Friday, August 14, 2015

MISSING IN ACTION- 1973 MICK KELLEHER

Here's the first of what will be THREE "missing" cards for former infielder Mick Kelleher, who first appeared on a baseball card in 1977, five years after his Major League debut:


I tell you, I didn't even remember that Kelleher came up with the Cardinals, then went on to play for the Astros and then the Cardinals yet again before moving on to the team I always remember him with, the Cubs.
In 1972 he played in 23 games for the Cardinals, hitting .159 with 10 hits over 63 at-bats. Not much of a showing for the 24-year old, but at the very least perhaps a slot on a multi-player rookie card?
He got to play in more games the following season, yet Topps left him out of their set yet again in 1974 and once again in their 1975 set, this time as a Houston Astro.
Needless to say, I'll be tackling those in the near future as well!
Kelleher put in 11 years as a Major League player, moving on to the Detroit Tigers and California Angels in 1981 and 1982 before becoming a long time coach (presently with the New York Yankees).
He retired with a .213 batting average, collecting 230 hits over 1081 at-bats in 622 games.
He never did get to put in a full year, but the closest he came was in 1976 when he appeared in 124 games and posted 363 plate appearances, pretty much setting career highs in almost every category.
Keep an eye out for the other "missing" cards for Kelleher right here, as I've already scored a few photos of him that will work perfectly…