MY FAVORITE CARDS:

1952 TOPPS GUS ZERNIAL

 

 

            The 1952 Topps set is one of the most popular among vintage collectors—not just for the astronomical value of high-numbered cards, but also because of its appealing design. The card fronts feature brilliantly-colorized black and white photos along with team logos and facsimile autographs. Player names (paired with their signatures) appear inside white rectangular boxes that resemble movie theater marquees with their gold-starred frames. The backs of the cards feature thumbnail bios along with batting/fielding statistics. There are more than two dozen Hall of Famers in the set, including Mickey Mantle, whose card is literally worth millions in high-grade condition. Far less valuable but more interesting in a visual sense, Gus Zernial’s card was released in the first series, which includes numbers 1-80.  

            No longer a household name, Zernial was one of the most prolific sluggers of the 1950s. During his six-year heyday—which lasted from 1950 through 1955—he tied with Al Rosen for most homers in the American League. Mantle and Yogi Berra were the only AL players to surpass Zernial’s collective total for the entire decade.

Solidly built at six-foot-two, 210-plus pounds, Zernial was nicknamed “Ozark Ike” after a popular comic strip character. He grew up in the oil town of Beaumont, Texas and had an especially rough childhood. Three of his siblings died young and his father passed away when he was just 15 years-old. A multi-sport star in high school, his exceptional performances earned him three different scholarship offers. He turned them all down, pursuing a professional baseball career instead. After a two-year stint in the US Navy during World War II, he returned to the minors. His 40 home runs in 1948 earned him a promotion to the Chicago White Sox. A frequent strikeout victim in his early years, he adjusted his approach over time, averaging just one whiff per every 5.5 at-bats during his career—far better than a majority of today’s sluggers. In all, he played for three different big league clubs and retired with 237 homers. 

Zernial became famous for helping Joe DiMaggio connect with Marilyn Monroe. During spring training in 1951, Monroe’s handlers brought her to White Sox training camp to pose for publicity photos. Dressed in heels and short shorts, the glamorous starlet clowned around with Zernial and some of his teammates. After DiMaggio saw the pictures in a magazine, he approached Zernial during an exhibition game with questions about the actress. Zernial passed on the contact information for Monroe’s agent and encouraged the Yankee centerfielder to reach out. The rest, as they say, is history.

Zernial’s 1952 Topps card (#31) features an unusual photo. The slugger is facing the camera directly and making the universal “O.K.” symbol with his left hand. In his right, he is holding a bat that has six baseballs attached to it. None of the other cards in the series feature that design. That’s because the balls were intended to represent Zernial’s record-tying streak of six home runs in three games, which he assembled in May of 1951. He added another blast in the following game, tying another record set by Hall of Famer Tony Lazzeri. According to Zernial, the six baseballs were stuck to the bat in the Topps photo with Scotch tape.

Since Zernial’s card is in the low-numbered series, it is far more common than the later issues. Even so, finding pristine copies is practically impossible. As of 2026, the population of PSA-graded Gem-Mint and Mint copies was zero according to the company. At the time of this writing, there were less than 50 examples in Grade 8 condition (Near-Mint/Mint). Though their estimated value was $600 apiece, one of them sold for more than twice as much. The card can be acquired by collectors in varying mid-grade conditions for around $50 to $140.   

                

                

 

 

MY FAVORITE CARDS:

1975 TOPPS HERB WASHINGTON

 

 

            Part owner, part mad genius, Charles Finley was once referred to as the “P.T. Barnum of Baseball.” After acquiring a controlling interest in the A’s before the 1961 campaign, he did everything in his power to draw fans to the ballpark. The team had posted 96 losses in 1960 while averaging just 5,000 paid admissions per home game. Looking to transform the club into a marketable commodity, Finley unleashed a series of zany promotional stunts. In one of his earliest schemes, he placed A’s tickets inside helium-filled balloons and released them into the community. He added a splash of color to everything, including bright yellow fences, pink foul poles, golden bases, and tacky green/yellow uniforms. He allowed sheep to graze beyond the outfield wall and opened a children’s petting zoo. A mechanical rabbit named “Harvey” was installed underground near home plate, supplying umpires with baskets of baseballs on demand. In keeping with the animal theme, a mule named “Charlie O.” was designated team mascot. Not only was the quadruped paraded onto the field before home games, but Finley even arranged for it to stay overnight with the team on road trips.

