How Ralph Terry Went from Goat to Float
How Ralph Terry Went from Goat to Float
And the man he sent to Cooperstown
Today’s Lineup…
👨🏻🦰🧔🏻 Card of the Day - Men of the moment
👴 “Old” school management
📦 From the “case” files
1961 Topps Maz’s Home Run (#312) - Card of the Day
On October 13, 1960, the Yankees and Pirates hunkered down for Game 7 of a see-saw World Series. It looked like the Bucs had the game in the bag when they scored 5 in the bottom of the eighth inning to take a 9-7 lead.
But then the Yanks scored twice in the top of the ninth to tie the thing and bring up the Pirates one (maybe) final time.
Pittsburgh second baseman Bill Mazeroski stepped into the box against Yankees righty Ralph Terry, who had replaced Jim Coates at the end of the eighth, coaxing Don Hoak into a line-out to end the inning.
Things didn’t go quite so well for Terry in the ninth, though, as Maz homered to left field. The game and the Fall Classic were over.
That moment instantly immortalized Mazeroski and undoubtedly contributed to his eventual spot in the Hall of Fame.
Terry, meanwhile, became an instant goat, though he looked more like the G.O.A.T. two years later when he led the American League with 23 wins to go along with a 3.19 ERA. Of course, he also led the Junior Circuit that summer by allowing 40 home runs.
The long ball was not Terry’s friend.
Yet he still crafted a fine 12-year career that featured a 107-99 record, 2 World Series rings, and even a World Series MVP Award, in 1962.
Baseball redemption was his. And, in a way, that celebratory Maz card up there is also a Terry masterpiece. It certainly couldn’t have existed without him, for better or for worse.
Ralph Terry was born on January 9, 1936. Sadly, he passed away in 2022.
To celebrate the good times a bit, and to give you a glimpse of the man, take a gander at his drop-dead gorgeous rookie card (1957 Topps #391):
1984 Fleer Joe Altobelli and Paul Owens (#643)
Any mention of the World Series (as above) always takes me back to the golden autumn afternoons of my first baseball October, in 1983.
Coming home from school those days and finding the White Sox playing the Orioles was like waking up in the middle of summer and discovering Santa Claus had paid a surprise visit.
It felt like the boys of autumn would play forever.
When finally the O’s and Phillies squared off in the World Series, they were guided by their impossibly sage, Methuselah managers, Joe Altobelli and Paul Owens.
This 1984 Fleer classic stirs up the fall breezes once again and also serves as a shocking reminder that age is relative.
Altobelli was a mere 51 years old in this picture, while The Pope was indeed ancient, just a few months shy of his 60th birthday.
Wow! Wax - 1984 Fleer Rack Pack Box Case
To continue the theme and complete the Maz-to-Wheeze Kids-to-Fleer double play, this 1984 Fleer rack pack case is up for grabs on eBay.
As usual, it’s not mine, and I only know what’s in the listing. And, of course, the nostalgia it brings. I don’t remember opening any Fleer racks in 1984, but I sure did in 1986 and after.
Great fun, and great hobby memories.
Check out the listing on eBay.
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And that concludes this “World Series in January” edition of Baseball Cards Daily.
You just never know where the diamond winds will blow you on any given day, huh?
Thanks for reading.
—Adam
More cardboard fun: