I have 6 more final cards that I was going to post (Billy Harris, Bob Skinner, Dave Adlesh, Galen Cisco, Hank Bauer, and Lou Johnson), but I am going to skip ahead to the recap, because like my other blogs, this blog is sailing off into the sunset, and 7 more posts just isn't gonna happen.
I posted the final cards recap for the 1966, 1967, and 1968 sets back in 2012, and wanted to get this one completed as well.
The 1969 set includes the final cards for 72 players and 6 managers, all pictured below in order of years of service, from Mickey Mantle's 18 years to Jon Warden's one season.
A few of these guys played their last MLB game in 1968 (Mantle, Nixon, Monbouquette, among others). Others even before that (Gonder in '67, Sheldon in '66), but most of these players wrapped it up in 1969.
Bob Rodgers and Lee Elia would have manager cards in later years.
1969 was my first year of collecting. I must of had special talent obtaining the final cards. I had 26 of these cards. I liked the Hamilton card with 100 year MLB patch that started showing up in later series. I wonder what was Topps info on Gonder's card, for there is no indication of the Padres signing him.
ReplyDeleteOn a note Billy Harris and Nate Oliver had 1970 cards.
From Jesse Gonder's SABR page:
ReplyDeleteIn 1968 he returned to Richmond and produced a successful campaign in limited play. On May 26 his grand slam led the Braves to a 7-6 win over the Louisville Colonels. Two months later his base hit with one out in the ninth inning spoiled a perfect game bid by a pair of Rochester pitchers. His work attracted the attention of his 1959 Havana Sugar Kings manager, Preston Gomez, who was tapped to manage the 1969 expansion San Diego Padres and invited his former catcher to spring training. The 33-year-old Gonder made the opening day roster as a backup to former Mets teammate Chris Cannizzaro.11 Released shortly after the start of the season, Gonder never made an appearance during his brief stay in San Diego. He played sparingly with the Giants’ AAA affiliate in Phoenix and retired to his Oakland home after the 1969 season.