1960s Blog Hall of Fame Results (#5)

Congratulations to Lou Brock, on his induction into the 1960s Blog Hall of Fame. He joins the 21 players and 1 manager shown below.

There were 18 votes this time. Former Braves teammates Eddie Mathews and Warren Spahn each missed induction by 1 vote.  Yankees' pitcher Whitey Ford missed induction by 2 votes. Frankly, I'm surprised that these 3 players were not slam-dunks on their first ballot. Still, this is the highest percentage each has received in their 4 times on the ballot.

First-timers Frank Howard and Boog Powell each received 38% of the votes. Jim Bunning, Orlando Cepeda, Roger Maris, and Ron Santo increased their percentage slightly, while Rod Carew stayed the same, and Billy Williams lost ground since last time.

Nobody received less that the minimum 15% to be retained for the next ballot, so they will all be back for another try.

RIP - Jim Fregosi

Former major-league shortstop and manager Jim Fregosi passed away February 14, 2014 at age 71, after suffering a massive stroke while on a MLB Alumni Caribbean cruise. He also suffered subsequent strokes while in a Miami hospital.

Fregosi began his major-league career as a shortstop for the expansion Los Angeles Angels in 1961, although he was not on the team from the start of their inaugural season. He was the Angels' starting shortstop from 1962 to 1971, and was a 6-time all-star while an Angel.

After 1971, he was infamously traded to the Mets for Nolan Ryan, and played 3B/1B for the Mets and Rangers from 1972-1977.

He began the 1978 season as a utility infielder for the Pirates, but retired midway through the season to accept the Angels' manager's job. Fregosi managed the Angels from 1978 to 1981, the White Sox from 1986 to 1988, the Phillies from 1991 to 1996, and the Blue Jays from 1999 to 2000. His Phillies won the NL pennant in 1993.

After his managerial career, Fregosi scouted for the Braves.

ESPN obituary

Statement from Los Angeles Angels

AP obituary



UPDATE:
As of 6pm today, there are a number of tributes to Jim Fregosi, as shown on my 1967 sidebar. This doesn't include a great post by WhiteSoxCards, who had since moved on to another post.

Latest Card Haul

I was planning on this next post being another episode in my quest for 1964 Topps Giant baseball cards, as I was returning to the same store where I made 3 previous purchases. Alas, when I started looking through the display case, only Pete Ward (who I already have) was there, so I turned my attention to other 1960s-vintage cards.

I always keep a small want list of 1966 and 1970 cards in my wallet, because I never know when I'll need it. Today it came in handy, as I scored a high-numbered 1966 Senators Rookies card that I needed. I also upgraded my '66 Dave McNally, which I had posted to my 1966 blog a few weeks ago.

I only wish I had a portable want list for the '64 and '65 cards, because I had no idea who I needed (especially the '64s). I didn't really intend to work on those 2 sets, but these excellent-condition cards were dirt-cheap, so I couldn't pass them up. I just selected a bunch of guys that I never heard of before, plus Dick Williams, Birdie Tebbetts, and the trophy-laden Al Weis, which I knew I didn't have. For the '65s, I was pretty sure I didn't have Farrell, Pinson, and Demeter.

On the football side, there were too many to pick from, so I chose two 1965 Philadelphia Gum Cards: Tony Liscio (Rayfield Wright's predecessor at offensive tackle), and Ben Wilson. I knew of Wilson from watching Super Bowl II highlights on cable. He had a monster day moving the chains for the Packers that day, on their way to a 2nd consecutive SB championship. Almost all of my pre-1967 football cards are Philadelphia Eagles, so this is a new direction for my football card collecting.

This represents the first base-set baseball cards I've purchased since November 2010 (except for the 1970 Seattle Pilots team card, shown in this recent post on the 1969 Pilots). Since then, I've only been getting '64 giant cards, coins, and early-1960s Philadelphia Eagles' cards.

Maybe this will push me to expand my '65 and '64 baseball sets.