#4 Ben Wade

#4 Ben Wade

75 of 274

27.4% complete

"His Walk About" - Wade compiled a career record of 19-17 with a 4.34 ERA over the course of five major league seasons. Three of his five seasons, also his three most productive seasons, were spent with the Brooklyn Dodgers.  He had 9 of his 10 career saves as  Dodger.  Wade broke in with the Cubs in 1948, before closing out his career with brief stints as a Pirate and Cardinal.

"That's Not a Knife" - It's two home runs in the same game off of Warren Spahn.  On July 6, 1952, Wade hit two home runs off of Warren Spahn while throwing six innings and picking up the win in a 8-2 Dodgers victory over the Braves.

"More of a love bite really..." - There is what some may consider to be heavy rounding of the corners on this card, and some color loss.  Otherwise it's in pretty much perfect condition for anyone but the most ridiculous of nit-picking collectors.

"Down Under" - Runnels is card #389 in the 1952 set. That's a high number and one I don't have.   The photo selection of the cards is very similar, but I like the '53 better on the basis of the logo on the hat being more visible.  That stretches the '53 set's lead to 27-23-7.

"At the Oscars"

8th AL Strikeouts '52

4th AL Walks '52

#27 Roy Campanella

#27 Roy Campanella

45 of 274

16.4% complete

"His Walk About" - Roy played for ten seasons, all as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers.  A three-time MVP and eight-time All-Star during his decade in Brooklyn, Roy helped lead the Dodgers to Five National League Pennants and a World Series Title in 1955.  Campanella is on the short list in the discussion of greatest catcher of all-time.

"That's Not a Knife" - It's another would be base stealer being thrown out.  "Campy" threw out 57% of runners who tried to steal on him over the course of his career, that remains the highest percentage in Major League history.  He owns five of the seven highest single season percentages in Major League History as well.

"More of a love bite really..." - I don't know how much "love" was involved, but it's definitely a bite.  This card's upper left corner isn't rounded, it's just missing.  Thankfully, nearly all of the relevant information on the back of the card remains untouched.

"Down Under" - Campanella is card #314 in the 1952 set.  It's the only '52 high number card in my collection.  This is a tough call, as I really like both of these cards, but I'm going to have to say I slightly prefer the '53 over the '52.  I may feel differently tomorrow, but today's the day I'm doing the post, and today I prefer the '53.  That extends the '53 set's lead to 21-16-2.

"At the Oscars"

1st Ballot Hall of Famer 1969

3x NL MVP ('51, '53, '55)

8x NL All-Star ('49-56)

1955 World Series Ring

5x NL Pennant Winner ('49, '52, '53, '55, '56)

Led NL RBI's '53AL All-Star '53

4th NL Batting Average '51

4th NL Batting Average '55

10th NL Batting Average '53

3rd NL Home Runs '51

3rd NL Home Runs '53

5th NL Home Runs '50

7th NL Home Runs '52

8th NL Home Runs '55

4th NL RBI's '51

6th NL RBI's '52

8th NL RBI's 55

3rd NL Doubles '51

#1 Jackie Robinson

#1 Jackie Robinson

38 of 274

13.9% complete

"His Walk About" - Jackie Robinson played for ten Major League seasons, though every major league player still wears his number annually once a year.  A six time All-Star, and '49 NL MVP, Robinson was a .311 career hitter.  He retired with 1,518 hits and 137 home runs, numbers that seem comically trivial given his impact and legacy, both on and off the field.  During his decade with the Brooklyn Dodgers, he helped "The Bums" win six NL Pennants and the 1955 World Series.

"That's Not a Knife" - It's another Varsity Letter from UCLA.  Jackie won Varsity Letters in four sports while attending UCLA.  He was an All-Conference running back on the unbeaten 1939 Bruins Football team that finished 7th in the Nation (they had a few ties).  He was named the West Coast Conference MVP for Basketball with UCLA in 1940 and in Track and Field Robinson was the 1940 NCAA Long Jump Champion.  Baseball was his "worst" sport at UCLA, where his accolades failed to match those in his other three sports.

