1976 Kellogg's Chris Chambliss

Yankees ALCS History

This is the Yankees 15th appearance in the American League Championship Series. In the Yankees first appearance in the ALCS one player dominated. Chris Chambliss hit .524 with 2 homers including a pennant clinching walk-off homer in the 9th inning of Game 5. Since 1976, the Yankees have won 11 pennants and lost 3. 

1964 Topps Johnny Callison All Star MVP

Going Horizontal

Johnny Callison was an unlikely hero of the 1964 All Star Game. He came in to pinch hit for Jim Bunning in the 5th inning. He popped out to short, In the 7th he popped out again to Center. But in the bottom of the ninth with the game tied at 4, Callison blasted a 3 run, walk-off homer to right field and the NL won 7-4.

1992 Topps Mickey Mantle

I think Topps took a step backwards with the 1992 set. Again the team logos were gone as were the player positions. But the team colors were still present as were the horizontal variations. I've been waiting to find a chance to use this shot of Mantle playing first base. Although his 1968 and 1969 cards list him as a first baseman both cards have him posed with a bat. In fact the only Topps card to feature a defensive Mantle is the 1956. Because he was so impressive with his bat, people forget that he was a Gold Glove winner.

1974 Topps Traded Chris Chambliss

In April of 1974 Chris Chambliss was part of an 8 player trade between the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees.  He became a key player in restoring the Yankees to their former glory. In his only All Star season, 1976, he hit .293 with 17 homers and 96 RBIs in the regular season. In the ALCS he hit a staggering .524 with 2 homers including a walk-off in game 5 to send the Yankees to their first World Series since 1964.

1975 Topps 1971 Rookies of the Year

The American League Rookie of the Year, Chris Chambliss, didn't have a Topps card in 1971. The National League winner, Earl Williams, shared a "Rookie Stars" card with Oscar Brown. Williams' position on that card was 1st Base even though he would spend most of his rookie season and his career as catcher. 

Both Chambliss and Williams were decisive winners but neither were unanimous. In the NL, Williams bested Willie Montanez. Montanez hit 30 Homers with 99 RBIs playing centerfield for the Phillies. In the American League, Chambliss beat out 2 rookie pitchers with losing records; Bill Parsons and Paul Splittorff. Also receiving R.O.Y. votes were Boston 2nd baseman Doug Griffin and A's centerfielder Angel Mangual. To Topps' credit, of all the Rookie of the Year candidates, only Bill Parsons and Chris Chambliss didn't have cards in the 1971 set.