1972 Cards That Never Were, HOF Edition...

[stlcardsfan]

Those are awesome, Darren. Red was a beloved figure in St. Louis. Have a quick story told to me and another guy personally by Red in a suite at a Cardinals game about 15 years ago. There was a 1956 baseball card of Nelson Burbrink in a glass display case in the suite and I asked Red if he remembered him (of course he did). When I mentioned it was a '56 card he said "that was the year I got traded" and told us this story:

In the 1956 season Red and Stan Musial would drive to the ballpark together during home games. Their wives would then drive down together and they would then ride home with their wives after the game.

Red picked up Stan one day and Stan was in a foul mood. Red asked what was the matter and Stan said "Lane (the Cardinals GM at the time) called me and said he was going to trade me". The GM was known as "Trader Lane" at the time. Stan then said he called Gussie Busch, Chairman of Anheuser Busch who bought the team in 1953, and told him to call Lane and tell him he was crazy to trade him.

Apparently that happened and Busch called off any trade of Stan the Man. Red said as he was driving home he thought to himself "well if Lane was going to trade Stan he would also trade me". Sure enough, the next day, on the trading deadline, Red was traded to the NY Giants. Exactly one year later, also on the deadline, he was traded to the Milwaukee Braves which he helped win a World Series against the Yankees. He then contracted tuberculosis and was out a year, then traded back to the Cardinals before the 1961 season where he finished his career as a player, then became their manager as you beautifully depict above, winning a World Series against the the Red Sox in '67 and losing to the Tigers in '68.

[JollyElm]

Found a trio of very cool photos, so I did what any normal human being would do and turned them into 1972 baseball cards.

It's always great when you can see color shots of Jackie Robinson during his playing days at Ebbets Field, and the Johnny Bench photo just captures a nice, human moment (emulating Buddy Harrelson's 1970 card, the 'Little General' - Ha!! "little" - is also signing autographs at Shea, but on the third base side), and make room for 'The Splendid Splinter' himself, Ted Williams...


1972jackierobinson05.jpg 1972johnnybench12.jpg 1972tedwilliams05.jpg

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Found a pair of very cool photos, so I did what any normal human being would do and turned them into baseball cards.

It's always great when you can see color shots of Jackie Robinson during his playing days at Ebbets Field, and the Johnny Bench just captures a nice, human moment of the man (emulating Buddy Harrelson's 1970 card, the 'Little General' - Ha!! "little" - is also signing autographs at Shea, but on the third base side)...


Attachment 603580 Attachment 603579

They are both nice but I really like the Jackie.

[Gary Dunaier]

I like the Johnny Bench photo that was used because you can see the front cover of a Mets program a fan is holding.

I wonder if there are any real cards showing a player signing on the road (as Bench is here), that have a photo of the home team's program in the shot.

[JollyElm]

What the heck, how about an additional Roberto Clemente and Mickey Mantle...

1972robertoclemente13.jpg 1972mickeymantle03.jpg

[JollyElm]

What the double heck, let's give it up for a bunch of Roberto Clemente cards which actually show him SURPRISE!!! SURPRISE!!! donning a glove...

1972robertoclemente14.jpg 1972robertoclemente15.jpg

1972robertoclemente16.jpg 1972robertoclemente17.jpg

1972robertoclemente18.jpg 1972robertoclemente19.jpg

[cesarcap]

These are fantastic! They really are. My favorite 70's set is 75 since it's the 1st one I collected as a kid but I do think the design of the 72 is emblematic of the decade. Your posts are always great and informative.