1954 Bowman - #147 Joe DeMaestri and #19 Bobby Shantz

Joe DeMaestri and Bobby Shantz will always hold a special place in my collection. They were both very kind in their respective responses to my autograph requests, sending additional photographs and answering some of the questions I posed in my letters. I will forever be grateful for their generosity.

 

My interest in both players stems mostly from their time as Yankees, of course. But just as with most of these characters from the golden age, they each have some amazing stories. Whenever I have the chance to pick up cards for either of these guys, it becomes a very easy decision. I had just such an opportunity when these two '54 Bowman cards came up on a sales list.

 

DeMaestri found himself on the field for Mazeroski's home run in Game 7 of the 1960 Series. This was an epic moment lamented by Yankees fans but I find myself fascinated with the event itself. Joe only found his way into the game after Tony Kubek was struck in the head by a line drive in the 8th inning. Timing is everything, as they say.

 

"Froggy" began his career in '51 with the White Sox but had found his way to the Philadelphia in time for this '54 issue. The A's would venture west to Kansas City for the following season, where they would remain until the late 60's. Joe would leave in 1960 for the Yankees, a fateful trade that not only led to his view of Maz's shot from the field but facilitated the delivery of Roger Maris to New York.

 

1954 Bowman is a simple design and this particular card is playfully off-centered, but the coloring is really fantastic!    

 

Interestingly, the write-up on the back of the card cites a nickname of "Oats" for DeMaestri. He was a little tall for those days at six feet, so perhaps there was some kind of horse comparison? Bowman also cites a 'big player deal' that sent Oats from the Sox to the St. Louis Browns. A quick review of this trade shows:

Browns received: DeMaestri, Gordon Goldsberry, Dick Littlefield, Gus Niarhos, Jim Rivera

White Sox received: Sherm Lollar, Tim Upton, Al Widmar

Boy, if that batch of ballplayers doesn't scream for an internet research session, I don't know what does! I'm pretty sure I've seen a few of those guys in my collection before. In fact, I know I have! Yes, I recall blogging about Sherm after I picked up his '60 All-Star card for my Dad's set. I'll have to dig through some cards to see if I can connect some more cardboard dots - always a fun time!

In the meantime, here is the back of the card. A very logical layout that flows easily and provides a lot of solid information:

Check out that Presidential trivia question, folks! Now for Mr. Shantz...

Bobby Shantz had a fantastic career that spanned fifteen seasons of major league ball with seven clubs. He had his finest season with the A's in '52 when he claimed the AL MVP by going 24-7 with nearly 280 innings pitched. The Athletics finished in 4th place that season, enjoying their final winning season in Philadelphia. Shantz participated in the All-Star game at Shibe Park that year and notched a terrific line in the history books by striking out three NL sluggers in a row in the 5th inning: Whitey Lockman, Jackie Robinson and Stan Musial. His duel with Jackie plays a part in one of the items Mr. Shantz sent back to me in response to my TTM request. Have I shared that with you guys, yet? Definitely one of my favorite pieces.

Bobby was injured during the '53 campaign and endured a slow return to form, hurling only eight innings in 1954. That might account for the peaceful but tired look in Bobby's eyes on this Bowman card. Another simple portrait here and the centering is off top-to-bottom, but the edges/corners are AMAZING and the color is even better. There are no hints of a stadium to be had in this card as there was in DeMaestri's, but I kind of dig the field and wooded background. Looks like a warm spring day to me.

The back of the card describes everyone's hope for Bobby in 1954 and adds a curious "great little fielder" comment at the end. The reference to his stature was well deserved, as Mr. Shantz was only five and a half feet tall - but I view the great fielder portion of the comment with much curiosity and awe because it is quite prophetic. Shantz would go on to win eight CONSECUTIVE gold gloves in his career, an amazing feat! It's just incredible to me that he didn't win his first award until three seasons AFTER this Bowman card was issued.

Nice job, Bowman!

I'm excited to add these two cards to my collection. As I mentioned above, it's always a treat to add cards of players I've been able to interact with personally. I don't have very many 1954 Bowman cards but I might very well be approaching a full page now! Does this constitute an official set-build declaration? Hmmm...

Thanks for reading!

Ryan

A look at Gil Hodges: 1954 Bowman #138

Finally.  

