the marshall matters post

i got an email from gio, the proprietor of when topps had (base)balls, about a month and a half ago about one of his custom sets that was for sale. this particular set focused primarily on final tributes that should have been, as well as some single-player rookie cards that could have been. the kicker was that gio created stat backs for these cards, and as i am always looking for a good final tribute card that topps missed, i ordered a set.

there were a couple of key cards for me in the set, and as usual, gio hooked me up with a couple extras for a small amount. first, here's a 1958 topps roy campanella card that should have been

gio chose to go ahead and show campy as a los angeles dodger to fit all of the other dodger cards in the set, but we know that he sadly did not get to suit up for the club in california. here's the back:

solid!

gil hodges was the other player that i was looking to get a dupe of for my final tribute collection. here's his 1964 topps card that should have been

and the back

hodges was actually included in the 1964 topps set, but as a manager for the senators. that would have been ok if topps had done what they did for joe torre in the 1978 set and put his playing stats on the back, but instead, they went with a standard manager narrative writeup. happy to have a playing days hodges final tribute finally!

knowing that i am a dodger fan, gio also sent an extra 1961 topps style don newcombe card

that covers his final season which was spent with two ohio teams. here's the back

newk was only with the indians for a short time, appearing in 20 games in 1960. as such, the hatless photo comes in handy.

here are the other cards in the set, in threes:

the 1957 musial is just a lost card, but the 1959 lemon card would be a final tribute and the 1960 williams card a rookie card that could have been.

here's stan the man's back:

it's an uer thanks to the birth year which made me do a double take!

continuing with the next three cards

which are rookie, rookie, and final tribute. for some reason i thought that freehan had a rookie parade card in 1962 but i guess he didn't show up until the 1963 topps set.

next up are three more rookies that could have been

of the three, only raines had a multiplayer rookie card. lyle and gibson went straight to solo cards in 1969 and 1981, respectively

last up are these three

minnie minoso's 1981 card covers his two short stints with the white sox that made him a five decade player. here's the back:

a nice touch by gio to note his position as pinch hitter.

seeing the mike marshall 1982 topps card there reminded me that he was absent from topps sets after 1977. here's the back of what would have been his final tribute card:

seeing the card also reminded me that marshall was in the 1982 fleer set for real, and that i should add that card to my final tribute collection.

and so, here it is

with complete career stats on the back, just like gio's card

although fleer did not include the 10 saves that marshall earned in 1967 in their stats. saves weren't an official stat until 1969 so i assume that is why.

i will note that 11 year old gcrl may not have immediately connected the dots between this mike marshall returning to cardboard for the first time in five years back when 1982 fleer packs were being opened and the record setting, cy young award winning mike marshall who pitched for the dodgers. once i looked at the back and saw the stats it made sense, but i didn't understand why he was not in any other sets. besides, there was another dodger mike marshall who showed up in 1982 fleer and had more of my attention.

another final tribute card that i added to my binder is gil hodges' 1972 topps card

i mentioned this card when i posted about dusty baker's 2024 topps heritage card which serves as his managerial final tribute, and so i went and pulled a dupe of hodges for the collection as well. here's the back

hodges sadly passed away just before the 1972 season began, making this card his last.

gio's set included a couple of bonuses - this missing 1951 topps joe dimaggio card

(it's a blue back), a 1973 topps mike schmidt solo rookie card 

that was gio's original prototype for printing

and an official wthb@lls membership card featuring mark fidrych

here's the back:

i have another membership card that features reggie jackson on the 1978 topps design - both are great.

finally, gio included a stan musial sticker

if you aren't already, be sure to get on gio's email list to know when these sets are being offered. they are fantastic. thanks gio!