General Forum

So in my never-ending quest to keep my collection fun and interesting, I’ve thought of another “set” I’d like to collect.  But I need some help in figuring out cards that might be part of that set. The best title I can up with right now is “Famous players who weren’t really that famous.” Let me explain. Having finally picked up Johnny Evers, I remembered that he was the instigator of “Merkle’s Boner.” So I’ve decided I need a Fred Merkle card. His is a name famous among baseball aficionados for his base-running error, but not famous for much else. Other names that come to mind: Bobby Thomson; Don Larsen; Bill Buckner; Kirk Gibson, maybe Roger Maris. Even Tinker and Evers and Chance -- although all three are hall-of-famers, they’re famous more for the poem written about them than for the quality of their careers.

But that’s only nine cards, seven of which I already have (missing a Merkle and a Larsen). And I’m not terribly interested in getting every card from every such player, just one each. My task for you, then, is to help me come up with other players famous more for a single incident or something other than the overall quality of their careers. I’m happy to hear more modern suggestions, but for this to turn into a real collecting goal, you’re going to have to go back before 1972, since I’ve got all the Topps cards from that year on.

Thanks. And have fun.  

v3

Bob Uecker - better known for acting and announcing than his "stellar" baseball career.

 Neat idea.  I'll give it some more thought, but off the top of my head here's a few names:

Chuck Conners- actor, also in the Dodgers minor leagues

Bill Wambsganss- unassisted triple play in 1920 World Series

Johnny Pesky- has a foul pole named after him

Marv Throneberry- first baseman for the 62 Mets. Marvelous Marv

Tommie Aaron- part of the brother combo that hit the most home runs

Ernie Broglio- traded to the Cubs for Lou Brock

Pete Gray- one armed player during the 40's

Michael Jordan- also played a little basketball

Looking forward to seeing what other names are suggested. 

 This is an excellent start, People. Keep 'em coming. 

 Ralph Terry - gave up the Mazeroski homer

Ray Chapman - killed by pitched ball

Carl Mays - threw the fatal pitch to Chapman

Frank Saucier - batter who was pinch-hit for by midget Eddie Gaedel

Babe Dahlgren - replaced Lou Gehrig at first to end his games played streak

Al Smith & Jim Bagby - Indians pitchers who kept DiMaggio hitless to end his hitting streak at 56

Gavvy Cravath - last player to win a home run title with a single digit total 

As far as players that were known for 1 thing as a player:  Bobby Richardson for "The Shot Heard 'Round the World."  For guys who were known for things outside baseball:  I will have to find his name, but there was a catcher for the Red Sox back during World War II that besides being an all-star catcher, did some spy work for the US, while touring Japan with an All-Star group. 

 That was Moe Berg.

Switzr1 beat me to Ray Chapman- great list by the way.

How about Jim Bouton- pitcher and author of Ball Four.

Who replaced Cal Ripken?

Andy Messersmith - the player who's case eventually ended the reserve clause creating free agency.

 While it may be a little more morbid than an acting career or a baserunning error, I remember as a kid a couple Cleveland Indians pitchers were involved in a fatal boating accident. One of them was Steve Olin.. a mediocre pitcher that I will always remember due to being selected to get an autograph from him earlier that year at an Indians game. It was hat day and he signed a turn back the clock Cleveland hat for me.

 That was Bobby Thompson,  not Bobby Richardson  for the Shot Heard round the world