1961 Topps Jim Woods

This was Jim Woods' first Topps card but it is not his first card by a major card company. His first card was a Leaf card.  In 1960 Leaf put out a set of black and white baseball cards. Unlike Topps, Leaf included a marble with its cards instead of gum. The Leaf set was missing many of the big stars of the day. It was not widely distributed and the black and white format just could not compete with Topps. The Leaf name would not appear on baseball cards until 1985 as the Canadian version of Donruss.

Jim Woods made his MLB debut in 1957 for the Cubs. Just 10 days after his 18th birthday, manager Bob Scheffing put Woods in to pinch run for catcher, Gordon Massa. Wood was thrown out at home trying to score on a strikeout by pitcher Jim Brosnan. The next day Woods would get pinch running duty again for Massa. This time he would score the go-ahead run against the Cardinals on a single by Bob Will. In both games, Woods was used only as a pinch runner. He had no plate appearances and didn't play the field.  He was traded by the Cubs along with Al Dark and John Buzhardt for Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn. He played a total of 34 games for the Phillies in 1960 and 1961.  

For Topps, Jim Woods was one and done with this 1961 card, but I borrowed an idea from the 1975 Topps card of  Herb Washington. I made this 1957 Topps card of him on the Cubs for his Card That Never Was.  In Honor of his actual rookie debut, I designated his position as "Pinch Runner".

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 Jim graduated high school in 1957 from Lane Tech, a school that is walking distance to Wrigley Field on Addison. He ended up being used as a pinch runner for the Cubs in the final games of the 1957 season. The same season that he probably skipped school in order to catch the opening day game.

Overall he had an eight year minor league career with a couple tastes of the big leagues. But he was living the dream. Playing even briefly for the hometown team, he was also involved in a blockbuster trade. He even had a couple of baseball cards to immortalize his efforts. What more can a kid ask for? None the less, I can't grade this particular card any better than a 3 and put it back in its box.

1960 Topps Deron Johnson

Another individual Rookie Star card from the random Number generator. I've come across quite a few players who have had multiple rookie cards but this is the first time I've had a player on three different single-player rookie cards.  Deron Johnson was part of Topps "Rookie Stars of 1959" set and also had a designated rookie card in the 1961 set. Topps even re-used the same photo. ALL. THREE. TIMES.

Although he was designated as a Yankees "Rookie Star" in 1959, 1960 and 1961, he never actually played for the Yankees until September of 1960.  Even then he played in just 19 games for New York in 1960 and 61 before being traded for veteran pitcher Bud Daley.

Johnson struggled in Kansas City spending most of 1962 in the minors. In 1963 he was purchased by the Reds and spent that year in the minors as well. In 1964 he returned to the big leagues and hit 21 homers for Cincinnati. In 1965 he led the league with 130 RBIs.  

He came into the league as a outfielder/third baseman but spent most of his years playing first base. In 1973 when the American League adopted the designated hitter, it seemed made for him. He played most of his final years from 1973-1976 playing DH for the A's, Brewers, White Sox and Red Sox.

Deron Johnson had Topps cards cards in nearly every year from 1959-1976. He didn't have a card in 1963 when he spent the entire season in the minors.  He was also missing a card in 1975. He spent most of the 1975 season with the White Sox as a DH and back up first baseman before being dealt to Boston in September. So I made this Card That Never Was to fill the void between his 1974 card with the A's and his 1976 card with the Red Sox.

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Personally, I think that the three rookie cards using the exact same picture would look great on a page in a binder. But that is just me. For most it might not be "Binder Worthy" but I gotta give this card at least a 6 for "Guilty Pleasure".

1961 Topps Ron Perranoski

Ron Perranoski was one of the top relievers of his era. Most of it was before the save was recognized as an official stat. The only start of his career came in his rookie season. He pitched the first four innings of a 10 inning 12-11 win over the Pirates. He gave up three runs before being pinch hit for by Frank Howard.  Over the next five innings, Roger Craig, Turk Farrell and Jim Golden combined to give up 8 runs.  In the 10th Johnny Podres pitched a scoreless frame and got the win on a John Roseboro walk-off RBI triple. So in the famous closer's only start, the final inning was pitched by an All Star starter.

If you follow my other blog, you have seen that I have a few Cards That Never Were featuring Ron Perranoski already. He has been a repeat subject on my Leaders series. Perranoski made an appearance on the 1963 and 1964 cards and was awarded the Sporting News Fireman of the Year in 1969 and 1970 giving him top billing on the 1970 and 1971 AL Leading Firemen cards.

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This is the rookie card of one of the top relievers of his era. He was never selected to the All Star game but received MVP votes in 1962, 1969 and 1970. In 1970 he also received Cy Young votes. I would consider this card "Binder Worthy". I give it a solid 7.

1961 Topps Roland Sheldon

Rollie Sheldon pulled a fast one on the Yankees when they signed him. He told them he was 20 when, in fact, he was closer to 24. He had already served 4 years in the Air Force and done a semester at Texas A&M before he transferred to UConn where he was scouted by the Yankees.  When they offered him a contract, they told him he had to have his father sign it because they were under the impression that he was still a minor.

Once he donned the pinstripes, he had a pretty good rookie season. He went 11-5 with a 3.60 ERA. Unfortunately, he never repeated those numbers. He was sent back down to the minors for the 1963 season. He was dealt to the A's in 1965 where he compiled a 14-15 record. In 1966 he was part of a 6 player trade with Boston. He played his final MLB game in a Red Sox uniform in 1966. 

He kicked around the minors until 1970. His best chance for a comeback came with the expansion Seattle Pilots. Topps even gave him a card in 1969 showing him on the Pilots. But for his Card That Never Was, I gave him a 1967 Topps card depicting him on his final MLB team.

  

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I wouldn't call this card a bust, nor would I call it an essential part of any set. I would just put it in a box and forget it. Final grade: 3.