A major component of the mission statement for Ryan's Pitch was a promise to take a look at cards from my collection.   To share and enjoy.   To remember and appreciate - both the card and the player.   I've had a healthy run of trade reviews and new card reviews on here, mixed in with some good tidbits of TTM success and other random topics.....but here's a great example of what I consider to be the favorite part of my sports card collection:

Gil Hodge's 1954 Bowman card, Card #138

Egads! 

But...but....It's not even a Yankee, you may say......and you're right!   It surely isn't.   Don't worry, fellow Bombers fans.   I promise that there will be pinstripes aplenty as this blog marches on.   But the Ryan's Pitch Collection (that sounds so enjoyably corny to me as I write it) appreciates greatness from the game in all shapes, sizes and colors - and this is no exception.

The Card.

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you and I don't have a defective scanner.   This card is horribly trimmed.   In fact,  I can't imagine that this card could have been in a worse shape to have caused the guilty trimmer to reach the point at which he or she stopped and said, "OH YES - THAT looks so much better!"

But that's fine by me.   I can see color.   I can see Mr. Hodges.   I can see his signature.   We're good to go.   I love vintage in any shape, form or fashion (especially for 99 cents)!   The '54 Bowman set is certainly not going to cause you to jump in jubilation.   It's a simple design, much more so than the Topps set from that same year for sure.   But it IS color, which by '54 had finally become the prevailing medium (Deckle Edge and other special sets to come notwithstanding).   And these colors are sharp.   The yellow highlighting has nothing to do with that beautiful Dodger Blue but the clear skies and fluffy clouds behind Gil's huge smile brings it all back to order.   There are creases all over this great card but they don't take away anything from Gil Hodges, arguably the finest first baseman from the golden age of baseball and a true gentleman as well. 

“If you had a son, it would be a great thing to have him grow up to be just like Gil Hodges.” -- Pee Wee Reese

He was loyal to the Dodgers from '43 on through 1961 when he finished things up with the Mets.   He would also then manage for the Senators and Mets until 1971, highlighted by his role as leader for the "Miracle Mets" in 1969 when they overcame the machine that was the Baltimore Orioles and claimed the first World Series title for any expansion team.   As a player, though, Gil was an eight time All-Star and three time World Champion.   He garnered three Gold Glove Awards and ended his career with a total of 370 HRs.   I'm always a bit partial to those amazing players who broke away from the game to defend our country during WWII and Korea.   Mr. Hodges was one of these heroes, leaving after that initial '43 season at the age of 19 to join the Marines and, you know,  man some anti-aircraft guns at the Battles of Tinian and Okinawa in the Pacific Campaign.  

Reflect on that for just a moment.

He earned a Bronze Star for his meritorious service and returned to baseball in 1946.   Job well done, Mr. Hodges.   I have some other Gil Hodges cards in my collection that I can't wait to share here - so I'll save a few of my other favorite stories of Brooklyn's beloved ballplayer from Indiana.   It's all good stuff - this man was amazing.   In the meantime, let's wrap up this look at his '54 Bowman card!

Here's the back of this great card:



The classic design is at work here for Bowman.   Dominating the back of the card is a great write-up to devour that starts off with a very proper, dated comment:

"Big Gil is one of the nicest fellows in baseball and one of the most capable and dangerous of players."

I love it.   He's a great guy......but he's dangerous.   The ying AND the yang.    The write-up also describes Hodges' four HR game in 1950.   In light of Josh Hamilton's recent tying of that mark, this certainly seems appropriate.   This '54 card notes that Gil tied a major league mark with his four dingers.   So who had previously slammed four round trippers in one game?

Bobby Lowe (Boston Beaneaters) in 1894

Ed Delahanty (Philadelphia Phillies) in 1896

Lou Gehrig (New York Yankees) in 1932

Chuck Klein (Philadelphia Phillies) in 1938

Pat Seerey (Chicago White Sox) in 1948

Impressive, Phillies!   The Hambino was the 16th player to join this list in baseball statistics when he knocked four out against the Orioles on May 8th. 

The back of the card also delivers both offensive and fielding statistics for the previous year and Mr. Hodge's career averages.   Gil would slam 42 home runs in 1954, taking back the Brooklyn team record for dingers in a season from Roy Campanella (who bested the previous mark of 40, set by Hodges in 1951.   Duke Snider would overtake Hodges again in '56.

A great vintage baseball card of a great ball player from the game's golden age.   I am thrilled to have it in my collection and to be able to share it with you.

Thanks for reading!