1967 Topps Dalton Jones Boston Red Sox

Today's entry for my 1967 Topps Autographed card collection was a vital part of the 1967 Boston Red Sox Impossible Dream season and was originally scouted by Hall of Famer Ted Williams. It is Dalton Jones, 2nd Baseman for the Boston Red Sox, card number 139 in the 1967 Topps Baseball card set of 609 subjects.

This autographed was obtained with a through the mail (TTM) request to Dalton Jones' home in Mississippi. Addresses for thousands of current and former players can be found at sportscollectors.net. I sent the card to Mr. Jones on January 9, 2009 and received it back 8 days later with a nice blue sharpie signature. Thank you, Mr. Jones.

Dalton Jones played nine seasons of Major League Baseball from 1964 to 1972. In his first 6 seasons, Dalton played for the Boston Red Sox (1964 to 1969). Then he was traded to the Detroit Tigers, where he played from 1970 to 1972 and finished his career that same year with the Texas Rangers. His manager in Texas was the same Ted Williams who had originally signed him to the Red Sox. Incidentally, Ted Williams was the boyhood hero of Dalton Jones. During Dalton's nine seasons, he hit 41 home runs, drove in 237 runs and had a career .235 batting average. His best season was the pennant winning season for the Red Sox in 1967, hitting .289 and having many valuable hit down the pennant stretch. In the 1967 World Series, Dalton hit .389 second only to Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski hitting .400. Even though the Red Sox lost the series in 7 games to the St. Louis Cardinals, the "Impossible Dream Season" will always be remembered by the Red Sox Nation.

To learn more about Dalton Jones, visit is biography at wikipedia.org.

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1967 Topps Reggie Smith Boston Red Sox Rookie Card

In anticipation of my 2nd annual junket to Florida for Spring Training, I wanted to share a card that was added to my 1967 Topps Autographed Baseball card collection during the 1st trip in 2009. It is Reggie Smith on the 1967 Boston Red Sox Rookie Stars Card with Mike Andrews. Card number 314 in the 1967 Topps Baseball card set of 609 cards.

This autograph was obtained in Clearwater, Florida while the Phillies were playing an exhibition game against the 2009 USA World Baseball Classic team. Reggie Smith was the batting coach for WBC team and was very gracious to come over to me before the started and sign my card. Reggie Smith is known in the hobby as a tough signature to get and I am very thankful he obliged my request. He signed the card with a black sharpie that I supplied. Thank you Reggie.

Reggie Smith's career in Major League Baseball spanned 17 seasons from 1966 to 1982. He played for the Boston Red Sox, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. During his career, Reggie Smith accumulated the following statistics, 2020 base hits in 1987 games, 314 home runs, 1092 runs batted in stole 137 bases and a career .287 batting average. Reggie Smith was involved in four World Series, 1967(loss) with the Red Sox and 1977(loss), 1978(loss) and 1981(win) with the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Reggie hit 6 home runs in a total of 21 World Series games. Reggie Smith also won a Gold Glove in 1968 and was a seven-time All Star. Reggie was 2nd in the 1967 Rookie of the Year voting behind future Hall of Famer Rod Carew. In his rookie season, Reggie hit 15 home runs, drove in 61 runs and stole 16 bases.

After his playing days were over, Reggie Smith spent time as a coach, minor league instructor and player development official for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also runs Reggie Smith Baseball to help youth players develop the necessary skills to be a successful baseball player. 

To learn more about Reggie Smith, go to his biography at wikipedia.org.
 
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1967 Topps Galen Cisco Boston Red Sox

The streak ended after one day. I received a new addition to my 1967 Topps Autographed Baseball card set in the mailbox today. It is Galen Cisco, pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. Card number 596, a hard to find high number, out of the set of 609 cards.

This autographed card was obtained by mailing Galen Cisco the card to his home in Ohio on January 29, 2010. He signed the card and returned it to me 7 days later with a super black autograph. This marks the 451st autographed card in the set and one step closer to completion.

Galen Cisco's career lasted 7 seasons starting in 1961 with the Boston Red Sox, then he joined the New York Mets from 1962-1965, again with Boston 1967, and the Kansas City Royals in 1969. In a seven-season career, he posted a 25-56 record with a 4.56 earned run average while striking out 325 batters.

Before making the major leagues, Galen Cisco was a two-sport star at the Ohio State University, playing fullback and linebacker for the 1957 National Championship Football team and as a star pitcher on the baseball team. Following his playing retirement, Cisco became a respected pitching coach for the Royals, Montreal Expos, San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies. He won 2 World Series Championships while with the Toronto Blue Jays.

To learn more about Galen Cisco's career, read his biography at wikipedia.org and baseball reference.com.

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1967 Topps Boston Red Sox Jim Lonborg Cy Young Winner

Today's entry for my 1967 Topps Autograph Baseball card set is Jim Lonborg, pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. Card number 371 in the 1967 Topps Baseball card set of 609.

The autograph was obtained January 15th, 2009, 9 days after I mailed the card to his residence in Massachusetts. He returned the card with a nice blue signature and an extra inscription stating "CY Young '67." A real quick turnaround with the bonus inscription, thanks Mr. Lonborg.

Jim Lonborg's career lasted 15 years and he played for the Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers and ended with the Philadelphia Phillies. During his career, he won 157 games, had a career 3.86 earned run average and struck out 1475 batters. His best year was 1967; winning 22 games while striking out 246 batters for the American League Pennant winning Red Sox. He was voted the Cy Young Award winner that year, an award for the best pitcher of the season. During the 1967 World Series versus the Cardinals, Jim pitched a one-hit shutout in Game 2 after retiring the first 19 batters.

After his playing days were over, the Stanford University Grad attending Tufts University Dental School and practiced dentistry in Massachusetts.

As a side note, Sam Malone's character on the television show "Cheers" was based on Jim Lonborg. To learn more about Jim Lonborg's career, go to his biography at wikipedia.org.

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