RIP - Gus Triandos

Catching up...

Former major-league catcher Gus Triandos passed away on March 28th, 2013 at age 82.

Triandos' career spanned 1953-65.  He is probably best known as the Orioles' regular catcher from 1955-62 (although he played a lot at 1st base in '55 and '56).

After a year with the Tigers, Gus was traded to the Phillies before the 1964 season, along with pitcher Jim Bunning. He finished up with the Astros in 1965.

 Obituary from the Baltimore Sun

A blog entry about Gus Triandos

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"The Catch"

I haven't been blogging recently because my free time has been wrapped up in a family music project, which ends up with me burning a ton of CDs.

Today, as I was rooting around the house looking for an empty shoebox to carry said CDs, I found this in my basement:

I made this model back in the mid-1960s (I think it may have been a birthday gift from my parents). I haven't seen it for years, but I did refer to it back in March 2010 in this blog post. (Willie has become unglued, and needs help from a rubberband to pose for this photo op.)

 SAY HEY!
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RIP - Grady Hatton

Former major-league 3rd baseman and manager Grady Hatton passed away on April 11, 2013 at age 90.

With no prior minor-league experience, Hatton became the the regular 3rd baseman for the Reds from 1946-50.  In 1954 he was traded twice, and finished his playing career in 1960 with the Cubs.

Hatton managed in the Astros' system from 1963-65, then took over the Astros' helm from 1966 to mid-1968. He later became a scout.

MLB obit

Houston-area obit

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1964 Topps Giant Cards

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Here are my first cards from the 1964 "Giant" set issued by Topps. These cards measure 5 1/4" by 3 1/8".

I bought these a few weeks ago, while visiting an antique store with Mrs. Jim from Downingtown. (This was the same store where I bought the Mickey Mantle Day button a few months back.)

The store had about a dozen of these cards, but I only bought three: the two Colt .45s cards, and Rocky Colavito - because I had never seen him in an Athletics' uniform. (It seems weird to see an Athletics' player NOT in green and gold. I have several of those old red-and-white Athletics in my 1963 card collection.)

Anyway, with my entrance into another insert/oddball set, I felt compelled to add a per-year count of the non-base cards in my Card Census section on the sidebars of my 1963-70 blogs.

The next time I go to that store, I'll probably get the rest - even Ron Hunt!
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