"More of a love bite really..." - This card is well worn, but is still on the short list for "favorite" in my entire collection.   There are no serious flaws and you can't help but feel as though you are holding a small piece of American History when it's in your hand.  If you own one in a PSA jail, I strongly suggest you crack it loose and give it a try.  You won't be disappointed.

"Down Under" - Robinson is card #312 in the 1952 set.  Given that it's high number, and Jackie Robinson being Jackie Robinson, it's not one I own nor expect to own anytime soon.   Maybe my mind would change if I saw one in hand, but for now, I think prefer this '53 by a wide margin.  That extends the '53 set's lead to 20-15-2.

"At the Oscars"

Inducted in The Baseball Hall of Fame 1962
1949 National League MVP
6x All-Star
Inuagural Rookie of the Year Award Winner '47
1949 NL Batting Champ
Led NL in Stolen Bases '47 & '49
Led NL in OBP '52
2nd NL Batting '50
3rd NL Batting '51
4th NL Batting '52
2nd NL RBI's '49
2nd NL Hits '49
2nd NL OBP '49 & '53
3rd NL OBP '50 & '51
3rd NL Doubles '49, 50, & '51
3rd NL Triples '49
3rd NL Stolen Bases '51 & '52
Led NL Hit By Pitch '48
2nd NL Hit By Pitch '47, '49, '52, & '54

#50 Chuck Dressen

#50 Chuck Dressen

6 of 274

2.2% complete

"His Walk About" - Dressen had two walk about's in major league baseball.  His first as a player lasted from 1925-1933, and saw him collect 603 hits while posting a career .272 avg.  He subsequently spent 16 seasons as a manager, this card is from that walk about, and 1953 was during a stint that saw Dressen skipper the Brooklyn Dodgers to two straight National League Pennants in 1952 and '53.  His career record was 1008 wins and 973 losses.  In 1953 his Dodgers went an impressive 105-49.

"That's Not a Knife" - Born in 1894 in Decatur, Illinois, Dressen was a two sport star, playing professional football as a quarterback for the Decatur Staley's (who would become the Chicago Bears) while he was in minor leagues.  After a solid Major League Career, Dressen made his name as manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, including the historic run from 1951-53, chronicled in Roger Khan''s "Boys of Summer."  1951 was the year of the epic Dodger collapse down the stretch, culminating with the famous (or infamous depending on your point of view) Bobby Thompson "Shot Heard Round the World."

"More of a love bite really..." - There isn't too much as far as signs of wear on this card.  No major creases, marks or paper loss, but no one is going to confuse it as a near mint example either.

"Down Under" - Yet again, Dressen is another guy who was a hi-number (that I don't have) in the 1952 set.  His card is #377.  I prefer this '53 sequel to original, and it's not all that close.  This '53 is just a fantastic looking card with a great background.  The '52 doesn't have a lot to offer.  The 52's still hold a 4-2 lead six cards in.

"At the Oscars"

3rd NL Doubles '27

5th NL Walks '27

10th NL Triples '27

#34 George Shuba

#34 George Shuba

5 of 274

1.8% complete

"His Walk About" - Shuba's MLB walk about consisted of 351 games over seven seasons, all with the Brooklyn Dodgers.  He picked up 211 hits while batting .259.  Shuba also saw time in three different World Series with the Dodgers in '52, '53 and won a ring in '55.  He batted .333 in 12 World Series at-bats.

"That's Not a Knife" - The youngest of ten children, Shuba was born in Youngstown, Ohio in 1914.  His father had just emigrated from Czechoslovakia in 1912.  In 1947 Shuba was with the Dodgers farm club the Montreal Royals.  He was on deck when Jackie Robinson hit his first home run with the Royals, and his handshake with Robinson as he crossed home was picked up by the A.P. and became a symbol of racial tolerance.  

"More of a love bite really..." - This card is really in very nice shape.  I'm not sure what it looked like coming out of the pack in '53, but it couldn't have been too much better looking than it is now.

"Down Under" - Shuba is card number #326 in the 1952 Topps set.  That's another hi-number, and another one that I don't have.  This is another close call, but I'm going go ahead and say that I prefer the original to the sequel.  The 52's hold a 4-1 lead five cards in.

"At the Oscars"

1955 World Series Ring

31st NL MVP Voting '52