#33 Bob Kennedy

 

#33 Bob Kennedy

85 of 274

27% complete

"His Walk About" - A Bob appeared in 16 MLB seasons between 1939 and 1957.  He spent a decade with the White Sox and another 7 as an Indian.  A .254 career hitter, Bob retired with 1,176 hits. He appeared in one World Series, winning a ring as a member of the Cleveland Indians in 1948.

"That's Not a Knife" - It's a pop corn vendor.  Bob worked as pop corn vendor at Comiskey park as teenager.  He would also make his debut as a White Sox while still a teenager at the age of 19.

"More of a love bite really..." - Color fading is the biggest defect this card can boast, but that's going happen given it's age.

"Down Under" - Kennedy is card #77 in the 1952 set.  It's always been one of my favorite cards in the 1952 set, and no disrespect to this '53, but I prefer the '52 and it's an easy call.  That cuts the '53 set's lead to 32-28-7.

"At the Oscars"

23rd AL MVP Voting '40

4th AL Sacrifice Hits '50

3rd AL Intentional Walks '51

#26 Dale Mitchell

#26 Dale Mitchell

81 of 274

29.6% complete

"His Walk About" - Dale spent the vast majority 11 MLB seasons as a member of the Cleveland Indians.  His final 19 regular season games (and 4 World Series games) in 1956 were as a Brooklyn Dodger.  A two-time All-Star, Dale retired with an impressive .312 lifetime average.  While amassing 1,244 career hits, Dale twice had 200+ hits in a season.

"That's Not a Knife" - It's Dale Mitchell making the final out in Don Larson's Perfect Game in the 1956 World Series.  Mitchell was pinch hitting in place of Sal Maglie for the Brooklyn Dodgers.  It was a rare strike out for Mitchell who still holds the record for two highest season averages at University of Oklahoma (.467 in '45 and .507 in '46).  Mitchell insisted until his death that the called strike-three was in fact a ball.  Given that he only struck out once every 34 at bats over his MLB career, maybe it wasn't just sour grapes.  The 34-1 ratio is good for 7th best all-time.

"More of a love bite really..." - There are some decent creases to be found on this card, but nothing I would describe as too distracting.

"Down Under" - Mitchell is card #92 in the 1952 set. I prefer the '52 and it's not close.  My copy below could probably use an upgrade, but even in that sort of shape it's still an easy call.  That cuts the '53 set's lead to 29-27-7.

"At the Oscars"

2x All-Star '49, '52

Led AL in Hits '49

Led AL in Triples '49

88th All-Time Career Average

World Series Ring '48 (Cleveland)

2nd AL Batting '52

3rd AL Batting '48

4th AL Batting '49

6th AL Batting '47

2nd AL Hits '48

7th AL Hits '52

4th AL Triples '47

4th AL Stolen Bases '48

5th AL Stolen Bases '49

 

#187 Jim Fridley

 

#187 Jim Fridley

67 of 274

24.5% complete

"His Walk About" -  Jim appeared in 152 career games over parts of three non-consecutive major league seasons in '52, '54, and 1958.  A .248 career hitter, Fridley finished with 105 hits and 8 home runs.  He played for the Indians, Orioles, and Reds.

"That's Not a Knife" - It's 6 hits in one game.  On April 29, 1952 Fridley went 6/6 (all singles) in an Indians win over the Philadelphia Athletics.  Fridley scored four runs and drove in 2.

"More of a love bite really..." - It's a little bit off-centered, and the colors are a little dull, but in otherwise well above average shape..

"Down Under" - Fridley is a high number, #399, in the 1952 set, and is not a card I own.  I've posted a stock photo below.  Maybe it's the bias of actually owning the '53, as they're nearly identical, but I prefer the '53.  That stretches the '53 set's lead to 28-23-8.

