Bob Miller (#461)

During his 17-year career, Bob Miller played for 10 of the 24 MLB teams, tying a modern-day record (since broken). He also played for 3 teams in the same season THREE TIMES!

Miller began his pro career in June 1957 as a bonus baby, pitching for the Cardinals (with no prior minor-league experience). After pitching 9 innings over 5 games that season, it was back to the minors for all of 1958.

He split the ’59 and ’60 seasons between the Cardinals and their minor-league teams. Bob was back in the majors to stay in 1961, pitching in 34 games (5 starts) in his final season with the Cardinals.

Prior to the 1962 season, Miller was selected by the Mets in the expansion draft. (Bob was one of 2 pitchers named Bob Miller on the ’62 Mets. ) After compiling a 1-12 record for the wretched expansion team, he was traded to the Dodgers in the off-season for first baseman Tim Harkness and 2nd baseman Larry Burright.

Bob really got his career on-track during his 5 seasons with the Dodgers. Mostly a reliever, he also started 23 games in 1963 and a few more over the next 4 seasons. In ’63 he reached a career-high 10 wins (pretty good for a reliever) and in ’64 he led the NL with 74 appearances. His ERA was also under 3.00 in each of his first 4 seasons.

Miller closed out 2 games in the 1965 World Series vs. the Twins, and also pitched 3 innings in a game vs. the Orioles in the ’66 World Series.

With Jim Brewer emerging as a fine reliever, the Dodgers traded both Miller and Ron Perranoski (along with starting catcher John Roseboro) to the Twins after the 1967 season for shortstop Zoilo Versalles and pitcher Mudcat Grant.

The Dodgers were trying to plug the hole they created at shortstop by trading Maury Wills a year earlier, but that trade was a disaster. Roseboro had 2 solid seasons with the Twins and made the All-Star team in 1969, Perranoski led the AL in saves in ’69 and ’70, and Miller went on to pitch for 7 more seasons. Meanwhile Versalles was a bust after leaving Minnesota - after batting .196 in 1968, he was selected by the Padres in the expansion draft, but quickly flipped to the Indians for minor-leaguer Bill Davis (he of the 5 Rookie Stars cards). What a waste, eh Night Owl?

After two seasons in Minnesota (including an appearance in the 1969 ALCS), Miller spent the final 5 years of his career bouncing around to 7 teams: Indians (’70), White Sox (’70), Cubs (’70-’71), Padres (’71), Pirates (’71-’72), Padres again (’73), Tigers (’73), and back to the Mets (’73-’74).

Bob also pitched in the ’71 and ’72 post-season for the Pirates, and closed 2 games in the 1972 World Series.

After his playing career, Miller was the pitching coach for the Toronto Blue Jays during their first 3 seasons (1977-79) and later was a coach and scout for the Giants.

He passed away in August 1993 from a car accident at age 54.

Don Cardwell (#555)

Here is Mets’ hurler Don Cardwell. This was Cardwell’s 1st season as a Met, and surprisingly, Topps is showing him in a Mets uniform!
(I guess it helps that this is a high-number card, released in late summer. It even has some 1967 game information on the back.)

Don was the opening-day starter for the Mets that season. It would be his only opener, because 1967 was Tom Seaver’s rookie season and, well, you know the rest.

Cardwell was signed by the Phillies in 1954, and made his major-league debut in April 1957. Don was inserted into a starting rotation that also included Robin Roberts, Curt Simmons, and Jack Sanford. Cardwell continued taking his regular turn until May 1960, when he was traded to the Cubs for 2nd baseman Tony Taylor.

He pitched a no-hitter in his first game with the Cubs, but otherwise for the next 2 ½ seasons, he was a workhorse starter for some bad teams.

After the 1962 season Cardwell moved on to the Cardinals, traded with outfielder George Altman in exchange for pitchers Larry Jackson and Lindy McDaniel. During the same off-season, he was flipped to the Pirates for shortstop Dick Groat.

Don pitched for the Pirates for the next 4 seasons, although he spent much of 1964 in triple-A. He won 13 games in both 1963 and 1965, manning the #2 spot in the rotation behind Bob Friend (’63) and Bob Veale (’65). In 1966 Cardwell was relegated to the bullpen for much of the season, in favor of youngsters Woodie Fryman, Steve Blass, and Tommie Sisk.

