H
houbb
Guest
Hal R. Smith 1/1 1 week (1960 Leaf)
9514 LONDONDERRY CT.
FORT SMITH, AK. 72908-9520
The card also features former Pirates/Colt 45's catcher, Hal Smith, who also signed this card for me last week c/o his address in Texas. Hal W. Smith played for many major league teams in his career, and is best remembered as a clutch member of the '60 Pirates. He mashed the ball at a .375 clip in the '60 World Series, including a 3 run home run in the 8th inning of the 7th game, which set the stage for Mazeroski's game winner in the 9th. He also well known down in these parts as hitting a home run in Houston's first major lague game and win in 1962.
One of the things I love about this hobby is you wind up learning things about players you may not know a lot about, and it brings their careers, which may be years in the past, back to life. Case in point, Hal R. Smith. Smith was one of the premier backstops in the NL in the late '50's and early '60's, and was a two time NL All Star. He was the man behind the plate when Bob Gibson threw a 1-0 shutout for his first major league win. Smith was at the top of his game, and headed for a possible third All Star appearance when he started having chest pains in June 1961. Doctor's advised him to stop playing due to a heart condition. Smith then retired and became a coach, and a youngster by the name of Tim McCarver got a cance to play. As a coach with the Pirates, in 1965, a rash of injuries brought Smith out of retirement for a week. Can you imagine coming out of retirement after 4 years and taking on the toughest job in the game? Smith did.
This was a fun success, and I learned a lot about a player I only knew a little about...until now.
Today also brought...
Bobby Clarke 1/1 3 weeks (1979 Topps)
c/o Philadelphia Flyers
I loved watching this HOFer play. Although I must admit, down here in Texas we didn't see too much of him, or NHL hockey for that matter, in the '70's. Down here, the WHA was king. Man, how I miss that league.
Ironically, I found this card in a box of vintage basketball cards at one of my favorite card stores. I pulled this out of the box, a nice near mint example, with a price tag of $2. The only hockey card in the store. It pays to keep digging, yes?
9514 LONDONDERRY CT.
FORT SMITH, AK. 72908-9520
The card also features former Pirates/Colt 45's catcher, Hal Smith, who also signed this card for me last week c/o his address in Texas. Hal W. Smith played for many major league teams in his career, and is best remembered as a clutch member of the '60 Pirates. He mashed the ball at a .375 clip in the '60 World Series, including a 3 run home run in the 8th inning of the 7th game, which set the stage for Mazeroski's game winner in the 9th. He also well known down in these parts as hitting a home run in Houston's first major lague game and win in 1962.
One of the things I love about this hobby is you wind up learning things about players you may not know a lot about, and it brings their careers, which may be years in the past, back to life. Case in point, Hal R. Smith. Smith was one of the premier backstops in the NL in the late '50's and early '60's, and was a two time NL All Star. He was the man behind the plate when Bob Gibson threw a 1-0 shutout for his first major league win. Smith was at the top of his game, and headed for a possible third All Star appearance when he started having chest pains in June 1961. Doctor's advised him to stop playing due to a heart condition. Smith then retired and became a coach, and a youngster by the name of Tim McCarver got a cance to play. As a coach with the Pirates, in 1965, a rash of injuries brought Smith out of retirement for a week. Can you imagine coming out of retirement after 4 years and taking on the toughest job in the game? Smith did.
This was a fun success, and I learned a lot about a player I only knew a little about...until now.
Today also brought...
Bobby Clarke 1/1 3 weeks (1979 Topps)
c/o Philadelphia Flyers
I loved watching this HOFer play. Although I must admit, down here in Texas we didn't see too much of him, or NHL hockey for that matter, in the '70's. Down here, the WHA was king. Man, how I miss that league.
Ironically, I found this card in a box of vintage basketball cards at one of my favorite card stores. I pulled this out of the box, a nice near mint example, with a price tag of $2. The only hockey card in the store. It pays to keep digging, yes?
