Who is the man: Art Shamsky had completed his final season as a full-time player when this card was issued. He appeared in a career-high 122 games in 1970 and set highs in a number of other categories.
Can ya dig it: I've always been intrigued by this photo. I'm guessing that it's a game against the Houston Astros, particularly since another card, taken in a similar fashion and from a similar angle, shows an Astros batter and a Mets catcher.
Right on: I'm also interested in what Shamsky is doing. As a left-handed batter myself, I know all about lefties' love for pitches low and over the plate. This pitch appears to be quite high, and inside. I have no idea why Shamsky is thinking about swinging.
You see that cat Shamsky is a bad mother: Shamsky hit four consecutive home runs over the span of two games and didn't start either game. He is the only major leaguer to do that.
Shut your mouth: Shamsky worked as a color broadcaster for the Mets in the early 1980s.
No one understands him but his woman: Shamsky was a well-loved Mets player. He played on the 1969 Miracle Mets and the fact that he was Jewish made him a big favorite among the city's large Jewish community. But all hell broke loose in 2009 when his second wife, Kim, sued him, charging him with unfaithfulness and revealing all kinds of sordid details (the New York Post was in heaven). The case was settled out of court.
(A word about the back): The bio recounts Shamsky's first three home runs in his four-homer feat. The fourth straight home run came on Aug. 14.
By the way, the game that is mentioned in the bio? Shamsky's team lost, 14-11 in 13 innings.
Yep, the catcher is #7, Johnny Edwards.
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ReplyDeleteI always thought he was trying to avoid getting hit by the pitch.
ReplyDeleteLooks to me like the pitch is high and tight and Shamsky is about to bend out of the way.
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