1967 Topps Rico Petrocelli Boston Red Sox

Third day of the streak; no 1967 Topps Autographed Baseball cards in the mailbox today. Not discouraged at all, I know some more will be arriving soon. I went back into my collection and found a card that Red Sox Nation will identify and appreciate. It is of Rico Petrocelli shortstop for the Boston Red Sox. Card number 528 out of the 1967 Topps Baseball card set of 609 subjects.

This autograph was obtained with a through the mail (TTM) request to Rico Petrocelli's home in New Hampshire. I mailed the card on July 20, 2009 and he returned it signed with a beautiful blue sharpie 17 days later. Rico also included his number 6 on the card as a bonus. Definitely a nice addition to my set.

Rico Petrocelli played 15 seasons in the major leagues, all with the Boston Red Sox. He played 9 seasons at shortstop and 6 seasons at third base. He was a vital member of the Impossible Dream team of 1967 which won the American League pennant and lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series 4 games to 3. He hit two home runs in Game 6 of the World Series helping the Red Sox force a game 7. A two-time All Star in 1967 and 1969, Rico hit 210 career home runs, drove in 773 runs and hit .251. Always a slick fielder, he led the league in fielding for shortstops twice and third baseman once. He retired in 1976 and was elected into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1997. To learn more about Rico Petrocelli career, click on his name.

If you are interested in sending autograph requests through the mail, I recommend sportscollectors.net for addresses and success rates for individual players. 
  
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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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