DEDICATED MANAGER CARD- 1977 DON ZIMMER

Always a good day here on the blog when I can add another custom card for "Popeye" Don Zimmer, one of my favorite "baseball people". This one a dedicated 1977 manager card:

 

"Zim" took over as manager of the Boston Red Sox about half way through the 1976 season, leading them to a 42-34 record under his watch the rest of the way.

Over the next three years he'd have the BoSox in the thick of things, winning 97, 99 and 91 games, but always falling JUST a bit short to the New York Yankees the first two seasons, and the Baltimore Orioles the third.

In 1980 he'd start the year with Boston, guiding them to a record of 82-73 before being let go towards the end of the year, moving on to the Texas Rangers during the strike year of 1981, where he'd manage through the first half of 1982.

After that, he'd coach until he was handed the managerial job of the Chicago Cubs in 1988, where he'd lead them through the first third of the 1991 season, including their fun 1989 season that saw the Cubbies finish in first before losing to the San Francisco Giants in the N.L. playoffs.

Of course, Zimmer will always be remembered most as a baseball “lifer”, playing, coaching and managing in Major League ball for an incredible 61 years, from 1954 to 2014.
Loved him when he was coaching with the New York Yankees during the Joe Torre years!
Rest in Peace “Popeye”! You are missed!

MISSING IN ACTION- 1974 DON ZIMMER MANAGER CARD

Here’s a card someone requested a long while ago (sorry for the delay), a 1974 manager card for Don Zimmer, who managed the San Diego Padres in 1972 and 1973:

Zimmer was already gone as manager of the Padres by the time this card would have come out in the Spring of 1974, but the fact that there wasn’t a Padre-manager card in the 1974 set did not go unnoticed.
And yes, I had to create BOTH a San Diego version, as well as the “Washington” version like so many of the other Padres in the 1974 set when it looked like the organization was moving to the D.C. area.
Definitely a hard-luck job at that time, “Zim” managed the team to a combined 114-190 record over those two seasons, finishing in sixth-place both years.
But he would have greater success later on, as manager of the Boston Red Sox from 1976 through 1980, then on to the Chicago Cubs from 1988 to 1991 (with a short managerial gig with the Texas Rangers in 1981-1982).
Of course, Zimmer will always be remembered most as a baseball “lifer”, playing, coaching and managing in Major League ball for an incredible 61 years, from 1954 to 2014.
Loved him when he was coaching with the New York Yankees during the Joe Torre years!
Rest in Peace “Popeye”! You are missed!

AN INCREDIBLE BASEBALL LIFE: REST IN PEACE DON ZIMMER

Don Zimmer: January 17, 1931-June 4, 2014

Sad to see that one of my all-time favorite personalities, Don Zimmer, passed away yesterday at the age of 83.

His life truly was a "baseball life", and if you're not familiar with his journey through Major League ball please do yourself a favor and read one of his books, or even some articles about him online.
The man did it all and really was one of those guys that everyone in the game loved.
From coming up with the Brooklyn Dodgers in their minor league system 1949 to his work with the Tampa Bay Rays as Senior Advisor, the man put in SIXTY SIX YEARS in professional ball.
66-years. Just incredible.
He frequently liked to tell people that he never received a paycheck in his life other than one from professional baseball. How awesome is that?
Rest in Peace "Zim", baseball will never be the same without you.

Zimmer's 1955 rookie card

 

 

 

As manager of the Boston Red Sox, 1978

MANAGING A MANAGER SUB-SET THE RIGHT WAY...1978

I always thought Topps nailed it when it came to their manager cards in the 1978 set. The horizontal orientation, the dual images of both player and manager, and the full playing statistics that, at the time, were not readily accessible in the pre-internet world we lived in.

Up until that point, and sadly, ever since, manager cards were usually run of the mill "throw-ins" that really didn't add much to the set, and you were left wondering if the slots wouldn't have been better served with some players that were left out, or some other sub-set that could garner more interest. 

But for this set, all teams but the Brewers had their managers represented with nicely designed and well thought out cards. 

***Milwaukee hadn't yet named their manager for the upcoming season when cards went to press. However I created a George Bamberger card below to finally "complete" the sub-set.

All told, no less than six of the managers are Hall-of-Famers (either as managers or players): Earl Weaver, Whitey Herzog, Bob Lemon, Dick Williams, Tommy Lasorda and Sparky Anderson. And that number will most assuredly go up by two once Joe Torre and Bobby Cox are inducted as well. Some can even make a case for Billy Martin to eventually get in as well, possibly bringing us to NINE members of the Hall. Not too shabby for a sub-set.

Of these managers, the most accomplished as players were Bob Lemon and Joe Torre. Lemon fashioned a Hall of Fame career as a pitcher for the famed Indians staffs of the '40's and '50s, while Torre was a one-time MVP with the Cardinals in 1971, after a solid career as a power hitting catcher for the Braves in the '60's as a power hitting catcher with the Braves.

However, Alvin Dark and Bill Virdon were no slouches either, with both winning Rookie of the Year awards, in 1948 and 1955 respectively.

Sure, there were some guys that really didn't leave much of a mark in baseball history, but overall, this sub-set was one of the better executed sub-sets of the decade in my eyes. It's a shame that Topps decided to abandon this format for their Manager cards after this set.

Anyway, now onto the cards themselves. Enjoy!

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

***This card was never issued. I've created here to complete the sub-set***

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST 

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST 

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST