Rating the Rookies: 1960 Topps Ted Wieand

This time the random number generator came up with an early solo rookie card: this Ted Wieand card from the 1960 Topps set. Ted came up for a cup of coffee at the end of the 1958 season with the Reds (who were at the time called the Redlegs). The first batter he faced was Frank Torre (Joe Torre's older brother). Torre went yard on the rookie but Wieand regained his composure and retired 6 of the next hitters he faced in the 4th and 5th innings. In the bottom of the 6th he took the mound again only to give up a double to Hawk Taylor then a single to Frank Torre before getting sent to the showers.

When he was called back up at the beginning of the 1960 season he didn't fare much better. He appeared in 5 games, pitched 4 and 1/3 inning and gave up 5 runs. His final MLB game was just 10 games into the 1960 season. He came in with the Reds clinging to a 5-4 lead over the Phillies with runners on 2nd and 3rd, no outs. He intentionally walked the first batter to load the bases. He then walked the next batter, presumably unintentionally, to tie the game at 5. The next batter hit a grand slam. The Reds lost 9-5. Wieand returned to the minors and was dealt to the Yankees. He never made it back up to the Big Leagues.

I chose to make a 1958 card to commemorate his only other MLB appearance even though it was brief. As for  his 1960 Rookie card I can understand why Topps chose to give him a card. He was the Reds winningest AAA pitcher in 1959 and was on the roster at the beginning of the Reds' 1960 season. However, Ted Wieand didn't even make it through April.

I've adopted a new grading system. Just like those pricey grading companies, I'll hermetically seal the card and permanently attach my (somewhat) unbiased opinion along with a grade from 1 to 10. Unlike the grading companies, my score has nothing to do with the condition of the card but the card itself.

1963 Fleer Football Checklist - Cards That Never Were - 28th Series

Another checklist and I am literally running out of decent checklists to poach. I may have to start repeating or maybe abandon the checklists altogether. This series spans from the World Series in October until February. Mainly due to the 2 month break I took. There is plenty of my obsession with Rookies in this series. There are Football Rookies of the Year, a R.O.Y. card for Dave Righetti, multi-player rookie cards from Fleer & Donruss, and my latest endeavor Rating the Rookies. As usual all the cards I made for this series along with the 27th series can be seen here. Or just click on the checklists in the right margin.

1962 Fleer Curtis McClinton, AFL Rookie of the Year

In 1960 Curtis McClinton was picked by the L.A. Rams in the NFL draft. He chose instead to return to the University of Kansas for 1 more year. He helped the Jayhawks to a 33-7 victory over Rice in the Bluebonnet Bowl. He was drafted again in 1961. This time by the Dallas Texans in the AFL draft. He netted 937 total yards for the Texans and was selected to the AFL All Star game in 1962.  He was named the Offensive MVP of the All Star game and later was named the AFL Rookie of the Year. The Texans went on to win the AFL Championship in 1962.

The following season the Texans moved to Kansas City and became the Chiefs. McClinton Played with the team through the 1969 season and scored the first touchdown ever for an AFL team in Super Bowl I. He was also a member of the Super Bowl IV Champion team in 1970. That was in his final year in football and he was relegated to back-up tight end.

The card you see above I colorized from a black and white photo as pictures of early AFL players are tough to find. During my search I came across a terrific painting of McClinton done by John Lipscomb. I contacted him to ask permission to use it. He informed me that the painting was now owned by Curtis McClinton himself  but thought that use of the watermarked version would be okay.

I included this version as well. I just thought it looked bad-ass, despite the watermark. The action and the colors and the old-school uniforms really make it stand out.

Click here to see the original painting and more of John Lipscomb's work.

The NFL Rookie of the Year in 1962 was also drafted by the Dallas Texans. Ronnie Bull was also drafted in the 1st round by both the Chicago Bears a week later. George Halas talked him into playing for the Bears. He even managed to make it onto a 1962 Topps card.  And it really is a great looking card. Although the main photo has him in his Baylor Jersey, the inset photo appears to be from the College All Star game in Chicago.

1982 Fleer Major League Prospects: Ryne Sandberg, Wade Boggs

In 1982 there were 17 player who received Rookie of the Year votes. 11 of the 17 players made it onto cardboard in at least 1 of the 4 major releases, Topps, Topps Traded, Fleer and Donruss. In my last post I put 4 of the remaining 6 onto a multi-player 1982 Donruss Rated Rookie card. For the other two, I created this Fleer Major League Prospects card.

Had this card actually been made in 1982, I probably would have given my eye teeth for it. Ryne Sandberg and Wade Boggs (along with Tony Gwynn) had the most sought after cards of the 1983 Topps set and were dominant at their positions throughout the '80s. Both players were solid hitters in 1981 at the AAA level. Sandberg hit .293 while Boggs hit .335. Sandberg was even a September call up for the Phillies before being traded to the Cubs. 

They both saw action on opening day 1982. Boggs didn't play in the opening game for the Red Sox but started game 2 of an opening day double header. Ryno was an opening day starter for the Cubs. Neither of these players started at the position they were best known for. Boggs played first base in his first big league game. Sandberg spent most of his first season as the Cubs third baseman.

Sandberg and Boggs would eventually enter the Hall of Fame together in 2005. For Sandberg it was his 3rd year of eligibility but Boggs was a 1st ballot Hall of Famer.

1982 Donruss Rated Rookies: Gaetti, McGee, LaPoint, Hostetler

In 1982 both the AL and NL Rookies of the Year were featured in every set. Cal Ripken and Steve Sax were on Rookie Stars cards in the regular Topps set and each had their own card in the Traded set. They both also had Donruss and Fleer cards in 1982. 

There were 15 other players receiving Rookie of the year votes in 1982.  Of those 15, Pittsburgh's Johnny Ray and Cleveland's Von Hayes both received the full compliment of 1982 cards (Topps, Topps Traded, Donruss and Fleer).

Seven other players who received votes for Rookie of the Year in 1982 appeared on at least 1 card issued that season: Minnesota's Kent Hrbek, Seattle's Ed Vande Berg, Toronto's Jesse Barfield, San Francisco's Chili Davis, Atlanta's Steve Bedrosian and San Diego's Luis DeLeon and Eric Show.

So in order to soothe my rookie OCD, I tried to incorporate the design elements of the original set into this multi-player Donruss Rated Rookie card. I included 4 more players who received Rookie of the Year votes: Minnesota's Gary Gaetti, St. Loius's Willie McGee and Dave LaPoint, and Texas's Dave Hostetler. 

In  my next post I will put the remaining players onto a 1982 Fleer rookie card.