Who is the man: This is Boots Day's first solo card and first card with the Montreal Expos. He appeared on a three-player rookie card with the Cubs in the 1970 Topps set.
Can ya dig it: Day was the first batter to appear in Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, in 1971. He hit a curve ball from Jim Bunning back to the mound for an out.
Right on: Day was a regular platoon outfielder for the Expos in 1971 and 1972. In 1973, he was known more for his pinch-hitting. He delivered 13 pinch hits for Montreal.
You see this cat Day is a bad mother: His name is "Boots." I think that's a pretty bad nickname.
Shut your mouth: The nickname was given to him by his sister when he was a baby. OK, maybe it's not so bad-ass anymore.
No one understand him but his woman: Day grew up in a town that is an hour-and-a-half from me. He enjoyed a legendary high school career and was considered untouchable by virtually every opponent. Except one. Future major league second baseman Dave Cash also played in the same area and was the only player who could hit Day. They'd also meet on the basketball court and no one could stop Cash, not even Day.
(A word about the back): Have I mentioned the inclusion of "total bases" in the statistics in the 1971 cards? That was a bit innovative at the time, I think, although no one talks much about total bases anymore.
Have you seen the version where the light tower behind Days' head is airbrushed?
ReplyDeleteI've seen it. Don't really plan to obtain it. It took me a crazy long time to get this card (considering it's a first-series card).
ReplyDeleteYa mean that's not a piece of duct tape stuck to his ear?
ReplyDeleteLuv the crazy long sideburns of that era! About TB -- it's kind of a meaningless stat, isn't it? I mean, who cares how many total bases a guy accumulates. What counts is runs scored and runs batted in. After all, its runs that win games.
ReplyDeleteIf Day played today, they would no doubt play Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" every time he got a base on balls...
ReplyDeleteYea, maybe that part about his sister takes the bad out of bad ass. As for Total Bases, the stat keepers care about all stats and it's really amazing how you can listen to a game and they have some weird, obscure stat for every single player that comes to the plate.
ReplyDelete