Poseurs (‘50s Version, Pitching Division)

When it comes to posing for your baseball card, there are really only a few choices.  If you fancy yourself a hitter, you’ve basically got two – your stance and your follow-through.  More of a fielder?  How about the ol’ ready position?  Waiting for a throw?  Scooping up a grounder?  Waiting for that fly ball?   Hey, the choices are endless.

I’m sorry, did you say you were a pitcher?  Well, you’ve got your basic set position, wind up, follow-through …  Catcher?  Okay, squat down.  Now, take off your mask.  No, I’m afraid that’s it.  Oh, alright, pretend you’re taking your mask off to get a foul pop.  Sheesh!

Let’s start this thing with some denizens of the mound, otherwise known as pitchers.  So, here they are, a passel of poseurs pretending to pitch …

“Ah, what does he want now?  Another fastball?  How about a slowball instead?”  Can’t decide if Don here is peeved, really tired, really bored, or some combination of the three.

Did you know Don Newcombe was the only player in baseball history to win the Rookie of the Year, Cy Young, and MVP awards?  He doesn’t look too pumped about that here, though, does he?

“Can barely lift arms above head.  So tired …”

Alex Kellner was a decent pitcher who unfortunately was stuck most of his career with the Philadelphia and Kansas City A’s.  He was in the odd position of winning 20 one year (1949) and losing 20 the next (1950).  And somehow in that 20-game-winning season, he managed to walk more (129) than he struck out (94).  How can that even be possible?

Hey, wanna see what Alex's got under his hat?

Shazzam!

Rip Coleman had a pretty undistinguished career, cool nickname aside.  His career record was a woeful 7-25.  He did get in a World Series game though.  Unfortunately, all that amounted to was giving up five hits in one inning.  Really just more of the same, I guess.

His real name was “Walter.” Pretty wide gulf between that and "Rip," doncha think?

*

“Take that!  Pow!  And that!”

Ralph here looks more like a boxer than a pitcher.  He actually became a professional golfer, not a boxer, after retiring from baseball.  Terry's probably most famous for giving up Maz’s homer in Game 7 of the 1960 Series.  Kind of like being famous for blowing a 2-foot putt on the 18^th hole at Augusta.

Aw, shucks, Early.  Umm, just what’re you trying to do here anyway? 

I have a funny feeling I can cross-reference this one under Just Plain Goofy.  Actually, there are so many interesting cards of this Hall of Famer, I might just have to give him his own page.

Hey, it’s the hunchback of Forbes Field. 

Not sure what’s going on with ol’ Vern here.  I do know he was a pretty good pitcher though.  Vern Law pitched 16 years for the Pirates, and won the Cy Young Award for them during the 1960 championship season. 

Vern and his wife, VaNita, had six children: Veldon, Veryl, Vaughn, Varlin, VaLynda, and Vance (Vance made the majors).  Very veird.

* - author has this card



Be sure to check out my next post, where some batters and fielders make fools of themselves.