The Quest for the 1960 Topps Set, Part XIV
September 21st, 2010 by slangon
I’m just a little bit closer to 1960-ness.
#256 Dick Brown
Dick Brown played 9 seasons in the Majors with Cleveland, Detroit and Baltimore. Tragically, his career ended due to a brain tumor which ultimately ended his life at age 35. He was part of a back-to-back-to-back home run performance with Norm Cash and Steve Boros on May 23, 1961.
#123 Dan Dobbek Rookie Star
Dan was signed by the Washington Senators (the original) in 1955 was supposed to be a power hitting outfielder similar to Harmon Killebrew. Unfortunately for Dan, he sustained a serious shoulder injury after crashing into a concrete outfield wall in Kansas City that pretty much ruined his career. His career only lasted 198 games over 3 seasons. On April 22, 1960 he tied a Major League record by being intentionally walked by the Red Sox 3 times in one game.
#435 Gene Freese
Gene was very much a journeyman player, lasting a dozen years in the Majors and playing in 6 different cities, 2 of them twice. He was a member of the Pirates (twice), the Cardinals, the Phillies, the White Sox (twice), the Reds and the Astros. As a member of the Cards he and Curt Flood became only the 5th pair of hitters to lead of a game with back-to-back home runs. The unfortunate pitcher? A 22 year old named Sanford Koufax. After his baseball career ended, Gene opened a bar in New Orleans called Third Base, Inc.
#78 Bob Grim
Next up is the 1954 A.L. Rookie of the Year, Bob Grim. He was the last American League rookie to win 20 games. That year he went 20-6 with a 3.26 ERA for the Yanks. I had actually gotten Bob’s 1958 card in the Topps Million Card Giveaway which I eventually traded for a ’58 Frank Torre. In the middle of the ’58 season, he was traded to K.C. for Through the Mail signer extraordinaire and Yankee Killer Virgil “Fire” Trucks.
#406 Billy Klaus
Billy was your classic all-defense, limited-offense shortstop. Lucky for him he happened to play during an era when clubs would actually carry an all-defense, limited-offense shortstop.
#11 Norm Siebern
Norm was a 3 time All-Star over the course of his 12 year career. He was also part of the trade that brought Roger Maris to the Yankees in 1959.
#26 Wayne Terwilliger
Wayne “Twig” Terwilliger, aside from having a name that is fun to say, had a career in professional baseball that spanned 7 decades. Yes thats correct. He was signed by the Cubs in 1948 and was still managing in minors as of 2005. He also played in exactly 666 games while in the Majors. He should get together with Deacon Jones.
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