            Not all of Finley’s schemes were quite as bonkers. In 1964, he created the “K.C. Pennant Porch,” moving the right field fence at Municipal Stadium to a mere 296 feet from home plate. Unfortunately, this was in violation of a rule requiring all new stadiums to have outfield dimensions of at least 325 feet. League officials made Finley move the fences back after just two games. An ongoing series of roster upgrades made the A’s legitimate contenders. Upon moving from Kansas City to Oakland in 1968, the club enjoyed nine consecutive winning seasons. This included three straight World Series titles from 1972-1974. In an attempt to increase visibility for fans and players before the ’73 campaign, Finley introduced bright orange baseballs. The balls were used during a pair of spring training games and, while some observers reported that the experiment had the desired effect, the project was scrapped due to multiple player complaints.

            Finley’s quest to revolutionize the game continued undaunted. Hoping to generate more runs, he signed a world-class sprinter named Herb Washington to serve as a full-time pinch-runner. While attending Michigan State University, Washington either tied or broke world records in the 50 and 60 yard dashes on multiple occasions. Drafted in 1972 by the NFL’s Baltimore Colts, he turned down the offer so he could compete in the Summer Olympics. Unfortunately, he never qualified for the U.S. Team.

            In 1974, Washington accepted a $45,000 contract offer with a $20,000 signing bonus to join the A’s. According to multiple sources, Finley was promoting wild facial hair at the time and the requirement was included in Washington’s contract. Since the newly signed speedster was unable to grow a full moustache, he resorted to using an eyebrow pencil to create the illusion. Washington was coached by former Dodger stolen base king Maury Wills. He was not expected to learn any other skills beyond baserunning. During his brief tenure with the A’s, he never logged an official major league at-bat or received a defensive assignment.

            Long story short, the experiment was somewhat of a flop. Washington appeared in 92 regular season games in ’74. He scored 29 runs and stole 29 bases, but he was caught 16 times for a 64% success rate—not awful by any stretch of the imagination, but not quite as good as expected. Worse yet, he crumbled in the postseason. In the ALCS against the Orioles, he appeared twice and was caught stealing both times. Then, in Game 2 of the World Series, he was picked off of first base in the ninth inning by Dodger relief specialist Mike Marshall (the NL Cy Young Award-winner that year). Washington ended up being released by the A’s early in the ’75 campaign.

            Honoring Finley’s innovative strategy, the Topps company released a Herb Washington card in 1975. The groovy colors are a fitting tribute. Appearing at #407 in the set, it features the fleet-footed sprinter in an action pose leading off of first base in an empty stadium. It’s the only card in the entire Topps catalog that lists a player as a pinch-runner. The card still resonates with hobbyists even today. Raw copies in mid-grade condition can be purchased cheaply for $12-$20. But a PSA-graded Gem Mint copy sold for over $3,000 in May of 2023.   

                

             

 

 

UPCOMING BOOK RELEASE:

CARDBOARD TREASURES

 

            Greetings baseball fans! I know my blog has been quiet lately. But I’m excited to announce the upcoming arrival of my latest book, which is entitled Cardboard Treasures: The Stories Behind the Most Coveted Baseball Cards of All-Time. It’s being released through Bloomsbury Publishing and will be available in February of 2027.

            As the title implies, the book takes a deep dive into the world of sports card collecting, celebrating the rarest, the most expensive, and the most unusual cards ever produced. From the tobacco issues of the late-nineteenth century to the current era, readers will get the inside scoop on the cards that have captivated hobbyists for well over a century. I have been a collector for most of my life and, celebrating the book’s release, I’ll be posting a series of articles about some of my favorite cards. Keep an eye out for them over the next few months! 

 

                               

SHOCKTOBER PREVIEW: TOP TEN WORLD SERIES UPSETS OF ALL-TIME RANKED

 

 10. MARLINS OVER INDIANS 1997

Established in 1993, the Marlins had finished below .500 in each of their previous four seasons. The Indians were making their second World Series appearance in a three-year span and seemed destined to breeze to a victory over the inexperienced Marlins. Florida was the first Wild Card team to win it all.

