparation for the medical branch of service."

-1951 Bowman, No. 110 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Yogi Berra

"A sandlot boy from Missouri, Yogi first played for Norfolk. After two war service years, he joined the Newark Bears in 1946 to play in 77 games.

Yogi hit 15 homers, drove in 59 runs and built an average of .314. He joined the Yankees at the end of that season to appear in seven games. Last year he caught 83 games and his average was .280."

-1948 Bowman No. 6

"A sandlot boy from Missouri, Yogi first played for Norfolk. After two war service years, he joined the Newark Bears in 1946 to play in 77 games.

Yogi hit 15 homers, drove in 59 runs and hit .314. He joined the Yankees at the end of that season to appear in seven games. Last year he caught 83 games and batted .280. Last season in 125 games, most of which he played as an outfielder, he hit .305."

-1949 Bowman No. 60

"Yogi is a staunch natural hitter who cleared .305 last year with 98 RBIs and 14 homers. He will be behind the plate exclusively this season under the guidance of Coach Bill Dickey."

-1949 M.P. & Co.

"Yogi is one of the top catchers of the American League. In 116 games for the World Champion Yankees, he batted .277 and drove in 91 runs.

Yogi hailed from the Missouri sandlots. He first played professionally with Norfolk, then spent two years in military service. He joined Newark in 1946 and was up to the Yanks at the end of that season. In 1948 he played mostly in the outfield."

-1950 Bowman No. 46

"In 151 games for the 1950 champions, Yogi batted .322, driving in 124 runs. His hits included 28 homers, six triples and 30 doubles.
He appeared in 116 games in 1949, batting .277 and driving in 91 runs. Though Yogi is now one of the best catchers in the American League, he played mostly in the outfield in 1948 and batted .305 in 125 games.
From the Missouri sandlots, Yogi first played pro with Norfolk."

-1951 Bowman, No. 2 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Hank Bauer

"Hank began in baseball in 1941 with Oshkosh, Wisconsin as an outfielder, infielder and pitcher. He joined the Marines after the season.

He was back in baseball in 1946 with Quincy of the Three-I League. He played the outfield, hitting .323 and driving in 90 runs. With the Yankees' farm team, the Kansas City Blues, in 1947 and most of 1948, Hank was called up by the Yankees near the end of 1948."

-1950 Bowman No. 219

"Hank had his best major league season with the 1950 World Champions, batting .320 in 113 games and driving in 70 runs.
He got his start in baseball in 1941, then spent the next four seasons in the Marine Corps. Hank returned to baseball in 1946 with Quincy of the Three-I League. He was with the Yanks' Kansas City farm in 1947 and 1948, hitting .313 and .305.
Hank came up to the Yanks near the close of the 1948 campaign. He hit .272 in 1949."

-1951 Bowman, No. 183 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)