WTHBALLS CUSTOM SET SPOTLIGHT: 1960S STARS OF THE GAME: FRANK ROBINSON

Up on the blog today, we spotlight my 1960 "Stars of the Game" card for the great Frank Robinson, from my 2018 custom gelatin set:

Really fun set to put together, which included a gelatin pack inside the WTHBALLS printed gelatin box!

Robinson is perhaps the “greatest underrated player” in Major League history.
A two-time Most Valuable Player, and the first to do it in both leagues, Robinson also took home a Triple Crown in 1966, was a twelve time All-Star, finished in the Top-4 in MVP voting outside his two wins, and oh yeah, as mentioned earlier was also the first African-American Manager in league history.
When he retired as an active player in 1976, Robinson was in the top-5 in so many offensive categories he was in the company of Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.
Yet oddly enough, perhaps because of the era he played in, he would get buried in the “all-time greats” conversation in lieu of the aforementioned players along with guys like Ty Cobb, Roberto Clemente and Ted Williams.
I would say he and Stan Musial are the TWO greatest “underrated” players of all-time, and you could arguably throw in others like Bob Feller for good measure.
Just an all-out legend in so many ways.

 

A SET THAT NEVER WAS: 1971 ALL-STAR TICKET SET: FRANK ROBINSON

The next starting player from the 1971 All-Star Game to spotlight in my "set that never was" Ticket Set is "The Judge" Frank Robinson, perhaps the greatest "overlooked" player the game has ever seen:

It was the eleventh All-Star nod for the legend, who would have himself another great year, finishing third in the A.L. MVP race at season's end, hitting .281 with 28 homers and 99 runs batted in.

Robinson is perhaps the “greatest underrated player” in Major League history.
A two-time Most Valuable Player, and the first to do it in both leagues, Robinson also took home a Triple Crown in 1966, was a twelve time All-Star, finished in the Top-4 in MVP voting outside his two wins, and oh yeah, as mentioned earlier was also the first African-American Manager in league history.
When he retired as an active player in 1976, Robinson was in the top-5 in so many offensive categories he was in the company of Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.
Yet oddly enough, perhaps because of the era he played in, he would get buried in the “all-time greats” conversation in lieu of the aforementioned players along with guys like Ty Cobb, Roberto Clemente and Ted Williams.
I would say he and Stan Musial are the TWO greatest “underrated” players of all-time, and you could arguably throw in others like Bob Feller for good measure.
Just an all-out legend in so many ways.

 

"CLASSIC BASEBALL" CUSTOM WTHBALLS SET: FRANK ROBINSON

Time to add the great, and greatly underappreciated Frank Robinson to my custom "Classic Baseball" set, my way of paying hommage to the great game that has kept me obsessed for 50+ years now:

Frank put in a 21-year Big League career that saw him win Rookie of the Year in 1956 when he smashed a then record-tying 38 home runs as a rookie, win the NL MVP in 1961 when he helped the Cincinnati Reds make it to the World Series, then become the first player to win the award in both leagues when he helped the Baltimore Orioles shock the world by sweeping the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers in 1966.
Oh yeah, he also won the Triple Crown that year, leading the American League in runs, homers, RBIs, batting, on-base-percentage, slugging percentage and total bases.
Just a killer year for a guy that was already established as one of the best players in the game.
Funny thing is that this was arguably NOT even his best season as a big leaguer at that point!
Just look at some of his season’s slugging and hitting his way through the first ten years of his career with the Reds!
Though he won the National League MVP in 1961, I always thought his 1962 season was the best of his career, when he hit .342 while collecting 208 hits, leading the league with 134 runs scored and 51 doubles, hitting 39 home runs and driving in 136, while throwing in 18 stolen bases and leading the league with a .421 OBP and .624 slugging! HUGE!
And to think that was only good for FOURTH in MVP voting that year, behind winner Maury Wills, Willie Mays and Tommy Davis.
Incredible.
But that 1966 season was extra special because it also gave Robinson a World Championship, as the Orioles and their young pitching staff went on to surprise everyone and SWEEP the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
Nevertheless, his Big League resume: 586 home runs, 1812 ribbies, just under 3000 hits, Rookie of the Year, and two M.V.P. awards (one in each league). You know his resume, I'm sure.
I was just too young to really be following the papers back then, but I wonder if there was any talk about continuing as a player to get to the 3000 hits. Anyone out there know?
2943 was so enticingly close to the magic hit number, but I'm assuming he really didn't have much left in the tank after only 53 hits his final three seasons.

