#11 Bill Dickey - New York Yankees

William Malcolm Dickey

New York Yankees

Catcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  185

Born:  June 6, 1907, Bastrop, LA

Major League Teams:  New York Yankees 1928-1943, 1946

World Series Appearances:  New York Yankees 1928, 1932, 1936-1939, 1941-1943

As a Manager:  New York Yankees 1946

Died:  November 12, 1993, Little Rock, AR (86)

Hall of Fame Induction:  1954

Bill Dickey was an 11-time All-Star catcher for the Yankees, behind the plate for nine American League pennants, which included eight World Series titles between 1928 and 1943.  He replaced Benny Bengough as the Yankees' starting catcher in 1929, a role he'd settle into for the next 15 seasons.  Dickey could hit for power, batted over .300 in 11 seasons and was excellent defensively behind the plate, leading the league four times in fielding percentage.  He hit over 20 home runs with at least 100 RBIs for four straight years between 1936 and 1939, and his .362 average in 1936 stood as the high-water mark for catchers until Joe Mauer batted .365 in 2009.  Dickey's best season statistically came in 1937 when he batted .332 with 29 home runs and 133 RBIs - both career bests.  In 1,789 games with the Yankees, Dickey batted .313 with 202 home runs and 1,209 RBIs.

After two years serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Dickey returned to the Yankees as player-manager for the 1946 season.  He'd serve as a coach with the Yankees from 1949 to 1957, and again in 1960.  During his tenure as Yankees' coach, Dickey helped mentor two of his successors behind the plate - Yogi Berra and Elston Howard.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1954, and the Yankees retired #8 in 1972 to honor both Dickey and Berra.

Building the Set

December 16, 2023 from Wall Township, NJ - Card #101

This card entered our set as part of some year-end eBay watch list housecleaning, as the card had been waiting for me to purchase it for the better part of 2023.  I made the seller an offer, and after a few back and forth offers, I accepted and the card arrived a week before Christmas.  Appropriately enough, given Dickey's importance to the Yankees' franchise, the seller's handle was Donnie23Auctions, from Wall Township, New Jersey.  

With the addition of this card, I'm down to needing 18 cards to complete my version of a Diamond Stars master set, and I expect the set building to slow down dramatically in 2024.  As I've mentioned before, the 18 final cards, listed below, are all fairly expensive, difficult to find or both.  I'll keep plugging along, with the goal being to add at least one of these cards at each of the two or three Philly Shows we attend in the new year.

Hall of Famers Needed        1. #1 Lefty Grove - Red Sox 2. #2 Al Simmons - White Sox 3. #30 Heinie Manush - Red Sox (variation) 4. #50 Mel Ott - Giants 5. #54 Hank Greenberg - Tigers 6. #54 Hank Greenberg - Tigers (name misspelled)      7. #64 Jimmie Foxx - Athletics 8. #74 Tony Lazzeri - Yankees 9. #77 Charlie Gehringer - Tigers

Third Series High Numbers Needed 10. #97 Al Lopez - Bees 11. #98 Schoolboy Rowe - Tigers      12. #99 Pie Traynor - Pirates 13. #100 Earle Averill - Indians 14. #103 Bill Dickey - Yankees 15. #104 Robert Rolfe - Yankees 16. #106 Red Lucas - Reds 17. #107 Stanley Hack - Cubs 18. #108 Wally Berger - Bees

Variations Available

1 - 1934 / green back / 1933 statistics / 1934 copyright

2 - 1935 / green back / 1934 statistics / 1934 copyright ✅

The final 12 cards in the Diamond Stars set, released as part of series three in 1936, contain the exact same photos and players as earlier cards from the set.  Dickey shows up again as card #103, with the same text on the back save for his 1935 statistics at the bottom replacing his 1934 statistics.  The ink on the back of card #105 is blue, similar to all cards from the third series.

The Card / Yankees Team Set

This is the "cheaper" of two Dickey cards in the set, with his second card (#103) likely one of the hardest to find out of all Diamond Stars cards.  The tip on the back explains the catcher's role whenever a batter drops a bunt.

1935 Season

Dickey had an off year by his standards, batting .279 in 120 games with 14 home runs and 81 RBIs.  The Yankees would finish in second place, three games behind the pennant-winning Tigers.  This was a transitional period for the Yankees, as Babe Ruth (#109) had last played with them in 1934 and Joe DiMaggio (#126) would join the club in 1936.

