Sunday, January 29, 2023

#91 Bucky Harris MG - Washington Senators


Stanley Raymond Harris
Washington Senators
Manager

Bats:
 Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'9"  Weight:  156
Born:  November 8, 1896, Port Jervis, NY
Major League Teams:  Washington Senators 1919-1928; Detroit Tigers 1929, 1931
World Series Appearances:  Washington Senators 1924-1925; New York Yankees 1947
As a Manager:  Washington Senators 1924-1928; Detroit Tigers 1929-1933; Boston Red Sox 1934; Washington Senators 1935-1942; Philadelphia Phillies 1943; New York Yankees 1947-1948; Washington Senators 1950-1954; Detroit Tigers 1955-1956
Died:  November 8, 1977, Bethesda, MD (81)
Hall of Fame Induction:  1975

Bucky Harris had a decent career as a second baseman for the Senators and Tigers between 1919 and 1931, with his biggest claim to fame being he led the league in being hit by a pitch for three seasons in a row between 1920 and 1922.  As a player, he batted .274 in 12 seasons and also led the league three time in sacrifice bunts.  Harris led all second baseman in fielding percentage with a .972 mark in 1927, and his 817 doubles plays turned at the position are currently 61st all-time.  In 1924, at the age of 27, he was named player-manager of the Senators and he led his team to a World Championship title, defeating the Giants in the seven game series.  It was the first and only World Series win in Washington Senators history and Harris became the youngest manager to ever win a title.  Harris would manage in the majors for 29 seasons, winning three pennants and two World Series titles - with the Senators in 1924, and the Yankees in 1947.  Harris, who managed the Senators in three different stints once commented, "Only Franklin D. Roosevelt had more terms in Washington than I did."

Harris would later briefly serve as general manager for the Red Sox (1959-1960, a scout for the White Sox (1961-1962) and a special assistant for the expansion Senators, before their move to Arlington, Texas.  He'd spend over 55 years in professional baseball and was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1975.

Building the Set
January 28, 2023 from Los Angeles, CA (Greg Morris Cards) - Card #70
I somewhat surprisingly won this card from Greg Morris Cards and his latest Diamond Stars set break auctions on eBay.  I say surprisingly because I thought for sure the final bid I entered for the card would be surpassed, but it was not.  What also surprised me was I had bid on several other cards from the same set of auctions with fairly high final bids, and I ended up losing all those auctions.  I expected to add two or three non-Hall of Fame "commons" from the set, and instead I ended up with this Harris card from the somewhat harder to find third series.

The card arrived during a stressful day in our household.  Our youngest son Ben was preparing for his piano recital later that day where he was set to play "Feed the Birds" in front of his extended family and 100 or so strangers.  Pregame nerves were high and his Mom and me rolled out the best pep talks we could muster.  I noticed the arrival of this card during one of these many pep talks, and I didn't bother to open the envelope until the following morning still glowing from the amazing performance Ben had delivered during his recital the night before.  He nailed it, and we're incredibly proud of him.  Harris seems to be respectfully showing his approval on this card.

Variations Available
1 - 1936 / blue back / 1935 statistics / 1936 copyright

The Card / Senators Team Set
This card polishes off the Senators team set for me, the first team set I've completed in within the Diamond Stars set.  The back of the card refers to his status as the "boy manager" of the 1924 Senators.  Michey Cochrane (#9), who replaced Harris in Detroit is referenced, as is Joe Cronin (#123).  Cronin and Harris swapped places for the 1935 season.  Harris had managed in Boston in 1934 and came back to Washington in 1935.  Cronin had managed the Senators in 1934 and took over for the Red Sox in 1935.

1936 Season
Harris was just 39 during the 1936 season, and his Senators team went 82-71 for a third place finish in the American League.  Outfielder John Stone had a career year, batting .341 with 15 home runs and 90 RBIs.  First baseman Joe Kugel batted .321 and surpassed Stone's power numbers with 16 home runs and 118 RBIs.  Bobo Newsom (#148) and Jimmie DeShong won 17 and 18 games respectively, with Newsom throwing 24 complete games.

