Baseball Daily Card Gazette

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Wade Boggs

1998 Fleer Tradition Set (Baseball)

Wade's .362 average after the 1997 All-Star break was the third-best mark in the majors. He also ranked third with a .417 average during the month of September.

Jim Davenport

1962 Topps Set (Baseball)

A product of the San Francisco farm system, Jim started his career in 1955 with a crash leading his league with a .363 mark. Capable at several positions, the infielder had his best season in the majors last year. Jim is a sharp fielding third baseman.

BEST BUNTER AROUND. Jim led the National League with 17 sacrifice hits in 1958.
Dylan Cease

2022 Topps Holiday Set (Baseball)

Not only did Dylan's 12.28 SOS/9 IP lead the American League in 2021, it was the fourth-highest rate ever by a 25-or-younger pitcher. He fanned 10 or more eight times - a team record for a right-hander.

Nicky Delmonico

2018 Stadium Club Set (Baseball)

Nicky, the first player in USA Baseball history to earn the captain's "C" on his jersey, has seen his professional fortunes explode the last two seasons. Through his first 13 games, his 19 hits (three of them homers) were second-most in White Sox history.

Darick Hall

2023 Topps Heritage Set (Baseball)

First Club player in 100 years with three HRS in first three career games. Homered over the CF batter's eye, a first at Citizens Bank Park since 2019.

Had 25 HRs in first 348 ABs between MiLB/MLB.
Alvin Dark

1954 Red Heart Set (Baseball)

Alvin Ralph Dark nicknamed "AI". Started in baseball with Boston in 1946 but was sent to Milwaukee in the American Association the next year. Bounced back to Boston in 1948 where he was Rookie Of The Year and was traded to the Giants in December of 1949, where he has been playing successfully since. A fine fielder, "AI" led the N.L. shortstops in double piays 1951-52; in '51 he also led league shortstops in putouts (295), assists (465), and doubles (41); in '52 again led in putouts (324).

Tim Wakefield

2023 Donruss Set (Baseball)

Sensing the chance to bolster its rotation, Boston moved quickly to scoop up Wakefield in 1995. It paid off not only that year but in the next 16 as well, as the knuckleballer proved to be someone who could be counted on every five days. He finished among the storied franchise's leaders in wins and strikeouts.

Cal Ripken

1983 Topps Set (Baseball)

April 5: Belted homer in first at-bat of season. May 31: Went 2-for-2 & stole home in 8-7 victory. June 12: Belted 2-run game-winning homer vs. NY Yankees.

Ewell Blackwell

1951 Bowman Set (Baseball)

Made a great comeback last season after ill health had cut down effectiveness in 1948 and 1949. Earned run average of 2.97 was the third most effective in the League. Win and lose record was 17-15 with a weak-hitting team. Famous for buggy-whip sidearm delivery. Has a world of stuff to keep batters in state of confusion. Pitched no-hitter against Boston in 1947. Record that season, 22-8.

Merritt Ranew

1966 Topps Set (Baseball)

Ranew was sold to Seattle (PCL) on October 28, 1965.

Merritt's a top man with a mitt
Ken Berry

1966 Topps Set (Baseball)

The White Sox outfielder was a busy rookie last season as he nailed down a regular job in Comiskey Park. Speedy and a good fielder, Ken led three minor leagues in putouts in '61, '63 and '64.

Ken's favorite pastime is hunting
Andrew Vaughn

2022 Topps Gypsy Queen Set (Baseball)

After never having appeared in a Double-A or Triple-A game, Andrew played in 127 for the 2021 White Sox. Fifteen of his 21 pro homers are at the MLB level.

Carlos Perez

1996 Upper Deck Set (Baseball)

Perez carried a 7-2 record into the All-Star break and finished with a 2.86 ERA at home in 1995.

Josh Smith

2023 Stadium Club Set (Baseball)

Intrigued by his all-around athleticism, the Rangers eyeballed Josh at four positions during his 2022 rookie campaign. On July 11 versus Oakland, the first home run of his career was an inside-the-park job gave him back-to-back three-RBI performances.

