Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Wood vs. Wood #71

Last time 1962 cruised to another easy victory, getting 7 out of 8 votes. Is another '62 rout up next?

Dick LeMay gets a simple headshot on this card. LeMay was a solid, if unspectacular rookie for the Giants in 1961, going 3-6 with 3 saves and a 3.56 ERA. He was unable to replicate this success though, getting belted around in nine-game stints with the Giants in '62 and the Cubs in '63. He had a long career in baseball after retiring from playing, scouting, managing in the minor leagues, and coaching high school basketball. He passed away in 2018.

Another Giant, Mike Aldrete, gets a little more interesting pose on his rookie card. Aldrete was a PH/1B/OF who was a capable backup to Will Clark, most notably hitting .325 with 9 HR and 51 RBI in 1987. After the 1988 season he was traded to Montreal, and he embarked on a journeyman career with stops with the Padres, Indians, A's, Angels and Yankees. His final career at-bat was in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series, pinch hitting for Jeff Nelson immediately after Jim Leyritz's memorable game-tying home run. (He grounded out.) Aldrete has gone on to a long big league coaching career, currently as first base coach for the Oakland A's.


6 comments:

  1. Tough call, both very nice cards, but I have to go with LeMay.

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  2. LeMay is at least attempting to smile, so I'll give him my vote in this particularly difficult matchup!

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  3. 1987. There isn't a clear winner.

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  4. These are both pretty boring, so I'll just go with the "62 because it's older.

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