"At the Oscars"

*Had 36 RBI's in 1954

No leaderboard appearances on Baseball-Reference

#171 Bill Glynn

 #171 Bill Glynn

64 of 274

23.4% complete

"His Walk About" - Glynn was a .249 hitter over parts of 4 seasons.  He appeared in 8 games with the Phillies in 1949, then spent 3 seasons as a member of the Cleveland Indians from 1952-54.  He picked up 170 hits and 10 home runs during his time in the show.  He went one for two with a double in his two plate appearances for the Indians in the '54 World Series.

"That's Not a Knife" - It's the Utica Blue Sox.  Bill helped lead the Blue Sox to the Governors Cup as Eastern League Champions in 1947.  Utica was a farm club for the Philadelphia Phillies at the time.

"More of a love bite really..." - This card has the all too common sort of "smoky" color fading that I see on a lot of these 53's.  It's in otherwise fine shape.

"Down Under" - Glynn is not featured in the 1952 Topps set. That keeps the '53 set's lead at 27-22-7.

"At the Oscars"

3rd AL Sacrifice Hits '53

10th AL Hit by Pitch '53

#84 Bob Hooper

#84 Bob Hooper

27 of 274

9.9% complete

"His Walk About" - The Canadian born Hooper compiled a career record of 40-41 over six Major League seasons with Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds.  As a rookie with the Athletics in 1950, Hooper went 15-10 for a last place team that only won 52 games all year.  Hooper hit four home runs as a hitter over the course of his MLB Career.

"That's Not a Knife" - It's a rope and you better start climbing it if you want to pass this class.  Following his playing career, Hooper spent a few seasons managing low level minor league teams in the Orioles system, then a few years as a scout for the Mets, before becoming a P.E. Teacher in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

"More of a love bite really..." - This is another card that is in very nice shape.  These 53's, when compared to the 52's, have so far proven much easier to find in decent shape at a decent price.

"Down Under" - Hooper is card #340 in the '52 Topps set.  That's a high number, and as such, not one that I own.  Despite not having one in hand, I can say with confidence I prefer this '53 to his '52, though neither are going to be confused as the best cards in their respective sets.  That evens the tally  at 13-13-1.

"At the Oscars"

10th AL Wins '50
4th AL Saves voting '52
5th AL Saves voting '53
6th AL Saves voting '50
9th AL Saves voting '51

#80 Jim Hegan

#80 Jim Hegan

26 of 274

9.6% complete

"His Walk About" - Hegan made his Major League debut in 1941, and despite losing 3 years to Military Service, still played for 17 seasons and made five All-Star teams.  Considered one of the best defensive catchers in the game, Hegan only reached the mile stone of a 100 hits in a season twice.  Perhaps he preferred hitting in cooler fall weather, because he homered and drove in five runs in the 1948 World Series, while helping Cleveland defeat the Boston Braves in six games.  Hegan spent 14 of his 17 years with The Tribe, while making cameos with the Phillies, Cubs, Giants, and Tigers at the end of his career.

"That's Not a Knife" - It's a "Seattle Pilot," and Jim's son Mike.  Mike Hegan played for 12 major league seasons, and was name an All-Star in 1969 as a member of the Seattle Pilots.

"More of a love bite really..." - This card is in very nice shape.  Nothing to complain about here.  Cards from this era that are too pristine all most make me nervous.  This one you can pull out and handle without feeling like you're going to hurt it, and it still somehow feels new-ish despite being nearly 70 years old.

"Down Under" - Hegan is card #17 in the 1952 set.  I think anyone with eyes is going to come to the same conclusion I have, the '52 is a much cooler looking card.  That's no knock on this '53, which is a perfectly acceptable baseball card, with a hat and logo, and all the basics, the '52 is just a classic "catcher" card that today's sets sadly lack.  Hegan moves the '52 set back in front, with the tally now sitting at 13-12-1.

