On the blog today, we spotlight a rare and fun situation for Topps cards, regardless of the era: the fact that Don Kessinger had a solo card as a player in Topps 1979 set, as well as being profiled on the team card as their manager:
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The
longtime All-Star shortstop for the Chicago CUBS found himself on the
Southside of town, traded for a Minor Leaguer in August of 1977.
Before
the 1979 season, he was tabbed as the new manager of the White Sox,
enough time for Topps to have him in the small manager inset on the team
card, while still having him on a solo card as well.
I
remember as a kid thinking this was so cool, and that they should have
done the same for New York Mets Joe Torre the previous season.
Kessinger
was really a great player who gets lost over the years, making six
all-star teams over his career, along with two Gold Gloves for such a
great Cubs team at the time.
In
1979, his last season of his career, he was also named manager of the
White Sox before handing over the reigns to a young up and coming field
general, a guy named Tony LaRussa.
For Kessinger, he would
finish his career with 1931 hits, 899 runs, 100 stolen bases and a .252
batting average over 7651 at-bats and 2078 games played.
As
a manager however, he didn't have the same result, lasting only 106
games into the 1979 season before getting let go, leading the team to a
record of 46-60.
His replacement, Tony LaRussa, who incredibly is STILL managing to this day, which boggles my mind.
