Up on the blog today, we look at the next unreleased 1971 Topps Rookie All-Star card from a very desirable rare prototype set, John Ellis of the New York Yankees:
Ellis had a
decent 1970 season for the Yanks, appearing in 78 games while hitting
.248, easily signifying a "down" year for rookie first baseman if you
ask me.
He'd go on to play thirteen years in the Majors,
generally at first or behind the plate as a catcher, never truly a
full-timer except for the 1973 and 1974 seasons while with the Cleveland
Indians.
By the time he hung them up after the 1981 season,
Ellis finished with a .262 career average, with 699 hits in 2672
at-bats, with 69 homers and 391 runs batted in, playing for the Yankees,
Indians and Texas Rangers.