1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Casey Stengel

After the Yankees' fifth straight World Championship, Casey Stengel can now be considered one of the greatest managers in the annals of baseball. His New York club was the first ever to win five pennants in succession, let alone five World Series.
In his playing days, Casey registered a .284 career batting average and a .410 career slugging percentage, yet it was in the World Series that the Kansas City native truly rose to the occasion. With batting averages of .364, .400 and .417 in three Fall Classics for an overall Series average of .393, Casey's overall World Series slugging mark of .607 included .917 as a member of the New York Giants in 1923. And as every schoolboy in America knows, it was in the '23 Series that he slugged the first World Series home run ever hit in majestic Yankee Stadium.
Casey began his managing career with Worcester of the Eastern League in 1925. After National League managing jobs in Brooklyn and Boston, he returned to the minors and in 1944 led Milwaukee to a first-place finish in the American Association. Casey concluded his minor league journey in 1948 by managing Oakland to a first-place finish in the Pacific Coast League before Yankee Stadium once again beckoned.

1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Enos Slaughter

"A top outfielder in the major leagues, he is also a potent man with a bat. He played 112 games his rookie year and batted .276. He ran that average up in four years to .318 and then entered the armed services.

From the war, he returned to lead the National League in runs batted in 1946. Enos has been three times an All-Star and twice in the World Series. Last season he batted .294."

-1948 Bowman No. 17

"A top outfielder in the major leagues, he is also a potent man with a bat. He played 112 games his rookie year and batted .276. He ran that average up in four years to .318 and then entered the armed services.

From the war, he returned to lead the National League in runs batted in 1946. Enos has been four times an All-Star and twice in the World Series. Last season he batted .321 and batted in 90 runs."

-1949 Bowman No. 65

"Enos rates among the top hitters. He is also an excellent fly chaser.

He piled up a .321 average last season getting 176 hits which were good for 27 doubles, 11 triples and 11 home runs. He drove in 90 runs. His 130-RBI mark in 1946 gave him league honors in this department."

-1949 Leaf No. 127

"Country Slaughter, veteran outfielder, had one of his best seasons in 1949. His .336 batting average was third best in the league. He drove in 96 runs with 34 doubles, 13 triples and 13 homers.

His rookie year with the Cardinals was 1938. He was in military service from 1943-45. In 1946 Enos led the National League in runs batted in. He has been on six all-star teams.

Enos has tremendous fighting spirit."

-1950 Bowman No. 35

"One of the hustlingest players in baseball, Country just doesn't know how to let down. He has been on six All-Star teams.
He batted .290 in 148 games in 1950 (his tenth active season with the Cardinals). In 1949 Enos had one of his best seasons. His .336 average was third best in the league and accounted for 34 doubles, 13 triples and 13 homers. In 1946, Enos led the Cardinals in runs batted in.
He was in military service for three seasons."

-1951 Bowman No. 58 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

"Enos is nicknamed 'Country' because he can hit a ball 'a country mile.'
He batted .281 for 123 games in 1951 and his 115 hits were good for 160 total bases. He drove in 64 runs and hit four home runs, eight triples and 17 doubles.
Enos has been in baseball since 1935 and with the Cardinals since 1938. He has been in eight All-Star Games."

-1952 Bowman No. 252

"Country is the Cardinals' captain and has been a Cardinal longer than any other player on the team. He broke in with the Cardinals in 1938 after leading the American Association in batting with .382 in 1937. In his 11 full seasons in the majors, he's hit over .300 seven times and in 1939 led the league in doubles with 52.
A World War II veteran, Enos was chosen for the Major League All-Star Team in 1942 and 1946."

-1952 Topps No. 65

"One of the hustlingest players in baseball, and one of the best.
Enos appeared in 123 games for the 1951 Cardinals, batting .281 and driving in 64 runs. He tied for the league lead in triples in 1949 with 13.
He's been with the Cardinals since 1938, although he spent three of those years in military service. His lifetime batting average for the majors is .306."

-1952 Red Man No. NL-20

"The fighting veteran, in his 12th active season in the major leagues in 1952, had a great year and was voted 'Comeback of the Year.' Enos batted in 101 and he scored 75.
Enos is the personification of the word 'Hustle.' He first played organized ball in 1935. He joined the Cardinals in 1938 and has been with them ever since, except for three years which were spent in military service."

-1953 Bowman No. 81

"1952 was Country's 12th active season with the Cardinals. It was the eighth time in those 12 years that he has hit .300 or better. Only four players in the National League batted in more runs than he did in '52 and only one player hit more triples.
Enos has been named to every All-Star team since he was discharged from the Service in 1946. He started his pro career in 1935 and was bought up to the Cards after batting .387 for Columbus in 1937."

-1953 Topps No. 31

"Enos, in spite of his 'old man' status, had one of his best seasons in 1952. He was in 140 games for the '52 Cards, batting an even .300. He batted in 101 runs and had 17 doubles, 12 triples and 11 homers.
He's the fighting type of ball player who refuses to give up- the epitome of the old Gas House Gang spirit."

