1956 Topps - 3rd Series Phillies Alumni

My 1956 Topps blog is still humming along, and it's close to crossing into the fourth and final series of the iconic set.  I'll eventually publish a page looking back at the breakdown of cards to be found in the third series, which consisted of 80 cards between #181 and #260.  Of those 80 cards, 14 were current, former or future Phillies players, managers or coaches, and a gallery of those 14 Phillies alumni cards is displayed below.

 

#183

#192

#197

#201

#202

#211

#217

#219

#220

#222

#227

#244

#249

#255

Santa/Mom Kicks Off Collecting the 1955 Bowman Set (Again)

Alternate Post Title:  Family Tradition - Collecting the 1955 Bowman Set for the Third or Fourth Time

Having re-entered the realm of the baseball card set-builder a few years ago, I've so far completed our 1965 Topps set and made an impressive dent in the daunting 1934-36 Diamond Stars set.  My main focus will now turn to the 1969 Topps set, and once we've polished off that 664-card collection we'll have a complete Topps flagship 54-set run from 1969 to 2022.

In the background, and unofficially, I've started lists for three other sets I'm kind of collecting and I'll gladly add a card or two to these collections in the coming years if the opportunity presents itself.  The 1959 Topps set is next.  After the design of the 1965 Topps set, this is my favorite vintage set design from the golden age of baseball cards.  As of this writing, I already have 15 cards accumulated for that set.

The 1966 Topps set may be collected concurrently with 1959 or after that pricer set is near completion.  The hard-to-find and expensive high numbers from 1966 are going to be an issue, but having briefly started to collect the set in 1988, we already have the Mickey Mantle card.  ("We've already got the Mantle," is something I can still hear my Dad saying.)  I don't remember the specifics of how or why my Dad and I added this particular Mantle card, but it's in my collection and ready to have a set built around it.

And then there's the 1955 Bowman set, with its wood-grained color TV borders, its gorgeous photography and its iconic baseball cards that define the sport from the mid-1950s.  My Dad once told me he had built this set several times over, as this was his favorite growing up, and "I had them all, Jimmy."  He would have been 11 years old at the time these cards were first for sale at corner stores and five and dimes.  Seven years later when he departed for college, his mother, my Mom-Mom, bundled the entire collection, including his treasured 1955 Bowman sets, in trash bags and took them to the curb in front of their duplex on Oak Street.  The thought of that still gives me chills.  Cleaning out my Mom-Mom's attic in early 1985 after she had passed away, my parents found only one remnant of my Dad's lost collection - the torn off back of a 1955 Bowman Mickey Mantle card, its front lost forever as it had been separated and likely affixed to a notebook or tacked to a bulletin board.  Horrifying.

In the summer of 1983 (or 1984), when the Magic Shoebox of vintage baseball cards arrived in my life, and I spent several glorious afternoons in our screened-in porch on 12th Street sorting and documenting those treasures, I first learned of my Dad's fondness for the 1955 Bowman set.  There were 44 cards in the box from the 1956 Topps set, but 18 cards in the box from the 1955 Bowman set.  Had those quantities been reversed, we probably would have started a 25-year journey collecting the 1955 Bowman set.  But with '56s more than doubling '55s, the decision was made to keep the wood-grained cards in the Magic Shoebox and begin our 1956 Topps set quest.  A few decades later, with the help of my Mom over several Christmases, I did ultimately finish off a 1955 Bowman Phillies team set.

A month or so ago, not having any baseball cards to wrap and present to me on December 26th, the day my sister and I officially exchange gifts with our families, my Mom asked me for a list.  Over the past decade, she's single-handedly crossed off most vintage Phillies baseball cards I've needed, leaving only a handful of expensive high numbers from the 1952 Topps set and one elusive 1967 Topps Rookie Stars card for Gary Sutherland.  I'll add those cards one day, but they're way too expensive to ask Santa/Mom to track down.

