Topps Baseball Cards from the Golden Age

This section is dedicated to some of the cards and the players that made baseball history in grand or not so grand ways.  The cards are some of the best and some of the weirdest.  Behind each card is a story, some well known and others somewhat obscure.  The history of the time, when revisited can provide some insight into what is good, bad and sometimes ugly with baseball and society, then and now.

Click on a card to get the story.

Willie Mays - "The Catch" Was this Willie Mays' best catch? Many people say, "No."	Johnny Podres had a losing season in 1955, but his World Series performance will live on forever.
Red Schoendienst was an excellent fielder whose leadership skills made him famous.	Warren Spahn established himself as one of the premier lefties of all time.
Eddie Waitkus was a player whose off-the-field happenings make him one for the history books and the movies.	Stan "The Man" Musial has held many records, but some of his most ardent fans were Cubs fans and some his his most memorable achievements occurred at Wrigley Field.
Harmon Killebrew was at one time considered the most likely player to break Babe Ruth's home run record.	Dale Long's bat  ignited the baseball world in 1956 for eight consecutive games.
Elmer Valo played for 20 years, but his achievements in 1948 are often forgotten.	Harry Dorish was a pitcher who excelled in relief in the 1950s.  He is better remembered for his base running.
Don Newcombe pitched the Dodgers to many pennants, but one day in 1950 he did what no other pitcher has done since.	Richie Ashburn made it to the Hall of Fame because of his speed, contact hitting and exceptional fielding. He is remembered for the throw that saved the pennant in 1950.
Jim Qualls is most remembered for a single off of Tom Seaver that most Mets fans would sooner forget, and for a play at the plate that will never be forgotten.	Sal Maglie won a lot of games for the New York Giants, but some of his best work was done in four months for the Dodgers in 1956.
"Sad Sam" Jones brought a blank expression to the park, but his games were exciting to watch.	Ed Mathews was a powerful force for the Braves in the 1950s helping them get to two World Series appearances.
Bobby Bonds was the heir apparent to the Willie Mays throne.  His combination of speed and power were surpassed by only a few.	Herb Score was a promising rookie in 1955. He was the heir apparent to Bob Feller. How would he crack the fabled Cleveland Indians' starting four?
Jimmy Piersall was one of the few ballplayers to have a movie made about him before he was successful.	Harvey Haddix was perfect for a long time, but not quite long enough.
The experience Joe Torre obtained as a catcher, first baseman and third sacker may have helped him to become one of the most accomplished managers of all time.	Lou Piniella was a fiery player in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.  His flare as a player has translated well into his role as a manager.
Jim Bunning established himself as a Hall of Fame pitcher and holds a distinction with respect to Ted Williams. He then went on to the get elected to various political positions leading to the U.S. Senate.	Ted Kluszewski was a model for uniforms to come setting the style with sleeveless grace. Oh, he could also play baseball.
Roberto Clemente will be remembered as a line drive hitter who never hit more than 29 home runs in a season, but on one day in May 1959 he would rival the power of Babe Ruth.	This is a great looking card of Hank Aaron from 1957.  The only problem is that the card was not produced this way.
Pete Reiser electrified the baseball world in the 1940s with great catches, daring base running and timely hitting, winning the National League batting championship in 1941.	Ryne Duren was a fireballing right hander who could scare the daylights out of a batter before the batter ever stepped in the box.
Bobby Thomson is remembered for the most famous home run in baseball history.  He should also be remembered as a great ballplayer.	Lew Burdette was a pitcher for the Milwaukee Braves and is known for his performance in the 1957 World Series.  He was also a practical joker.
Dick Stuart was known for hitting 66 home runs in one minor league season. He was also the worst fielding first baseman in history.	Bo Belinsky burst on to the scene in 1962 as an Angel.  The Playboy lit up the baseball world for a short while and then his star faded rapidly. But while it would shine, he had it all.
Don Zimmer played and managed the old-fashioned way, from his gut.	Karl Spooner started off with 27 strikeouts in his first two games in the Majors. And then...
Adolfo Phillips was a flash, that lasted only a brief moment, but while he was hot, so were the Cubs.	Who holds the record for most strikeouts in a game? Not Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson or Kerry Wood, but Tom Cheney.
Jim Hegan handled the elite Cleveland Indian pitching staff in the 1940s and 1950s.	Conrado Marrero established himself as one of the greatest amateur ballplayers of all time. At 100 years of age he has a lot of stories to tell.
Virgil "Fire" Trucks is one of only five pitchers to fire two no-hitters in one season.

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