Playing career, in brief: First baseman Walt Alston was signed by the Carinals to a minor league contract in 1935, and in 1936 played well enough to earn a brief promotion to the major leagues. He played in one game, made an error, and struck out in his only plate appearance. He spent years in the minors trying to make his way back to the majors, but never did as a player. In 1940 he became a player manager, a role he continued in the Cardinals, and later Dodger organizations, through 1946.
Post-playing career, in brief: Alston kept managing in the Dodgers' system until 1954, when he replaced the popular Charlie Dressen. Alston won over skeptics by winning 92 games in his first season, then bringing the Dodgers their first world championship the next year. It was the first of four championships and seven pennants for Alston's Dodgers, cementing him as one of the most successful managers of his era. He retired at the end of the 1976 season, and died of a heart attack in 1984.
My collection: In my own spreadsheet I only track playing-days cards of players, and Alston never got a card during his playing days. Looking at his "managing days" cards, I have 18 from 1960 to 1976, and would be interested in trading for 1956 Topps #8 and 1972 Topps #749.
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