I didn't want to give her my 1969 Topps or Diamond Stars lists, as I planned on adding a few of those to our sets at the December Philly Show.  So I put together a list for our 1955 Bowman set, crossing off 17 cards (one card from the Magic Shoebox was a double) and highlighting the Phillies in the set.  True, I've collected the Phillies cards from the set once, but those are secure within my 1950s Phillies baseball card binder.  The baseball card set builder's paradox is adding cards for a set build that could already be included in another part of his collection.  But I digress.

On Monday, as our families gathered at my Mom's, among the laughter, joking and piles of cast off wrapping paper, I spotted the box likely containing baseball cards and saved that present to open last.  As suspected, inside was my baseball card haul from Santa for the year - nine 1955 Bowman cards, including eight Phillies cards, and one Athletics card purchased by accident since the text with team names on my list was hard for Santa to read.  These nine cards mark the official start of collecting the 1955 Bowman set, 67 years after my Dad had built the set several times.  ("I had them all, Jimmy!")  Once again, my Mom outdid herself this Christmas - not only because of these cards but with every thoughtful gift she presented to her entire family.  She shines every day of the year, but always a little brighter on December 26th.

I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday season, and I wish you all the best for 2023!  Go ahead and get yourself some vintage baseball cards in the coming year - Mel Clark and his many bats would approve.

1955 Bowman #41

The Best Lists are Checked Lists - Crossing Off Vintage Phillies Cards (#SBWTMABCTJ)

1949 Bowman #161

1949 Bowman #177

1951 Berk Ross #4-8

This is a post I look forward to writing all year.

My Mom has taken it upon herself to single-handedly wipe out my Ten Most Wanted - Vintage list every year with a highly anticipated Christmas present.  She made me work for it this year, hiding the box with the ten individually wrapped cards that I could only find using a series of clues she had hidden.  With the help of two sons and two nieces, and following each clue, I was eventually able to locate the box in the back seat of my Mom's car.  Before we dive into the summary, here's a look at what the list looked like before Christmas:

These cards are all off my want lists now due to the 2018 installment of Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim (#SBWTMABCTJ).  Thank you Santa (aka Mom)!

1949 Bowman #161 Jocko Thompson
1949 Bowman #177 Stan Lopata
I'm getting closer to this tough Phillies team set with the addition of these two cards.  I'm now down to needing the rather expensive Richie Ashburn and Robin Roberts rookie cards, and the high-numbered cards of Schoolboy Rowe and Jackie Mayo.

This is Lopata's rookie card, and he'd go on to play 13 years in the Majors, 11 of those years with the Phillies.

1951 Berk Ross #4-8 Robin Roberts
I'm now one card away to completing this 14-card Phillies team set, needing just the Curt Simmons card at this point.  I had to break Roberts out of his PSA slab to let him breathe and take his place in the 1950s Phillies binder along with his counterparts.

1953 Bowman Black & White #14 Bill Nicholson
1953 Bowman Color #158 Howard Fox
Thanks to this Howard Fox card, I'm now the proud owner of a complete 1953 Bowman Color Phillies team set.  I'm going to show off the entire team set in a separate gallery.  Bill Nicholson's card got me a card closer to also finishing off the 1953 Bowman Black & White Phillies team set.  Both of these cards are beautiful.

1953 Bowman Black & White #14

1956 Topps #220

1953 Bowman Color #158

1956 Topps #220 Del Ennis
Having already completed the entire 1956 Topps set*, I'm now trying to add a second Phillies team set to my 1950s Phillies binder.  This Del Ennis card is actually nicer than the version of the card I have in my complete set.

*My 1956 Topps blog has been dormant since February 2017, which truly bothers me.  I'd love to find some time in 2019 to dust this off and add a few more cards to this blog.  I think I originally stalled out due to the daunting task of writing about card #30, Jackie Robinson, and I haven't been able to pick it back up . . . yet.

1957 Topps #265 Harvey Haddix
1957 Topps #335 Granny Hamner
A complete 1957 Topps Phillies team set is now within reach as I'm just a handful of cards short of wrapping this one up too.

