Final Card: Wes Stock

Wes Stock (#74) was a relief pitcher for the Orioles and Athletics in the early and mid-1960s.

Stock was signed by the Baltimore Orioles in 1956. After 1 season in class-D ball, he spent 2 years in military service before returning to the O's in 1959. Although he made his major-league debut in April 1959, he spend most of that season and some of 1960 in the minors.

Wes came up to stay in 1961, but was always just "another guy in the bullpen", stuck behind Hoyt Wilhelm, Dick Hall, and later Stu Miller.



In June 1964, Stock was traded to the Athletics for catcher Charlie Lau. With Kansas City, it was more of the same - stuck behind John Wyatt or Jack Aker. (In 1966, the Athletics used twenty-three pitchers!)

On April 11th, 1967 (opening day), the Athletics probably did him a favor by releasing him. They re-signed him on May 2nd, only to release him 2 weeks later.

After his playing career, Stock began a long career as a pitching coach.

Ted Uhlaender (#431)

Ted Uhlaender was an outfielder for 8 years (1965-72), mostly with the Twins.

He was signed by the Twins in 1961, and spent five seasons in their farm system before making his major-league debut in September 1965.

In 1966, Ted took over the starting centerfielder's job from Jimmie Hall, who had started there since 1963. (Hall then shared left field with Bob Allison, and was dealt to the Angels after the season for pitcher Dean Chance.) Uhlaender started 95 games in center, and played in 10 other games as a pinch-hitter.

In 1967, Ted's playing time increased, starting 104 of his 118 games in centerfield, and another 15 games as a pinch-hitter. He was a defensive specialist, playing between power-hitting Bob Allison in left and multi-year batting champ Tony Oliva in right. In 1968 he played in 140 games, making 127 starts in centerfield.



In 1969, Uhlaender was still one of Minnesota's top 2 outfielders (along with Tony Oliva), but his center field time was cut back to 90+ games. Jack-of-all-positions Cesar Tovar, who had been frequenting third base for the past 2 seasons, spent more time in center field than any other position in 1969, sending Uhlaender over to the leftfield melting pot that included Bob Allison, Graig Nettles, and Charlie Manuel (yes, that Charlie Manuel).

I guess Twins' management liked how Tovar played centerfield, because after the season, Uhlaender was shipped to Cleveland (along with pitchers Dean Chance and Bob Miller, and outfielder Graig Nettles) for pitchers Luis Tiant and Stan Williams. Uhlaender became the Indians' starting center fielder, and Nettles took over the third base job. Chance switched to the bullpen after leaving Minnesota.

For 2 seasons (1970-71), Uhlaender, Vada Pinson, and Roy Foster were Cleveland's starting outfielders. In 1970, it was Foster in left, Uhlaender in center, and Pinson in right. In 1971, they mixed it up with Uhlaender in LF/CF, Pinson in CF/RF, and Foster in RF/LF.

After the 1971 season, Ted was traded to the Reds for pitcher Milt Wilcox. In his one season with the Reds, Uhlaender was used mostly as a pinch-hitter, since it was tough to crack Cincinnati's outfield lineup of Pete Rose, Bobby Tolan, and Cesar Geronimo. Ted was the 5th outfielder (behind George Foster) and saw some occasional action in right field.

In 1973, he played for the White Sox' triple-A team in Iowa. He also played 25 games for an independent class-A team in 1976.

Cardinals Rookies: Jim Cosman / Dick Hughes

This is the only rookies card (#384) for the Cardinals in 1967.

Jim Cosman played in the minor leagues from 1963 to 1971 for 4 organizations (primarily the Cardinals, but also the Mets, Reds, and Cubs). His only major-league action was 1 game in '66, 10 games in '67 (all for St. Louis), and 1 game in 1970 with the Cubs.



Dick Hughes was a little more successful. He was signed by the Cardinals in 1958, and spent 9 seasons in the minors (mostly with Cardinals' teams) before making his major-league debut in September 1966 at age 28.

Although he only played in the major leagues for 3 seasons, he was a key member of the Cardinals' pitching staff in both 1967 and 1968, as they went to the World Series in both years. In 1967, Dick was a starter for most of the season, while in 1968 he pitched mainly in relief. His last major-league game was in game 6 of the World Series.

In 1969, he played 15 games for the Cardinals' class-A team in St. Petersburg, FL, and then his career was over. (It seems like this may have been an unsuccessful rehab assignment.)

Final Card: George Altman

Today, I received 9 cards that I bought to upgrade my worst 1967 cards: Billy O'Dell and Ralph Terry (clearly the 2 poorest), also Joe Nuxhall, Matty Alou, Bob Priddy, Mike McCormick, Wes Stock, George Scott, and George Brunet. Somehow, I missed George Altman, whose card has no solid corners. Oh well, next time!

