1969 Topps - Chuck Essegian

Chuck played six years in the big leagues for six different teams. His stay in Baltimore was so short, that the card has him playing for the Kansas City Athletics. Apparently he was in Baltimore long enough to have his photo taken for this card, and have exactly 1 AB in 1 game with zero hits for the O’s before being traded to Kansas City, where he would play in only 4 games with 6 AB. He was then traded to Cleveland to finish out the 61’ season where he had a respectable year as a pinch hitter batting .289 in 181 plate appearances. 

His big moment came in the 1959 World Series while playing for the Las Angeles Dodgers when he hit 2 pinch hit home runs setting a Series record that would stand until 1975. 

Another interesting Chuck Essegain fact, he is one of only two men to have played in both a World Series and the Rose Bowl. The 59’ Series mentioned above and the 52’ Rose Bowl while at Stanford University.

Major League Career Stats:   BA: .255    HR: 47    Hits: 260    RBI: 150    AB: 1018

1958 Topps - Connie Johnson

"The most I made in a year playing baseball was $15,000. Players today make more in one day than I made in an entire career, but I wouldn't change a thing. We had a good time. We had a ball."  ~ Connie Johnson

Unfortunately for a large number of baseball fans, the majority of Connie’s pitching career was not as a member of Major League Baseball. 

He was already 30 when he made his MLB debut with the Chicago White Sox, April 17, 1953. He was traded to the Orioles along with Mike Fornieles, George Kell and Bob Nieman, for Jim Wilson and Dave Philley May 21, 1956. He finished his career with Baltimore making his last MLB appearance at the end of the 58’ season. His best year was 1957 with the O’s when he went 14-11 with a 3.20 ERA.

Prior to his Major League years, Connie pitched in the Negro Leagues for the Indianapolis Crawfords, and the much celebrated Kansas City Monarchs. The staff included Satchel Paige, John Matchett, Hilton Smith and Lefty LaMarque. Johnson was said to be the hardest thrower on the staff. 

“Connie was a good pitcher in the major leagues, but he was a great pitcher in the Negro Leagues. No comparison. He threw hard for the Monarchs. Hard. He had good control. Could have won 20 games in the big leagues. Oh yeah. Could have won 20 games every year. That's Connie Johnson.” ~ Monarchs teammate Buck O’Neil

He took a break from baseball to join the Military during WWII for three years 1943 - 1945.

Major League Career Stats:   G: 123    W: 40    L: 39    PCT: .506    ERA: 3.44   SO: 497

1967 Topps Poster Inserts - Brooks Robinson

Here's another 60's insert set containing 32 players with each poster measuring 5"x7". Much like the 68' Topps Game Cards this set has a number of big name stars, Mantle, Clemente, Aaron, both Robinson's. Then, in my opinion a few questionable players like Bobby Knoop, Johnny Callison and few others. It's not these guys didn't have somewhat productive careers but you'd think with such a limited number of cards you would add a few more big timers of which there was no shortage in 67'.

The Topps regular issued Brooks card form 67' was for a time considered to be quite scarce thus commanding an even greater value than most Mantle cards of the 60s. With the advent of eBay and the realization that plenty of these cards were available, the value has dipped. It can still be a difficult card in higher grade due to its high-number series #600.

Brooks 1967 Season:   BA: .269    HR: 22    Hits: 164    RBI: 77    AB: 610

1954 Topps - Tom Oliver

In 1954 Tom "Rebel" Oliver followed manager Jimmie Dykes from the Philadelphia Athletics to help coach the relocated St. Louis Browns.

This would be the dawn of a new era for Major League Baseball in Baltimore after a 52 year hiatus.

The following season Dykes was replaced by Paul Richards to manage the O's and Oliver was let go. Before his coach/managing career he played 4 years in the big-leagues (1930-1933) with the Boston Red Sox.

Though his time in Baltimore and his years playing in the bigs with Boston was short lived, Tom was true baseball lifer, spending nearly 60 years in the game as a player, manager, coach, and scout.

Being part of the Orioles new era in baseball on that inaugural team, he will always have a fan in me.

Major League Career Stats:   BA: .277    HR: 0    Hits: 534    RBI: 176    AB: 1931

1956 Topps - Bobby Adams

Adams played only a portion of the 1954 season in Baltimore. Subsequently this is his lone card in a Bird's uniform. He played a scant 41 games platooning between 2nd and 3rd base before being replaced by Grady Hatton mid season. Overall he had a 14-season MLB career. 

Adams was one of the few players prior to Brooks Robinson to wear the number 5. Which begs the question, who the heck is pictured in the the action photo behind his portrait on this card? He never wore 23 so he can't be the fielder. The guy who looks to be sliding into 2nd (although he should be sliding from the opposite direction, Topps must have reversed the image to better fit the card layout?) I think is wearing a #12. Adams did wear #12 in Cincinnati prior to playing for the White Sox, so it could be that. If anyone knows the answer feel free to let me know in the comment section below.

Major League Career Stats:   BA: .269    HR: 37    Hits: 1082    RBI: 303    AB: 4019

1979 World Series Tickets - Game 6

This is a bitter sweet piece of Orioles memorabilia for obvious reasons. Sweet because they’re two really nice World Series tickets from a year the Orioles won a whopping 102 games. 

Extremely bitter because, for the second time in a decade Baltimore lost the Series in 7 games to Pittsburg. The Orioles had a 3 games to 1 lead but could not close it out. 

Much like the 70’ Series turned into the Books Robinson show, the 79’ Series was all about Willie Stargell. He dominated, batting .400 with 12 hits, 4 doubles and 3 home runs and was named the series MVP.

