#36 Johnny Groth

 

#36 Johnny Groth

86 of 274

31.3% complete

"His Walk About" - A .279 career hitter over the course of his 15 seasons in the majors, Groth retired with 1,064 hits.  He had one and two year stints with four different clubs, and spent the bulk of his time (11 years) with the Tigers.

"That's Not a Knife" - It's 11 children.  Johnny, who lived to the age of 95, had 11 kids with his wife Betty.

"More of a love bite really..." - These cards are in really good shape when I'm reduced to pointing out that one is slightly off-center like this Groth.  There are a few other issues, but nothing to get excited about.

"Down Under" - Groth is card #25 in the 1952 set. They're very similar "photos" but I think I prefer the brightness of the '53.  That stretches the '53 set's lead to 33-28-7.

"At the Oscars"

8th AL Hits '50

8th AL Doubles '50

8th AL Triples '50

#169 Dizzy Trout

#169 Dizzy Trout

63 of 274

23% complete

"His Walk About" - A two time All-Star, Dizzy accumulated a career record of 170-161 over 15 MLB Seasons from 1939-1952, and a brief comeback stint in 1957.  He finished 2nd in AL MVP voting in 1944 when he went 27-14 with a league best 2.21 ERA and 33 Complete Games.  He helped the Detroit Tigers to AL Pennants in 1940 and 1945, and a World Series Championship in 1945, allowing just one earned run over 13.2 IP in the '45 Series.

"That's Not a Knife" - It's a of home runs for a pitcher.  Dizzy clubbed 20 home runs over his career, including 5 in 1944 when he hit .271 and drove in 24 runs in only 133 at-bats.  He retired with 205 hits.

"More of a love bite really..." - This card is a little bit off-centered, and it's corners have been roughed up a little, but all in all, has handled the passage of time very well.

"Down Under" - Trout is card #39 in the 1952 set. I like the '52 card, but I like this '53 better. That extends the '53 set's lead at 27-22-7.

(Temporary Place holder image until I rescan the accidently deleted photos from my '52 Blog)

"At the Oscars"

2x AL All-Star '44 & 47

World Series Ring '45

Led AL Wins '43

Led AL Complete Games '44

Led AL ERA '44

Led AL Shout-Outs '43 & '44

Led AL Innings Pitched '44

Led AL WAR '44

2nd AL MVP Voting '44

2nd AL Wins '44

5th AL Wins '45

6th AL Wins '46

5th AL ERA '43

6th AL ERA '46

3rd AL Complete Games '43

4th AL Complete Games '46

4th AL Shut-Outs '45

6th AL Shut-Outs '46

0.5% Hall of Fame Vote in '64

Inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in '81

#194 Eddie Kazak

#194 Eddie Kazak

57 of 274

20.8% complete

"His Walk About" - Kazak collected 165 hits and 11 home runs over parts of five MLB seasons.  Despite his limited career, Kazak did find his way onto an All-Star team in 1949 when he batted .304 with 99 hits and 6 home runs over the course of 92 games with the Cardinals.  He spent four of his four and half seasons in St. Louis, and wrapped things up with 13 games as a Red in 1952.  Despite what this card suggest, Eddie never appeared in a game as a Detroit Tiger

"That's Not a Knife" - It's a bayonet.  During the invasion of Normandy Kazak suffered a bayonet wound to his left arm and his right elbow was shattered by shrapnel.  Doctor's told him his baseball days were over.  Two years later he made his MLB debut with the Cardinals.

"More of a love bite really..." - The edges of this card show a little wear, and it's slightly off-centered.  It's really in pretty nice shape.

"Down Under" - Kazak is card #165 in the 1952 set. I prefer the '52 card.  I also have a hard time believing that it's the same guy in the two cards. That cuts the '53 set's lead at 25-19-7.

"At the Oscars"

NL All-Star '49

5th Double Plays turned by 3B '49

#163 Fred Hatfield

#163 Fred Hatfield

50 of 274

18.2% complete

"His Walk About" - Hatfield collected 493 hits over parts of 9 seasons spent primarily with the Tigers, White Sox, and Red Sox.  When this card was released Hatfield was coming off his best season (split between Boston and Detroit) in '52, in which he had 112 hits between the two clubs.  That would be his career high.

"That's Not a Knife" - It's an inductee into the Florida State Seminoles Hall of Fame.  Hatfield served as head coach for the FSU baseball team for five seasons and was later inducted into their Hall of Fame. 

"More of a love bite really..." - This is one of the more off-centered 53's I've run across, but it strangely seems to make the card more attractive.  For some reason I feel like it makes the yellow background pop a little bit more.

"Down Under" - Hatfield is card #354 in the '53 set.  That's a high number I don't own.  Even without one in hand I feel pretty confident in saying that I prefer the '53.  That pushes the tally to 24-17-3 in favor of the 53's.

(Not in Hand)

"At the Oscars"

Led AL in assist by a 3B '52

4th AL Hit by Pitch '56

6th AL Hit by Pitch '52

7th AL Hit by Pitch '54

8th AL Hit by Pitch '57