This is the final card for George Altman (#87). 1967 was also his last season, most of which was spent in triple-A.

George was signed by the Cubs in 1955, and played all on 1956 and part of 1958 in the Cubs' farm system. Sandwiched between those 2 seasons was a year and a half in the military.

Altman made his major-league debut with the Cubs on April 11, 1959, and was the Cubs' regular center fielder during his rookie season.



In 1960, he was replaced by Richie Ashburn, and was used as a backup outfielder. George was back in the starting lineup the next year, as he took over the right field job in 1961 and 1962. In 1962 his outfield mates were Billy Williams (LF) and Lou Brock (CF).

After the 1962 season, Altman and pitcher Don Cardwell were traded to the Cardinals for pitchers Larry Jackson and Lindy McDaniel, and catcher Jimmie Schaffer. He was the Cardinals' regular right fielder in 1963, playing alongside Stan Musial and Curt Flood. (Wow, in 2 years, Altman played alongside 4 all-stars!)

Altman only lasted 1 season in St. Louis, and was traded to the Mets for pitcher Roger Craig. George was the Mets' regular left fielder in 1964, since their #1 outfielder (Joe Christopher) played in right.

Once again, Altman's stay lasted only 1 season. He was traded to the Cubs for outfielder Billy Cowan in January 1965.

George's 2nd tour with the Cubs was not as productive. In 1965 he was in the Cubs' 5-man committee of left fielders. In 1966 he backed up rookie sensation Byron Browne in left field. In 1967 he played 4 games for Chicago and 108 games for triple-A Tacoma.

My Want List

1966 Topps Baseball:
1, 9, 24, 28, 30, 36, 50, 70, 72, 110, 120, 125, 150, 160, 215-217, 219, 224, 232, 255, 261-263, 265-267, 270-273, 275-278, 280-283, 285-293, 295, 298-300, 303, 305-308, 311-313, 315-318, 320, 321, 323, 325-328, 330, 331, 336-338, 341, 342, 345-348, 351-358, 361, 362, 365, 368-371, 373-382, 384-386, 388-393, 395, 399-405, 407, 408, 410, 412, 414-420, 422, 424-431, 433, 436, 438, 440-442, 445, 446, 448-453, 455-462, 465-469, 470, 473-475, 477, 479, 481-483, 486, 487, 490-496, 499-501, 503-505, 507-511, 514-516, 518, 520, 521, 523-526, 528-530, 532-542, 544-584, 586-590, 592-594, 596-598.

1967 Topps Baseball: 569, 570, 581, 600, 609

1969 Topps Baseball: 95 (Bench)

1969 Topps deckle-edge: 7, 9, 10, 22, 23, 25, 29, 30, 31


1988 Fleer: 195, 575, U109, U111
1989 Fleer: 315, 320, 450, 454, 458, U105, U106, U107, U108, U109, U110, U111, U112
1992 Fleer: 52, 461, U108, U112

1982 Donruss: DK-12
1983 Donruss: 499
1986 Donruss: 507
1988 Donruss: 243, 331, 427
1990 Donruss: 57, 117, 700, 715

1992 Score: 884, 890


1967 Philadelphia Gum Football: 52 (Meredith), 82 (Starr)

1968 Topps Football: 100 (Unitas), 196 (Griese)

It's 2010 ...Time for a census!

It's the start of a new year, so I thought I would survey my collection of vintage cards (click to enlarge):


The yellow areas are my "wheelhouse". My 1st period of collecting began in May 1967 and stopped after the 1972 football season. I got the low-numbered '67, '68, and '69 cards, and all of the '72 cards in the year issued.

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The release of the 1979 and 1980 Burger King Phillies sets, coupled with the Phillies winning the 1980 World Series, got me started in the hobby again. I decided to limit my collecting to:

A) Complete my '67, '68, and '69 sets

B) Collect the Phillies cards from all years

C) Buy 1981 factory sets

How did I do?

A. The '67, '68, and '69 high numbers were acquired mostly in the early 1980s. I now have them all except 5 cards from the 1967 set.

B. During the 1980s and early 1990s, I collected Phillies cards from 1964 (an arbitrary starting date, based mostly on economics) up through 1993. This included:

1. All Topps from 1964 to 1993 (except the Mike Schmidt rookie).
2. All Fleer from 1981 to 1992, except for about a half-dozen cards.
3. All Donruss from 1982 to 1992, except for about 1 dozen cards.
4. Most Upper Deck and Score from '90 to '92, and all Bowman from '91 and '92.