Dee Fondy

1954 Red Heart Set (Baseball)

Dee Virgil Fondy, Jr., is another fine Texan who went to California in 1946 where he started with the Santa Barbara Club. From 1946 to 1950 he played with minor clubs and it was not until 1951 that he broke into the majors with Chicago. Went back to Los Angeles during part of that year, but is now back as a regular with the Cubs.

Harry Craft

1963 Topps Set (Baseball)

Now in his second year with the Houston Colts, Harry Craft worked wonders with the newly formed National League club in 1962. A slick fielding ballhawk during his playing days, Harry broke into organized ball in 1935. With Monessen that year, he led the old Pennsylvania State Association with 39 stolen bases. In 1937, Harry was brought up at the tail end of the season by Cincinnati where he hit .310. After spending his big league playing days with the Reds, the outfielder starred with the Kansas City in the American Association. In 1949, Harry managed his first ballclub and led them to a pennant. The following year, managing Joplin, Harry's club again won the pennant, with a special assist from a young player who batted .383, named Mickey Mantle. From 1957 to 1959, Harry Craft managed the Kansas City Athletics in the American League.

Jim Lonborg

1966 Topps Set (Baseball)

The Boston Red Sox mound corps received an unexpected shot in the arm last year when rookie Jim Lonborg proved he had the makings of a big league winner. The strong righthander has a jumping fastball, a sharp curveball and good control. In 1965, the twenty-two year old hurler was third on the Bosox staff in complete games. A natural born athlete, Jim chose baseball after impressing as a basketball player for his California high school.

Jim was named M.V.P. at Stanford University
Hoyt Wilhelm

1964 Topps Set (Baseball)

Hoyt's greatest game was a 1-0 no-hitter which he hurled against the New York Yankees in September 1958. Hoyt began his Minor League baseball career back in 1942!

Andrew Romine

2015 Topps Update "Update Series" (Baseball)

The Tigers swung a trade for Andrew during 2014 Spring Training, valuing the glove of the former Angels shortstop. After setting career highs for homers and steals that season, he increased his versatility by learning to play the outfield in '15. Said teammate Ian Kinsler: "To be able to have a guy play like that, that can fill in, that's huge for a team."

Byron Browne, Don Young

1966 Topps Set (Baseball)

Chicago is expecting big things from this hard-hitting youngster who belted 31 home runs at Batavia in 1963. The flashy young rookie lashed out 139 hits for Dallas-Fort Worth last season. The Cubs are very high on Don.

Michael Busch

2023 Topps Holiday Set (Baseball)

Michael singled, walked and scored a run in his MLB debut on April 25, 2023, helping the Dodgers rally from a five-run deficit for an 8-7 victory. The U. of North Carolina alum made fairly quick work of the farm system. In 2022, Busch churned out 70 extra-base hits in the high Minors, earning his second straight MiLB.com Organization All-Star nod.

Bailey Ober

2022 Topps Set (Baseball)

Bailey, who cracked the Twins rotation to stay last June, weathered some rough spots before posting a 3.31 ERA in his final 11 starts. His 5.05 SO/BB ratio was a franchise rookie record (70-plus innings).

Sammy Ellis

1969 Topps Set (Baseball)

The Angels gave up two pitchers to acquire Sammy before the '68 season began. Primarily a starter, the righthander won two and saved two in relief last year.

Sammy pitched a 4-0 no-hitter in the P.C.L. in '62.
Fred Hutchinson

1952 Bowman Set (Baseball)

Big Freddie is the American League's player representative. He was in 31 games for the Tigers in 1951, winning 10 and losing 10. Pitched 188 innings. Gave up 204 hits. Walked only 27. Struck out 53. Earned run average: 3.69. Fred began with Seattle. First with Tigers in 1939.