1960s "IN-ACTION" SPECIAL: 1963 FRANK ROBINSON

Today on the blog, a new and exciting thread which will also be a fun custom printed set, my "1960s In-Action" set, creating special In-Action cards throughout the 1960s imagining if Topps utilized such photos for their cards and sets.

We start it off with Frank Robinson, and a 1963 "In-Action" card, showing the All-Timer in action while with the Cincinnati Reds:

Just a great action shot of the man, with a slightly altered 1963 template, imagining what Topps would have done had they released such a sub-set.

Frank put in a 21-year Big League career that saw him win Rookie of the Year in 1956 when he smashed a then record-tying 38 home runs as a rookie, win the NL MVP in 1961 when he helped the Cincinnati Reds make it to the World Series, then become the first player to win the award in both leagues when he helped the Baltimore Orioles shock the world by sweeping the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers in 1966.
Oh yeah, he also won the Triple Crown that year, leading the American League in runs, homers, RBIs, batting, on-base-percentage, slugging percentage and total bases.
Just a killer year for a guy that was already established as one of the best players in the game.
Funny thing is that this was arguably NOT even his best season as a big leaguer at that point!
Just look at some of his season’s slugging and hitting his way through the first ten years of his career with the Reds!
Though he won the National League MVP in 1961, I always thought his 1962 season was the best of his career, when he hit .342 while collecting 208 hits, leading the league with 134 runs scored and 51 doubles, hitting 39 home runs and driving in 136, while throwing in 18 stolen bases and leading the league with a .421 OBP and .624 slugging! HUGE!
And to think that was only good for FOURTH in MVP voting that year, behind winner Maury Wills, Willie Mays and Tommy Davis.
Incredible.
But that 1966 season was extra special because it also gave Robinson a World Championship, as the Orioles and their young pitching staff went on to surprise everyone and SWEEP the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
Nevertheless, his Big League resume: 586 home runs, 1812 ribbies, just under 3000 hits, Rookie of the Year, and two M.V.P. awards (one in each league). You know his resume, I'm sure.
I was just too young to really be following the papers back then, but I wonder if there was any talk about continuing as a player to get to the 3000 hits. Anyone out there know?
2943 was so enticingly close to the magic hit number, but I'm assuming he really didn't have much left in the tank after only 53 hits his final three seasons.

STARS RETIRE: 1977 HANK AARON & FRANK ROBINSON

On the blog today, we have a 1977 "Stars Retire" card celebrating two of the all-time greats of the game, Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson, who both called it a playing career in 1976:

Beginning with Aaron, the man was simply out of this world...

Let his numbers do all the talking: 2174 runs scored, 3771 hits, 624 doubles, 98 triples, 755 home runs, 2297 runs batted in, a .305 batting average no less than 21 all-star selections!
Just tremendous!
He also had eight top-5 finishes for MVP, including taking home the award in 1957, as well as three Gold Gloves won consecutively between 1958-1960.
It's incredible to look at his 15 years of topping 100 or more runs scored, 11 seasons of 100 or more runs batted in, five more seasons of 90+ RBI's, and TWENTY STRAIGHT years of 20 or more home runs.

Yet somehow, as incredible as it may seem, Aaron was UNDERRATED! Think about that for a minute.

And speaking of underrated, next up we have possibly the most underrated player in Major League baseball history, the great Frank Robinson.

