1967 Topps Don Kessinger Chicago Cubs

Today's entry was inspired by watching him play in the 1969 baseball game yesterday that was shown on MLB Network against the Philadelphia Phillies. It is Don Kessinger, shortstop for the Chicago Cubs, card number 419 in the 1967 Topps Baseball card set.

This autograph was obtained by sending a through the mail request to Don Kessinger to his home in Mississippi on July 2, 2009 and 17 days later, he returned the card signed with a beautiful blue sharpie autograph. Thank you Mr. Kessinger.

Don Kessinger played 16 seasons in the major leagues from 1964 to 1979. He played 11 years for the Chicago Cubs, 2 seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals and 3 for the Chicago White Sox, where he was the player-manager in 1979. Don Kessinger played 2078 games, accumulating 1931 hits, 14 home runs, 527 runs batted in and a career .252 batting average. Don made the All-Star teams in 6 different season from 1968 to 1974 and won the Gold Glove Award for shortstops in 1969 and 1970. Don Kessinger managed the Chicago White Sox for 131 games in 1979 before resigning as manager and retiring as a player. He was replaced by Tony LaRussa.

After leaving the Chicago White Sox, Don Kessinger went back to his alma mater, The University of Mississippi and managed the baseball team for 6 seasons and now he has his own real estate business.

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