Friday, April 28, 2023

1960 Back-O'-The-Card: Elmer Valo

"Elmer joined the Athletics at the end of the 1941 season and has remained with them ever since with the exception of two years spent in military service.
He had one of his best seasons last year when he played in 113 games for the A's and wound up with a batting average of .305. Included in his hits were 17 doubles. For the last three seasons, he has hit .300 or better with an average of .307 for 1946 and .300 for 1947."

-1949 Bowman No. 66

"Elmer is one of the hardest hitting outfielders in the American League. He finished last season with a very neat .303 batting mark made up of 115 hits in 380 times at bat.
He likes night ball. His 1947 batting mark of .300 was helped by a .398 hitting record in after-dark contests.
Elmer is very fast."

-1949 Leaf No. 29

"Elmer hit .283 in 150 games in 1949 and batted in 85 runs. He joined the A's at the end of the 1941 season and has been with them ever since,  with two years out for military service. He hit .300 or better for three straight years (1946-48).
Elmer is constantly on his toes. In chasing deep outfield flies, he shows a truly amazing disregard for fences."

-1950 Bowman No. 49

"When speaking of Elmer, Jimmy Dykes, the A's manager, said, 'No one can beat him for hustle.'
One of the most daring players in baseball, Elmer came up with the A's at the end of the 1941 season after having a trial in 1940. He missed the 1944 and 1945 seasons while serving as a Lieutenant in the Army.
Coming back in 1946, he hit .307 and followed up with .300 in '47 and .305 in '48.
He starred in three sports in high school."

-1952 Topps No. 34

"Elmer batted .302 for the A's in 1951. In '51 Elmer was in 132 games and had 134 base hits for a total of 198 bases. He hit seven homers, eight triples and 27 doubles. He drove in 55 runs.
He wielded the stick with powerful effect in the early part of the '52 season.
Elmer makes many spectacular catches in the outfield."

-1952 Bowman No. 206

"Elmer's dare-devil style of outfield play has earned him the nickname of 'the Fence Buster.' He's been a member of the A's organization since he signed his first pro contract in 1939. In '42 he came up to the A's to play regularly and after coming out of the Army hit .307 in '46, .300 in '47 and .305 in '48. He topped .300 for the fourth time in his AL career with .302 in '51.
His winters are spent officiating basketball games."

-1953 Topps No. 122

"Elmer, who is starting his 13th season with the Athletics, was hampered by injuries in 1953 and his batting average fell below .280 for the first time in eight years.
After coming out of military service, he batted .307 in '46, .300 in '47, .305 in '48 and .302 in '51. He came up to the A's after leading the Interstate League in batting with .364 at Wilmington in 1940.
Elmer is known far and wide as a daring fence-crasher. His skill has robbed many an irate batter of extra-base hits. Elmer expects to be a fielder for years- but when his playing days are over, he hopes to be an umpire."

-1954 Topps No. 145

"Elmer is an inspiraration for the younger members of the A's. His hustle and spirit has increased during 12 years of major league play and has helped the A's become a 'fighting team.'
After a great minor league career, he joined the A's in '41 and hit .307 in '46. In the next two seasons he hit .300 or better and became a mainstay in the A's outfield."

-1955 Topps No. 154

"Elmer has all the hustle of a freshman. He came to the A's in '41 and hit .307 in '46. He followed in '47 and '48 with marks of .300 or better and in '51 hit .302."

-1955 Topps Doubleheader No. 85

"In 1955 Elmer had the top American League pinch-hit batting mark of .452. He is also a fine fielder with lots of spirit.
His greatest thrill was hitting .305 in 1948 to keep the A's in the pennant race."

-1956 Topps No. 3

"Elmer came back to Philadelphia in 1956 to bolster the Phillies' outfield and help them with his timely batting and pinch hits."

-1957 Topps No. 54

"Czechoslovakian-born Valo starred in the outfield for the old Philadelphia Athletics for over ten years. He has been a .300 hitter in five different seasons. Last season Elmer was effective as the Dodgers' No. 1 pinch hitter.
Elmer is a 16-year major league veteran. He's risked serious injury to make game-saving catches."

-1958 Topps No. 323

"One of those rare European players, Valo is from Czechoslovakia where he was born in 1921, making him one of the oldest active players in the major leagues.
He was signed as a free agent after spending last season with Seattle where he batted .324 in 60 games. He also was with Cleveland for two months and was released at the close of the season.
He will take up the veteran outfield and pinch-hit duties vacated by Enos Slaughter who was sold to the Braves."

-1960 Leaf No. 107

"A seasoned veteran, Elmer joins the Yankees to help them regain their former glory. He spent 14 years with the A's turning in such sterling performances as a .302 mark in 1951 and .307 in 1946.
On August 2, 1950, Elmer hit a homer, triple, double and single in one game. He once hit two triples with the bases loaded in one game."

-1960 Topps No. 237

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