#132 Jesse Haines - St. Louis Cardinals

Jesse Joseph Haines

St. Louis Cardinals

Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'0"  Weight:  190
Born:  July 22, 1893, Clayton, OH
Major League Teams:  Cincinnati Reds 1918; St. Louis Cardinals 1920-37

World Series Appearances:  St. Louis Cardinals 1926, 1928, 1930, 1934

Died:  August 5, 1978, Dayton, OH (85)

Hall of Fame Induction:  1970

Jesse Haines pitched in six minor league seasons between 1914 and 1919, interrupted by one game with the Reds in 1918, before going on to author a Hall of Fame career with the Cardinals over 18 impressive years.  Haines was a workhorse for St. Louis before and during their Gashouse Gang dynasty.  He joined the Cardinals' pitching rotation for good in 1920, throwing a career-high 301 2/3 innings.  Haines threw a no-hitter against the Braves on July 17, 1924 and won his first of three World Series rings in 1926.  His career year came in 1927 when he was 24-10 with a 2.72 ERA while leading the league in complete games (25) and shutouts (six).  Haines was a 20-game winner in three different seasons.  Affectionately given the nickname "Pop" during his later years, Haines was known as a kind gentleman off the field but a fierce competitor on it.  He relied on an effective knuckleball later in his career, pitching in the majors until he was 43.  He served on the Brooklyn Dodgers' coaching staff for one season in 1938.

Haines was 210-158 lifetime, with a 3.64 ERA and 209 shutouts.  The Veteran's Committee inducted him into the Hall of Fame in 1970, and the Cardinals added Haines to their Hall of Fame in 2014.

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.

Variations Available

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

The Card / Cardinals Team Set

The card covers all the highlights of Haines' Hall of Fame career, including his lengthy minor league beginnings, his one-game stint with the Reds and his World Series success.  Pitching teammates Dizzy (#124) and Paul Dean (#125) are mentioned at the end of the write-up.

1936 Season

This was to be Haines' 18th and penultimate season in the majors.  Limited to 25 games and only nine starts, he was 7-5 with a 3.90 ERA in 99 1/3 innings pitched.

1921 Exhibits (W461)

1933 Goudey #73

1933 Tattoo Orbit

1961 Fleer Baseball Greats #40

1989 Pacific Legends II #208

Other Notable Baseball Cards

First Mainstream Card:  1921 Exhibits (W461)

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2012 Panini Cooperstown Bronze History #38

129 - Haines non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 9/22/25.

Sources:

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

Wikipedia

Previous Card:  #131 "Bump" Hadley - New York Yankees

Next Card: #133 "Bad News" Hale - Cleveland Indians

#114 Roger Cramer - Boston Red Sox

Roger Maxwell Cramer

Boston Red Sox

Outfield

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  185

Born:  July 22, 1905, Beach Haven, NJ

Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Athletics 1929-1935; Boston Red Sox 1936-1940; Washington Senators 1941; Detroit Tigers 1942-1948

World Series Appearances:  Philadelphia Athletics 1931; Detroit Tigers 1945

Died:  September 9, 1990, Manahawkin, NJ (85)

Doc Cramer was as a successful lead-off hitter and center fielder for 20 seasons, leading the American League seven times in at-bats between 1933 and 1942.  Originally signed by the Athletics, Cramer's break-out year came in 1932 when he batted .336 for Connie Mack's club.  Cramer would bat .295 in 1933, attaining a career-high with 75 RBIs.  He was an All-Star five times, and while he didn't hit for power, he was regularly among the league leaders in singles, doubles and triples.  An excellent fielder, Cramer was often at the top of the leaderboard for all center fielders, leading the league in assists twice, putouts three times and fielding percentage three times.  He hit for the cycle on June 10, 1934.

Cramer's last big season came in 1945 with the Tigers.  Now 39, he batted .275 and helped lead his team to the World Series, where he batted .379 (11 for 29).  The Tigers defeated the Cubs that year in seven games.  His last major league action came in 1948, and he'd retire with 2,705 hits (currently 69th all-time), 1,357 runs scored, 396 doubles, 109 triples and 9,140 at-bats (currently 67th all-time).  Owning an impressive .296 career batting average, Cramer has the most hits of any player to have retired before 1975 and not gain election into the Hall of Fame.  He'd serve as a coach with the Tigers in 1948 and with the White Sox between 1951 and 1953.

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.)

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.  I found the ad shown here within the pages of the The Sport Americana Baseball Card Price Guide, published in 1982.

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 / Red Sox Team Set

The photo used is a retouched picture from 1932 or 1933, which originally featured Cramer in an Athletics uniform.  Given his star status, Cramer would have been a good pick to be included if National Chicle had produced a fourth series of Diamond Stars cards in the 1930s.  The back of the card highlights Cramer's success as a contact hitter.  He hit 37 career home runs, with his season high coming in 1933 with eight.  He had five seasons with at least 600 plate appearances and zero home runs.

1937 Season

Cramer was again the everyday center fielder for the Red Sox, appearing in 133 games overall and batting .305 with 51 RBIs.  His average was third on the team behind shortstop Joe Cronin (#123) and right fielder Ben Chapman (#38), who both batted .307.  Cramer was named to his second All-Star team, but he'd not play in the game.  He led the American League with 17 sacrifices.

