Mike

Al, I haven't been to spring training in a long time, but $35 seems like a lot for a preseason game. At least there's free parking. :)

Last Spring Training I went to was in 2000...it's been way too long! At one game I was sitting directly off the dugout and had Ken Caminiti walk over and pick up BOTH of the girls sitting next to me...haha...gave them a plastic hotel key card. He had quite the silver tongue. It was hiliarious and clear the two girls came specifically to meet ballplayers. They didn't stick around much for the game...true story. RIP Ken!


https://i.ibb.co/YhHRXMh/54-104-Mike.jpg

Michael Joseph

https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...k_original.jpg https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...k_original.jpg

Andrew Arthur

https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...y_original.jpg https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...k_original.jpg

Andy

Dick

Richard Jerome

https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...s_original.jpg https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...k_original.jpg

Duane

Duane Xavier

https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...e_original.jpg https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...k_original.jpg

Thornton

Thornton John

https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...r_original.jpg https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...k_original.jpg

Bill

William Haron

https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...n_original.jpg https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...k_original.jpg

Harry

Harry

https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...h_original.jpg https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...k_original.jpg

James Henry

https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...g_original.jpg https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...k_original.jpg

Jim

Eventually replaced by Al Kaline but not before pinch running for Eddie Gaedel

Bill

William Beneditto

https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...a_original.jpg https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...k_original.jpg

Once described as a blend of mediocrity and magnificence

Good to have you back Al...hope you enjoyed some great spring training...


https://i.ibb.co/tMTc02G/54-112-Bill.jpg

Bob

Robert Richard

https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...d_original.jpg https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...k_original.jpg

El Ropo

1954 Topps #114: Dean Stone
 

Darrah Dean Stone. Pitcher for the Washington Senators in 1953-1957. 29 wins and 12 saves in 8 MLB seasons. Best known for being the winning pitcher in the 1954 All-Star Game without retiring a batter. 1954 All-Star. His best season was 1954 with the Washington Senators as he posted a 12-10 record and a 3.22 ERA in 178.2 innings pitched. He finished his MLB career with the Baltimore Orioles in 1963.

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1679391119
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1679391122

Dean

Darrah Dean

https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...e_original.jpg https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...k_original.jpg

His family wanted him to play softball

Rip

Eldon John (Heh)

https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...i_original.jpg https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...k_original.jpg

Became a full time tall tale and story teller at his bar post career. There is a neat very scarce variant of his 1960 Topps card

https://i.ibb.co/86FnVz6/54-114-Dean.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/RHR8Xsq/54-115-Rip.jpg

Steve

Described by Red Smith as "as a great lumbering broad shouldered wide beamed broth of a boy"

Stephen Thomas

https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...o_original.jpg https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...k_original.jpg

Solly

Soloman Joseph

https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...s_original.jpg https://caimages.collectors.com/psai...k_original.jpg

If you were having a house party in the early 60s in St Louis it would have been a mistake to invite Hemus, Bing Devine, John Keane and Bob Gibson all together

What's cool with seeing several examples of the same card you get to see centering trends. My Solly isn't the sharpest, but I do appreciate the centering on this one...

https://i.ibb.co/JyJF4y7/54-117-Solly.jpg