The Quest for the 1960 Topps Set, Part XXXI
December 28th, 2011 by slangon

Well, Christmas is over. It has been for a couple of days now. I reckon it’s about time to show some cards that I got in a trade with Reader Jim quite a spell ago, but just got around to posting now. Actually, I probably would’ve posted these sooner except for the fact that he sent me these right away after contacting me about a trade and I just got around to sending him cards a day or two before Christmas. I just couldn’t being myself to post his cards before I sent him mine.

Anyway, here’s a gaggle of 1960 Topps that he sent my way. With the inclusion of the cards he sent, there’s only 6 cards that I need to polish off the entire first series. Pretty exciting stuff. Anyway, here’s the cards.

#97 Ted Lepcio

Most people I’ve ever met or heard of that are nicknamed “Ted” are actually named Theodore. Not this Ted. His name is Thaddeus. Interestingly, the year that this card came out, the Phillies manager Eddie Sawyer did not call him Ted or Thaddeus. Not even Theodore. He called him “the worst Major League player I’ve ever seen.” Apparently, he’s so bad he wore a Detroit Tigers uniform even though he plays for the Phillies. That’s not even the right league.

And speaking of Detroit…

#72 Detroit Tigers Team Card

I wonder if Ted is in there somewhere. Well, at least I know he’s not the guy in the middle row on the extreme right.

#112 Jack Harshman

Jack Harshman had a pretty sweet year in 1956. He went 15-11 with a 3.10 ERA. He also hit 6 home runs and drove in 19 in 71 at-bats. During his career, he particularly owned Pedro Ramos. In the 13 plate appearances he made against him, he ran up a .455/.500/1.182 line.  He had 5 hits against him. Two of those were doubles and 2 of those left the yard. Keep in mind he’s a pitcher.

#77 Hank Foiles

Hank Foiles has the rather dubious distinction of being on of the few Major Leaguers to be picked twice in the Rule V Draft. The Reds swiped him from the Yankees in 1951. He spent the next few years bouncing around from Cincinnati to Cleveland to Pittsburgh to Kansas City back to Pittsburgh back to Cleveland to Detroit. In 1960, the Baltimore Orioles chose him from Detroit in the Rule V Draft.

#34 Sparky Anderson

I don’t know why, but this had been one of those cards that had eluded me for a very long time. Maybe it’s because it’s a low number card, and even though it is Sparky Anderson, it’s not like he was a star at the time. Because of those reasons, I guess I refused to pay a lot for it. I guess the people selling it thought different. Anyway, jokes on them because now I have it.

#106 Billy Gardner

Here’s another guy who had a mediocre playing career but went on to manage. I actually had posted another on of his cards a long time ago, from his days at the helm of the Twins. I almost feel as if that’s the same piece of chaw he’s chompin’ on.B

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