1986 Sportflics Decade Greats Johnny Mize/Joe Gordon/George Kell

 

Johnny Mize: Four time NL HR champion, twice with the Cardinals and twice with the Giants. He lost the prime of his career to WWII, but came back to be a key member of the Yankees' bench; he played for the Yankees in five seasons, 1949-1953, and won the World Series each year. His ninth-inning, bases loaded single won Game 3 of the 1949 World Series. After his career he coached and worked in real estate. I don't have any of his cards from his playing days; his last card as an active player was 1953 Topps #77.

Joe Gordon: The best defensive second baseman of his era, Gordon also had excellent power for a middle infielder of his era; his 246 HR are second all-time for a second baseman, hitting over 20 in seven of his 11 seasons. He took over for Tony Lazzeri in 1938 and helped the Yankees to five pennants in six years, winning the AL MVP in 1942. After an injury-plagued 1946, the Yankees traded Gordon to Cleveland for Allie Reynolds, a blockbuster deal that helped both clubs, as Gordon recovered to have a career year in 1948 to help the Indians win the pennant. After his career he managed and worked in real estate. I don't have any of his cards from his playing days; his last card as an active player was1950 Bowman #129.

George Kell: One of the finest third baseman in the American League, Kell played fifteen seasons for five teams, primarily the Tigers. He won the batting title in 1949 and hit .306 for his career. After his playing career, he was a long-time announcer for the Tigers. I don't have any of his cards from his playing days; his last card as an active player was1958 Topps #40.