Jim Fregosi 1967 Topps California Angels

 

Today's entry for the 1967 Topps Autographed Baseball card collection is Jim Fregosi, shortstop for the California Angels. Card number 385 out of 609 different cards in the set.

Jim Fregosi signed this card at his home in Florida after I sent him the card through the mail on July 6, 2009. He returned the card signed with a blue autograph 10 days later. Thank you Mr. Fregosi. Looking to send items to be signed by players, to go sportscollectors.net for current addresses.

Jim Fregosi played 18 seasons in the major leagues from 1961 to 1978. His career started with the Los Angeles/California Angels where he was a 6 time all-star. In the trade bringing future Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan to the Angels, Fregosi went to the New York Mets in 1972. He also played for the Texas Rangers and Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1967, Jim Fregosi won a Gold Glove Award in 1967 as a shortstop. Jim Fregosi's career statistics include .265 career batting average, 151 home runs and 706 runs batted in. Jim Fregosi is one of 28 players (including Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig and George Brett) in major league history to have a hit for the cycle more than once. Hitting for the cycle means having a single, double, triple and home run in the same game. He accomplished the feat on July 28, 1964 and May 20, 1968.

As the California Angels were looking for a manager in 1978, the Pittsburgh Pirates released Fregosi and he became manager at age 36. Jim managed the Angels until 1981, then he also managed the Chicago White Sox from 1986 to 1988, led the Philadelphia Phillies from 1991 to 1996, winning the 1993 National League Pennant, and the Toronto Blue Jays from 1999-2000. His career managerial record is 1028 wins versus 1095 losses.  To learn more about Jim Fregosi, go to his biography at wikipedia.org.
 
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1967 Topps John Werhas Los Angeles Dodgers

The nothing in the mailbox streak is up to four days, so again I jumped back in my collection of 1967 Topps Autographed Baseball cards to share one of my favorites. It is John Werhas, third baseman of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Card number 514 on the set of 609 cards.

John Werhas signed this card after I mailed it to him care of The Rock Community Church in Yorba Linda, California. John is the Senior Pastor at the church. I mailed him the card on September 8, 2009 and he graciously returned the card signed 13 days later with a great signature as well as "Best Wishes, Doug", "In Christ" and the Bible verse "John 3:16." "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." He also included a signed pamphlet from his church. What a great find in my mailbox and addition to the collection.

Johnny "Peaches" Werhas's baseball career in the Major Leagues did not live up to the potential that he had coming out of University of Southern California where he was a two-sport star. He was a 3 year letterman in baseball and basketball for the USC Trojans. He played parts of 3 years in the Major Leagues for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels. His career batting average was .173 and he hit 2 homeruns in limited action. His minor league statistics were more impressive, hitting 151 home runs and batting .281 in 12 seasons. In 1971, Werhas was involved in what was at the time a very unusual trade. Playing for the Taiyo Whales in Japan, he was dealt to the Hawaii Islanders (then in the San Diego Padres system) for Clete Boyer, said at the time to be the first trade between a Japanese and an American team.

To learn about Johnny Werhas, click on his name.

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