 

9. DIAMONDBACKS OVER YANKEES 2001

 This was one of the greatest New York teams in modern history. They had won four of the previous five World Series. In the wake of the World Trade Center attack, they also had a legion of fans on their side. The Diamondbacks had a talented roster full of seasoned veterans. But few expected them to take down the Yankees. Mariano Rivera’s infamous stumble in the finale left fans utterly stunned and gave Arizona its first professional championship in any of the four major sports.

 

8. ROYALS OVER CARDINALS 1985

 The Cardinals won 101 games in 1985. They had a batting champ (Willie McGee), a stolen base leader (Vince Coleman), and one of the most gifted defensive shortstops in history (Ozzie Smith). Kansas City had one of the worst team batting averages in the American League. They weren’t even expected to win their division let alone the World Series. But fate intervened when Coleman was injured during the NLCS in a freak accident. The Cards never fully recovered without him.

 

7. CARDINALS OVER TIGERS 2006

At 83-78, St. Louis had the worst regular season record of any championship team in history. Proving how improbable their World Series victory was, the Cardinals missed the playoffs in three of the next four seasons.

 

6. TWINS OVER CARDINALS 1987

The Twins had averaged 89 losses per year in the previous seven campaigns. They opened the season with 500-to-1 betting odds stacked against them. Their 29-52 record on the road during the regular season made a Series victory even more incredible.

 

5. PIRATES OVER YANKEES 1960

 Pittsburgh had not been to a World Series since 1927—the year they were swept by the “Murderer’s Row” Yankees. The Yankees had won eight pennants and six World Series in a ten-year span. They had Mantle, Maris, Berra, and Whitey Ford. In spite of their record-setting 55 runs, 91 hits, and .338 team batting average in the Series, the Bombers fell to the Pirates in seven games.

 

4. BRAVES OVER A’S 1914

  The Braves (who were stationed in Boston back then) got off to a 10-22 start yet somehow managed to turn their season around. The outcome of the Series was so shocking that sportswriters referred to the victors as “The Miracle Braves.” A’s manager Connie Mack, who had guided his club to three World Series titles in a four-year span, was so disgruntled by the outcome that he traded off most of his best players. The result was seven consecutive last place finishes. 

 

3. DODGERS OVER YANKEES 1955

 The Dodgers had five Hall of Famers in their lineup (Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Pee Wee Reese, and Gil Hodges). But their opponents were the mighty Yankees—the winningest franchise in baseball history. The Dodgers had been to the World Series on seven occasions prior to 1955 and lost each time. This included five October defeats at the hands of their cross-town rivals.

 

2. METS OVER ORIOLES 1969

The Mets had never finished above-.500 prior to 1969. They had dropped at least 100 games five times, including an NL record 120 losses in their inaugural campaign (1962). The Orioles were a powerhouse club with four Hall of Famers in residence (including manager Earl Weaver). Their 109 wins in '69 are still a franchise record.

 

1. WHITE SOX OVER CUBS 1906

  There is no way the White Sox should have won this Series. Their .230 team batting average was the worst for any pennant-winning squad of the 20^th century, earning them the nickname: “Hitless Wonders.” The Cubs entered the Series with 116 regular season victories (a major league record that still stands). They carried a 23-game advantage over Chicago in the win column.

SHOCKTOBER PREVIEW: INTERESTING WORLD SERIES FACTS

 

1906:  (White Sox vs. Cubs)

This inter-league matchup generated such fervor in Chicago that Charles Martin—a city councilman and avid White Sox supporter—was arrested after brawling with an intoxicated Cubs fan.

 

1926: (Yankees vs. Cardinals)

Babe Ruth had a phenomenal Series for the Yankees, setting a new record with four homers. But he also blew it for New York in Game 7. With two away in the bottom of the ninth, he took it upon himself to attempt a steal of second base. He was thrown out by a wide margin, ending the series in favor of St. Louis.

 

1955: (Dodgers vs. Yankees)

The Dodgers’ win over the Yankees in ’55 was their first in six showdowns against New York. It was their last championship while stationed in Brooklyn. Since moving to Los Angeles, the Dodgers have faced the Yankees five times in World Series play and won on three occasions. 