1957 Topps #265

1957 Topps #335

1960 Topps #518

1961 Topps #530

1960 Topps #518 Tony Gonzalez
1961 Topps #530 Bobby Malkmus
The Tony Gonzalez card was the last card I needed to finish off my version of the 1960 Topps Phillies team set.  Gonzalez was dealt to the Phillies from the Reds in June, playing the bulk of the 1960 season in Philadelphia.  By my logic, his 1960 Topps card belongs with the rest of the 1960 Topps Phillies team set.

The addition of the 1961 Topps Bobby Malkmus card means I need just one more card for a complete 1961 Topps Phillies team set.

Finally, the print below is a new addition to the actual Phillies Room, courtesy (again) of my Mom.  The print features the classic broadcast team of By Saam, Richie Ashburn and Bill Campbell, who worked in the booth together between 1963 and 1970.

2011 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim

Part 1 - Continuing a Tradition

Part 2 - 1971 Topps Set - 13 More Down

Part 3 - 1952 Topps Phillies

Part 4 - 1951 Bowman Phillies

Part 5 - Curt Simmons - Two New Bowman Cards

Part 6 - 1955 Bowman and Topps Phillies

2012 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim
Part 1 - 1941 Double Play Litwhiler & May
Part 2 - 1963 Topps John Herrnstein rookie card (featuring Willie Stargell)
Part 3 - 1940 Play Ball Phillies - Part 1
Part 4 - 1940 Play Ball Phillies - Part 2
Part 5 - 1950 Bowman Del Ennis

2013 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim
Part 1 - 1998 Upper Deck Scott Rolen
Part 2 - 1968 Topps Phillies Team Card
Part 3 - 1966 Topps Bob Uecker
Part 4 - 1955 Bowman Robin Roberts
Part 5 - 1965 Topps Johnny Callison
Part 6 - 1954 Bowman Richie Ashburn

2014 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim
Part 1 - 1952 Bowman and 1953 Bowman Color Richie Ashburn
Part 2 - 1950 Bowman Roberts, 1951 Topps Blue Backs Jones, 1955 Bowman Wyrostek
Part 3 - 1995 Collector's Choice Hayes and 1999 Fleer Mystique Burrell

2015 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim
Seven Phillies Cards from the 1950s Crossed Off the List

2016 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim
Part 1 - 10 vintage Phillies cards added to the collection
Part 2 - 2 modern oddball Phillies cards find a new home

2017 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim
Vintage cards crossed off the list, 1959 Topps Phillies team set completed!

2018 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim
8th annual haul completes 1953 Bowman Color Phillies team set

Series Preview - Braves at Phillies: May 21st to May 23rd

2018 Chachi Fan Favorites #26

2018 Chachi Fan Favorites #27

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 7:05
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

Braves 28-17, 1st place in the N.L. East, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Phillies
Phillies 26-18, 2nd place in the N.L. East, 1 1/2 games behind the Braves

Braves Probables:  Mike Foltynewicz (3-2, 2.87), Brandon McCarthy (4-2, 5.05), Luiz Gohara (0-0, 1.29)
Phillies Probables:  Nick Pivetta (3-2, 3.72), Vince Velasquez (4-4, 4.37), Jake Arrieta (3-2, 2.82)

At the Ballpark:  Wednesday is Star Wars Night at the ballpark, and if you purchased a special
theme ticket you'll receive a very cool Han Nola bobblehead.

Braves Leaders
Average:  Nick Markakis - .343
Runs:  Ozzie Albies - 42
Home Runs:  Ozzie Albies - 13
RBIs:  Freddie Freeman - 35
Stolen Bases:  Ender Inciarte - 18

Wins:  Sean Newcomb - 5
ERA:  Sean Newcomb - 2.39
Strikeouts:  Sean Newcomb - 58
Saves:  Arodys Vizcaino - 8

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Odubel Herrera - .344
Runs:  Cesar Hernandez - 34
Home Runs:  Carlos Santana - 8
RBIs:  Odubel Herrera - 30
Stolen Bases:  Cesar Hernandez - 9

Wins:  Aaron Nola - 6
ERA:  Aaron Nola - 2.37
Strikeouts:  Aaron Nola - 57
Saves:  Hector Neris - 8

1958 Hires Root Beer #29 Stan Lopata

Pirates 6, Phillies 2
Game 88 - Sunday Afternoon, July 6th in Pittsburgh
Record - 37-51, 5th Place, 12 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies were completely over matched once again, losing the game 6-2 and allowing the Pirates to complete the easy sweep.

