"American League veterans still talk about Ed Lopat's 'nothing' ball. As a pitcher for the Yankees, he could serve up tantalizing pitches that drove batters wacky. He also performed with the Chicago White Sox."
-1960 Topps No. 465
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Monday, June 6, 2022
1960 Back-O'-The-Card: Dale Long
"Dale comes up to the majors again this year determined to make the grade. Once before, in 1951, he played briefly for the Pirates and the Cardinals but was sent to the minors for more seasoning.
Starting in baseball back in 1944, Dale hit .330 at Ogden in '46 and .311 at Oneonta in '47. A long ball hitter, he belted 33 home runs at New Orleans in '52 and 35 for Hollywood in '53."
-1955 Topps No. 127
"They were thinking of making a catcher out of left-handed Dale- thus this rare picture of him. He's a top prospect for the Buc first base job this year."
-1955 Topps Doubleheader No. 115
"Dale tried out as a left-handed catcher. It didn't work. He went to the minors and had three good seasons. With Pittsburgh in 1955, he tied for most triples in the National League."
-1956 Topps No. 56
"Dale is the homer king of the Pirate squad. Last season he belted eight circuit smashes in eight games- a feat never done before.
Starting in baseball in 1944, Dale split his time between the outfield and pitching. However, in 1950 when he led the Eastern League in home runs and runs batted in he knew he belonged in the lineup daily and dropped hurling.
The Pirates once wanted to make Dale into a lefty catcher!"
-1957 Topps No. 3
"Dale joined the Cubs last season after playing seven games for Pittsburgh. He posted the highest Chicago batting mark and hit over 20 homers for the second straight season. As a pinch hitter, Dale batted .333.
Dale set a record of eight homers in eight straight games ... yet first broke in as a pitcher!"
-1958 Topps No. 7
"A consistent long-ball hitter, Dale was homer king of two minor leagues before coming to the majors. His amazing record of eight homers in eight consecutive games was set in 1956 when he was a Pirate.
One of the most spirited players in the game, Dale played two games as a catcher in '58- even though he's a lefty! He used a first baseman's mitt as a catcher against the Dodgers."
-1959 Topps No. 414
1959 Season Highlights
June 5: Hits home run, double and single to drive in three runs against Pirates.
June 7: Scores winning run against Pittsburgh.
July 1: Drives in three runs against San Francisco.
August 13: Pinch-hits home run against Giants.
August 14: For the second time in the season Dale pinch-hits a homer- against the Giants.
"Dale set a record for hitting in 1956- eight homers in eight straight games."
-1960 Topps No. 375
1960 Back-O'-The-Card: Frank Leja
"Leja began his professional baseball career as a bonus player with the Yankees in 1954 and managed to get into only 12 games. The following year, although he had ability, the bonus rule kept him on the parent club and he was used only seven times.
With his two years of time up, he was permitted to be optioned to Richmond, Binghamton and Winston-Salem and later to New Orleans where regular play has helped him to develop into a tremendous future Yankee. Last year back with Richmond he had 23 homers.
He is now sharing first base duties with Bill Skowron and Kent Hadley, whom the Yankees acquired in a mid-winter trade from Kansas City."
-1960 Leaf No. 121
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)