Who is the man: Richie Scheinblum was a minor league player in 1970. He didn't appear in the majors at all. Yet, Topps was kind enough to give him a card.
Can ya dig it: Scheinblum was signed by the Indians and spent the first six years of his pro career with them. He's actually wearing an Indians jersey in this picture.
Right on: Sweaty and cap-less. Not a good combination.
You see this cat Scheinblum is a bad mother: Scheinblum led the American Association in batting when he hit .388 in 1971. It was the highest batting average in the AA in 20 years.
Shut your mouth: Scheinblum's mother was born in the Ukraine and related to Moe Berg, the former MLB catcher who worked as a spy during World War II.
No one understands him but his woman: Scheinblum moved on to play in Japan after his major league career ended. He played for the Hiroshima Carp and helped the team make the Japanese World Series. Scheinblum was Jewish and when Yom Kippur landed on the same day as a World Series game, he didn't play. The Japanese were fascinated by this. "Fifty Japanese reporters came to my apartment to watch me pray," Scheinblum said.
(A word about the back): I think this is the first card where 1970 is nothing but zeroes.
Now go home and get your fucking Schein-box.
ReplyDeleteHe was born in the wrong decade.
I've always thought if there was a rival major baseball league, like football (AFL, WFL, USFL), hockey (WHA) or basketball (ABA) Scheinblum would have one of their great superstars. Just not good enough for MLB, although he did show a flash of brillance in first half of 1972.
ReplyDeleteHow bizarre that he has a card in this set, having not played in the majors in 1970. I would love to know what the circumstances were that led to his inclusion.
ReplyDeleteMaybe he was friends with Sy Berger - the Topps official.
DeleteNever could understand how big leaguers could be so dumb as to jeopardize, or end, their careers doing things like playing basketball, as happened to Scheinblum.
ReplyDelete