After the season, he was traded to the Mets (with outfielder Don Bosch) for pitcher Dennis Ribant and OF-C Gary Kolb. Don was in the Mets’ rotation for 3 ½ years, and in his early-30s, provided a veteran influence for young starters Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Nolan Ryan, and Gary Gentry. He also pitched in relief in game 1 of the 1969 World Series.

Don was sold to the Braves in July 1970, and pitched in 16 games for Atlanta before getting his release after the season.

Cardwell passed away in 2008 at age 72, in his birthplace of Winston-Salem, NC.

Juan Pizarro (#602)

Juan Pizarro appeared in the rare 7th series in the 1967 set. I didn’t get this card until the 1980s, so for a long time my only Pizarro cards were from 1968 (looking surly, with a hole in his shirt) and 1969 (a capless, big-head shot). I'm impressed that this isn't a capless card, since '67 was his first season with the Pirates.

Pizarro played for 8 teams over 18 years (1957-74). He was primarily a starting pitcher for his first 9 years (seasons spent with the Braves and White Sox). After that he was mostly a reliever (except for his 1971 season with the Cubs).

Juan was signed by the Milwaukee Braves in 1956, and after a full season in Class-A ball, he split each of the next 3 seasons (57-59) between the Braves and their AAA club. He was a swing man with the Braves, pitching behind Warren Spahn, Lew Burdette, Joey Jay, and Bob Buhl in the rotation, and closer Don McMahon in the ‘pen. Pizarro pitched 1 inning each in the ’57 and ’58 World Series.

On Dec 15, 1960 the Braves traded Pizarro to the Reds (with pitcher Joey Jay) for SS Roy McMillan. On the same day, the Reds flipped him to the White Sox for 3rd baseman Gene Freese. Juan played for the White Sox from 1961-66, and had his best seasons in 1963 (16 wins) and 1964 (19 wins). He made the all-star team in both seasons.
Juan became a nomad after the 1966 season. Traded to the Pirates for pitcher Wilbur Wood, he lasted with the Bucs until June 1968, when he was purchased by the Red Sox.

In April 1969 he was traded to the Indians with pitcher Dick Ellsworth and 1B-OF Ken Harrelson for catcher Joe Azcue and pitchers Sonny Siebert and Vicente Romo. Later that season he moved on to the Athletics, and to the Angels in early 1970.

Pizarro landed with the Cubs in July 1970, and stayed there for exactly 36 months – the longest stint in the 2nd half of his career. He returned to a starter’s role with the Cubs, although he spent part of 1971 and the first half on 1973 in the minors.

Juan played the 2nd half of the ’73 season with the Astros, then was released the following spring. He played in the Mexican League in 1974, until the Pirates signed him in late August.

Released after the season, he returned to the Mexican League for the ’75 and ’76 seasons before retiring.

Final Card: Barry Latman

Here is Barry Latman (#28), at Yankee Stadium in an Angels uniform. It's been over a year since Latman was traded to the Astros, but it seems that Topps never let a little thing like the photographer's "to do" list get in the way of a vacation!

Latman was signed by the White Sox prior to the 1955 season, and played 3 seasons in the minors (almost exclusively as a starting pitcher) before making his major-league debut in September 1957. After that 7-game cup of coffee, he was back in the minors for most of 1958, but played in 13 games for the White Sox.

In 1959, Barry was with the Sox for the entire season. For the next 6 years, he would start and relieve (about 50/50). After the 1959 season, Latman was traded to the Indians for pitcher Herb Score.



Barry played in Cleveland for 4 seasons. Looking at his stats, it seems he was what is called an "innings eater" (code for "not so good, but he's a warm body"). He pitched 140-170 innings per season, had an ERA over 4.00, and aside from his 13-5 record in 1961, he couldn't manage 9 wins per season.

After the '63 season, Latman and Joe Adcock were shipped to the Angels for slugging outfielder Leon Wagner. [Based on Adcock's age, Latman's ineffectiveness, Wagner's power numbers in the early 1960s, and no reason to believe the Wagner would lose it by 1968, it seems like this was a bad deal for the Angels at the time.]

Anyway, Latman continued his pedestrian career on the west coast: another bad year in 1964, and a trip to the minors for most of 1965. The Angels dumped him on the Astros after the 1965 season.

After 1 1/2 seasons in Houston, the Astros had seen enough - releasing him in August 1967.

Final Card: Andre Rodgers

This is the final card for Andre Rodgers (#554), an infielder who played 11 years for 3 teams. This was a high-numbered card that I didn't get until many years later. Until then, to me he was only an unknown name on the 1967 7th series checklist card.

