A Special 1955 Bowman 100th Birthday: Bobby Shantz

After a long hiatus, this is the 6th installment of my series featuring players from the 1955 Bowman set that would have turned 100 this year. Players featured thus far:

• Red Schoendienst - February 2, 2023
• Jim Hughes - March 21, 2023
• Solly Hemus - April 17, 2023
• Bob Kuzava - May 28, 2023
• Marion Fricano - July 15, 2023

While I was away, I missed many 100th birthdays, including Gil Hodges in April 2024 and Yogi Berra in May of this year. 

I decided to return briefly because today's featured player is still with us. Bobby Shantz turns 100 today! He is featured on two cards in the set, #139 (with his brother Billy) and his own card, #140. 

Here are my actual cards of Mr. Shantz. I needed a set upgrade for the first card, and this signed card was approximately the same price as unsigned copies, so that's how I ended up with the signed copy of Bobby with his brother Billy. The second is a card I sent to Bobby through the mail several years ago and he signed it for his very reasonable $5 fee. 

Date of Birth: 

September 26, 1925

First Year in Organized Baseball:

1948 with the Lincoln (NE) A's, a Class A affiliate of the Philadelphia Athletics.

Ticket stub from an apparent exhibition game between the Lincoln A's and the parent club.
Courtesy: https://www.nebaseballhistory.com/lincoln1948.html 

Link to a Really Old Baseball Guy:

Shantz's first manager in the majors was the legendary Connie Mack, who was born in 1862 and began his major league managerial career in 1894! (You may have already spotted him on the ticket stub above.)

1911 Pinkerton Cabinets #505 - Connie Mack

Link to a Much Younger Baseball Guy:

In 1964, Shantz's final year in the majors, he played for three different National League teams, the Cardinals, Cubs, and Phillies. A fellow member of the Phillies' pitching staff was Rick Wise, who ended his career in 1982 with the San Diego Padres.

1982 Donruss #170 - Rick Wise

Other interesting facts about Bobby Shantz: 

• Shantz was one of the players sent to the Cubs as part of the 1964 trade that sent Lou Brock to the Cardinals. 
• Shantz was voted the 1952 AL Most Valuable Player, winning 24 games for the 4th place Philadelphia A's team. 
• When he graduated from high school, Shantz was not quite 5 feet tall, but he eventually grew to 5'6". Once he reached the 5-foot mark, he was able to join the U.S. Army in December 1944. He went on to serve briefly in the Philippines during World War II and received an honorable discharge in 1946.

Happy Birthday Bobby Shantz!

Sources:

https://www.nebaseballhistory.com/lincoln1948.html

Bobby Shantz – Society for American Baseball Research

MLB Stats, Scores, History, & Records | Baseball-Reference.com

A Legend Lost: Ryne Sandberg

Over the past two years, I have occasionally had the urge to post again on this blog, but nothing ever moved the needle enough for that to happen. The death of Ryne Sandberg yesterday changed that. I would be remiss not to say something noting the passing of this great ballplayer, my favorite player growing up and the subject of my first player collection. It's hard to put into words why the passing of a favorite player has meaning. But I think it is something at the intersection of the hopes of youth, the loss of youth, the grief of things lost along the way, and the recognition that everything is so fragile in life. 

So today, I just feel compelled to share an appreciation for what Ryne Sandberg meant to me. Even though I never met him (Chicago is a long way from here), many accounts vouch for his great treatment of fans. A few years ago, I sent him a card in the mail to be signed, along with his very reasonable fee. That card is my one direct connection of any sort to the man. But he meant a lot to us Cubs fans and played the game the right way. He seemed to be a man of character, which certainly showed up in the way he played the game. Anyway, the news of his passing was a gut punch for me, almost unexpectedly, so I felt compelled to share some of my collection of Ryno today.

Cover photo from my card collection binder: 

A bat I purchased probably 10 or more years ago on eBay. I always wanted one as a kid:

The front page of my player collection binder:

Some miscellaneous figures as well as a ball I've had since I was a kid. It was a send-in prize from a Wheaties cereal offer.

Finally, the card that I sent Ryno a few years back. It is one of my favorites, as I explained in this post: Wax Pack Wonders: The Best of Ryno

Not pictured are the only player jersey I own (home Cubs jersey of #23) as well as a Sandberg jersey shirt that I have.

As for blogging generally, I wanted to offer my apologies for not providing a proper message explaining I would be going on hiatus. It wasn't really planned, and a couple years slipped by in the struggles and responsibilities of life. I don't plan to be back on any permanent basis as a poster, but am grateful to all of you, especially those of you I've been able to still connect with during my time away. 

Rest in the peace of Christ, Mr. Sandberg. 

A 1955 Bowman 100th Birthday: Marion Fricano

Welcome to the fifth installment of my series featuring players from the 1955 Bowman set that would have turned 100 this year. Players featured thus far:

• Red Schoendienst - February 2
• Jim Hughes - March 21
• Solly Hemus - April 17
• Bob Kuzava - May 28

Today's featured player is Marion Fricano (card #316), who I'm spotlighting on what would have been his 100th birthday. 

My actual 1955 Bowman card of Marion Fricano:

Date of Birth: 

July 15, 1923

First Year in Organized Baseball: 

1947 with the Johnstown (PA) Johnnies, a Class C affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers. 

Link to a Really Old Baseball Guy:

Fricano's manager on the 1951 St. Paul Saints (AAA - Dodgers) was Clay Hopper, who was born in 1902 and whose first year in organized baseball was 1926. 

