Tuesday, February 28, 2017

no. 633 - rookie stars, american league


Who is the man: Both Bobby Brooks and Pete Koegel managed just seven games in the majors in 1970, spending the vast majority of their seasons in Double A or Triple A. Scott Northey didn't even sniff the majors in 1970.

Can ya dig it: This is a very nice-looking card (except for Koegel's blacked-out cap).

Right on: Koegel is posed in front of that familiar hill that is part of Tempe Diablo Stadium, which was the spring training site for the Brewers in the early 1970s. My guess on why Koegel's hat is blacked out is possibly because he's wearing a Pilots cap (the Pilots trained at Tempe Diablo in 1969 and 1970).

You see these rookies are bad mothers: It is quite likely that there is no more less bad-ass card in this set than this one. Not one of these three received a solo card. Northey's major league career was already done at this point.

Shut your mouth: Northey's father, Ron Northey, played for the Phillies, Cardinals, Reds and White Sox in the 1940s and 50s. He died the same year this card was issued.

No one understands him but his woman: Bobby Brooks was nicknamed "The Hammer" while coming up through the A's organization. He declined to be compared with Hank Aaron and suggested he was "The Little Hammer".


(A word about the back): Some sizeable "life" totals, almost all spent in the minors. All three of these players played their first professional season in 1965.

2 comments:

  1. I looked up Bobby Brooks. He holds a dubious mark of 3 errors at CF in 1972, which was tied for 5th highest number in AL, which he accomplished in a mere 15 games.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Koegel would appear on the Phillies Rookie card in 1972.

    ReplyDelete