Rodgers began in the New York Giants' system in 1954. He played there for several years until his major-league debut with New York in 1957.

Rodgers was back in the minors for most of 1958, but played a few dozen games with San Francisco. 1959 was the opposite - a brief time in the minors but most of the season in the majors. Rodgers was primarily the backup shortstop during his time with the Giants.



After the 1960 season, Rodgers was traded to the Milwaukee Braves for third baseman Alvin Dark, but in the spring training 1961 he was traded to the Cubs for pitcher Moe Drabowsky. Andre played 4 seasons with the Cubs, the last 3 as their everyday shortstop. He replaced Ernie Banks, who had moved over to first base.

He was traded to the Pirates for infielder Roberto Pena after the 1964 season. During his three seasons with Pittsburgh, he was used mostly as a pinch-hitter and utility infielder. Each year saw his playing time decreased more and more, as in 1966 and 1967, he played less than 20 games in the field. His final game was on September 16, 1967.

He played for the Pirates' triple-A team in 1968 before retiring. Rodgers, who was born in Nassau Bahamas, died there as well, 11 days after his 70th birthday in 2004.

Final Card: Jim Landis

By the time I started collecting baseball cards in 1967, Jim Landis (#483) was a part-time player at the end of his career. I remember thinking "He wasn't a starter so he probably wasn't that good." What did I know? Little did I realize that he had been the starting centerfielder for the White Sox from 1958 to 1964, collected 5 gold glove awards, and played in the 1959 World Series!

Jim played in the White Sox organization in 1952 and 1953, then missed the next 2 years for military service. He returned to baseball in 1956, and made his major-league debut with the White Sox in early 1957.



As mentioned above, he wa a key member of the Sox for seven seasons (1958-64). Before the 1965 season, Jim was part of a 3-team, 8-player trade with the Athletics and Indians:

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

Landis was the Athletics' regular centerfielder in 1965, receiving more playing time than he had the previous season in Chicago. After 1 season in Kansas City, he was traded to the Indians for catcher Phil Roof and a minor-league outfielder named Joe Rudi.

Just as in Kansas City, Jim only lasted 1 season in Cleveland. In January 1967 he was traded to the Astros (with catcher Doc Edwards) for outfielder Lee Maye. His time in Houston was short, as he was traded to the Tigers in June for pitcher Larry Sherry.

In mid-August he was released, only to be signed by the Boston Red Sox on August 22nd. However, six days later he was released. (This was just after Tony Conigliaro was beaned, and the Red Sox were looking for help in right field. After 1 start, they must have decided that Jim Landis was not the answer. Ken Harrelson was signed as their new right fielder.)

Jim was one of 5 players to play for more than 2 teams in 1967 (along with Jim King, John Buzhardt, Jack Lamabe, and Ken Harrelson).

Final Card: Bob Shaw

And now a 10-day blitz, as I wrap up most of the remaining 10-year veterans who retired in the late 1960s...


Bob Shaw (#470) was signed by the Tigers prior to the 1953 season, and spent the next several years in their farm system. His major-league debut came on August 11, 1957 with the Tigers.

1958 was Bob's first full season in the majors. Although he began the season with Detroit, in June he was traded to the White Sox along with 3B/1B Ray Boone for pitcher Bill Fischer and outfielder Tito Francona.



Bob was a starter and reliever for the White Sox. In 1959, he compiled a record of 18-6, and his .750 winning percentage led the American League. All good things must come to an end, as in June 1961 Shaw was traded to Kansas City in an 8-player deal. Poor Bob, he went from the 4th-place White Sox (just 2 years removed from a World Series appearance) to the last-place Athletics!

Not to worry. After the season he was traded to the Milwaukee Braves (with infielder Lou Klimchock) for catcher Joe Azcue, third baseman Ed Charles, and outfielder Manny Jimenez. He posted a 15-9 record in his first season with the Braves, but after slipping to 7-11 at age 30, he was traded to the Giants after the 1963 season.

After another disappointing season in 1964, Bob compiled a 16-9 record the following season. In June 1966 he was sold to the Mets. The Mets had three 11-game winners in 1966: Shaw, fellow-journeyman Jack Fisher, and up-and-coming Dennis Ribant. The starting rotation was rounded out by the aging Bob Friend and 21-year-old Tug McGraw.

In late July 1967, Bob was sold to the Cubs. After only 9 appearances, he was released on September 19th, ending his 11-year career.