Phillies Career
Harris had a brief stint as Phillies manager between April and July 1943.  Hired to replace Hans Lobert, whose Phillies team had lost 109 games in 1942, Harris guided the team to a 39-53-2 record and was abruptly fired by new Phillies owner William D. Cox on July 27th.  Harris had been popular with the Phillies team, and his players apparently threatened to strike when they heard the news.  The reason for the firing was attributed to the clashing between owner Cox and manager Harris, with Cox continually interfering with the day-to-day running of the club.

Following the firing, Harris informed the media he had evidence Cox was betting on baseball.  Commissioner of Baseball Kenesaw Mountain Landis (#153) would ban Cox for life from the game, forcing him to sell the club.  In November 1943, R.R.M Carpenter bought the Phillies from Cox, and the Carpenter family would retain ownership until 1981.

1921-23 National Caramel (E220)
1936 Goudey (R322)
1940 Play Ball #129
1951 Bowman #275
1959 Fleer Ted Williams #68

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1921-23 National Caramel (E220)
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2003 Topps Gallery Hall of Fame #38

105 - Harris non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 1/29/23.

Sources:

Sunday, January 22, 2023

#124 "Dizzy" Dean - St. Louis Cardinals


Jay Hanna Dean
St. Louis Cardinals
Pitcher

Bats:
  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  182
Born:  January 16, 1910, Lucas, AR
Major League Teams:  St. Louis Cardinals 1930, 1932-1937; Chicago Cubs 1938-1941; St. Louis Browns 1947
World Series Appearances:  St. Louis Cardinals 1934; Chicago Cubs 1938
Died:  July 17, 1974, Reno, NV (64)
Hall of Fame Induction:  1953

Known for his colorful, boastful personality and the occasional butchering of the English language, Dizzy Dean had a brief, phenomenal pitching career followed by a lengthy second life in the broadcast booth.  Dean won at least 18 games each season between 1932 and 1936, leading the league in strikeouts in four straight seasons between 1932 and 1935.  He's the last National League pitcher to win 30 games, as he went 30-7 for the 1934 Cardinals on their way to a World Championship title.  In that World Series against the Tigers, Dean started three games, including the decisive Game 7 where he pitched a complete game shutout.  His brother Paul Dean (#125) was on the team as well, with Paul going 19-11 to complement his older brother.  In Game 4 of that World Series, Dizzy Dean took a thrown ball to the head while trying to break up a double play, knocking him unconscious.  The now legendary summary of the incident in the next day's newspaper stated, "X-ray of Dean's head reveals nothing."  He'd be named the league's MVP for the 1934 season as well.

His pitching career was cut short after an Earl Averill (#35) line drive in the 1937 All-Star Game hit Dean on the foot, fracturing it, and forever altering his pitching motion.  Dean would pitch sparingly over his final four seasons, losing his greatest weapon - his nearly unhittable fastball.  Dean pivoted to the broadcast booth, where he became one the game's most well-known voices.  He worked in the radio booths of the Cardinals (1941-1946), Browns (1941-1948), Yankees (1950-1951) and Braves (1966-1968), and called games nationally (1952-1965).  While a member of the Browns broadcast team in 1947, he made a one game comeback, pitching four scoreless innings but retiring for good when he pulled a hamstring running out a single.

For his career, Dean was 150-83 with a 3.02 ERA and 1,163 strikeouts over 1,967 1/3 innings pitched.  He threw 154 complete games and 26 shutouts.  Dean was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1953, and the Cardinals retired his #17 in 1974.

Building the Set
December 16, 2020 from Albion, NY
Within days of officially deciding to collect the Diamond Stars set, I found myself searching for the 1993 extension set consisting of 36 more "what if" cards this time issued by the Chicle Fantasy Company.  Individual cards from this set are very prevalent on eBay, but I wanted to buy a complete set to save myself some time and money.  Given this is a relatively modern set, I was somewhat surprised at the closing auction prices for previously sold complete sets and I was happy to win my set at a lower price.  These cards are gorgeous, and I can tell a lot of hard work and love for the originals went into making this tribute set.  What's more, the set's creators were smart enough to start the numbering with card #121, given the 1981 extension set had left off with #120.

As I slowly collect the originals from the 1930s, I'll also highlight each of the cards from these extension sets with their own posts.  The complete set came with a small disclaimer card, indicating Dean and five other former players appear under license authorized by Curtis Management Group.

Variations Available
1 - 1993 / blue back / 1935 statistics / 1993 copyright

The Card / Cardinals Team Set
There are two men behind Dean on this card making cameo appearances, a peanut vendor and who I'm assuming is Dean's father, Monroe Dean.  A sharecropper from near the Arkansas Ozarks, Monroe Dean often played sandlot baseball with his sons while not picking cotton.  The back of the card recounts another incident when Dean was struck in the head with a baseball.  On July 11, 1936, with Dean facing off against the Giants and holding a 2-0 lead, Burgess Whitehead doubled off Dean with the ball apparently hitting Dean first and then landing in center field.  Reliever Ed Heusser would replace Dean, with Dean not missing much time at all.

1936 Season
This was the third of four consecutive All-Star seasons for Dean, and he was 24-13 for the Cardinals with a 3.17 ERA in 51 appearances, including 34 starts.  He led the league with 28 complete games, 11 saves and 315 innings pitched.  The Cardinals would finish in a tie for second place with the Cubs, five games behind the Giants.

1933 Goudey #223
 
1933 Tattoo Orbit (R305)
 
1934 Goudey #6
 
1983 Donruss
Hall of Fame Heroes #29
2019 Topps Archives #233
 

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1933 Goudey #223
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2019 Topps Archives #233

408 - Dean non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 1/22/23.

Sources:

Sunday, January 15, 2023

#113 Mel Harder - Cleveland Indians


Melvin Leroy Harder
Cleveland Indians
Pitcher

Bats:
  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  195
Born:  October 15, 1909, Beemer, NE
Major League Teams:  Cleveland Indians 1928-1947
As a Manager:  Cleveland Indians 1961, 1962
Died:  October 20, 2002, Chardon, OH (93)

Mel Harder spent 36 seasons with the Indians' franchise as a successful pitcher, respected pitching coach and briefly, as the team's interim manager.  Harder came up with the Indians in 1928 and appeared in 23 games as an 18-year-old.  He'd win at least 11 games with the team every year between 1930 and 1940, winning a career-high 22 games in 1935.  He won the league ERA title in 1933 with a 2.95 mark and finished second in that category in 1934 with an even lower 2.61.  Harder was named to four All-Star teams between 1934 and 1937, at one point pitching 13 consecutive scoreless innings in the exhibition.  He never pitched in a World Series, and ironically enough the Indians would win the World Championship in 1948, his first season as the club's pitching coach.

Harder earned a lifetime mark of 223-186 in 582 games pitched, and had a 3.80 ERA and 1,161 strikeouts in 3,426 1/3 innings.  His wins, games started (433) and innings pitched all stood as Indians club records until later broken by Bob Feller (#128).  Harder is still the all-time franchise leader for games pitched and losses.  As the team's pitching coach, he helped develop Feller, Bob Lemon, Early Wynn and Mike Garcia.  He'd later coach briefly with the Mets (1964), Cubs (1965), Reds (1966-1968) and Royals (1969).  Harder was inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame in 1951, and had his #18 retired by the team in 1990.  Finally, Harder threw the first pitch at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium in their inaugural game in their new home on July 31, 1932, in which he opposed the Athletics' Left Grove (#1).  He then threw out the ceremonial last pitch in the ballpark following the team's final home game in 1993.

Building the Set
December 11, 2020 from San Diego, CA (Kit Young Cards)
On the night I impulsively decided to collect the original Diamond Stars set, and I subsequently purchased the Harvey Hendrick (#41) card from Kit Young Cards, I also added the complete, and first, extended set to my cart for the very reasonable price of $7.50.  The 12 cards in this first extended set were originally issued in 1981.

In the early 1980s, a family member of a former National Chicle employee discovered an uncut sheet of 12 unused cards presumably meant as a 1937 continuation of the Diamond Stars set.  As originally advertised, and as mentioned on the back of every card issued, the company had intended for the set to contain 240 subjects.  They only produced 108 cards before production was halted, and the theory is this newly found sheet represented a "lost" continuation of the set.  Fortunately, the images of the cards made their way into the collecting world and a 12-card "what if" set was created.  (More on the uncut sheet can be found here from SABR's Baseball Cards Research Committee and from this Ryan Cracknell article for Beckett.)

Another great article was recently published to SABR's Baseball Cards Research Committee website taking a closer look at these extended cards.

The Beckett online database lists the set as "1981 Diamond Stars Continuation Den's" and the set's description notes "This set was created and produced by Denny Eckes.  Hobbyist Mike Galella was involved in bringing this sheet to the the public.  These cards were originally available from the producer for $3."  The back of the cards have a 1981 copyright attributed to Den's Collectors Den, the company belonging to the aforementioned Eckes.

The 12 cards include more ambitious geometric designs than the original Diamond Stars cards,  although the overall color template remains the same as their 1934 to 1936 counterparts.

Variations Available
1 - 1981 / blue back / 1936 statistics / 1981 copyright

The Card / Indians Team Set
As one of the most consistent pitchers of the 1930s, Harder would have been a logical choice to be included in this extension set that never was.  I love the tip on the back, and the wording encouraging pitchers to keep their legs in shape.  I especially enjoy the part of about, "running and sprinting to improve their wind on the days they are not assigned to hurl."

1937 Season
Harder was the Indians' opening day starter, and he'd go 15-12 for the fourth place team.  He appeared in 38 games overall, making 30 starts, pitching 13 complete games in 233 2/3 innings.  Harder's ERA for the season was 4.28.  He appeared in his fourth and final All-Star Game, recording a three-inning save as the American League downed the National League, 8-3.

1933 Tattoo Orbit (R305)
1934 Goudey #66
1934-36 Batter-Up (R318) #134
1960 Topps #460
1989 Pacific Legends II #205

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1933 Tattoo Orbit (R305)
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (1):  1960
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  1994 Conlon Collection TSN #1079

70 - Harder non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 1/13/23.

Sources:

Sunday, January 8, 2023

#119 Jim Bottomley / Rogers Hornsby - St. Louis Browns



James Leroy Bottomley
St. Louis Browns
First Base-Manager

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'0"  Weight:  180
Born:  April 23, 1900, Oglesby, IL
Major League Teams:  St. Louis Cardinals 1922-1932; Cincinnati Reds 1933-1935; St. Louis Browns 1936-1937
World Series Appearances:  St. Louis Cardinals 1926, 1928, 1930-1931
As a Manager:  St. Louis Browns 1937
Died:  December 11, 1959, St. Louis, MO (59)
Hall of Fame Induction:  1974

Rogers Hornsby
St. Louis Browns
Manager-First Base

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'11"  Weight:  175
Born:  April 27, 1896, Winters, TX
Major League Teams:  St. Louis Cardinals 1915-1926; New York Giants 1927; Boston Braves 1928; Chicago Cubs 1929-1932; St. Louis Cardinals 1933; St. Louis Browns 1933-1937
World Series Appearances:  St. Louis Cardinals 1926; Chicago Cubs 1929
As a Manager:  St. Louis Cardinals 1925-1926; New York Giants 1927; Boston Braves 1928; Chicago Cubs 1930-1932; St. Louis Browns 1933-1937, 1952; Cincinnati Reds 1952-1953
Died:  January 5, 1963, Chicago, IL (66)
Hall of Fame Induction:  1942

Nicknamed "Sunny Jim" as a result of his cheerful personality, slugger Jim Bottomley (#59) starred for the Gashouse Gang Cardinals throughout the 1920s, helping his team reach four World Series, winning titles in 1926 and 1931.  Bottomley's first big season came in 1924 when he crossed the 100-RBI plateau for the first of six consecutive seasons.  On September 16, 1924 against the Brooklyn Robins, Bottomley set an all-time single-game record with 12 RBIs, going 6 for 6 with a double and two home runs.  As the regular first baseman for the Cardinals, he enjoyed a career-year in 1925, leading the league in hits (227) and doubles (44) while batting .367 with 128 RBIs.  

He batted .345 in the 1926 World Series, as the Cardinals defeated the Yankees in seven games, giving St. Louis its first franchise series title.  Bottomley consistently hit for average and provided power for the Cardinals, culminating in 1928 when he won National League MVP honors after his league-leading 20 triples, 31 home runs and 136 RBIs.  He nearly won a batting title in 1931, finishing with a .3482 average with Bill Terry (#14) hitting .3486 and winner Chick Hafey (#18) hitting .3489.

Dealt to the Reds following the 1932 season, Bottomley would continue to be productive at the plate although his overall numbers started to decline.  He wrapped up his career with the Browns, spending part of his final season in the majors as the team's player-manager.  Bottomley batted .310 for his career with 2,313 hits, 465 doubles, 219 home runs and 1,422 RBIs, with he and Lou Gehrig (#130) becoming the first two major leaguers to collect 150 or more doubles, triples and home runs.  He was inducted posthumously into the Hall of Fame in 1974 by the Veterans Committee, and was among 22 inaugural players and personnel inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.

1961 Topps #404
Regarded as one of the best hitters in the history of the game, Rogers Hornsby (#44), "The Rajah," played in parts of 23 seasons, winning two MVP titles, two Triple Crowns and hitting over .400 in three different seasons.  Hornsby rose to stardom with the Cardinals in the 1920s, winning his first of six consecutive batting titles in 1920 with a .370 mark.  He won his first Triple Crown in 1922, batting .401 with 42 home runs and 152 RBIs, and he's the only player ever to amass 40 home runs while batting .400 in a season.  Hornsby batted .424 in 1924, still the single-season highest mark.  The accomplishments continued to mount as he won the league MVP honors in 1925, and he'd guide the Cardinals to a World Series title in 1926 as their player-manager.  He'd win his second MVP award in 1929 with the Cubs.

His days as an everyday player ceased in 1933, but he continued to play occasionally through the 1937 season while managing.  His final managing stop came in the early 1950s with the Reds.  Hornsby's career average of .358 is third all-time behind Ty Cobb (.366) and Oscar Charleston (.364).  He ranks towards the top of just about every all-time list, including on-base percentage (10th at .434), hits (40th with 2,930), and triples (25th with 169).  He collected 301 home runs and 1,584 RBIs.  Hornsby's record as a manager was 701-812 over 15 seasons, and by all accounts he was a difficult man to play for.  He was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1942 and in 1999 was ranked ninth on The Sporting News' list of Baseball's Greatest Players.

Building the Set
December 11, 2020 from San Diego, CA (Kit Young Cards)
On the night I impulsively decided to collect the original Diamond Stars set, and I subsequently purchased the Harvey Hendrick (#41) card from Kit Young Cards, I also added the complete, and first, extended set to my cart for the very reasonable price of $7.50.  The 12 cards in this first extended set were originally issued in 1981.

In the early 1980s, a family member of a former National Chicle employee discovered an uncut sheet of 12 unused cards presumably meant as a 1937 continuation of the Diamond Stars set.  As originally advertised, and as mentioned on the back of every card issued, the company had intended for the set to contain 240 subjects.  They only produced 108 cards before production was halted, and the theory is this newly found sheet represented a "lost" continuation of the set.  Fortunately, the images of the cards made their way into the collecting world and a 12-card "what if" set was created.  (More on the uncut sheet can be found here from SABR's Baseball Cards Research Committee and from this Ryan Cracknell article for Beckett.)

Another great article was recently published to SABR's Baseball Cards Research Committee website taking a closer look at these extended cards.

The Beckett online database lists the set as "1981 Diamond Stars Continuation Den's" and the set's description notes "This set was created and produced by Denny Eckes.  Hobbyist Mike Galella was involved in bringing this sheet to the the public.  These cards were originally available from the producer for $3."  The back of the cards have a 1981 copyright attributed to Den's Collectors Den, the company belonging to the aforementioned Eckes.

The 12 cards include more ambitious geometric designs than the original Diamond Stars cards,  although the overall color template remains the same as their 1934 to 1936 counterparts.

Variations Available
1 - 1981 / blue back / 1936 statistics / 1981 copyright

The Card / Browns Team Set
One of the most unique cards from the "lost" extended series, this would have been the only combo card in the Diamond Stars set, featuring two future Hall of Famers and a pair of all-time St. Louis greats.  Both Bottomley and Hornsby had appeared on solo cards in the original Diamond Stars set within the second series first released in 1935.  The source photo is shown above, and a stamp on the back of the original photo includes a stamped date of April 2, 1936.  Bottomley had been acquired from the Reds for Johnny Burnett on March 21, 1936, so it's likely the photo was taken at some in late March.  The back of the card mentions the star power now belonging to the Browns, and includes a few numbers pertaining to their 1936 seasons.  The 57-95 record attributed to Hornsby is for the 1936 season, and not the 1934 season as reflected on the card.

1937 Season - Bottomley
Ironically enough, it was Bottomley who replaced Hornsby as the Browns' manager when Hornsby was fired in July 1937 after his team got off to a 25-52-1 start.  Bottomley would actually fare a little worse, guiding the team to a 21-56-1 record for the rest of the season.  He'd be dismissed following the season too, and replaced by Gabby Street.

As a player, Bottomley appeared in 65 games, batting .239 with a home run and 12 RBIs.  He made 20 starts at first base, and his remaining appearances were as a pinch-hitter.  Bottomley's final game came on September 16th against the Athletics at Shibe Park, and he went 1 for 4 with a double in his penultimate at bat off Harry Kelley.
1937 Season - Hornsby
Hornsby began the season at the helm of the Browns and was fired following a double header loss on July 20th.  He could still hit, batting .321 (18 for 56) in 20 games early in the season, with three doubles and a home run.  His final plate appearance came in game one of the July 20th double header, inserting himself as a pinch-hitter for Tom Carey.  Hornsby popped up to Yankees' catcher Bill Dickey (#11) and his playing career was over.
1923-24 Exhibits (W461)
1929-30 R315
1933 Goudey #44
1940 Play Ball #236
1980 SSPC HOF #142

Other Notable Baseball Cards - Bottomley
First Mainstream Card:  1923-24 Exhibits (W461)
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2018 Panini Diamond Kings #47

180 - Bottomley non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 1/7/23.

Sources - Bottomley:

Other Notable Baseball Cards - Hornsby

First Mainstream Card:  1917 Collins-McCarthy (E135) #80
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (3):  1961, 1976, 1979
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2022 Topps Allen & Ginter #326

808 - Hornsby non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 1/7/23.

Sources - Hornsby:  
1917 Collins-McCarthy
(E315) #80
1920-21 W516-2-2
1922 American Caramel
Series of 240 (E120)
1933 Goudey #188
 
1933 Tattoo Orbit
 
1976 Topps #342

Sunday, January 1, 2023

#44 Rogers Hornsby MG - St. Louis Browns


Rogers Hornsby
St. Louis Browns
Manager-First Base

Bats:
  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'11"  Weight:  175
Born:  April 27, 1896, Winters, TX
Major League Teams:  St. Louis Cardinals 1915-1926; New York Giants 1927; Boston Braves 1928; Chicago Cubs 1929-1932; St. Louis Cardinals 1933; St. Louis Browns 1933-1937
World Series Appearances:  St. Louis Cardinals 1926; Chicago Cubs 1929
As a Manager:  St. Louis Cardinals 1925-1926; New York Giants 1927; Boston Braves 1928; Chicago Cubs 1930-1932; St. Louis Browns 1933-1937, 1952; Cincinnati Reds 1952-1953
Died:  January 5, 1963, Chicago, IL (66)
Hall of Fame Induction:  1942

1961 Topps #404
Regarded as one of the best hitters in the history of the game, Rogers Hornsby, "The Rajah," played in parts of 23 seasons, winning two MVP titles, two Triple Crowns and hitting over .400 in three different seasons.  Hornsby rose to stardom with the Cardinals in the 1920s, winning his first of six consecutive batting titles in 1920 with a .370 mark.  He won his first Triple Crown in 1922, batting .401 with 42 home runs and 152 RBIs, and he's the only player ever to amass 40 home runs while batting .400 in a season.  Hornsby batted .424 in 1924, still the single-season highest mark.  The accomplishments continued to mount as he won the league MVP honors in 1925, and he'd guide the Cardinals to a World Series title in 1926 as their player-manager.  He'd win his second MVP award in 1929 with the Cubs.

