1962 Topps Duke Snider

Duke Snider was only a part-time player for the Dodgers in 1962. He played in 80 games that year and hit five homers.

But after the season ended he was in fact traded to the New York Mets. That must be when this card's owner marked the transaction on the card.

For some reason or another, there are a lot of poor-condition cards of Snider out there.

Before starting this blog over a year ago, I owned no Snider cards. I now own three. This 1962 Topps, a 1959 Topps and a 1957 Topps – all in pretty-bad shape.

With a little searching on eBay, I can probably find an Ex condition version of this card for about $20.

But I'll take this poor condition card any day. Complete with a kid's scribbles.

1953 Topps Warren Spahn

Warren Spahn was a 12-time, 20-game winner in the Majors – 1953 being no exception.

In '53, Spahn went 23-7 with a 2.01 ERA. It was the first year for the Braves in Milwaukee. Yet Spahn is wearing his Boston hat in this card.

At least Topps didn't Photoshop his cap – of wait, there was no Photoshop in 1953.

I got a chance to see Spahn about a year before his death. I was in Cooperstown during induction week. He was across the street sitting at a table signing autographs. He was frail and old – unlike the young man in his prime pictured in this card.

I didn't matter, I will always cherish the fact that I once saw, with my own eyes, the greatest lefthander to pitch in the Majors.

1972 Topps Reggie Jackson

About a week ago I had the urge to go to a local baseball card shop and look around. I figured I might be able to find a few cards I can post on the old blog.

When I walked into the store I explained to the owner that I was looking for poor old baseball cards. I said that I would prefer star players but any old cards would do.

This is usually where the owner looks at me a bit funny and offers to show me a small box of overpriced star players from the 50s, 60s and 70s.

But this store was a bit different. The owner immediately pulled out three boxes of Hall-of-Famers and stars to look through. And each card was in worse condition than the next.

It was heaven. You know that saying about being a kid in a candy store? Well, I was Charlie and this was my Chocolate Factory.

Among the cards I went home with were: two 1971 Thurman Munsons, a 1958 Eddie Matthews, a 1962 Duke Snider, nine 1948 Leafs and this 1972 Reggie Jackson.

By the way, Reggie was $1.

Boy, I am looking forward to the next time I have a sweet tooth.

E90-1 American Caramel Jack Barry

Jack Barry was the shortstop in Connie Mack's $100,000 infield.

He — along with Stuffy McInnis at first, Eddie Collins at second and Frank Baker at third – were the highest paid teammates of their day.

They were kind of like today's New York Yankees infield except Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira make more like $75 million.

The investment seems to have paid off for the Philadelphia Athletics with World Series championships in 1910, 1911 and 1913. All-in-all, Barry played on seven American League pennant winners in his 11-year career.

After his playing days in the Majors were over, Barry had a distinguished career as the baseball coach at Holy Cross.

He served as coach for 40 years compiling a 616-150-6 career record.