As I have been working on my 1973 Topps set, I've had the urge to share some of my thoughts on the set. I recently showed off five cards in the set with "hidden" Hall of Famers. Today's theme will be an intersection of my collection of the "lesser knowns" and the 1973 Topps set.
Put simply, a "lesser known" is a baseball player who reminds you of a more famous person. I categorize these players into a few groups:
- Players with a more famous baseball player in the family.
- Players sharing the same name with a more famous baseball player.
- Players sharing the same name with a more famous athlete in a different sport.
- Players sharing the same name with another more famous person.
Here are some the "lesser knowns" from the 1973 Topps set:
Card #41 - Tom Walker
Tom had a modest six-year career in MLB, while his son Neil played 12 seasons and won a Silver Slugger Award.
Card #43 - Randy Moffitt
The name Randy Moffitt might not immediately strike you as a lesser known until I tell you that tennis legend Billie Jean King's maiden name was Moffitt. She is Randy's sister.
Card #221 - Fred Kendall
Fred Kendall did spend 12 years in MLB, which is an impressive feat, but his son Jason was a three time All-Star during his 15 years in the majors. With Fred also being a catcher, though, he probably deserves some credit for his son's success.
Card #351 - Jimmy Stewart
More notable is the actor with the same name, known for many popular films including, It's a Wonderful Life, Rear Window, the original Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. I feel like they kind of look alike, at least a little bit.
Card #358 - Jim Nettles
Jim's brother Graig played 22 seasons in MLB and made 6 All-Star teams. Graig is the only "better known" who also has a card in the 1973 set (#498):
Card #437 - John Kennedy
MLB's John Kennedy started his career in the majors in 1962, just a year after the more famous John Kennedy took the office of the U.S. presidency.
Card #444 - Ken Brett
Ken played a very respectable 14 years in MLB but is overshadowed by one of the all-time greats. His brother is Kansas City Royals Hall of Famer George Brett.
Card #557 - Bernie Williams
Bernard "Bernie" Williams played sparingly during a short four years in MLB. Bernabe "Bernie" Williams spent 16 seasons with the New York Yankees, amassing four World Series rings while making the All-Star team five times.
Lesser knowns are ultimately relative to a single person's perspective. With that in mind, I'll tell you that I considered the following players, but decided to pass on including them as they had MLB careers ranging from respectable to very good:
#39 Dave Roberts
#108 Bill Russell
#133 Dave Roberts
#176 Chuck Taylor
Did I miss anyone? Let me know in the comments. And if you're interested in seeing more lesser known players that are a part of my mini collection, click here.
