1967 Topps Detroit Tigers Jim Northrup #408

Today's entry in my 1967 Topps Autographed Baseball Card collection is a member of the 1968 World Series Champion Detroit Tigers and a five sport (baseball, football, basketball, golf and track) star in high school. It is Jim Northrup, Outfielder for the Tigers, card number 408 in the 1967 Topps Baseball card set of 609 subjects. Sadly, Jim Northrup passed away June 8, 2011 at the age of 71 from a seizure.

This autograph was obtained with a through the mail (TTM) request on March 18, 2009 to Mr. Northrup at his home in Michigan. If you are interested in contacting players through the mail, I highly recommend sportscollectors.net as a resource to the addresses of your favorite players and teams. Jim Northrup graciously signed my card with a blue ballpoint pen and returned it to me 13 days later. Thank you, Mr. Northrup. As of July 14, 2011, I have accumulated 544 different signatures in my collection of 1967 Topps Autographed cards.

Jim "Silver Fox" Northrup played 12 seasons in the major leagues, with the Detroit Tigers, Montreal Expos and Baltimore Orioles. The "Silver Fox" nickname came from that fact that his hair prematurely turned gray. His career started in 1964 with the Tigers, but did not win a starting position until the 1966 season. He was named the starting Right Fielder which required Future Hall of Famer Al Kaline to move to Centerfield. During the 1966 season, Northrup proved to be a major leaguer to stay by hitting 24 doubles and 16 home runs. His most memorable season was 1968, during which he hit 5 Grand Slams, including 2 in consecutive at bats and one in the World Series. Northrup helped led the Tigers during the 1968 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals by hitting 2 home runs and knocking in 8 runs.

Jim Northrup stayed with the Tigers until 1974, then was traded to the Expos and then again to the Orioles during the season. He ended his career in 1975 with the Orioles. His career statistics include a .267 batting average with 1254 hits, of which 153 were home runs, 610 runs batted in and 603 runs scored. Jim was an excellent fielder as well, with a .981 career fielding percentage in 1301 games. To learn more about Jim Northrup, go to his biography at wikipedia.org.



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1967 Topps Kansas City Athletics Rookies Sal Bando & Randy Schwartz #33

Today's entry for my collection of 1967 Topps Autographed Baseball cards is the first Rookie card in the set that I receive both autographs from the players. It is Kansas City Athletics 1967 Rookie Stars of Sal Bando and Randy Schwartz, card number 33 in the 1967 Topps Baseball set of 609 subjects. As of July 13, 2011, I have accumulated 544 different autographs in the 1967 set.

Sal Bando signed the card first with a through the mail request to his home in Wisconsin. I mailed the card on December 11, 2008 and he returned it signed with a blue sharpie, 9 days later. I held onto the card for a while before mailing it to Randy Schwartz at his home in California on April 7, 2009. Mr. Schwartz returned it 7 days later with a nice blue ballpoint pen signature. Thank you Mr. Bando and Mr. Schwartz for the quick returns. If you have any 1967 Topps autographed cards, please let me know, as I might need them to further my collection.

Sal Bando played 16 seasons in the major leagues between the Kansas City/Oakland A's and the Milwaukee Brewers from 1966 to 1981. He started his career in 1966 in Kansas City and played third base. After the Athletics moved to Oakland, Bando was named Captain of the team and helped the A's win three consecutive World Series titles from 1972-1974. He appeared in 4 All-Star games and his career statistics include a .254 batting average with 242 Home runs and 1,039 runs batted in. After retiring from playing baseball, Mr. Bando joined the Milwaukee Brewers as the General Manager in 1991 and stayed in that position until 1999.

Randy Schwartz played in two seasons with the Kansas City Athletics from 1965 to 1966. In the two seasons in the minor leagues, Randy hit .278 and swatted 51 home runs. His success in the major leagues was limited because the first baseman in front of him was Ken Harrelson, who had a firm hold on the position. Randy had 18 at bats in 16 games, with 3 hits and 2 runs batted in.

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1967 Topps Bengal Belters Detroit Tigers Al Kaline & Norm Cash #216

Today's entry for my collection of 1967 Topps Autographed Baseball cards is in honor of Derek Jeter getting his 3000th hit today. He joins this Hall of Famer in an exclusive club of only 28 members. It is Al Kaline, the great Detroit Tiger who shares this card with Norm Cash as the "Bengal Belters", card number 216 in the 1967 Topps Baseball set of 609 subjects. As of July 9, 2011, I have accumulated 542 different autographs in the 1967 set.

Hall of Famer and Detroit Tiger Great Al Kaline signed this 1967 Topps Baseball card during Spring Training 2010 in Lakeland, FL. Mr. Kaline arrives at the ballpark in Lakeland around 8:30am each morning during Spring Training and on March 2nd he was right on time. There was about a dozen collectors waiting for him and he graciously signed one item per person. As you can see, he signed this with a blue sharpie and has a beautiful signature. If you have any 1967 Topps autographed cards, please let me know, as I might need them to further my collection.

Al "Mr. Tiger" Kaline played all 22 seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers from 1953 to 1974. He started his career in 1953 at the age of 18, signing as a Bonus Baby with the Tigers out of high school. Mr. Kaline mainly played right field, which he was feared for his strong throwing arm, for the Tigers but also played first base and designated hitter during the twilight of his career. He appeared in 18 All-Star games and won a World Series Championship with the Tigers in 1968 beating the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. Al won 10 Gold Gloves awards for the defensive efforts in right field. His career statistics include a .297 batting average with 3007 hits, 399 Home runs and 1,583 runs batted in. Al Kaline was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980 on his first year of eligibility with 88.3% of the votes. After retiring from playing baseball, Mr. Kaline joined the broadcast booth for Tiger games and currently serves as a Special Assistant to the President of the Tigers.