Frank put in a 21-year Big League career that saw him win Rookie of the Year in 1956 when he smashed a then record-tying 38 home runs as a rookie, win the NL MVP in 1961 when he helped the Cincinnati reds make it to the World Series, then become the first player to win the award in both leagues when he helped the Baltimore Orioles shock the world by sweeping the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers in 1966.
Oh yeah, he also won the Triple Crown that year, leading the American League in runs, homers, RBIs, batting, on-base-percentage, slugging percentage and total bases.
Just a killer year for a guy that was already established as one of the best players in the game.
Funny thing is that this was arguably NOT even his best season as a big leaguer at that point!
Just look at some of his season’s slugging and hitting his way through the first ten years of his career with the Reds!
Though he won the National League MVP in 1961, I always thought his 1962 season was the best of his career, when he hit .342 while collecting 208 hits, leading the league with 134 runs scored and 51 doubles, hitting 39 home runs and driving in 136, while throwing in 18 stolen bases and leading the league with a .421 OBP and .624 slugging! HUGE!
And to think that was only good for FOURTH in MVP voting that year, behind winner Maury Wills, Willie Mays and Tommy Davis.
Incredible.
Nevertheless, his Big League resume: 586 home runs, 1812 ribbies, just under 3000 hits, Rookie of the Year, and two M.V.P. awards (one in each league). You know his resume, I'm sure.

 

1971 "BASEBALL'S GREATEST MOMENTS" EXTENSION SET

Good day everyone!

I thought it would be fun to finally start adding to the all-time greatest Topps oddball set: 1971's "Baseball's Greatest Moments", which is one of the rarest and hard to find sub-sets of "recent" times.

It had a very limited checklist with many of the game's best stars missing, so I'll start it off today with a card for all-time Frank Robinson celebrating his 1966 triple crown season:

Really a fun set to start building on, though I'l be hard pressed to print this up as a custom set in the future because of it's unique size.

Robinson's 1966 campaign was a thing of sweet justice, as he was supposedly traded to the Baltimore Orioles from the Cincinnati reds because he was an "old 30" according to Cincinnati management.

Well, all the man did was give the Orioles a triple crown year where he led the American League with 122 runs scored, 49 homers, 122 runs batted in and a .316 batting average, as well as a .410 on-base, .637 slugging percentage and 367 total bases.

That all got him an A.L. MVP Award by season's end, the first player to ever with the award in both leagues, while also leading the surprising young team to a shocking World Series victory over the favored reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

To call that "sweet revenge" would be an understatement!

Easily the most underappreciated player in the game's long history, with St. Louis Cardinal legend Stan Musial a close second in my opinion!

Anyway, look for more of these 1971 "Greatest Moments" additions in the near future!

SPECIAL SPOTLIGHT: "LOST" 1963 FLEER SECOND SERIES: FRANK ROBINSON

The next of my "missing" 1963 Fleer cards to get the spotlight is the great Frank Robinson, one of the most overlooked players the game has ever seen:

 

Frank put in a 21-year Big League career that saw him win Rookie of the Year in 1956 when he smashed a then record-tying 38 home runs as a rookie, win the NL MVP in 1961 when he helped the Cincinnati reds make it to the World Series, then become the first player to win the award in both leagues when he helped the Baltimore Orioles shock the world by sweeping the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers in 1966.
Oh yeah, he also won the Triple Crown that year, leading the American League in runs, homers, RBIs, batting, on-base-percentage, slugging percentage and total bases.
Just a killer year for a guy that was already established as one of the best players in the game.
Funny thing is that this was arguably NOT even his best season as a big leaguer at that point!
Just look at some of his season’s slugging and hitting his way through the first ten years of his career with the Reds!
Though he won the National League MVP in 1961, I always thought his 1962 season was the best of his career, when he hit .342 while collecting 208 hits, leading the league with 134 runs scored and 51 doubles, hitting 39 home runs and driving in 136, while throwing in 18 stolen bases and leading the league with a .421 OBP and .624 slugging! HUGE!
And to think that was only good for FOURTH in MVP voting that year, behind winner Maury Wills, Willie Mays and Tommy Davis.
Incredible.
But that 1966 season was extra special because it also gave Robinson a World Championship, as the Orioles and their young pitching staff went on to surprise everyone and SWEEP the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
Nevertheless, his Big League resume: 586 home runs, 1812 ribbies, just under 3000 hits, Rookie of the Year, and two M.V.P. awards (one in each league). You know his resume, I'm sure.
I was just too young to really be following the papers back then, but I wonder if there was any talk about continuing as a player to get to the 3000 hits. Anyone out there know?
2943 was so enticingly close to the magic hit number, but I'm assuming he really didn't have much left in the tank after only 53 hits his final three seasons.