 

1969: (Mets vs. Orioles)

Prior to this championship season, the Mets had averaged 105 losses per year. They were so bad in the early days that manager Casey Stengel once complained: “The Mets have shown me more ways to lose than I even knew existed.”  

 

1985: (Royals vs. Cardinals)

In Game 6 of this Series, umpire Don Denkinger missed a critical call at first base that allowed the Royals to stage a game-winning rally. Incredibly, a pair of St. Louis disc jockeys gave out Denkinger’s phone number and address over the air. Denkinger was still receiving hate mail and death threats two years later.

 

1987: (Twins vs. Cardinals)

Noise levels generated by fans at the Metrodome in Minnesota ranged from 80 to 125 decibels during Game 2 of this Series. Putting this in perspective, eight hours of exposure to 90 decibel noise can cause permanent damage to your ears. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends that workers not be exposed to decibel levels over 85 for an extended period of time. Game 2 lasted close to three hours.

 

2001: (Diamondbacks vs. Yankees)

This Series took place less than two months after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Though President George W. Bush was told by security officials that it would be safer to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 in Arizona, he felt it would be more appropriate to do it in New York before Game 3. Prior to the opening ceremony, bomb-sniffing dogs combed Yankee Stadium, snipers were placed in various locations, and vendors were vetted by federal agents. Bush wore a New York City fire department fleece with a bulletproof vest underneath. He fired a strike to home plate and got a rousing ovation.

 

2006: (Cardinals vs. Tigers)

TV ratings for this Series were the lowest ever for a Fall Classic at the time. It was one of the sloppiest Series ever played with both teams combining for 16 errors in seven games. St. Louis also had the worst regular season record of any pennant-winning club. Since 2006, seven other World Series have had lower TV ratings.   

SHOCKTOBER PREVIEW: THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR

 

A few people have asked me why I chose to exclude a handful of World Series "upsets" from my latest book. The answer is simple: because some of these so-called "upsets" were not terribly surprising. The following October matchups did not make the cut: 

1931

St. Louis Cardinals over Philadelphia Athletics (4-3)

With three consecutive pennants to their credit and a six-game differential in the “win” column, the A’s were favored to beat the Cardinals, who were making their third World Series appearance in a four-year span. Few if any baseball pundits were taken off guard when the Red Birds, who carried five future Hall of Famers on their roster, gave Connie Mack’s crew more than they could handle.

 

1945

Detroit Tigers over Chicago Cubs (4-3)

With close to 200 players serving in the armed forces, the major league talent pool was seriously diluted. The Cubs—winners of 96 regular season games—were expected to beat the Tigers, who had squeaked into the postseason with 88 victories. Quality pitching was in short supply during the war years, but the Tigers had two of the best arms of the era with Hal Newhouser and Dizzy Trout in their rotation. They also got a shot in the arm when slugger Hank Greenberg returned from wartime duty in July. The end result was hardly shocking as the Cubs dropped their seventh consecutive World Series, extending a luckless streak that had begun with a loss to the A’s in 1910. 

 

1953

New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers (4-2)

The Dodgers had a distinct advantage in terms of regular season wins, having gathered 105 victories to New York’s 99. But the outcome of this Series was a no-brainer as the Yankees won it all for the fifth year in a row—a record that still stands. It was Brooklyn's fifth consecutive World Series loss to New York. 

 

1963

Los Angeles Dodgers over New York Yankees (4-0)

The Yankees may have looked like the better team on paper. But Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris were hobbled by injuries during the regular season. Likewise, Yogi Berra was nearing the end of his playing days. The Dodgers won fewer games that year, but they had Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale—both of whom were very much in their prime. They also had NL batting champ Tommy Davis along with baseball’s reigning stolen base king, Maury Wills. The only thing moderately shocking about this Series was the L.A. sweep. 

 

1966

Baltimore Orioles over Los Angeles Dodgers (4-0)

Prior to their 1954 move from St. Louis to Baltimore, the Orioles (formerly known as the Browns) had established a losing reputation. The addition of four Hall of Famers (Brooks Robinson, Luis Aparicio, Frank Robinson, and Jim Palmer) made them contenders at long last, but they still didn’t get the kind of respect they deserved. Although the defending world champion Dodgers were expected to win this Series, Don Drysdale was having an “off” year and the lineup was full of forgettable players. (How often do Wes Parker, Jim Lefebvre, and Lou Johnson surface in baseball discussion nowadays?) Though technically an upset, the writing was on the wall before the first pitch was thrown.  

