1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Tommy Byrne

TOMMY BYRNE
"After appearing in nine games for the Yankees in 1951, Tommy was traded to the St. Louis Browns. He was in a total of 28 games for the season. His record was 6 and 11.
Tommy began in organized baseball in 1940 with Newark. He has been plagued by wildness in his career."

-1952 Bowman No. 61

"Always bothered by wildness, Tommy seems to have found his control. The Wake Forest star won 15 games in 1949, pitching a 1-hit game that year, and 15 in 1950, striking out a total of 247 in two years. In June 1951, the Yankees traded him to the Browns. That year he was the only pitcher to hit a homer with the bases full.
A veteran of World War II, Tommy started in pro ball in 1940 and had a 17-4 record at Newark in 1942. After two trials, he made the Yankees in 1948."

-1952 Topps No. 241

"The White Sox obtained Tommy from the Browns in September of 1952.
A graduate of Wake Forest, he started his career with Newark in 1940. After chalking up a 17-4 record for them in '42. Tommy was bought up to the Yankees.
He was in military service during 1944 and '45, went to Kansas City for part of '47 and compiled records of 15-7 and 15-9 for the Yanks in 1949 and '50. Tommy went to the Browns in June of '51."

-1953 Topps No. 123

1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Harry Byrd

"A highly regarded right-hander, Harry was named American League Rookie of the Year for 1952. He appeared in 37 games for the Athletics, winning 15 and losing a like number. His earned run average was a low 3.32.
Optioned to Savannah of the Sally League in 1951, Harry won 18 games and lost 14. He worked in 248 innings and led the league in complete games with 23. He struck out 180."

-1953 Bowman No. 38

"Harry was one of eight American League hurlers to win 15 or more games in 1952. This, plus an excellent earned run average, earned him a spot on the Rookie All-Star team.
He's been pitching in pro ball since 1946 when he broke in at Martinsville with a 15-12 record. With Savannah in '47 and '48 he posted marks of 16-13 and 15-15. After a brief stint with the A's in 1950, he went to Buffalo. Harry won 18 games for Savannah in '51."

-1953 Topps No. 131

"Harry was the Rookie of the Year with the Athletics in 1952. The Yankees acquired him from the A's in a big player deal early in 1954.
He has been in pro ball since 1946. The Athletics got him from Buffalo in April of 1950. They thought enough of Harry to turn over three players and cash to the Bisons. In 1951 with Savannah of the Sally League, he won 18 games and lost 14. He led the league in complete games and struck out 180."

-1954 Bowman No. 49

1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Yogi Berra

"Yogi is one of the best catchers in the American League and is ranked as one of baseball's best. Hall of Famer Bill Dickey, the Yankees' greatest, helped Yogi, and so gets a big assist.
Yogi's 27 homers and 108 runs batted in led the Yanks in 1953, even though he got off to a slow start because of illness. He was the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1951, and has been the American League's All-Star catcher since 1949."

-1954 Bowman No. 161

"One of baseball's best sluggers, Yogi led the Yankees in homers, total bases (253), and RBIs in 1953. He was fifth in the American League in slugging with a rousing .523 average and hit .428 in the 1953 World Series.
In 1951, Yogi paced the New Yorkers to the World Championship and was voted the American League's Most Valuable Player.
Yogi was always a top-notch slugger, but teaching [from Bill Dickey] made him a first-string catcher. He learned to control his pegs, and in 1950 and 1951 he led American League catchers in assists."

-1954 Topps No. 50

"One of baseball's best catchers and also one of its most colorful personalities. The American League's Most Valuable Player in 1951, he appeared in 137 games for the Yankees in 1953, batting .296. He drove in 108 runs and had 27 homers to his credit.
During three seasons, 1949-50-51, he led American League catchers in double plays."

1954 Red Man No. AL-20

1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Hank Bauer

"Hank is one of the mainstays of the Yankee outfield. His .304 batting average in 1953 was the highest of any Yankee regular.
Hank doesn't know what it's like to play for a loser in the major leagues. In his first five full seasons, the Yankees have won five World Championships.
In the 1951 World Series, he broke up the final game with a base-clearing triple, then killed the Giant rally in the ninth inning with a tumbling catch for the final out."

-1954 Bowman No. 129

"Hank had the best batting average among Yankee regulars in 1953. His highest major league mark was .320 in 1950. In his five full American League seasons, the Yankees have won the World Series each year.
He started at Oshkosh in 1941 and spent four years in the Marines. He hit .323 at Quincy in '46, then .313 and .305 with Kansas City in '47 and '48 before joining the Yankees.
In the 1951 World Series Hank tripled in the final game, driving in three important runs. In the ninth inning, he made a sit-down catch on Sal Yvars' drive for the final out of the Series."

-1954 Topps No. 130

"The former Marine had an excellent season for the Yankees in 1953. He appeared in 133 games and his batting average was .304. He had 133 hits good for a total of 195 bases. There were 20 doubles, six triples and 10 homers among those hits, and he batted in 57 runs. His fielding percentage of .992 was second-best among American League outfielders."

-1954 Red Man No. AL-23