C. In 1981, I got the Topps and Fleer factory sets, and the Topps Traded set. In the early 1990s, I also went factory-set crazy, and have most factory and update sets for Topps, Fleer, and Donruss from 1988 to 1992, and all but 5 cards in the 1992 Score set.

After 1993, I stopped collecting again until the fall of 2008.

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Collecting interests since late 2008:

1. Recent Phillies cards (Topps and Upper Deck only). I have most from 2004 to 2009.

2. Phillies cards from 1963 back to the early 1950s. I currently have all the 1960 to 1963 Phillies except the high numbers, and a few from earlier years. I also have some Phillies from the early 1960s' Post and Fleer sets.

3. Started collecting the non-Phillie 1964 to 1966 Topps cards. I'm currently focusing on adding to my 1966 set.

Sometime in the last 20 years, my 1969 cards of Willie Mays, Johnny Bench, and Rod Carew went missing. I have recently replaced the Mays and Carew cards.

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Oh, I forgot to mention football cards:

.

Gary Peters (#310)

Gary Peters was the ace of the White Sox pitching staff in the mid-to-late 1960s.

Peters was signed by the White Sox in 1956, and spent 7 seasons (1956-62) in the minor leagues, while making a few appearances during the 1959-62 seasons.

In 1963 he joined the White Sox for good as a 26-year-old rookie, and what a rookie season it was! He compiled a 19-8 record, his 2.33 ERA led the league, and he led all White Sox starters (Ray Herbert, Juan Pizarro, John Buzhardt, Joe Horlen) in games and innings pitched. He was also named American League Rookie of the Year.

Peters followed that up with another fine season in 1964. He led the starting rotation (same 5 guys) in wins (20), games, starts, complete games, and innings pitched, and was named to the all-star team.



1965 was an off-year for Gary, but 22-year-old Tommy John had now joined the rotation (replacing the aging Ray Herbert), and went 14-7 to help pick up the slack. Peters rebounded in 1966, and although his 12-10 record is not spectacular, his 1.98 ERA was tops in the American League.

In 1967, Peters was back on top in the "workhorse" categories of games, starts, and innings pitched, but his 16-11 record was eclipsed by Horlen's 19-7. The Sox' top 3 of Peters, Horlen, and John were as good as any in the league.

Look out! In 1968 Gary's record came crashing down to 4-13. He was even used in relief for 6 games. Peters would play one more season in Chicago before being traded to the Red Sox (along with catcher Don Pavletich) for utility infielder Syd O'Brien, and a minor-league pitcher. What a humbling end to a great run in Chicago!

Peters' first 2 seasons in Boston went well, as he pitched in 34 games each season, and compiled records of 16-11 and 14-11. However, in his final season (1972) he was shifted to the bullpen, making 29 of his 33 appearances as a reliever. He finished with a 3-3 record, and was released after the season, ending his 14-year career.

Final Card: Johnny Romano

Johnny Romano (#196) was a catcher in the 1960s, mostly for the White Sox and Indians.

Romano was signed by the White Sox in 1954, and played in their minor-league system for 5 years. His major-league debut came in September 1958, when he played 4 games for the White Sox.

In 1959, Johnny started 34 games, as the backup to Sherm Lollar. After the season, he was traded to the Indians with first baseman Norm Cash for catcher Dick Brown, outfielder Minnie Minoso, and 2 other players.



In 1960, Romano started 88 games behind the plate, more than 3 times as many starts as any of the other 3 catchers used that season. In '61 and '62, he had a better grip on the starter's job, starting 140 and 128 games during those seasons.

Romano and Joe Azcue (acquired from Kansas City early in 1963) shared the starting job for the 1963 and 1964 seasons. At the close of the 1964 season, Johnny went back to the White Sox as part of a 3-team, 8-player deal:

Rocky Colavito - Athletics to Indians
Cam Carreon - White Sox to Indians

Tommie Agee - Indians to White Sox
Tommy John - Indians to White Sox
Johnny Romano - Indians to White Sox

Mike Hershberger - White Sox to Athletics
Jim Landis - White Sox to Athletics
Fred Talbot - White Sox to Athletics

Romano was the undisputed starting catcher for the Sox during 1965 and 1966. After the season, he was traded to the Cardinals for pitcher Don Dennis and outfield prospect Walt "No-Neck" Williams. Although he stuck around all season, Johnny only played in 24 games during his 10th and final season.

Well, that wraps up the 1967 cards for veterans with 10 or more years who retired in the late 1960s. (I still have another week to go on the 1968 blog.) You can see the entire list here.