 

1970 IN-GAME ACTION: FRANK ROBINSON

On the blog today, time to add the great Frank Robinson to my on-going 1970 "In-Game Action" sub-set, which will be printed as a two-series special set in the coming months:

 

Robinson, called-out in 1965 as an "old 30" by Cincinnati's front office, was enjoying a fantastic run while with the Baltimore Orioles at the time this card would have seen the light of day, helping the Orioles to a world championship in 1966, and another World Series berth in 1969 when they lost in a shocker to the upstart New York Mets.

Robinson is perhaps the “greatest underrated player” in Major League history.
A two-time Most Valuable Player, and the first to do it in both leagues, Robinson also took home a Triple Crown in 1966, was a twelve time All-Star, finished in the Top-4 in MVP voting outside his two wins, and oh yeah, as mentioned earlier was also the first African-American Manager in league history.
When he retired as an active player in 1976, Robinson was in the top-5 in so many offensive categories he was in the company of Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.
Yet oddly enough, perhaps because of the era he played in, he would get buried in the “all-time greats” conversation in lieu of the aforementioned players along with guys like Ty Cobb, Roberto Clemente and Ted Williams.
I would say he and Stan Musial are the TWO greatest “underrated” players of all-time, and you could arguably throw in others like Bob Feller for good measure.
Just an all-out legend in so many ways.

1972 ALL-STAR SUB-SET: FRANK ROBINSON

Moving right along with my "missing" 1972 All-Star sub-set, we come to the second starting All-Star outfielder for the American league in 1971's Midsummer Classic, the great Frank Robinson of the Baltimore Orioles:

 

It was the eleventh All-Star nod for the legend, who would have himself another great year, finishing third in the A.L. MVP race at season's end, hitting .281 with 28 homers and 99 runs batted in.

Robinson is perhaps the “greatest underrated player” in Major League history.
A two-time Most Valuable Player, and the first to do it in both leagues, Robinson also took home a Triple Crown in 1966, was a twelve time All-Star, finished in the Top-4 in MVP voting outside his two wins, and oh yeah, as mentioned earlier was also the first African-American Manager in league history.
When he retired as an active player in 1976, Robinson was in the top-5 in so many offensive categories he was in the company of Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.
Yet oddly enough, perhaps because of the era he played in, he would get buried in the “all-time greats” conversation in lieu of the aforementioned players along with guys like Ty Cobb, Roberto Clemente and Ted Williams.
I would say he and Stan Musial are the TWO greatest “underrated” players of all-time, and you could arguably throw in others like Bob Feller for good measure.
Just an all-out legend in so many ways.

EXPANDED LEAGUE LEADERS- 1974 A.L. HOME RUNS

Next up in my on-going thread of "expanded league leaders_ is my 1974 American League Home Run card, celebrating the top three home run hitters in the Junior Circuit for 1973:

 

Of course we begin with the A.L. MVP for that year, Reggie Jackson, who took home the first of his four career home run titles with his 32 blasts for the eventual World Series champion Oakland A's.

He would also lead the league with 117 RBIs, 99 runs scored and .531 slugging percentage, while making his fourth All-Star team in five years.

Right behind him with 30 home runs would be former overall #1 draft pick Jeff Burroughs, who had a very nice breakout year as a 22-year-old for the Texas Rangers.

It was his first full season in the Big Leagues after parts of three seasons for the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers between 1970 and 1972.

In addition to his 30 "jacks", Burroughs drove in 85 runs and hit .279, somewhat of a precursor to his MVP 1974 season.

Tied with Burroughs for second place in homers for 1973, none other than the great (and grossly underrated) all-timer Frank Robinson, who made the most of the new opportunity as a Designated Hitter for the California Angels, reaching 30+ homers for the first time since 1969 while driving in 97 and scoring 85.

It would be Robinson's final standout season before transitioning to MLB manager with the Cleveland Indians two seasons later.

