Good day and welcome to day 5. So far I've managed to find 19 of the 30 cards on the list that inspired me to take on this project. And so far I haven't had to make a single card. That ends now.
After serving as a Navy Pilot in WWII, Ralph Kiner began his Baseball career with the Pirates. Under the tutelage of future Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg, Kiner led the league in homers 7 consecutive years from his rookie season in 1946 until 1952. Kiner was traded to the Cubs in 1953 as part of a 10 player trade in part because of a salary dispute. Branch Rickey who was at that time the Pirates GM told him "We finished last with you, we can finish last without you." Kiner was traded to the Indians after the 1954 season. Back injuries limited him to 87 games with Cleveland in 1955 and at the age of 32 his playing days were over.
He began his broadcasting career as a radio announcer on WCFL for the White Sox in 1961 but was taken in the expansion draft by the New York Mets and has been their broadcaster ever since.
Here is the list so far. The Black X represents cards produced by Topps, The red X represents those made by other baseball card geeks, and now the blue X represents the cards made by yours truly:
1. 1952 Joe DiMaggio X
2. 1956 Ralph Kiner X
3. 1957 Bob Feller X
4. 1957 Phil Rizzuto
5. 1957 Jackie Robinson X
6. 1961 Ted Williams X
7. 1962 Jackie Jensen
8. 1964 Stan Musial X
9. 1964 Early Wynn
10. 1965 Duke Snider
11. 1966 Yogi Berra X
12. 1966 Warren Spahn
13. 1967 Sandy Koufax X
14. 1967 Robin Roberts X
15. 1968 Whitey Ford
16. 1969 Rocky Colavito X
17. 1969 Roger Maris
18. 1969 Eddie Mathews
19. 1970 Don Drysdale X
20. 1972 Ernie Banks X
21. 1973 Maury Wills X
22. 1974 Willie Mays X
23. 1977 Hank Aaron X
24. 1977 Frank Robinson X
25. 1978 Brooks Robinson X
26. 1978 Jim Wynn
27. 1980 Lou Brock
28. 1980 Thuman Munson X
29. 1984 Johnny Bench X
30. 1984 Carl Yastrzemski X
To be Continued......
Wow! Absolutely awesome card!
ReplyDeleteA lot of fans complain about it, but I love when they bring Ralph out on Mets broadcasts during the season. The man is in his late 80's and still sharp as a tack. He can still follow the game and his stories and insight should be the envy of men half his age.
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