1933 Worch Cigar

1934 Goudey #25

1934-36 Batter-Up (R318) #53

1940 Play Ball #29

1989 Pacific Legends II #181

Other Notable Baseball Cards

First Mainstream Card:  1934 Goudey #25

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2001 Fleer Boston Red Sox 100th Anniversary #17

48 - Cramer non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 6/24/23.

Sources:

Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database

Wikipedia

Previous Card:  #113 Mel Harder - Cleveland Indians

Next Card: #115 Gene Moore - Boston Bees

#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:

Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database

Wikipedia

Previous Card:  #112 Leon Goslin - Detroit Tigers

Next Card: #114 Roger Cramer - Boston Red Sox

#55 Tony Cuccinello - Brooklyn Dodgers

Anthony Francis Cuccinello

Brooklyn Dodgers

Second Base

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'7"  Weight:  160

Born:  November 8, 1907, Long Island City, NY

Major League Teams:  Cincinnati Reds 1930-1931; Brooklyn Dodgers 1932-1935; Boston Bees 1936-1940; New York Giants 1940; Boston Braves 1942-1943; Chicago White Sox 1943-1945

Died:  September 21, 1995, Tampa, FL (87)

Tony Cuccinello played 15 seasons in the big leagues as an infielder primarily with the Dodgers and Bees/Braves.  He was a National League All-Star in 1933 and 1938, and he finished in the top ten in the league for RBIs in 1931, 1934 and 1937.  A fine defender, Cuccinello led all second baseman with assists in three different seasons and finished in the top ten for fielding percentage at the position in six seasons.  He retired temporarily following the 1940 season, managing the Jersey City Giants in the International League in 1941.  He returned as a player-coach in 1942 for Casey Stengel's (#150) Braves, and signed with the White Sox in 1943 when the team found its roster severely depleted due to the military service of most of its players.

In 1945, Cuccinello was the regular third baseman for the White Sox and he was on the losing end of the closing batting title race in major league history.  He hit .308 (124 for 402), losing the title by .000087 to the Yankees' George "Stuffy" Stirnweiss who batted .309 (195 for 632).  With enlisted men returning from the War, Cuccinello was released following his successful 1945 season and retired for good.  He then began a long-time career as a minor league manager and major league coach, spending 21 years with the Reds (1949-1951), Indians (1952-1956), White Sox (1957-1966, 1969) and Tigers (1967-1968).  Coaching third base for the Tigers in 1968, Cuccinello earned a World Series ring when Detroit defeated the Cardinals in seven games.

Building the Set

April 17, 2021 from San Diego, CA (Kit Young Cards) - Card #16

With no in-person baseball card shows scheduled until at least June in my area, I've fallen into a pattern with my 1965 Topps set building.  After adding a group of commons (say 10 to 20 cards) I then feel the need to add a few star cards as well.  Back in the 1980s and 1990s when my Dad and I were actively building Topps sets, we'd follow a similar pattern when attending baseball card shows.  I'd spend time hunched over a common box, picking out a stack of 1974 or 1976 or 1973 commons while my Dad would scour the showroom floor for deals on a few star cards.  After adding 18 common and semi-star cards to our 1965 Topps set through eBay auctions in late March, I went directly to Kit Young Cards to offset those purchases with a few minor star card additions.  This Cuccinello card found its way into my shopping cart along with four 1965 Topps semi-star cards, and the five cards arrived from San Diego in mid-April.

Variations Available

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

The Card / Dodgers Team Set

I may choose to upgrade this card down the line, as now that it's in hand it seems to have quite a bit of grime to it, especially around the edges.  It's rare to see a player on a card wearing a warm-up jacket, so it's a nice touch to see Cuccinello in the varsity-style Dodgers jacket here.  Three unidentified Dodgers teammates look on from behind the second baseman.  The back of the card explains how best to field a drag bunt attempt by a batter.

1935 Season

This was to be Cuccinello's last season in Brooklyn, as he was dealt to the Bees with Ray Benge, Al Lopez (#28) and Bobby Reis for Ed Brandt and Randy Moore on December 12, 1935.  Cuccinello was the Dodgers' opening day second baseman, and he'd start 66 games there and 31 games at third base.  He batted .292 with eight home runs (second on the team to Lonny Frey's - #117 - 11 homers) and 53 RBIs.

His younger brother Al made his debut in 1935 with the cross-town New York Giants, appearing in 54 games, his only year in the majors.  On July 5th, both brothers homered in a game won by the Dodgers, 14-4.

1933 Goudey #99

1939 Play Ball #61

1940 Play Ball #61

1960 Topps #458

1989 Pacific Legends II #170

Other Notable Baseball Cards

First Mainstream Card:  1933 Goudey #99

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (1):  1960

Most Recent Mainstream Card:  1995 Conlon Collection TSN #1391

46 - Cuccinello non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 5/2/21.

Sources:

Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database

Wikipedia

Previous Card:  #54 "Hank" Greenberg - Detroit Tigers

Next Card: #56 "Gus" Suhr - Pittsburgh Pirates