The top three home run hitters in the American League in 1973, rightfully celebrated here on this expanded leader card.

Such a fun thread to work on!

ON-CARD ALL-STAR: 1970 FRANK ROBINSON

This week we have the final starting 1969 All-Star to get their 1970 "fixed" with an All-Star banner, the great Frank Robinson, closing out a fun thread that started way back with Johnny Bench:

Robinson put in what turned out to be his last 100-RBI season in 1969, helping the juggernaut Baltimore Orioles make it to the World Series where they were stunned by the "Miracle Mets", before bouncing back in 1970 with a championship over the upcoming Cincinnati Reds.

That's not to say he didn't have anything left in the tank after 1969 as a player however, as evidenced by five more 20+ home run seasons, and two more 90+ RBI campaigns.

Robinson is perhaps the “greatest underrated player” in Major League history.
A two-time Most Valuable Player, and the first to do it in both leagues, Robinson also took home a Triple Crown in 1966, was a twelve time All-Star, finished in the Top-4 in MVP voting outside his two wins, and oh yeah, as mentioned earlier was also the first African-American Manager in league history.
When he retired as an active player in 1976, Robinson was in the top-5 in so many offensive categories he was in the company of Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.
Yet oddly enough, perhaps because of the era he played in, he would get buried in the “all-time greats” conversation in lieu of the aforementioned players along with guys like Ty Cobb, Roberto Clemente and Ted Williams.
I would say he and Stan Musial are the TWO greatest “underrated” players of all-time, and you could arguably throw in others like Bob Feller for good measure.
Just an all-out legend in so many ways.

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 1970's- FRANK ROBINSON NAMED MANAGER OF THE CLEVELAND INDIANS

It’s been a long while since I added a card to my long-running “Highlights of the 1970’s” thread, one of my oldest here on the blog, but today we honor one of the greats of the game, Frank Robinson, and his landmark managerial position in 1975, making him the first African-American to hold the position in Major League ball:

Robinson was actually a player-manager his first two years at the helm in 1975 and 1976, going a combined 160-158, good for consecutive fourth-place finished in the American League East.
He would go on to manage for parts of 16 years between 1975 and 2006, when he managed the Washington Nationals at the age of 70.
Robinson is perhaps the “greatest underrated player” in Major League history.
A two-time Most Valuable Player, and the first to do it in both leagues, Robinson also took home a Triple Crown in 1966, was a twelve time All-Star, finished in the Top-4 in MVP voting outside his two wins, and oh yeah, as mentioned earlier was also the first African-American Manager in league history.
When he retired as an active player in 1976, Robinson was in the top-5 in so many offensive categories he was in the company of Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.
Yet oddly enough, perhaps because of the era he played in, he would get buried in the “all-time greats” conversation in lieu of the aforementioned players along with guys like Ty Cobb, Roberto Clemente and Ted Williams.
I would say he and Stan Musial are the TWO greatest “underrated” players of all-time, and you could arguably throw in others like Bob Feller for good measure.
Just an all-out legend in so many ways.

 

MINOR LEAGUE DAYS- FRANK ROBINSON

Next up in my fun “Minor League Days” 1971 thread, the great Frank Robinson, quite possibly the most underrated Major League legend the game has ever seen.
Here he is as a 17-year-old with the Ogden Reds in 1953, just about to have one of the greatest careers in major League history:

The fresh-faced kid hit .348 that year, with 17 home runs in just 72 games before embarking on a 21-year Big League career that saw him win Rookie of the Year in 1956 when he smashed a then record-tying 38 home runs as a rookie, win the NL MVP in 1961 when he helped the Cincinnati reds make it to the World Series, then become the first player to win the award in both leagues when he helped the Baltimore Orioles shock the world by sweeping the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers in 1966.
Oh yeah, he also won the Triple Crown that year, leading the American League in runs, homers, RBIs, batting, on-base-percentage, slugging percentage and total bases.
Just a killer year for a guy that was already established as one of the best players in the game.
Funny thing is that this was arguably NOT even his best season as a big leaguer at that point!
Just look at some of his season’s slugging and hitting his way through the first ten years of his career with the Reds!
Though he won the National League MVP in 1961, I always thought his 1962 season was the best of his career, when he hit .342 while collecting 208 hits, leading the league with 134 runs scored and 51 doubles, hitting 39 home runs and driving in 136, while throwing in 18 stolen bases and leading the league with a .421 OBP and .624 slugging! HUGE!
And to think that was only good for FOURTH in MVP voting that year, behind winner Maury Wills, Willie Mays and Tommy Davis.
Incredible.
But that 1966 season was extra special because it also gave Robinson a World Championship, as the Orioles and their young pitching staff went on to surprise everyone and SWEEP the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
Nevertheless, his Big League resume: 586 home runs, 1812 ribbies, just under 3000 hits, Rookie of the Year, and two M.V.P. awards (one in each league). You know his resume, I'm sure.
I was just too young to really be following the papers back then, but I wonder if there was any talk about continuing as a player to get to the 3000 hits. Anyone out there know?
2943 was so enticingly close to the magic hit number, but I'm assuming he really didn't have much left in the tank after only 53 hits his final three seasons.

 

 

NICKNAMES OF THE 1970'S- "THE JUDGE" FRANK ROBINSON

Time to go and give one of the all-time greats of the game, Frank Robinson, aka “The Judge”, a “Nicknames of the 1970’s” card in the long-running series here on the blog:

Robinson is perhaps the “greatest underrated player” in Major League history.
A two-time Most Valuable Player, and the first to do it in both leagues, Robinson also took home a Triple Crown in 1966, was a twelve time All-Star, finished in the Top-4 in MVP voting outside his two wins, and oh yeah, was also the first African-American Manager in league history.
When he retired as an active player in 1976, Robinson was in the top-5 in so many offensive categories he was in the company of Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.
Yet oddly enough, perhaps because of the era he played in, he would get buried in the “all-time greats” conversation in lieu of the aforementioned players along with guys like Ty Cobb, Roberto Clemente and Ted Williams.
I would say he and Stan Musial are the TWO greatest “underrated” players of all-time, and you could arguably throw in others like Al Kaline for good measure.

1975 IN ACTION- FRANK ROBINSON

Here’s a card I think came out nicely, a 1975 “In Action” card for all-time great Frank Robinson, who was finishing up a Hall of Fame playing career and moving into a historic managerial position with the Cleveland Indians:

Coming over from the California Angels during the 1974 season, Robinson had a career resume anyone would kill for: two MVP Awards, a Triple Crown in 1966, eleven all-star nods and a Rookie of the Year back in 1956 when he smashed a record-tying 38 home runs for the Cincinnati reds.
After his blockbuster trade to the Baltimore Orioles before the 1966 season, he would help the team go on to two championships, along with two other World Series berths alongside other Hall of Fame teammates Jim Palmer and Brooks Robinson, among others.
A true baseball lifer, he then went on to manage for 16 seasons as well as hold executive positions for Major League Baseball, something he is doing to this very day as Honorary President of the American League.
Truly an all-time great of the game, it’s incredible to think that a guy with THIS baseball resume could be lost in the thick woods of greatness of his contemporaries like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and Roberto Clemente.
Nevertheless, one of the giants of the game.

A RE-DO FOR THE 1973 FRANK ROBINSON CARD

Today I have for you a re-done 1973 card for the great, and somehow underrated Hall of Fame slugger Frank Robinson, straight up as a Los Angeles Dodgers player since all he had to show for his time in L.A. Is the “traded” card in the 1972 ground-breaking sub-set:

Now, I did create a re-done card for him as an Angel way back when, but came across this image of him and it was too cool to pass up!
He’d have a great year for California in 1973, posting the final 30+ homer season of his magnificent career while driving in 97 runs in the newly formed “DH” role.
Of course, he’d soon move on to Cleveland where he would soon become the first African-American manager in Major League history, while wrapping up his playing career to the tune of 586 home runs, 2943 hits, 1829 runs scored and 1812 runs batted in.
Only in an age that also saw the likes of Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente could a guy like Robinson (and former teammate Vada Pinson, among others), get overlooked!
An amazing era of baseball to say the least!