"Stormin' Norman" Cash spent 17 seasons in the major leagues from 1958 to 1974. His career started with the Chicago White Sox in 1958 and played there for two seasons. He was part of a eight player trade with the Cleveland Indians but then was traded again before playing a game to the Detroit Tigers for Steve Demeter. Norm's career blossomed with the Tigers, winning a batting title in 1961 and a World Series in 1968. Norm Cash's career statistics include a .271 batting average, 377 Home Runs and 1,103 runs batted in. He appeared in 5 All-Star games and won the Comeback Player of the Year award twice, 1965 and 1971. Tragically, Norm passed away in 1986 when he drowned on a fishing trip in Lake Michigan. He was 51 years old at his time of death.




To read more about Al Kaline biography, go to wikipedia.com and Norm Cash at wikipedia.com.


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1967 Topps Chicago White Sox #609 Tommy John

Today's entry for my collection of 1967 Topps Autographed Baseball cards is one of the greatest left handed pitchers of all-time, but now is more known by the surgery that bears his name. The card is the Tommy John of the Chicago White Sox. Card number 609, which is the last card in the 1967 Topps Baseball set. As of July 8, 2011, I have accumulated 542 different autographs in the 1967 set.

Tommy John signed my card from a through the mail request that I sent him on June 18, 2011 to his home in North Carolina. He quickly autographed the card with a blue sharpie and returned it to me on June 22, 2011. Thank you, Mr. John, for the autograph and the speedy return.

Tommy John pitched 26 seasons in the Major Leagues from 1963 to 1989 and played for 6 different teams. His career started with the Cleveland Indians for two seasons, then he was traded to the White Sox, where he pitched until 1971 with modest success. After that season, Tommy was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1972 and found the National League more to his liking, winning 40 games versus 15 losses before hurting his left arm to a career threatening injury. He then tore a ligament in his left elbow; his career seemingly over, John became the first athlete to get ulnar collateral ligament reconstructive surgery. This is the elbow ligament that can be damaged by repeated throwing, and the surgery replaces it with a ligament taken from another part of the body - in John's case, his right forearm. The surgical procedure today is commonly called Tommy John surgery. Revolutionary at the time, the operation today is almost routine.

Tommy John missed the entire 1975 season while recovering from the surgery and injury, but returned in 1976 with the Dodgers. After the surgery, Tommy went on to win 164 games and pitched until he was 46 years old. He won 20 games in three out of four seasons from 1977 to 1980. After pitching for the Dodgers in 1978, Tommy signed with the New York Yankees for 4 seasons, California Angels for 3 seasons, the Oakland A's in 1985 and back again with the Yankees until he retired in 1989. 

Tommy John's career statistics include 288 wins versus 231 losses, a 3.34 earned run average, 2,245 strikeouts, 162 complete games and 46 shutouts. He was named to the All-Star teams 4 different seasons, won the Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1976 and appeared in 3 World Series, losing each while with the Dodgers in 1977 and 1978 and the Yankees in 1981.


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1967 Topps Boston Red Sox Dick Williams #161

Today's entry from my 1967 Topps Autographed Baseball card set is about a former manager of the Boston Red Sox, Oakland A's, Angels, San Diego Padres, Montreal Expos and Seattle Mariners and sadly he passed away today, July 7, 2011 at age 82. It is Dick Williams, manager of the Boston Red Sox. Card number 161 in the 1967 Topps Baseball card set of 609 cards.

This card was obtained through a dealer on ebay. It is one of 542 different autographs I have accumulated over the past 3 years.

Dick Williams played in the major leagues for 13 seasons from 1951 to 1964 and appeared in 1023 games for 5 different teams as an infielder/outfielder. His career statistics include a .262 batting average, 70 home runs and 331 runs batted in.



Dick Williams' managerial career began in grand fashion with the Boston Red Sox in 1967. During that season, known as the Impossible Dream season, the Red Sox who were coming off 8 straight losing campaigns, put together a young team of future stars and surprised everyone by winning the American League Pennant. They made their first World Series appearance since the 1946 season. Playing well in the 1967 World Series, the Red Sox played the St. Louis Cardinals to the brink, but came up short in the seventh and deciding game, getting beat by future Hall of Famer Bob Gibson.

Williams managed the Boston Red Sox for two more seasons, but he was fired with 9 games left in the 1969 season. After that, Dick Williams was hired by the Oakland A's in 1971 and led the very talent Athletics teams to consecutive World Series Championships in 1972 and 1973. He resigned after the 1973 season due to a conflict with controversial owner Charlie Finley. He also managed the California Angels and Montreal Expos before getting the job of skipper of the San Diego Padres in 1982. Dick Williams led the Padres from perpetual losers to Pennant Winners during the 1984 seasons. The Padres made their first of only two World Series appearances in their 42 seasons in 1984, losing to eventual winner, Detroit Tigers in five games. Williams managed the Padres for one more season before being let go prior to the start of the 1986 campaign. His last managerial position was with the Seattle Mariners from 1986 to 1988. During his 21 years as a major league manager, Williams won 1,571 games while losing 1,451.

Dick Williams was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008.

To learn more about Dick Williams' career, go to his biography at wikipedia.org.
 
Looking for great Sports memorabilia, apparel and collectibles, check out Dugoutdug Sports Collectibles for your favorite players and teams. Use "facebook10" as a coupon during checkout to receive a 10% discount off of your order.