"At the Oscars"

5x All-Star 
World Series Champion '48
AL Pennant Winner '48, '54
Led AL Putouts as C 3x ('47, '48, '49)
Led AL Assist as C 3x ('48, '49, '50)
Led AL Caught Stealing % 3x ('46, '49, '50)
19th AL MVP voting '48
22nd AL MVP voting '54

#75 Mike Garcia

#75 Mike Garcia

24 of 274

8.7% complete

"His Walk About" - Over the course of 14 MLB Seasons Mike Garcia compiled a 142-97 record and posted a 3.27 ERA.  A three time All-Star, Garcia twice won 20+ games and had a four year stretch where he won at least 18 games each year with the Indians.  He spent his first 12 seasons in Cleveland forming a formidable rotation along with Bob Feller, Early Wynn, and Bob Lemon.  "The Big Four" led Cleveland to the AL Pennant in 1954.

"That's Not a Knife" - But it was a cigarette, and those things will kill you too.  "Mexican Mike," as the Cleveland press dubbed him, served as a sponsor of Camel Cigarettes during his playing career.  Hard to imagine Clayton Kershaw pitching cigarette ads today.

"More of a love bite really..." - This card suffers from some fairly significant "snow" on the front and also boast the usual well rounded corners.  Ultimately, I'd say it's in pretty good shape and see zero reason to seek an upgrade.

"Down Under" - Garcia is card #272 in the 1952 set.  The two cards are actually strikingly similar, but I feel the '52 is clearly the nicer of the two.  It's just far more detailed.  That brings the '52 set closer, but '53 still leads 12-11-1.

"At the Oscars"

3x All-Star ('52, '53, '54)
Led AL ERA 2x ('49, '54)
Led AL in Shutouts 2x ('52, '54)
9th AL MVP voting '59
2nd AL ERA '52
3rd AL Wins '52
4th AL Wins '51
4th AL Wins '54
2nd AL Shutouts '56
3rd AL Shutouts '49

#2 Luke Easter

#2 Luke Easter

12 of 274

4.3% complete

"His Walk About" - Luke saw time during six MLB seasons, only three of which were anything close to full.  But Easter made the most of those three almost full seasons, averaging 28+ HR and 100 RBI from 1950-52.  For "some reason" Easter spent the better part of the 1950's in the minor leagues where he went all "Crash Davis" and crushed 269 home runs.  Easter made his home runs count too.  He was the first player to ever hit a ball into the center field bleachers at the Polo Grounds.  His blast were dubbed "Easter Eggs" by his teammates.  Once when asked about whether a particular homer was the longest he had ever hit, Easter allegedly replied; "If it came down, it wasn't my longest."  

Easter, who began his pro-career with two seasons in the Negro League, retired from pro-ball in 1964 at the age of 48.  Though his exact age is somewhat unknown, as depending on when he was asked, Easter was born anywhere from 1911 to 1921.

"That's Not a Knife" - Tragically, it was two shotguns that were used in the murder of Luke Easter on March 29, 1979 in Euclid, Ohio.  Approached outside a bank while making a deposit for the Aircraft Workers Alliance, Easter refused to turn over the money and was shot twice at close range.

"More of a love bite really..." - This card has aged very well.  It has some faint wrinkles, but we should all be so lucky to look this good when we're 65 years old like this card is.

"Down Under" - Luke Easter is card #24 in the 1952 set.  While I find this 1953 card to be a very nice looking example of a baseball card, Easter's 1952 just has more going for it.  Easter looks like a hulking giant, and for some reason the power lines and trees in the background just look like objects this monster slugger would blast balls over after clearing out field walls.  I'm going with the '52 and that ties the tally at 6-6 twelve cards in.

"At the Oscars"

International League Hall of Fame Inductee

1st AL Hit by Pitch '50

2nd AL Home Runs '52

4th AL Home Runs '51
6th AL Home Runs '50
4th AL RBI's '51
6th AL RBI's '52
8th AL RBI's '50