1960'S SEASONAL LEADERS- RUNS

The next category up for the 1960’s “seasonal Leaders” sub-set is runs, which were led in each league by two heavy-weights, Frank Robinson and Roger Maris:

Robinson could have easily led BOTH leagues in runs scored in a season for the decade, but in this case he paced the National League with his league-leading 134 runs in 1962.
What a monster year for the reigning N.L. M.V.P., as he also led the league in doubles (51), OBP (.421) and Slugging (.624) while also hitting 39 homers with 136 runs batted in!
And to think that was only good enough for fourth in the M.V.P. Race that year!
Over in the American League we had Roger Maris, who scored 132 runs in his record breaking 1961 season when he slammed 61 homers to set a new Major League mark.
Ironically it would be the only time in his 12-year Major League career that Maris would top 100 runs scored in any season, coming closest the year before when he scored 98.
Nevertheless not a bad combo here for this card!

TURN BACK THE CLOCK 1966: FRANK ROBINSON TAKES HOME THE TRIPLE CROWN

Let’s go and celebrate the monster season Frank Robinson had in 1966 in his first season playing for the Baltimore Orioles, winning the Triple Crown:

Finding himself in Baltimore after being traded for pitcher Milt Pappas and two other players (sorry Cincinnati), all Robinson went on to do was lead the American League in all three big stats with a .316/49/122 line.
Oh yeah he wasn’t done there, as he also led the league in runs scored, on-base pct., slugging and total bases.
Just a killer year for a guy that was already established as one of the best players in the game.
Funny thing is that this was arguably NOT even his best season as a big leaguer at that point!
Just look at some of his season’s slugging and hitting his way through the first ten years of his career with the Reds!
Though he won the National League MVP in 1961, I always thought his 1962 season was the best of his career, when he hit .342 while collecting 208 hits, leading the league with 134 runs scored and 51 doubles, hitting 39 home runs and driving in 136, while throwing in 18 stolen bases and leading the league with a .421 OBP and .624 slugging! HUGE!
And to think that was only good for FOURTH in MVP voting that year, behind winner Maury Wills, Willie Mays and Tommy Davis.
Incredible.
But that 1966 season was extra special because it also gave Robinson a World Championship, as the Orioles and their young pitching staff went on to surprise everyone and SWEEP the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
All-around great season for Robinson, on his way to the Hall of Fame to cap off one of the all-time playing careers.

FANTASY COACH CARD- 1978 FRANK ROBINSON

Here’s a fantasy coach card for Hall of Fame slugger Frank Robinson, who was back in Baltimore after a managerial stint in Cleveland, making him the first African-American Major League skipper:

After his prolific playing career that saw him wallop 586 homers, garner two MVP Awards (one in each league), and win two championships while with the Orioles, Robinson put together a long and respected post-playing career that STILL has him working for the Commissioner as Senior Advisor.
In between, he not only led the Indians, but also went on to managerial jobs with the Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants and Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals.
One of THE respected voices in baseball, Robinson has managed to equal his spot in baseball history off the playing field as well as on it.

1976 PROJECT- FRANK ROBINSON (RE-DONE)

Although I created a 1976 “missing” Frank Robinson card here on the blog a long time ago, “Reader Jim” found a very nice Topps image to create another version, so here you go:

One of the games all-time greats, Robinson was wrapping up his monster career as player-manager of the Cleveland Indians by the the mid-70’s rolled around.
He not only was leaving behind a Hall of Fame career as a player, but historically made an imprint by becoming the first African-American manager in Major League history.
It’s a shame Topps didn’t think he should get a card in the 1976 set as a player since he played well enough during 1975, and he would STILL play in some games during the 1976 season.
But as we have seen quite a few time with Topps, this was a common practice with veteran’s at the tail-end of their careers.
Anyway, the Rookie of the Year in the National League for 1956, the MVP in 1961 as well as with the Baltimore Orioles in 1966, becoming the first player to win MVP in both leagues, and a Triple Crown winner for the World Champ Baltimore Orioles that very same year, 12-time all-star securely planted himself in the upper echelon of baseball legends over the course of his awesome 21-year career.