1933 Goudey #19

1934-36 Batter-Up (R318) #30

1939 Play Ball #30

1941 Play Ball #70

1952 Topps #400

Other Notable Baseball Cards

First Mainstream Card:  1933 Goudey #19

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (2):  1952, 1960

Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2017 Panini Diamond Kings #2

539 - Dickey non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 12/24/23.

Sources:

Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
National Baseball Hall of Fame
SABR
The Trading Card Database

Wikipedia

Previous Card:  #10 Roy Mahaffey - Philadelphia Athletics

Next Card: #12 "Dixie" Walker - New York Yankees

#12 "Dixie" Walker - New York Yankees (Variation 2)

Fred Walker

New York Yankees

Outfield

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  175

Born: September 24, 1910, Villa Rica, GA

Major League Teams:  New York Yankees 1931, 1933-1936; Chicago White Sox 1936-1937; Detroit Tigers 1938-1939; Brooklyn Dodgers 1939-1947; Pittsburgh Pirates 1948-1949

World Series Appearances:  Brooklyn Dodgers 1941, 1947

Died:  May 17, 1982, Birmingham, AL (71)

Dixie Walker played in parts of 18 seasons in the majors, earning his way onto five All-Star teams while with the Dodgers and winning the N.L. batting title in 1944 when he hit .357.  He ended the 1946 season as the most popular player in Brooklyn history, according to legendary broadcaster Red Barber, but he'd later become better known as the player who tried to thwart Jackie Robinson from joining the Dodgers in 1947.  Walker initiated a player petition asking that Robinson not be permitted to join the team and then later requested that Dodgers owner Branch Rickey trade him.  Later in life, he told author Roger Kahn the petition was "the stupidest thing he'd ever done."

Rickey honored Walker's request and traded him to the Pirates on December 8, 1947, where he played the final two years of his career.  In his nine seasons with the Dodgers, Walker enjoyed the best years of his career, batting .311 with 67 home runs and 725 RBIs.  He was dubbed "The People's Cherce," in reference to the way the word "choice" sounds when said in a Brooklyn accent.  In 1,905 career games, Walker had a .306 average with 2,064 hits.  Following his playing days, he served as a coach for the Cardinals (1953, 1955), Braves (1963-1965) and Dodgers (1970-1974). 

Building the Set

December 13, 2023 from Plumsteadville, PA (707 Sportscards Ltd.) - Card #100

This is milestone card #100 for our 119-card set build, and the penultimate card I added in 2023.  This is the third and final Walker card in our version of a master set and I now have all three back variations which update his progress from 1934 to 1936.  Not to spoil the next post, but with the Bill Dickey (#11) card on the way, I'm down to needing 18 cards to finish off this iconic set from the 1930s.  It's not going to be easy, or cheap.  Nine of the cards are Hall of Famers, including two versions of the Hank Greenberg (#54) card - one with his name spelled correctly and a version with his name misspelled.  The other nine cards are from the 1936 blue-backed high numbers, some of which I've rarely even seen available for sale.

I'll be working on posts to finish up the cards in the 1981 and 1993 extended sets, so this blog won't be going completely inactive, but there could be gaps in time as I track down the final 18 for our set.

Variations Available

1 - 1934 / green back / 1933 statistics / 1934 copyright / mentions Babe Ruth retiring

2 - 1935 / green back / 1934 statistics / 1934 copyright / mentions Babe Ruth to Braves

3 - 1936 / blue back / no statistics / 1934 copyright / no mention of Babe Ruth ✅

The Card / Yankees Team Set

The first version of this card was issued in 1934 and notes that Walker "is expected to fill Babe Ruth's shoes when the great Yankee slugger retires."  The second version of the card was issued in 1935, noting that Walker "is expected to help fill the gap left by Babe Ruth moving to Boston (Braves)."  Ruth (#109) was released by the Yankees on February 26, 1935 and signed with the Braves that very same day so the second version of this card was issued after that date.  This is the third and final version, which doesn't mention Ruth at all.

Also dropped is any mention of Walker's father, also Dixie Walker, and the elder Walker pitched for four seasons with the Senators between 1909 and 1912.  His brother, Harry Walker, was a two-time All-Star for the Cardinals and played for 11 seasons in the majors.  The batting tip on the back encourages batters to relax and step out if needed "until the nervousness has disappeared."

1936 Season

Walker began the season with the Yankees, appearing in six games, before he was claimed off waivers by the White Sox on May 1st.  Walker, presumed to be Ruth's successor, was let go so that the Yankees could clear a roster spot for Ruth's true successor - Joe DiMaggio (#126).  Walker appeared in only 26 games for the White Sox, losing significant time when he dislocated his shoulder in a collision at first base with the Browns' Jim Bottomley (#59). 

