Monday, March 21, 2022

1960 Back-O'-The-Card: Granny Hamner (Richmond Virginians)

"Granny hit .263 in 154 games in 1949. He had 32 doubles, five triples and six homers. He led National League shortstops in assists and double plays.
He started with the Phillies in 1944. He divided the 1945 season between the Phillies and Utica. He spent most of 1946 in military service and most of 1947 with Utica. He was with the Phillies for all of 1948 and 1949.
Granny is doing a great job for the 1950 Whiz Kids."

-1950 Bowman No. 204

"Granny took part in all games played by the Phillies last year (157). This tied a mark that had stood since 1908. Granny batted .270, had 27 doubles, five triples and 11 home runs. He drove in 82 runs.
In 1949, Granny batted .263 in 154 games, with 32 doubles, five triples and six homers. He led National League shortstops in assists and double plays.
A Phillie regular since 1948, Granny was first with the team in 1944. He spent most of 1946 in military service."

1951 Bowman No. 148 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

"In 150 games for the Phillies in 1951, Granny batted .255 and had 150 hits, including 23 doubles, and drove in 72 runs. He is regarded as among the best fielding shortstops in baseball.
Granny played in 21 games for the Phillies in 1944 at the age of 17. He became a Phillie regular in 1948."

-1952 Bowman No. 35

"One of the smoothest fielding shortstops in the majors, Gran broke into pro ball with the Phillies in 1944. Sent to Utica in '45 he hit .248 and in '47 hit .291 and led all Eastern League shortstops in fielding (.946). After trials in '45 and '46, when he spent most of the season in military service, he became the Phillies' No. 1 shortstop in 1948.
In '49, Gran was tops among National League shortstops in double plays and assists. In the '50 World Series, he hit .429 in four games."

-1952 Topps No. 221

"The team captain of the Phillies, Granny is regarded as one of the best fielding shortstops in baseball. He was in a batting slump for most of the 1951 season, accounting for his average of .255 for 150 games.
In 1949 he led National League shortstops in double plays. He tied an NL record by appearing in 1957 games during in 1950."

-1952 Red Man No. NL-7

"Granny is one of the best fielding shortstops in baseball. And he is a dangerous man with a bat.
He began in baseball in 1944 with the Phillies, started 1945 with Utica, then came back to the Phillies.
He was in military service most of 1946 and with Utica in 1947. He joined the Phillies at the end of the season, and has been with them ever since."

-1953 Bowman No. 60

"Granny topped the National League with 17 sacrifice hits in 1952. A real hustler, he is a good clutch hitter as shown by his RBI totals and 1950 World Series batting average of .429.
Granny is one of the few men to start his career with a major league club. Except for the '45 and '47 seasons with Utica, he's been with the Phillies since '44. In '49 he led National League shortstops in assists (506) and in double plays (101).
Gran's brother Wes is a Phillie hurling prospect."

-1953 Topps No. 146

"Granny is regarded as one of the better shortstops in the National League. He's a good fielder and a steady hitter.
Gran was in 151 games for the Phillies in 1952, hitting .275. He had 164 hits for 255 total bases. He included among his hits 30 doubles, five triples and 17 homers. He drove in 87 runs and scored 74.
He was 17 when he first joined the Phils in 1944. However, he went to the minors for further experience in 1945 and most of 1947. He spent most of 1946 in military service."

-1953 Red Man No. NL-18

"Granny is the Phillies' nomination for best shortstop in the league and he does his part to aid the nomination.
Granny first came up to Philadelphia with his brother when they were both in their teens. They formed the second base combination for the Phils. They both had the same initials, which caused great confusion in the box scores. Granny was sent out shortly after for additional seasoning.
He is now a mainstay in the Phillie infield."

-1954 Bowman No. 47

"Granny led the Phillies in doubles last year, placing second in team homers, RBI's and total bases. His batting average was the best of his major league career.
In 1949 he led National League shortstops in assists and in 1950 tied a record by playing 157 games. Collecting six hits in the '50 World Series, Granny boasted a .429 mark.
After becoming a shortstop at 18, Granny made many errors. He was laughed off the field. Angry and insulted, he wanted to quit. But a friendly coach made him keep trying. He improved steadily and in 1949 led the league in double plays."

-1954 Topps No. 24

"Granny had his best major league batting average in 1954 when he batted .299. He had 39 doubles, 11 triples and 13 homers among his 178 hits, and he drove in 89 runs and scored 83.
He's a fine fielder, either at second or short. He was a regular at second in 1954, although earlier he had been a shortstop.
Granny first played in organized baseball in 1944, with the Phillies when he was 17 years old. He went to the minors in 1945, returning to the majors at the end of the season. He spent most of 1946 in military service and 1947 with Utica. He joined the Phils at the end of the year to stay."

-1955 Bowman No. 112

"1954 was not only Granny Hamner's best year in the majors, but also the best year he has had since joining organized baseball in 1944. He was in 152 games for the Phillies, and his 178 hits were good for a total of 278 bases. These included 39 doubles, 11 triples and 13 home runs. Granny batted in 89 runs, his batting average was .299, his highest, and he scored 83 runs."

-1955 Red Man No. NL-15

"Although he's not 30 years old, Granny has played 12 years in the majors. A good shortstop and second baseman, he topped the National League in double plays in 1949. In the 1950 World Series he hit .429."

-1956 Topps No. 197

"Granny was slowed down last season with a painful shoulder injury. He decided to take up pitching and hurled three games. This year the popular veteran may be a starting Phillie hurler."

-1957 Topps No. 335

"Phillie fans remember Granny when he and his brother, Garvin, came up as teenage rookies during the war years. Gran stayed on to become one of the National League's top infielders. He topped N.L. shortstops in double plays in 1949. In the 1950 World Series, he batted .429.
Granny tried pitching last year and developed a knuckler."

-1958 Topps No. 268

"After a couple of seasons of trying to become a pitcher, Granny concentrated on the infield. His hitting can be a help to the Phillies."

-1959 Topps No. 436

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