His days as an everyday player ceased in 1933, but he continued to play occasionally through the 1937 season while managing.  His final managing stop came in the early 1950s with the Reds.  Hornsby's career average of .358 is third all-time behind Ty Cobb (.366) and Oscar Charleston (.364).  He ranks towards the top of just about every all-time list, including on-base percentage (10th at .434), hits (40th with 2,930), and triples (25th with 169).  He collected 301 home runs and 1,584 RBIs.  Hornsby's record as a manager was 701-812 over 15 seasons, and by all accounts he was a difficult man to play for.  He was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1942 and in 1999 was ranked ninth on The Sporting News' list of Baseball's Greatest Players.


Building the Set
December 3, 2022 from The Philly Show (Goodman's Sportscards) - Card #69
This was one of two fairly major "bonus" purchases acquired for our Diamond Stars set at The Philly Show, the Philadelphia Sports Collectors Show, held within the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania.  We arrived at the show in a steady rain right after doors opened at 9am, secured our autograph tickets and started walking the floor prior to the arrival of most of the crowd.  My goal for the show was simple:  Find the last four cards needed to complete our 1965 Topps set.  I wrote a full summary of the show in this post over at The Phillies Room.  And I wrote about acquiring those last four cards over at my 1965 Topps set blog.

A table for Goodman's Sportscards had caught my eye early in the show, as they had a nice collection of Diamond Stars cards featured prominently in one of their glass cases.  Having already spent way beyond my budget for the show, I opted to push forward and add a few more high priced Diamond Stars cards.  Emboldened by my recent negotiations, and having already successfully bundled a pair of cards in large purchases twice already, I went for the trifecta with this Hornsby card and the card of fellow Hall of Famer Chick Hafey (#18).  Somewhat surprisingly, the dealer accepted my first offer and the two cards were added to the massive haul from the day.  These two cards would be my final baseball card purchases from a great year of collecting, and the pricier of the two, Hornsby, would find its way under the Christmas tree as a present from my sons.  And with the addition of this card, I'm 50 cards away from my version of a complete Diamond Stars set.

Variations Available
1 - 1935 / green back / 1934 statistics / 1935 copyright

The Card / Browns Team Set
I would say this is probably one of the more well-known cards from the Diamond Stars set, along with the card of Jimmie Foxx (#64).  Hornsby is shown leaning on the dugout with a collection of dapper looking fans behind him in anticipation of the start of a game.  The tip on the back of the card recommends practicing your swing in front of mirror, and never taking your eye off the ball.  According to this write-up, the only time Hornsby was ever hit with a pitch was when he turned to talk to the catcher, taking his eye off the ball.  He must have done that quite a bit, as his Baseball Reference stats shows he was hit by a pitch 48 times between 1915 and 1934.

1935 Season
Now 39 years old and in his third season of managing the Browns, Hornsby would appear in only 10 games as a player, batting .208 (5 for 24) with three doubles.  He'd name himself the club's opening day first baseman, but he'd make only four starts overall and none after May.  The Browns finished the season at 65-87-3, in seventh place in the American League, and kept out of the basement only by the 58-91 Philadelphia Athletics.  Pitcher Ivy Andrews went 13-7 with a 3.54 ERA in 50 games pitched, and the club's best hitter was outfielder Moose Solters (#85) who batted .330 with 18 home runs and 104 RBIs.

1917 Collins-McCarthy
(E315) #80
1920-21 W516-2-2
1922 American Caramel
Series of 240 (E120)
1933 Goudey #188
 
1933 Tattoo Orbit
 
1976 Topps #342

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1917 Collins-McCarthy (E135) #80
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (3):  1961, 1976, 1979
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2022 Topps Allen & Ginter #326

808 - Hornsby non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 12/26/22.

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