1934 Goudey #39

1941 Double Play #21

1953 Topps #190

1961 Fleer Baseball Greats #151

1992 Conlon Collection TSN #506

Other Notable Baseball Cards

First Mainstream Card:  1934 Goudey #39

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (1):  1953

Most Recent Mainstream Card:  1995 Conlon Collection TSN #1387

51 - Walker non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 12/15/23.

Sources:

Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database

Wikipedia

Previous Card:  #12 "Dixie" Walker - New York Yankees (Variation 1)

Next Card: #15 Dick Bartell - New York Giants (Variation)

#105 "Ernie" Lombardi - Cincinnati Reds

Ernesto Natali Lombardi

Cincinnati Reds

Catcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  230

Born:  April 6, 1908, Oakland, CA

Major League Teams:  Brooklyn Robins 1931; Cincinnati Reds 1932-1941; Boston Braves 1942; New York Giants 1943-1947

World Series Appearances:  Cincinnati Reds 1939-1940

Died:  September 26, 1977, Santa Cruz, CA (69)

Hall of Fame Induction:  1986

Called by baseball writer Bill James, "the slowest man to ever play major league baseball well," Ernie Lombardi was a fan favorite, the National League's MVP in 1938, a World Series winner in 1940 and posthumous Hall of Fame inductee in 1986.  Lombardi, given the affectionate nickname "Schnozz," spent 10 of his 17 seasons with the Reds, where he first rose to stardom.  He batted over .300 in ten seasons, winning his first batting title in 1938 when he hit .342 on the way to also winning the MVP.  He caught both of Johnny Vander Meer's back-to-back no hitters that season on June 11th and June 15th.  Lombardi helped lead the Reds to the World Series in 1939 and 1940, hitting .333 in the 1940 series in which his team downed the Tigers in seven games.  Sold to the Braves before the 1942 season, he won his second batting title by hitting .330.  Lombardi was named to eight All-Star Games.

The Three Ernies

He finished his career with a .306 batting average, 1,792 hits, 190 home runs and 990 RBIs.  Battling depression later in life, he struggled after leaving baseball and was disgruntled by his exclusion from the Hall of Fame.  Lombardi was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1958, and finally got the call to Cooperstown in 1986, nine years after he had passed away.

Building the Set

December 8, 2023 from Bloomington, IL - Card #99

Arriving the same day as the Max Bishop (#6) card was this unexpected purchase from eBay seller anniesantiquesandmore, located in Bloomington, Illinois.  I've accepted this set may not be finished for many more years, and I've also come to realize how hard the high numbers are to find both in good shape and at a price I'm willing to pay.  This Lombardi card, the third Lombardi card I've added to my version of a Diamond Stars master set, has been trimmed as pointed out by the sticky note that accompanied the Beckett Grading slab.  It's authentic, but at some point along the way an industrious collector trimmed the left border in an effort to try to increase the card's value.

I'm not collecting this set for its value, so the altered state of this Lombardi card doesn't bother me at all, especially since the alteration can't be seen with the naked eye.  I'll gladly add more of these misfits to my set if I'm able to, and the final price accepted for this card came out to about a quarter of its "book" value and what non-graded versions of the same card are currently going for on eBay and elsewhere.

Variations Available

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

Lombardi is found earlier in the set as card #36, with an error version spelling his name "Earnie," and a corrected version with his first name spelled "Ernie."

The final 12 cards in the Diamond Stars set, released as part of series three in 1936, contain the exact same photos and players as earlier cards from the set.  Lombardi shows up again as card #105, with the same text on the back save for his 1935 statistics at the bottom replacing his 1934 statistics.  The ink on the back of card #105 is blue, similar to all cards from the third series.

The Card / Reds Team Set

That's a strange tip on the back of Lombardi's card, going into great detail about choosing a light bat over a heavy bat.  Babe Ruth (#109) is name-checked here, noting he used to swing a 54-ounce bat but he's cut back to a 36-ounce model in his later years.  Lombardi's full name is listed with a middle initial "C" on the back as well.  They got that wrong, but at least this version of the card spelled his first name correctly.

1936 Season

Lombardi built on the success he found in 1935 with another great season.  As the regular catcher for the Reds, he played in 121 games, batting .333 with 12 home runs and 68 RBIs.  He made his first All-Star Game, as the back-up for starting catcher Gabby Hartnett (#134), but didn't appear in the game.