1952 Mother's Cookies #52 - Clay Hopper (MGR)

Link to a Much Younger Baseball Guy:

In his last year in organized baseball (1961), Fricano played for the Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers (AAA affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels). One of his teammates was Jim Fregosi, who interestingly retired as a player during the 1978 season, and two days later, became the manager of the California Angels.

1978 Topps #323 - Jim Fregosi

1979 Topps #424 - California Angels/Jim Fregosi

Other interesting facts about Marion Fricano:

• Served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, beginning in 1943 and completing his service after the war, in 1947.
• Spent five full years in the minor leagues before his major league debut, and six full years in the minors after his final major league appearance in 1955.
• Died May 18, 1976.

Marion Fricano - BR Bullpen (baseball-reference.com)

Marion "Frick" Fricano: WW2 Vet, pitched for the Phila & KC A's - Italian Americans in Baseball (baseballamore.com)

A 1955 Bowman 100th Birthday: Bob Kuzava

Welcome to the fourth installment of my series featuring players from the 1955 Bowman set that would have turned 100 this year. Players featured thus far:

• Red Schoendienst - February 2
• Jim Hughes - March 21
• Solly Hemus - April 17

Today's featured player is Bob Kuzava (card #215), who I'm spotlighting on what would have been his 100th birthday. 

My actual 1955 Bowman card of Bob Kuzava:

Date of Birth: 

May 28, 1923

First Year in Organized Baseball:

1941 with the Mansfield (OH) Braves, a Class D team for the Cleveland Indians organization. 

Link to a Really Old Baseball Guy:

Bob Kuzava was managed by Jack Knight while playing for the Charleston (WV) Senators (Class C affiliate of the Cleveland Indians). Knight began his playing career in 1917 and was born in 1895.

Link to a Much Younger Guy:

Kuzava played with Joe Hoerner on the 1960 Charleston (SC) White Sox (A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox). Kuzava also served as last of three managers of the team that year. Joe Hoerner retired after the 1977 season. 

1977 Topps Joe Hoerner

Interesting Facts: 

• Served in the Army during World War II. Rose to the rank of Sergeant, and later became known by the nickname of Sarge in the baseball world.
• Earned saves for the Yankees in the final game of both the 1951 and 1952 World Series.
• Died May 15, 2017, at the age of 93.

Old Guys in Minor League Baseball

Recently, I shared my mini-collection of players who appeared in a MLB game at age 50 or older, a list of just six players. I don't know of a comprehensive list of minor league players who played in their 50s, so the list I'm providing here is undoubtedly incomplete. Please let me know if you know of any missing players who played in affiliated or independent minor league baseball in their 50s. I'd greatly appreciate your assistance!

Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe

Last Appearance: 1999 (age 96) 

Double Duty earned his nickname after pitching one game of a doubleheader and catching another. The Schaumburg Flyers brought Radcliffe in for a token appearance in 1999, allowing him to throw a single pitch in a game. According to his biography, Radcliffe also played for the Winnipeg Giants during his age 50 season in 1952.

Bill Lee

Last Appearance: 2012 (age 65)

Lee has played a lot of baseball since his MLB days. The last appearance in organized baseball I could find was Lee's appearance in 2014 pitching a game for the Sonoma Stompers of the independent Pacific Association. 

Julio Franco

Last Appearance: 2014 (age 55)

Franco had a long major league career that ended at age 49. He later played in seven games for the Fort Worth Cats of the independent United League in 2014.

Joe McGinnity

Last Appearance: 1925 (age 54)

"Iron Man" McGinnity last pitched for the Springfield Senators of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League in 1925.

Rafael Palmeiro

Last Appearance: 2018 (age 53)

Palmeiro last played for the Cleburne Railroaders of the independent Northern League in 2018. He joined his son Patrick on the roster and appeared in 31 games, batting .301. His team came to Fargo to play that season, but I believe he was on the bench for the game I attended that year when the Redhawks played against Cleburne.

Jose Canseco

Last Appearance: 2018 (age 53)

Canseco made several token minor league appearances after age 50. The final time, he played in a three-game series for the Normal Cornbelters of the independent Frontier League in 2018, going hitless in three at-bats, striking out each time. 

Arlie Latham

Last Appearance: 1911 (age 51)

At age 49, Latham appeared in a few games for the New York Giants in 1909, a year in which he served as the team's third base coach. After the 1911 season, he appeared in an exhibition series for the Giants played in Cuba, so that's why I'm including him here. 

James "Truck" Hannah

Last Appearance: 1940 (age 51)

Hannah's last appearance was with the Memphis Chickasaws of the Class A1 Southern Association. He was born in North Dakota, which is the reason I have this 1931 Zeenut card. I also have an autograph collection of native North Dakotans who have played in the major leagues, and Hannah is included in that collection:

Roger Clemens

Last Appearance: 2012 (age 50)

Clemens pitched in two games for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League in 2012.

Hod Lisenbee

Last Appearance: 1949 (age 50)

Lisenbee pitched in 13 games for the Class D Clarksville Colts of the Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League in 1949. 

Grover Hartley

Last Appearance: 1939 (age 50)

Hartley caught one game for the Class D Findlay Oilers of the Ohio State League in 1939.

I'm still on the lookout for cards for these two players:

• Norman "Kid" Elberfeld - made a pinch-hit appearance at age 61 with the Fulton Eagles of the Class D Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee (Kitty) League in 1936.
• Ollie Pickering - last appeared at age 52 with the Paducah Indians of the Class D Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee (Kitty) League in 1922.

I primarily used baseball-reference.com for this research, so if you know of any of these players playing later than what I reported here, please let me know! Also, if you know of any other 50+ year olds that have played in the minors, feel free to drop a comment below.