 

1995

Atlanta Braves over Cleveland Indians (4-2)

The Indians had some heavy hitters in residence, leading the majors with 207 homers. But Atlanta’s so-called “Big Three” (Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz) were well-equipped to shut down the Cleveland offense. The Indians won 100 games during the strike-shortened regular season and were favored to eliminate the Braves, who had gathered 90 victories of their own. The win differential was just about the only advantage the Indians held against an Atlanta squad that included six eventual Cooperstown inductees. (Fred McGriff, Chipper Jones, and Bobby Cox were all enshrined in addition to the “Big Three”)

 

1996

 New York Yankees over Atlanta Braves (4-2)

 The Yankees had been absent from the Fall Classic for more than a decade—one of the longest droughts in franchise history. Atlanta still had a slew of Hall of Famers on board. But the Braves had a storied history of choking in the postseason. And the teams had similar won-loss records. With a lineup featuring the likes of Derek Jeter, Wade Boggs, and Tim Raines, the Yankees were underdogs in name only.

2004

Boston Red Sox over St. Louis Cardinals (4-0)

The Cardinals won 105 games in 2004 and were making their first World Series appearance since the Whitey Herzog era. The Red Sox entered the postseason as a Wild Card team. With superstars David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Pedro Martinez, and Curt Schilling in the lineup, the BoSox took down the dreaded Yankees in one of the most dramatic ALCS comebacks in history. Having already accomplished an improbable task, was anybody really surprised when they rolled over the Cardinals in four games? If I were doing a book on upsets in the American League Championship Series, Boston's win over New York would probably rank No. 1. But the Series win over St. Louis was a no-brainer. 

SHOCKTOBER PREVIEW: UNLIKELY WORLD SERIES HEROES (PART III)

 

TOMMY THEVENOW

(ST. LOUIS CARDINALS)

Thevenow spent 15 seasons in the majors, never hitting a single ball beyond the outfield fence. All three of his lifetime homers (accumulated during a three-week span in 1926) were of the inside-the-park variety. In spite of his weak hitting, Thevenow became a regular in the St. Louis lineup on account of his stellar defense. In the Cardinals championship season of ’26, he led American League shortstops in putouts and assists. His modest .256 regular season batting average was not a reliable predictor of what lay ahead as he posted the highest mark among both World Series clubs at .417. Only two players (Babe Ruth and Billy Southworth) scored more runs. Plagued by injuries throughout his career, Thevenow played for the Phillies, Pirates, Bees, and Reds before falling from the major league ranks for good in the late-1930s.

 

TIM LAUDNER

(MINNESOTA TWINS)

 Laudner struggled with a bat throughout his major league career. Although he had moderate power, he struck out fairly often while averaging just one walk per every 12 plate appearances. He launched a career-best 16 homers during the Twins’ championship year of 1987, but failed to crack the .200 mark during the regular season. Entering the World Series against the heavily-favored Cardinals, Laudner was among the least likely candidates for a breakout performance. Defying the odds, the free-swinging catcher showed uncharacteristic discipline at the plate, hitting .318 with 5 walks. His four runs scored and four RBIs helped Minnesota to an unlikely Series victory.  

 

DAVID ECKSTEIN

(ST. LOUIS CARDINALS)

At 5-foot-6, Eckstein was one of the smallest players in the majors. He carried the nickname of “Just Enough,” gaining acclaim for his energy and enthusiasm. Serving as the Cardinals’ leadoff man in 2006, he hit at a respectable .292 clip, earning his second (and final) All-Star selection. His performance in the World Series that year was next-level as he tied with teammate Scott Rolen in hits and doubles. Only Albert Pujols drove in more runs. Eckstein’s .364 batting average earned him Series MVP honors. It was the second championship of his career (the first one coming with the Angels in 2002). Eckstein retired after the 2010 campaign with a lifetime .333 batting mark in World Series play—more than 50 points above his lifetime regular season average.