"Monte" Pearson

1940 Play Ball Set (Baseball)

Monte Pearson, already in Baseball's Hall of Fame as a result of a no-hit, no-run game he pitched against the Cleveland Indians in 1938. He further glorified his record by pitching a two-hit shutout for the Yankees against the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series, last year. Pearson is one of the game's great right-handers, and possesses what the experts call one of the best curve balls in the American League. Monte was troubled by a lame arm last year, but it didn't prevent him from winning 12, dropping only 5, and hurling that brilliant World Series game - his fourth Series triumph for the Yanks against no defeats. Added to his pitching. Pearson is also one of the best hitters among the moundsmen. He batted .321 last year. This is Monte's eighth year in the majors.

Gilberto Celestino

2022 Topps Heritage Set (Baseball)

Gilberto looked overmatched at first, making the jump from Double-A to MLB when the Twins needed emergency center-field help. He got his first career hit on June 9, and smacked his first homer five days later, off Marco Gonzales. When he returned to Triple-A, he slashed .299/.396/.526 with 12 extra-base hits and 13 walks in his first 24 games at the level.

Gil's 111.4 MPH exit velocity ranked in the 80th percentile.
Casey Wise

1959 Topps Set (Baseball)

Casey can play any infield position as if he were born to it. At second, he did not commit a single error in '58. He also flashed his fielding prowess at third and shortstop.

Casey gets on base plenty via walks
Lenny Green

1961 Topps Set (Baseball)

Lenny led the Sally League in hitting in 1956 with a mark of .318. He was a valuable man in 1960. He pinch-hit a hame run against Boston. A fine fielder, Lenny's powerful arm has trapped many a baserunner.

Fernando Tatis, Jr.

2022 Topps Archives Set (Baseball)

When healthy, Fernando is one of the most feared hitters in Baseball. In a 162-game span through 2021, his OPS of .940 ranked in the MLB top 10.

Francisco Lindor

2022 Topps Holiday Set (Baseball)

Although injuries put a dent in his Mets debut, Lindor made a little franchise history on June 19 at Washington as just its third shortstop (Jerry Buchek, Kazuo Matsui) with two homers and five RBI in a game.

Tom Morgan

1962 Topps Set (Baseball)

Tom has been in the majors ever since he broke in with the Yankees in 1951. In recent years he has pitched with Kansas City, Detroit, and Washington, coming to L.A. before the '61 campaign started. Returning from the Army in '54, Tom had his best season, winning 11.

TOM DOES THE JOB HIMSELF. Tom tied a record for a pitcher with 5 putouts in one game.
Dylan Dodd

2023 Topps Heritage Set (Baseball)

Won MLB debut with no walks and a run in five innings, 4-4-23. Atlanta block lettering made name on jersey look like 0000. Allowed no runs in 5.2 IP (eight Ks) for Gwinnett, 4-16-23.

Dylan's four-seamer has elite horizontal movement.
Manny Ramirez

2004 Topps Set (Baseball)

Keep an eye on Manny's slugging percentage: the only righties in history over .600 are Jimmie Foxx and Hank Greenberg.

Dick Groat

1966 Topps Set (Baseball)

Dick has a lifetime average of .333 in All-Star competition.

Dick was M.V.P. in 1960
Miles Mastrobuoni

2023 Topps Heritage Set (Baseball)

Selected in the 14th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Traded to the Chicago Cubs prior to the 2023 season.

Miles attended University of Nevada.
Satchel Paige

2022 Topps Archives Set (Baseball)

Satchel led the Negro Leagues in Ks six times before getting a chance to pitch in MLB. In six years in the American League, all after the age of 40, he had an ERA 24% lower than average, adjusting for his ballpark

ON THIS DATE. November 3, 1987: Mark McGwire (49 homers, 118 RBI) becomes second unanimous AL Rookie of the Year winner.

Dansby Swanson

2023 Topps Holiday Set (Baseball)

After leading NL players at all positions with 21 Outs Above Average in 2022, Dansby was the second Braves shortstop (with Andrelton Simmons) to win a fielding award. He made his first MLB All-Star Game.