1952 Topps Sam Hairston

Sam Hairston was the second black player on the Chicago White Sox following Minnie Minoso. He had played for the Birmingham Black Barons and the Indianapolis Clowns where he won the American Negro League triple crown hitting .424 with 17 homers and 71 RBIs in 70 games. Hairston was one of 6 catchers on the 1951 White Sox. He would continue to play in the minors until 1960. In all he would spend more than 50 years in professional baseball as a player, coach and scout. 

He is the father of former big leaguers Jerry and John  Hairston and the grand father of New York Met outfielder Scott Hairston and L.A. Dodger utility player Jerry Hairston Jr.

1981 Topps Jerry Hairston

In my last two posts, I wrote about baseball pensions. Here is another pension story about a well-liked player from a 3 generation Baseball family. Jerry Hairston was added to the White Sox roster in September of 1989 and 1990 so that he would get the full 10 year pension. At the same time, the Sox attempted to add another well-liked player, Minnie Minoso. This would have given Minoso the opportunity to play in his 6th decade. Unfortunately it was vetoed by the league.

Jerry Hairston played for the Sox from 1973-1977 when  he was bought by the Pirates. He then played in the Mexican League where he was seen by Sox manager Tony Larussa and GM Roland Hemond during the 1981 strike. After the strike he was signed by the Sox.

1972 Topps Carmen Fanzone

In my last post, I wrote about the Braves helping Satchel Paige get his Pension. Carmen Fanzone is one of  847 players from 1947-1979 who didn't qualify for a pension. A player needed 5 years to get the minimum MLB pension up until 1969 then it dropped to 4 years. After 1980 it dropped to 43 games and only 1 game to qualify for health insurance, but none of it was retroactive. Carmen was 85 days short of 4 years.

Carmen Fanzone was a jazz trumpeter who once played the National Anthem before a game at Wrigley Field. He was a utility player and caught the last out in Milt Pappas's 1972 no hitter. He was cut by the Cubs following the 1974 season and was playing AAA ball in Hawaii in 1975 when he broke his ankle and ended his playing career. Fortunately he was able to catch on with Don Ho's band. Carmen has kept busy at Cubs Fantasy Camps and a musicians union rep in Los Angeles.

1968 Topps Satchel Paige

I was surprised to come across this picture of Satchel Paige. I didn't know that he was on the Braves, so I did a little research and there is an interesting story involved with this. 

In 1968 the owner of the Braves, William Bartholomay, hired Satchel as a Pitcher-Trainer-Coach. He didn't do any training, and he never pitched in the regular season because his eyesight had deteriorated that the Brave were afraid he would not be able to react to a come-backer. It was also said that he did most of his coaching from his rocking chair in Kansas City. The real reason he was there was right on his jersey. #65. The age when MLB retirement benefits kick in. At that time you needed 5 years of MLB duty to qualify and Paige was 158 days short.

"Satchel Paige is one of the greatest pitcher of all time. Baseball would be guilty of negligence should it not assure this legendary figure a place in the pension plan."

- William Bartholomay, Owner Atlanta Braves

1985 Topps Mickey Mantle

I never was a big fan of the 1985 set before.  But looking at it now, I can see the appeal. It is a simple design and includes a nice team logo. Truth is an nice vintage Mickey Mantle photo can make almost any card look good. I think I better find a real nice photo for the 1986 card. Those are terrible.