WILLY MIRANDA
"Regarded as one of the best-fielding shortstops in the American League, the Yankees got Willie from the St. Louis Browns last year as 'pennant insurance.'
He broke into organized ball with Sherman-Dennison in 1948 and played for Chattanooga in '49 and '50. In '51, Willie got a trial with Washington and hit .444 in seven games. He was with Chicago and St. Louis in '52.
Willie got a homer in his first time at bat for the White Sox in their first 1952 exhibition game. In 1953 as a Yankee, he belted his first major league homer. Against whom? The White Sox!"
-1954 Topps No. 56
NEIL BERRY (Kansas City Blues)
"Neil batted .236 in 38 games in 1950.
He played Legion ball, and also for Western Michigan College, before signing with Winston-Salem in 1942. He spent the next three years in military service.
Neil played for Buffalo in 1946 and 1947, hitting .299 and driving in 50 runs in '47. In his rookie year with the Tigers, 1948, he took part in 87 games and his batting average was .266. He got into 109 games in 1949 and batted .237."
-1951 Bowman No. 213 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)
"In 67 games in 1951, Neil batted .229 and drove in nine runs. He had 36 hits which included five doubles and two triples and fielded .945.
He entered professional baseball with Winston-Salem in 1942. He hit the majors with Detroit in 1948 and has been with the Tigers ever since.
Neil attended Western Michigan College."
-1952 Bowman No. 219
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Gil McDougald
"Gil has a most unorthodox batting stance, holding his bat as if it were too heavy for him. It works, though, because he's a dangerous hitter.
He was the Rookie of the Year in 1951. Gil hit a grand slam homer at the Polo Grounds in the World Series against the Giants that year, becoming the first rookie ever to perform the feat, and only the third player in baseball to do it during a Series. He is a good fielder, too."
-1954 Bowman No. 97
"Gil was in 141 games for the Yankees in 1953 and he hit .285 and drove in 83 runs.
He has an unorthodox batting stance, and he holds the bat as if it were too heavy for him. However, he gets the base hits, so no one tries to change his style.
Gil's rookie season in the majors was 1951, and probably his biggest thrill came when he hit a grand slam home run in the World Series, the first rookie to do so."
-1954 Red Man No. AL-25
"Gilbert James McDougald, nicknamed 'Gil,' led the American League in double plays in 1952. He tied a World Series record in 1951 by homering with the bases loaded, equalling Elmer Smith and Tony Lazzeri. In '52, Gil tied for the number of errors for a third baseman in a Series.
He was elected Rookie of the Year in 1951."
-1954 Red Heart
He was the Rookie of the Year in 1951. Gil hit a grand slam homer at the Polo Grounds in the World Series against the Giants that year, becoming the first rookie ever to perform the feat, and only the third player in baseball to do it during a Series. He is a good fielder, too."
-1954 Bowman No. 97
"Gil was in 141 games for the Yankees in 1953 and he hit .285 and drove in 83 runs.
He has an unorthodox batting stance, and he holds the bat as if it were too heavy for him. However, he gets the base hits, so no one tries to change his style.
Gil's rookie season in the majors was 1951, and probably his biggest thrill came when he hit a grand slam home run in the World Series, the first rookie to do so."
-1954 Red Man No. AL-25
"Gilbert James McDougald, nicknamed 'Gil,' led the American League in double plays in 1952. He tied a World Series record in 1951 by homering with the bases loaded, equalling Elmer Smith and Tony Lazzeri. In '52, Gil tied for the number of errors for a third baseman in a Series.
He was elected Rookie of the Year in 1951."
-1954 Red Heart
Saturday, September 1, 2018
1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Billy Martin
BILLY MARTIN
"Billy's work in the World Series will never by forgotten. He had 12 hits in 24 at-bats for a .500 average. His 12 hits tied the former Series high. However, Billy got his in six games, and the four players previously who had that many made them in seven and eight-game Series.
He had two homers, two triples and a double among the hits. He wound up with 23 total bases, breaking a six-game mark set by Babe Ruth."
-1954 Bowman No. 145
"Billy was the Series hero in 1953, setting new records for the most hits (12) and total bases (23) in a six-game Series. He also tied other marks by driving in six runs and posting an amazing .500 batting average. In regular season play, the Yankee pepper-pot led American League second basemen in double plays (121).
He played the entire 1952 World Series with a bad knee injury. In the seventh inning of the seventh game, Brooklyn had three on. A tricky pop-up looked like a hit! But Billy used his last bit of strength and made a great catch, saving the game and the Series for the Yanks!"
-1954 Topps No. 13
"Alfred Manuel Martin is nicknamed 'Billy.' It is not recorded just how Martin got the nickname 'Billy,' but that is the way he is known to his teammates and fans.
He started in organized baseball at Idaho Falls in 1946. With the Yankees since 1950, Billy tied the major league record by accepting 24 chances in a double-header on September 24, 1952.
He's now in military service."
-1954 Red Heart
"Billy's work in the World Series will never by forgotten. He had 12 hits in 24 at-bats for a .500 average. His 12 hits tied the former Series high. However, Billy got his in six games, and the four players previously who had that many made them in seven and eight-game Series.
He had two homers, two triples and a double among the hits. He wound up with 23 total bases, breaking a six-game mark set by Babe Ruth."
-1954 Bowman No. 145
"Billy was the Series hero in 1953, setting new records for the most hits (12) and total bases (23) in a six-game Series. He also tied other marks by driving in six runs and posting an amazing .500 batting average. In regular season play, the Yankee pepper-pot led American League second basemen in double plays (121).
He played the entire 1952 World Series with a bad knee injury. In the seventh inning of the seventh game, Brooklyn had three on. A tricky pop-up looked like a hit! But Billy used his last bit of strength and made a great catch, saving the game and the Series for the Yanks!"
-1954 Topps No. 13
"Alfred Manuel Martin is nicknamed 'Billy.' It is not recorded just how Martin got the nickname 'Billy,' but that is the way he is known to his teammates and fans.
He started in organized baseball at Idaho Falls in 1946. With the Yankees since 1950, Billy tied the major league record by accepting 24 chances in a double-header on September 24, 1952.
He's now in military service."
-1954 Red Heart
1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Mickey Mantle
MICKEY MANTLE
"Mickey is the most powerful switch hitter in baseball, also the man who brought bubble gum and the tape measure into national prominence. He hit a homer out of Griffith Stadium in Washington which measured at 565 feet.
He jumped from Class C ball to the majors and made it look easy. A picture of Mickey blowing bubbles in the outfield was printed in papers across the country. He had a leg operation in the off-season and expects to be better than ever in 1954."
-1954 Bowman No. 65
"Mickey Charles Mantle, although troubled by a bad right knee, has proved his worth with the Yankees. He was named as an outfielder on the All-Star team in 1952 and 1953.
He is a great home run hitter, but like many other heavy hitters, he strikes out frequently. Mickey established a record for strikeouts by Yankee players (111) in 1952."
-1954 Red Heart
"Mickey is the most powerful switch hitter in baseball, also the man who brought bubble gum and the tape measure into national prominence. He hit a homer out of Griffith Stadium in Washington which measured at 565 feet.
He jumped from Class C ball to the majors and made it look easy. A picture of Mickey blowing bubbles in the outfield was printed in papers across the country. He had a leg operation in the off-season and expects to be better than ever in 1954."
-1954 Bowman No. 65
"Mickey Charles Mantle, although troubled by a bad right knee, has proved his worth with the Yankees. He was named as an outfielder on the All-Star team in 1952 and 1953.
He is a great home run hitter, but like many other heavy hitters, he strikes out frequently. Mickey established a record for strikeouts by Yankee players (111) in 1952."
-1954 Red Heart
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