Wondrous Seasons of the Past: Elston Howard in 1963

Elston Howard was a catcher for the Yankees.....and an outfielder...and a first baseman.   His career started late at the age of 26 because of the Korean War and Yogi Berra, and he was a semi-full time player for the first 5 years thanks to Yogi Berra.

He was the International League MVP in 1954, batting a robust .330/.380/.569 with 29 HR and 109 RBIs. Allie Reynolds pontificated that if they had had Howard in the lineup, they would have overtaken the Indians and won 112 games instead of the mortal 103 that they earned during that season.  (Sidenote:  It must have been really fun to be a Yankee during the '50s in some ways.  You got to be in the World Series every year except 1954 and 1959  Then again, everyone had to have a buzzcut.)

He was called up and bounced around the field from 1955-1958, squeezing at-bats amid Yogiisms and the toughness of breaking into the '50s juggernaut Yankees lineups.  He initially modeled his batting stance after Joe Dimaggio, but after an unsuccessful 1960 season (.245/.298/.353, 80 OPS+) it had to changed.  His manager, Ralph Houk, told him to hit it through the center to better square up the ball.

So, Howard adapted the point to centerfield before each at-bat that we can associate with Jim Thome or Ryan Howard and was also associated with Rocky Colavito.  That 1961 season was the best of his career, hitting .348/.387/.549 (153 OPS+), albeit in a not quite full-time role.

But he won the MVP in 1963 with a prodigious line for a catcher in a pitcher's era.....287/.342/.528 (141 OPS+) with 28 HR and 85 RBI, with a stellar catching line as well with a Gold Glove.  Of course, the Yankees won the pennant that year, so that may have helped in the voting.

He was 5th in the league in OPS, 8th in the league in AVG, 8th in RBIs, 9th in extra base hits, 2nd in catcher assists, 2nd in total zone rating for catchers, and 4th in caught stealing %.  That is some all-around goodness.   He was also seen as the expert handler of the pitching staff with the 2nd best ERA in the AL, presiding over the continued excellence of Whitey Ford and the emergences of Jim Bouton and Al Downing.

As pitcher Pedro Ramos once said, "With a catcher like Ellie, a pitcher can do no wrong."


"Hail to Howard
While yet he plays,
And honor ye your catcher
While unstill he toils on bended knee!
Deny him not the spoils of excellence
For simply that he's not become mere history."

(all non-statistical information in this post is from the book "Baseball Stars of 1965" article written by Norm Borrow.  Of course, all statistics are from baseball-reference.com)

The Heritage Substitution Cards: 1963 Topps Phillies

As in the past two years, when the Heritage brand comes out, I'm going to attempt (with that being the operative word) to collect the corresponding vintage Phillies team set from the year that the Heritage brand is replicating. So far this year, I'm having a devil of a time locating affordable 1963 Topps Phillies cards. For some reason, 1961 and 1962 cards were comparatively easier to find. Any suggestions for locating these wayward cards of yesteryear on the intertubes besides the world's biggest marketplace?

These cards I purchased at a show late last year, and even there, 1963 was in much less quantity compared to other years around that time period (or maybe it was the Phillies cards only, memory is fuzzy like that).

With what little I have, I've decided to present the pieces of one of the most improved teams from year to year ever (because 1961 was that bad),in which the Phillies managed to improve by 34 games (probably due to the addition of the two expansion teams) and still only finish in 7th place, at least they beat the expansion teams....

Bobby Wine: Years on the Phillies: 1960-1968.  Notable fact: Never had a greater than .600 OPS for any season of his career.

Bob Oldis: Years on the Phillies:  1962-1963.  Notable Fact: Had one career home run and had higher OBP than SLG for his career.

Dallas Green: Years on Phillies: 1960-1964, 1967... Notable Fact: Member of the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame.

Art Mahaffey: Years on Phillies: 1960-1965  Notable Fact: Was selected as an all-star in 1961 despite finishing with 11-19 record.

Clay Dalrymple Years on Phillies: 1960-1968...Notable Fact:  Threw out 48.8% of runners trying to steal for his career and led the league with 8 sacrifice flies in 1964.  This is the last card until 1969 that shows an image of him doing a catcher's squat.

That is all I was able to rustle up so far.  I think I like them better than 2012 Heritage, but then again, Heritage is not a brand I normally collect.  Anything with a color swap variation that is random and requires a  visual checklist to determine if you have one is not something I will actively seek out in large quantities. 

Here's to the 1963 Phillies....if only I can find more of you to continue my collecting trend.

Something's Coming....

Jack Hamilton has a secret and it's hidden behind one winked eye.  He knows what's coming.  Why would he know and other people may not?  Well, it's probably because someone told him.

Ok, it's not that secret at all.  It's now the midway point of the season....and that can only mean one thing....copious amounts of BBQ and fireworks! 

At least in the baseball seasonal rhythm, there's one other tradition that has been around since 1933.  That would be the Midsummer Classic.  'This time it counts!"

Before, it was the ultimate expression of league pride and symbol of superiority (and it still symbolizes that to a degree).  The National League won last year for the first time since 1996.  There was a time when the NL won every year but two from 1963-1985.  Now, the winner determines home field advantage for their league's representative in the World Series. 

The official baseball people say it was to drum up interest.  But everyone was still interested when there was an outcry with the tie in the 2002 version of the game.  Interest in voting with access to internet voting has never been higher.  Millions and millions of votes are cast.  The only election with more is American Idol.

Here was my ballot, my criteria are not entirely related to who's performing the best this year, but who I want to see play:

American League
Catcher: Alex Avila
1st: Adrian Gonzalez
2nd: Robinson Cano
SS: Asdrubal Cabrera
3B:Evan Longoria
OF: Jose Bautista
OF: Curtis Granderson
OF: Josh Hamilton
DH: David Ortiz

National League
Catcher: Brian McCann
1st: Prince Fielder
2nd: Chase Utley
SS: Jose Reyes
3rd: Placido Polanco
OF: Andrew McCutchen
OF: Matt Holliday
OF: Ryan Braun


And the reason why this criteria exists for me and my ballot is simple.....I am going to the All-Star game festivities this year!  I have the tickets for all the events.  I will take as many pictures as I can so that the full experience is captured.  It will be excellent.

If anyone else is going to be in the Phoenix area, I have many extra Fanfest tickets for Monday, July 11.  The Fanfest is a cool experience....kind of like a mobile baseball mecca.  Not quite as reverence-inducing as Cooperstown, but more interactive on a personal level. 

And if you see someone running out on the field during introduction of the lineups....it won't be me. 

Floating Rookies' Heads, 2011 Topps Heritage, and a Group Break Reminder

There are six slots in the group break presented here , there are some great teams left like the Red Sox, Twins (there's a Mauer rookie to possibly be pulled), White Sox, Reds, Rays, etc!  Come and claim a team and get a 2nd team from the opposite group.  I think it will be a fun break.  The last boxes arrived in the mail yesterday, so I'll start asking for payment next week.  It's time to rip some packs!

Above is not a 1962 Topps design (such is all the rage this week), but the more technologically advanced 1963 Topps design.  In 1962, they figured how to remove the heads from rookies' bodies and place them in squared off prisons; each rookie unable to use even the most rudimentary of tools to break through and rejoin his body.  In 1963, they made it so the heads would not want to rejoin the necks of their patrons. 

They preserved the heads in a vitality halo, sustaining the minds and thought processes during the offseason.  This way, when spring training began, the teaching of pitches had already been accomplished and the rookie could progress to the point of being a useful contributor for the ballclub.  It worked for Ray Culp (110 ERA+ in 1963), John Boozer (112 ERA+ in 1963), and Jesse Gonder (124 OPS+).  Only Sammy Ellis was resistant to the vitality halo, skeptical of its workings.  He looked worried at this moment in time because he knew with the rejection of this time spent here, he would spend the entire 1963 season in the minors, and have to return for a much unloved experience.  Luckily for him, cooler heads prevailed and he was captured in the spring training portait box of 1964, which had a better compatibility with his body chemistry.


Now, a slightly more timely topic
I love the idea of Topps Heritage.  I love the execution of Topps Heritage.  I was especially excited to get a chance to collect the version with the 1962 Topps design.  I have such fond memories of that year's card set.  My first vintage card was from that set.  It was in the stories in the family as having been thrown out.  It was a card set that commerorated the chase for 60 between Maris and Mantle, had a Babe Ruth story subset, saw Frank Robinsons MVP season, and celebrated the futility of the Phillies and their 23 game losing streak the previous season.  Plus, it had very realistic cartoons on the back.

And yet, I am unable to collect it as I like (that is to say, with everything).  It's always an expensive proposition.  One needs at least two hobby boxes to make a significant dent in the base set, and I couldn't invest that type of capital at this time.  This became true quickly when hobby boxes rose from a presell price of $70.95 one month ago to the now standard $91.95 price for one hobby box.  For that price, I would rather go after more pressing collecting needs. 

I found a good price for the Phillies team set, so that will soon be in my possession.  As for the rest of the base (1-425) set, I will acquire it eventually.  The quest for all the shortprints without going to shows is a hardy fool's proposition.  Each shortprint average cost is usually around $3-5.

Then, there are the secret variations that are such a part of the Heritage fabric that they are expected. The green tinted cards are true to 1962.  What is with this retail inserted black bordered parallel?  I am thoroughly confused by its purpose.   

What I'm trying to say is that I would love to collect Heritage this year, but it's almost like it's worth less than I have to pay.  Maybe I need to get a 1962 Ford Galaxie 500 to get in the right frame of mind?  Wouldn't that be prudent?