In 1964 Topps tried to “pull a fast one” by putting Nellie Fox’s picture on the back of Roy McMillan’s 1964 “Giant.” In this wonderful set, McMillan is on the Mets and Nellie is wrapping up his Hall-of-Fame career with the Colt ‘45s.
Each “Giant” card has a black and white action photo on the back accompanying the text of a career highlight. A close examination of the grainy images-taken seconds apart-distinctly shows the “short and squat” body of Fox, along with his signature “chaw” of tobacco distending his cheek in both photos. The one on the McMillan card captures the Texas flag emblem and distinctive stirrup striping worn by Houston. Plus, Roy’s signature glasses are nowhere to be found. The .45s insignia and the Houston jersey script on the Fox card “seals the deal.” Finally, the photos must be from ’64 since Nellie was still playing for the White Sox in ’63.
As Mark Armour pointed out in his informative blog post on the ’64 large format cards, the series was not issued until late summer. This means the players’ photos are all up-to-date, and several of the photos on the back are from the ’64 season. The photos on the McMillan and Fox cards appear to be taken on August 1st at Shea Stadium.
The exact game can be pinpointed based on the identity of the sliding runner, who’s wearing number 15 on his pinstriped uniform. The Mets, Cubs and Phillies were the only NL clubs to wear pinstripes in ’64. This is not a Phillies player, since they had extra-large numbers in that era. Leo Burke wore 15 for the Cubs, but was not involved in a play at second with Fox. Thus, the runner must be Mets pitcher Al Jackson.
In the third inning of a day game on Saturday, August 1, Jackson singled off Hal Brown and was subsequently erased at second on double play ball hit by Bobby Klaus. The two photos show Fox turning the “twin killing.”
By the way, the Mets beat the Colt .45’s 3 to 2 with Jackson tossing a complete game. McMillan started at shortstop for the Mets, so the photographer had multiple opportunities to snap a photo of Roy.
It is conceivable that the photos are from a ’64 spring training game. Until proven otherwise, I’m going with the “tilt” played at the brand new “Big Shea.”
Good stuff! I never noticed the back picture mix up (because I don’t spend much time on the backs).
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This a major personality failing the must be address professionally.
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I stopped reading the moment I read the reference to the show, Fox and Friends. It would be nice to be able to read an article about the history of baseball cards without being forcefed more political talk, this time courtesy of the Left wing agenda. So if you’re objective was to get someone like me to read the entire article, you failed.
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I have removed the reference to the TV show. I think you’d like the rest of the post Bruce!
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You’re right. This is not a forum for politics. I will refrain mixing the two in the future.
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I have often thought that this set would be great for the deep dive of a set blog. Between the great oversize photos, All-Star subjects and 2nd photos/game stories on the back each card is worthy of it’s own column.
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Thank you, Mark and Tim.
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I have read so many posts on the topic of the blogger lovers however this post
is genuinely a nice piece of writing, keep it up.
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Thanks!
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