-1953 Red Man No. NL-13

"Enos is a great hustler and a real pro in every sense of the word. He gives it all he's got every second. He's called 'Country' and hits the ball a country mile.
His reputation as a hustler is such that once when he was thrown out of a game at the Polo Grounds- a rare happening for him- he ran across the field to the clubhouse. This prompted a newspaperman to say, 'That Slaughter even hustles when he's thrown out of a game.' "

-1954 Bowman No. 62

"Enos is one of the real pros in baseball. He's a great fielder, specializing in a tumbling, sliding catch that he makes look easy.
He's also a dangerous man with a bat. He was in 141 games for the Cardinals in 1953, batting a neat .291. He had 89 runs-batted-in to his credit.
A great hustler."

-1954 Red Man No. NL-19

"Enos Bradsher Slaughter, nicknamed 'Country,' is one of the old-timers in the majors with 13 years. He broke in with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1938 where he has been ever since, having appeared in nine All-Star Games (having a batting average of .333).
In 1942 he led the National League in hits (188) and triples (17); in 1946 he led in games played (155) and R.B.I. (130); in 1949 he led in triples (13); in 1953 he led in fielding (.996)."

-1954 Red Heart

1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Bill Skowron

"Bill's .318 batting average at Kansas City in 1953 was the lowest in his three pro seasons, chiefly because of an ankle injury. The previous season at Kansas City, he was named Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .341 and leading the circuit in homers (31), RBIs (134) and total bases (344). At Norfolk in 1952, he topped the league in batting with .334.
Bill was a baseball, football and basketball star at Purdue. He was rated one of the top punters in the Big Ten Conference.
A weak fielder at first, he improved his game by attending a Yankee baseball school in the off-season."

-1954 Topps No. 239

1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Charlie Silvera

"Charlie is the real strongman in the Yankees' second line of defense. In 1949 he hit .315 in 58 contests and in 1952 batted .327 in 55 games.
Starting with Wellsville in 1942, Charlie spent three years in military service before joining Kansas City in 1946. With Portland in 1948, he hit .301, led the Pacific Coast League in fielding and came to the Yanks late that season.
Charlie is one of the most feared men in baseball. When he's not catching, he's very effective at upsetting Yank opponents- because Charlie is the best bench jockey in the game today!"

-1954 Topps No. 96

1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Johnny Sain

JOHNNY SAIN
"Johnny, used as a starter and in relief, shared the fourth best ERA in the American League in 1953 and the sixth best percentage. He also won the opening World Series game in relief.
With the Braves he won 20 in 1946, 21 in '47 and led the National League with 24 in '48. After a 1949 slump, he won 20 in '50. In '48 he became the first pitcher ever to lead the NL in sacrifices.
Johnny planned to retire from baseball this spring and devote his time to his automobile agency. But he didn't. When spring training came, he found the lure of baseball too strong and rejoined the Yankees."

-1954 Topps No. 205

1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Eddie Robinson

"Eddie hit .294 in 143 games last year. His 155 hits included 27 doubles and 18 homers. He batted in 78 runs.

He came to the majors with the Cleveland Indians at the end of the 1942 season. He spent the next three years on the Indians' roster, but in military service.

Eddie returned to baseball with Baltimore in 1946 and again joined the Indians at the end of the season. He was traded to Washington in December 1948."

-1950 Bowman No. 18

"Eddie went to the White Sox from the Senators during the 1950 season. His fielding mark of .990 was just a point from the top American League percentage. And he took part in a triple play.

He batted .295 and drove in 86 runs. He had 15 doubles and 21 homers.
Eddie came to the majors with Cleveland toward the end of the 1942 campaign. He spent the next three years in military service and was farmed out to Baltimore on his return. Eddie was traded to Washington for the 1949 season."

-1951 Bowman No. 88 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

"Eddie appeared in 151 games in 1951 and had 159 hits. His extra base blows added up to 29 homers, five triples and 29 doubles, good for a total of 279 bases. He drove in 117 runs and his batting average was .282.
Eddie has been with the Indians and Senators."

-1952 Bowman No. 77

"At the plate, Ed ranked third in homers and runs batted in in 1951. In fielding, though, he led American League first basemen in double plays with 143 and in putouts.
He started playing organized ball in 1939 [and made the majors] at the end of 1942 when he came up with Cleveland. Ed served in World War II. Traded to Washington in '49, he hit .294 and was hitting .295 the next year when he was sent to the White Sox."

-1952 Topps No. 32

"Tall,  handsome Eddie appeared in 151 games, batting .282, and drove in 117 runs. He equaled the all-time Chicago White Sox home run record with 29.
Eddie played with the Cleveland Indians and Washington Senators before the White Sox. He holds some fielding records."

-1952 Red Man No. AL-18

In a big switch, Eddie came to the Athletics in a trade for Ferris Fain. The A's have gotten a first baseman with a lot of power. He was in 155 games for the White Sox in 1952, batting .296. His hits included 33 doubles, a triple and 22 homers and he batted in 104 runs. His fielding percentage of .990 was second best in the league, only three points behind the leader."

-1953 Bowman No. 20

"In the American League in 1952, Eddie tied for third in hits and doubles and second in runs batted in.
The big first sacker has been a professional ball player since 1939. He got his first big league trial in '42 with Cleveland. Coming out of military service in 1946, Eddie hit .318 at Baltimore and came up to Cleveland. He was traded to the Senators in '49 and joined the White Sox in '50.
In January of '53 Eddie was traded to the A's."

-1953 Topps No. 73

"The handsome first baseman had his best major league batting average in 1952, hitting .296 in 155 games for the White Sox. Eddie batted in 104 runs, just one short of tops in the league. A slugger, he included 33 doubles, a triple and 22 homers among his 176 hits. His fielding percentage was a nice .990.
Eddie was traded to the Philadelphia Athletics for the 1953 season."

-1953 Red Man No. AL-11

"The Yankees acquired Eddie in a big deal with the Philadelphia Athletics early in 1954. He is expected to put a lot of balls into the seats at the Stadium, and also to help out at first base.
In baseball since 1939, Eddie tied a record in 1948 when he was with the Indians by participating in six double plays at first base. In 1950, with the Senators, he tied another major league record by making two unassisted double plays at first base in one game."

-1954 Bowman No. 193

"Ed came to the Yankees from the A's during the winter. Last year was the third straight time he batted in over 100 runs; he had 117 in 1951 and 104 in 1952. In 1950-51-52 Ed led American League first basemen in putouts and in those same years hit 21, 29 and 22 homers.
In pro ball since 1939, he came up with the Indians in '46 and also played for Washington and Chicago. When Ed was with the White Sox, two players gave him a hard time. One was Gene Woodling, who robbed him of many hits with his catches. The other was pitcher Ed Lopat. In 1954, he won't have this trouble- they're all on the same team now."

-1954 Topps No. 62

1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Phil Rizzuto

PHIL RIZZUTO
"Little Phil hasn't changed in appearance since the day he first joined the Yankees in 1941. He's one of the smallest major leaguers.
In his 10 seasons with the Yankees- Phil spent some time in the service- he has appeared in eight World Series. He's a great fielder, a dangerous man with a bat, a speed boy and the best bunter around. He was the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1950."

-1954 Bowman No. 1

"Phil has played in eight World Series in his ten years as a Yankee. He led American League shortstops in fielding in 1949 and '50 and was voted the Most Valuable Player in 1950 when he hit .324. Called 'Scooter' because of the ground he covers, Phil was named the All-Time Yankee shortstop by New York sportswriters.
[As a youngster] he was turned away by the Dodgers because he was too small. He tried out for the Yankees. Despite his size, a scout liked him and sent him to a Yankee farm club. Later, Phil was the Yankee shortstop who helped New York beat the Dodgers in three World Series."

-1954 Topps No. 17

"Little 'Scooter' has been with the Yankees since 1941 and, like the Mississippi River, he just keeps rolling along. His work around shortstop is beautiful to watch, and he's also known as one of the best bunters in baseball.
Phil appeared in 134 games for the Yankees in 1953, hitting .271. He had 21 doubles and 112 hits and batted in 54 runs."

-1954 Red Man, No. AL-17

1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Allie Reynolds

" 'The Chief' is probably the calmest and surest pitcher in baseball. He's got a tremendous competitive spirit and will start one day and relieve the next if he's needed.
Allie contributed two no-hitters to the records in 1951. In 1952 he won 20 games for the first time in his career.
He's part Creek Indian and was voted Indian of the year and received his award at ceremonies in Anadarko, Oklahoma."

-1954 Bowman No. 113

1954 Back-O'-The-Card:Vic Raschi

"From 1949 through 1953 Vic contributed 92 wins to the Yankees' five straight pennants. He won 21 games each in 1949, 1950 and 1951.
Vic is one of the few major leaguers who has had better records in the major leagues than in the minors. His minor league records were not overly impressive, but figures can be misleading.
Vic first joined the Yankees in 1946, late in the season. He was optioned to Portland in 1947, then came back later that same year."

-1954 Bowman No. 33

1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Irv Noren

Although Irv has provided valuable outfield depth for the Yankee World Champions of the past two seasons, he distinguished himself in regular duty with Washington in the two seasons before that. As a rookie in 1950, he was first in the league assists (20) and double plays (5). The following year he led AL outfielders in putouts (420) and tied the league record for most putouts by an outfielder in one game (11). Irv also proved his prowess at bat, finishing 10th in the junior circuit with 86 RBIs, and on the basepaths, with his 10 stolen bases good for eighth.
In 1946, his first pro year, Irv led the California League in hits (188), doubles (33), triples (14) and RBIs (129) with batting .363 for Santa Barbara. He climaxed his stellar minor league career by being named most valuable player in the Texas League in 1948, followed in 1949 with most valuable player honors in the Pacific Coast League.