What It Means:  I would think some moves need to be made at this point.  But then again, I'm not in charge.  The Phils travel to Milwaukee to play the Brewers for four games.  The Brewers have the best record in the National League.

What Happened:  At least Marlon Byrd is still trying.  Byrd had half of the team's four hits, including a solo home run in the seventh inning.  Every time he bats at this point, I have to wonder if it's his final at-bat with the club.

Featured Card:  I had a few options for this post.  I could have gone with a Phillies card from 2002, as this was the first time the Phillies were swept in a three-game series in Pittsburgh since April 2002.  I could have gone with a Phillies card from 1982, as the last time the Phillies were held to 11 or fewer hits in a three-game series was back in September 1982 against the Cardinals.  (Hat tip to Reuben Frank.)

Instead, here's another vintage Phillies card I recently added to my collection.  This Stan Lopata card has absolutely nothing to do with the 2014 Phillies and their current woes, but it's an awesome baseball card using the knothole design that was one of the finalists for the never produced 1956 Bowman baseball card set.  I wonder if my Dad ever owned this card at some point?  He collected baseball cards in his youth and he loved root beer, so there's a good chance this card was in his collection that was unfortunately part of the Great Oak Street Purge of 1962.

1955 Bowman #18 Stan Lopata

I was sad to learn of the recent passing of former Phillies catcher Stan Lopata, who was a member of the beloved Whiz Kids.  Lopata played 13 seasons in the Majors from 1948 to 1960, with all but his last two seasons spent with the Phillies.  At the start of his career, Lopata served as the primary back-up for Andy Seminick and later Smoky Burgess.  Once he became the team's primary catcher in 1955, Lopata made two All-Star teams.

Lopata waited until 1956 to sign a contract with Topps, so he didn't appear on a Topps card until that season, despite being a veteran of eight years.  Phungo and The Phillies Collector posted nice tributes to Lopata, featuring some of his Topps cards.  But the card featured here, from the awesome 1955 Bowman set, is my favorite Lopata card.

I also wanted to feature the below excerpt from the 1953 Phillies Yearbook, which featured a nice little write-up on the "massive" gentleman they once called "Big Stash".

1958 Philadelphia Phillies Picture Pack

My father-in-law is doing his best to keep busy during his retirement, and one of his many projects has been to diligently clean out closets, desks and other storage spaces around his house.  So far, I've been the beneficiary of some really cool baseball and Phillies finds as a result of his clean-ups, including the cards I'm displaying in this post.  At first, I wasn't sure what these were, but with a little research I've determined that this is the complete 1958 Jays Publishing Phillies team set.  There are 12 photos in total and they've been protected all these years in a brown envelope advertising "Twelve Phillies Photos" for just 25¢.  The photos are 5" x 7" with blank backs.

The Standard Catalog lumps all 681 versions of these photos, issued between 1958 and 1965, into one massive listing.  Beckett separates the photos by year and by team, and I found a great resource here with the Phillies checklists for each of the sets from 1958 through 1965.  The only thing that threw me off a little is that the images I found on the internet when doing a search for "Jays Publishing Phillies," contain the full team name, listed on the fronts of the photos as "Philadelphia Phillies."  These photos omit the city and just list the team name.  That being said, I'm still fairly confident these are the 1958 Jays Publishing Phillies photos.

(UPDATE (2/16/12):  Please see the first comment below from Matthew, a/k/a 14,000 Phillies, for the correct identification of this set.)

So many, many thanks to my father-in-law for adding these to my collection and here's hoping he continues to clean and find cool Phillies stuff!