Trading Again With Zach

I sent over some duplicate 2013 Topps Emeralds to my friend and fellow Oriole fan, Zach, and in return, he sent me a few cards.  The above graded 1955 Topps Al Rosen is pretty cool.  Anyone who reads my blog knows (or should know) that I really enjoy the 1955 Topps set.  I also really like Rosen since he was a heck of a player in his day and is so generous with TTM requests.

Another of the cards Zach sent was this 2012 Bowman Chrome Wei-Yin Chen RC.  Chen has become a solid pitcher for the Orioles and I am glad that they picked him up.

Thanks for the trade, Zach!  I know we'll be doing more trades in the future!

1951 Topps Red Back #35 - Al Rosen

Al Rosen (b. 1924) played in the majors from 1947 to 1956 for the Indians.  The 1953 AL MVP, Rosen had 1,063 hits, 192 home runs and a career average of .285.  He only played in 10 seasons and only 7 of those were full seasons, but when Rosen was in the lineup, he was a force.  He hit 20 or more home runs in 6 of those 7 seasons, with his career high being the 43 that he hit in 1953.  He was a 4-time All Star and had one at bat in the 1948 World Series, which the Indians won.  He is actually one of the few living players left from that 1948 team.

Rosen is a great TTM signer.  He was actually one of the first TTM successes that I got.

TTM Success - 1953 AL MVP Al Rosen

I sent a baseball to the 1953 AL MVP Al Rosen on Monday, January 3, 2010. I got the signed ball back today. It is awesome! A 5-day TAT is all it took, which is amazing. I don't think I got Virgil Trucks back as fast. I wrote about Rosen here when I did his 1955 Topps card. I thought it was amazing that I got a signed ball from the guy who was the AL MVP the year that my dad was born. Pretty awesome!!

1955 Topps #70 - Al Rosen

Al 'Flip' Rosen (b. 1925) was a heck of a ball player for a brief period. He played from 1947 to 1956, all for the Indians, but didn't really establish himself until the 1950 season. He was the 1953 AL MVP and led the league in home runs in 1950 and 1953. He missed the batting title (and thus the Triple Crown) in 1953 by less than a percentage point. Ouch. Back and leg injuries shortened his career and he retired at the age of 32 in 1956. He is another player where you have to wonder what if he had the medical technology back then that we have available now. He retired with 1,063 hits, 192 home runs, and a .285 average. He was a part of the 1948 World Series Champion Indians and was also an All Star in 1952 through 1955.