Aspromonte, who is from the same part of Brooklyn I grew up in, Bensonhurst/Gravesend, just finished his first season at the helm of the Indians, finishing fifth with a team that had Cy Young winner Gaylord Perry, Graig Nettles, Chris Chambliss and a young Buddy Bell.
He’d go on to manage the Indians for another two seasons, finishing sixth and fourth respectively in 1973 and 1974, never to manage again.
As a player he put in seven seasons on a Big League mound, spanning 1957 through the 1963 season playing for six teams after getting signed out of Lafayette High School, the rivals of my alma mater New Utrecht, and former high school of Sandy Koufax.
As a matter of fact, it seems Aspromonte and Koufax just missed each other in High School, with Koufax coming in right when Aspromonte graduated. Not bad.
As for the paint job on the card, I’m surprised Topps went through all the hassle to get that red cap airbrushed, even though Aspromonte was already in Indians garb. Why bother?
As a side note: love Warren Spahn and Rocky Colavito on the manager card as coaches!
