Last time 1962 managed a 4-2 victory. Will 1987 come out on top this time?
While it appeared that Topps just used a photo of a middle-aged man wearing a casual sweatshirt hanging out in his backyard, that's actually 28-year-old outfield Lee Walls with his Phillies jersey barely discernible on what is supposed to be a Dodgers card. Walls had a 10-year career with five teams. He was primarily a utilityman, but was an All-Star outfielder with the Cubs in 1958, hitting .304 with 24 HR and 72 RBI in what was by far his best season. After his career he was a long-time minor league manager and major league coach. He died in 1993.
Rick Cerone is stepping into the batters box at Anaheim Stadium on his 1987 card. He only played in one game for the Brewers at California, on May 11, 1986. Cerone went 1-for-3 in Milwaukee's 5-1 loss. Rick Cerone caught for eight teams in his 18-year major league career, including three stints with the Yankees. The Yankees traded for him after the tragic 1979 season when catcher Thurman Munson was killed in a plane crash. Cerone had by far his best season in 1980, hitting .277 with 14 HR and 85 RBI. After his career he was a Yankee announcer and was the founder and owner of the Newark Bears minor league team. He is now retired and lives in his native New Jersey.
Although there's something nice about a dad hanging out in his backyard on a sunny day (ready to grill some burgers, no doubt), I'm going to take Mr. Cerone here -- for the nacho helmet and also for that great Brewers logo.
ReplyDeleteI'd go with a dad card any day of the week. Walls.
ReplyDeleteI believe Walls is in a Cubs uniform. That would make the middle-aged man 24-26 years old. I'll go with the Walls.
ReplyDeleteCerone played for so long that I could have sworn he was an All-Star at least once, but nope. It's also unusual for a guy to have switched teams 10 times but has never done so in the middle of the season...I'll give him my vote.
ReplyDeleteWalls.
ReplyDeleteI can't go with Walls even though it's a Dodger and I think he may have been the first player to show up on a card with a batting glove. Cerone is a far better card.
ReplyDeleteCerone 87.
ReplyDeleteWalls looks like every cop on a 60s TV show. Cerone has a nice sunny day going for him. Easy vote for Cerone.
ReplyDeleteCerone. Mainly because Topps chose a better photo... but I also remember him from my childhood. Had no idea he played for so many teams though. Only teams I could name would be the Yankees and the Indians.
ReplyDeleteGoing with Cerone, especially since there appears to be a debate as to what uniform Walls is wearing.
ReplyDelete