Who is the man: Luis Alvarado was entering his first season with the White Sox when this card was issued. He was dealt from the Red Sox in December 1970, which explains the blacked-out cap.
Can ya dig it: This is an interesting card. Alvarado was traded to the White Sox with fellow infielder Mike Andrews for Luis Aparicio. Mike Andrews wore No. 2 for the Red Sox, and that appears to be Andrews behind Alvarado in the picture.
Right on: This is Alvarado's first solo card. He appears on a Red Sox rookie stars card with Billy Conigliaro in the 1970 Topps set.
You see that cat Alvarado is a bad mother: Alvarado has one of the more memorable 1970s baseball cards in the 1973 Topps set. It's a personal favorite.
Shut your mouth: Alvarado's nickname was "Pimba," but there's little to explain why. Alvarado was a native of Puerto Rico. "Pimba" in Portugese is a common term for a style of romantic/sexual pop music in the country.
No one understands him but his woman: The remembrances of Alvarado on this site are mostly very positive, except for one insistent and cryptic poster who does not appear to have a favorable memory. But the commenter never says why.
(A word about the back): I'm embarrassed to admit that I never knew the International League gave out a Rookie of the Year Award and has been doing so since 1950. Yankees prospect Ben Gamel won the award last season.
The 1973 card reminds me of a car battery commercial aired around the same time. Family at a stadium and the son to the parking lot says "Dad I can see our car, our lights are on".
ReplyDeleteson looking back at the parking lot says "Dad I can see our car, our lights are on".
ReplyDelete"Led" in line 2 also acts upon "shortstops" in line 4. A very confusing piece of writing.
ReplyDelete