Wood vs. Wood #145

Only five votes last time, with 1962 squeaking ahead with a 3-2 triumph. Will we get more votes this time?

Barry Latman poses in foul territory in what I am pretty sure is Yankee Stadium. Sure looks like a lot of foul territory back then, with a wide warning track. Barry Latman originally came up with the White Sox, helping them win a pennant in 1959 going 8-5 with a 3.75 ERA. He was traded to Cleveland after the season and was coming off a career year when this card was printed, going 13-5 with a 4.02 ERA. However, he had sub-.500 seasons for Cleveland and the Angels the next three seasons, was converted to a reliever and hung on through 1967. In 344 games he went 59-68 with 16 saves and a 3.91 ERA. After his career he worked in the furniture business and was a construction superintendent. He died in 2019.

Charlie Kerfeld winds up in a spring training game in Florida. He was also coming off of a career year when this card was printed, going 11-2 with 7 saves and a 2.59 ERA for the Astros. He was best known for his personality, not his pitching talent, making headlines for humorous quotes and outfits. His 1987 salary, to match his uniform #37, was $110,037 and 37 boxes of orange Jell-O. He struggled mightily in '87, was sent down to the minors and fought with his manager. He briefly reappeared in the majors in 1990 with both the Astros and Phillies, but once again could not recapture the 1986 magic. In 123 major league games he went 18-9 with 9 saves and a 4.20 ERA. He later matured enough to be a successful minor league manager himself, and is currently a scout for the Phillies, a role he has held for many years.