1933 Tattoo Orbit (R305)

1934 Goudey #35

1934-36 Batter-Up (R318) #129

1938 Goudey Heads-Up #246

1961 Fleer Baseball Greats #55

Other Notable Baseball Cards

First Mainstream Card:  1933 Tattoo Orbit (R305)

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2023 Panini Select #293

158 - Lombardi non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 12/15/23.

Sources:

Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
National Baseball Hall of Fame
SABR
The Trading Card Database

Wikipedia

Previous Card:  #104 Robert Rolfe - New York Yankees

Next Card:  #106 "Red" Lucas - Cincinnati Reds

#6 Max Bishop - Boston Red Sox

Max Frederick Bishop

Boston Red Sox

Second Base

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'8"  Weight:  165

Born:  September 5, 1899, Waynesboro, PA

Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Athletics 1924-1933; Boston Red Sox 1934-1935

World Series Appearances:  Philadelphia Athletics 1929-1931

Died:  February 25, 1962, Waynesboro, PA (62)

Nicknamed "Camera Eye" for his discerning knack for laying off bad pitches, Max Bishop was the second baseman and leadoff hitter for the Athletics' dynasty of the early 1930s.  Bishop set the tone for Connie Mack's (#142) team, finishing in the top ten in on-base percentage in eight different seasons between 1925 and 1933.  His career .423 OBP is currently 17th all-time.  Bishop finished in the top three in the league for walks eight times, leading the league with 128 walks in 1929, and his 1,156 career walks are currently 72nd all-time.  Reaching base at the top of the line-up allowed for the Athletics' trio of Al Simmons (#2), Jimmie Foxx (#64) and Mickey Cochrane (#9) to bring him home.  Philadelphia won three American League pennants in 1929, 1930 and 1931, clinching World Championship titles in those first two years.

Also one of the best fielders of his era, Bishop led all second baseman in fielding percentage in 1926, 1928 and 1932.  In December 1933, with the Athletics waning and Mack in need of finances, Bishop, Lefty Grove (#1) and Rube Walberg were dealt to the Red Sox.  Bishop would play in parts of two seasons with Boston, and he'd appear in the minors as a player/manager in 1936 before retiring as a player.  He batted .271 for his career with 1,216 hits.  Bishop was the head baseball coach  at the U.S. Naval Academy between 1938 and 1962, compiling a 306-143 record.  The Midshipmen's baseball stadium was renamed Max Bishop Stadium in his honor.

Building the Set

December 8, 2023 from Chadds Ford, PA (MnM Vintage Toys & Sportscards) - Card #98

This was a difficult card for me to track down, and a card I've seen offered for sale a surprisingly few times in the three years I've been collecting this set.  It showed up unslabbed and at the low price of $40 in a recent eBay auction from MnM Vintage Toys & Sportscards out of nearby Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.  I won the auction in November, and it took its time getting here, ultimately arriving in early December.  I was attending our son Doug's first indoor track meet in Toms River when the card arrived, and I'm proud to say Doug tied his personal pole vaulting record at the first meet of the season.

Variations Available

1 - 1934 / green back / 1933 statistics / 1934 copyright

2 - 1935 / green back / 1934 statistics / 1934 copyright ✅

The Card / Red Sox Team Set

National Chicle must have thought Bishop looked lonely on this card, so they gave him a random infielder in the background making a play.  The back of the card discusses Bishop's talent for drawing walks, and the importance as a batter to get ahead in the count.  The last line is great:  "A sharp eye and a cool nerve are the first laws of good hitting."

1935 Season

In his final season in the majors, Bishop appeared in 60 games for the Red Sox, batting .230 with a .377 on-base percentage, the lowest of his career.  His big league career over, Bishop signed a contract with the Portland Beavers in the Pacific Coast League to join that team as their player/manager for the 1936 season.

1925 Exhibits (W461)

1927 Playing Cards (W560)

1933 Goudey #61

1935 Goudey 4-in-1 (R321)

1994 Conlon Collection TSN #1149

Other Notable Baseball Cards

First Mainstream Card:  1925 Exhibits (W461)

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

Most Recent Mainstream Card:  1994 Conlon Collection TSN #1149

42 - Bishop non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 12/15/23.

Sources:

Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database

Wikipedia

Previous Card:  #5 Tom Bridges - Detroit Tigers

Next Card: #7 Lew Fonseca MG - Chicago White Sox