1971 Topps - Earl Weaver

There isn’t anything I can add to all that has been written about one of the great managers in MLB history. Instead, enjoy a collection of quotes from the Earl of Baltimore:

"The job of arguing with the umpire belongs to the manager, because it won't hurt the team if he gets thrown out of the game."

"Every time I fail to smoke a cigarette between innings, the opposition will score."

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."

"Nobody likes to hear it, because it's dull, but the reason you win or lose is darn near always the same - pitching."

"On my tombstone just write, 'The sorest loser that ever lived.”

"The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three run homers."

"This ain't a football game, we do this every day."

a few quotes about Earl:

"The only thing Earl (Weaver) knows about big-league pitching is that he couldn't hit it." ~ Jim Palmer

And my personal favorite:

"If there was no professional baseball, Bill James once wrote, 'He’d (Earl Weaver) have been a bouncer at a midget bar.'"

Earl lead the Orioles to 4 Pennants (3 consecutive 69’, 70’, 71’) and 1 World Series. He ranks 9th all-time in winning percentage among managers who have managed at least 600 games.

Career Managerial Record:  Games: 2541   W-L Record: 1,480-1,060   Winning%: .583

1968 Topps Baseball Game Cards - Brooks Robinson

Of all the Topps insert sets of the 60's, these 68' game cards were probably the most popular. They're very similar to the Red Backs and Blue Back sets issued by Topps in 51'. They were designed to be used as a baseball game based on the info printed on the front of each card. For example if you drew the Brooks card you were awarded 1st base because it reads “Hit By Pitch”. If you drew the Mantle card, it reads “Single, Runners Advance 2 Bases” etc.

In total the set includes 33 cards measuring 2 1/4 by 3 1/4. This set is stacked with stars including, Mantle, Mays, Aaron, Yastrzemski, Killebrew, Brooks & Frank Robinson, Al Kaline, Rod Carew, Pete Rose and a few others. 

Then there were the lesser name players possibly included in the set due to there above average 67' season. Guys like Gene Ally, George Scott, Mike McCormick, Dean Chance, and Steve Hargan of the Cleveland Indians. Steve Hargan but no Jim Palmer??

Anyways it’s a good way to get big name cards at relatively affordable prices. A set can be completed for around $100. 

Brooks 1968 Season:   BA: .253    HR: 17    Hits: 154    RBI: 75    AB: 608

1966 Topps - Luis Aparicio

"Little Looie" Luis Aparicio spent eighteen years in the big leagues, four in Baltimore 63'-67'. He collected nine gold gloves, and was selected to the All-Star team ten times. He stole 506 career bases, leading the American League nine consecutive seasons, an all- time record. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984. 

He played in two World Series. First in 59' with the White Sox, loosing in 6 games to the Dodgers. Then in 66' with the Orioles, this time sweeping the Dodgers in four games. The first and only championship ring of his career. 

The Orioles had plenty of power in the lineup but lacked speed. Luis was a welcome addition leading the league in stoles bases his first two seasons with the team. Equally important, he helped solidify the Oriole defense. Luis and future Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson formed one of the best shortstop-third base combinations of all time.  

Major League Career Stats:   BA: .262    SB: 506    Hits: 2677    RBI: 791    AB: 2922

1970 Topps - 69’ AL ERA Leaders - Palmer & Cuellar

I'm a big fan of the 1970 Topps set and I'm a big fan of League Leader cards. Especially when an Oriole is involved, in this case two. 

Cuellar and Palmer each had stellar '69 campaigns. Cuellar going 23-11 with a 2.38 ERA. Palmer with a rare non 20 win season, went 16-4 with a 2.34 ERA. The O's finished 1st in the AL East but lost a heart breaker in five games to the Miracle Mets in the WS. 

Somehow Palmer and Cuellar's season wasn't enough to overtake Dick Bosman who came out of nowhere in ’69 with a 2.19 ERA and a 14-5 win-loss record. The second best of his 10 year career. 

1971 Street & Smith's Official Baseball Yearbook - Boog Powell Cover

For 67 years beginning in 1941 Street & Smith had been the definitive source of information for all Major League teams, including each clubs complete roster and stats from the previous season. As well as detailed recaps of the Playoffs and World Series, and predictions for the upcoming season. 

But like so many newsstand publications it was unable to compete with the avalanche of information just a click away on the Internet. The final issue was printed in 2011. 

It was a publication that truly lived up to it's tag line "Most Complete - Most Informative". Sad to see it go. 

I've met Boog a few times where he hangs out in front of Boog's Barbecue signing autographs and taking pictures with fans. Last year my son met him, and Boog signed his glove and ball. I've considered asking him to sign this copy of Street & Smith but I guess us old guys should leave that to the kids. 

The year preceding this issue Boog batted .297 with 35 HR and 114 RBI, and the Orioles won the World Series.

 

1960 Topps - “Diamond” Jim Gentile

Diamond Jim got his big break with the Orioles in 1960 when skipper Paul Richards “rescued” him from the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system where he had spent the previous eight years. Jim was a 1st baseman, but the Dodgers had another guy playing 1st, the perennial All-Star Gil Hodges. 

Baltimore purchased Jim from the Dodgers after the 59’ season, and despite having an abysmal spring training, Richards informed him on opening day 1960 that he would be the Orioles 1st baseman. That year he hit .292, with 21 homers and 98 RBI (a new club record). He was selected by Casey Stengel for the All-Star team there he went 1-2. 

His biggest day of the year was in Kansas City on June 26 when he went 3-5 with a grand slam and a three-run shot off Dick Hall. 

Major League Career Stats:   BA: .260    HR: 179    Hits: 759    RBI: 549    AB: 2922