Just One Shy

Today (Sept 2) marks the 37th anniversary of Chicago Cub Milt Pappas' razor thin close call with perfection (in 1972 for those math challenged). After retiring the first 26 batters in a row and reaching a 3-2 count on the 27th batter (Larry Stahl of the San Diego Padres) Pappas was one pitch shy of perfection. Unfortunately the call was a ball (lets not over react to a correct call made by then plate umpire Bruce Froemming) and perfection was "ruined". Pappas did however retire the next batter to secure the no-hitter and an 8 - 0 victory at Wrigley Field. Still today, Pappas has the unique honor of being the only pitcher to have a perfect game "ruined" by a base on ball to the 27th batter.

{1973 #70 love those "earmuffs"}

Pappas's career began in1957 with the Baltimore Orioles appearing in only 4 games, yet 1958 began a string of eleven years in a row of double digit victories. Prior to that infamous day in 1972, Pappas was probably best known for being traded to the Cincinnati Reds during the off season of 1965 for the "old" superstar Frank Robinson.

{1958 # 457 "oh so young"}

Two and half years in Cincinnati and a couple of stints with the Atlanta Braves, Pappas was traded to the Chicago Cubs in June of 1970. Arguably, his finest year was in 1972 as Pappas compiled a 17-7 win-loss record and a top ten in the Cy Young award voting.

Pappas finished his career in 1973 with a 209 - 164 record, 3186 innings pitched and a better than 2 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio (1728 to 858). With 110 wins as an Oriole, Pappas came within one win shy of achieving 100 wins in the NL as well. Pappas would have been just the eighth pitcher to achieve 100 wins in both leagues joining; Cy Young, Al Orth, Jim Bunning, Gaylord Perry, Nolan Ryan, Ferguson Jenkins and Dennis Martinez.

Once again, Pappas was just one shy of being part of an exclusive club. So today I honor Milt Pappas and being just one shy . . .

Three's Company

For those of you who read my blog (thank you !) you know that I received a nice package in the mail the other day from Night Owl. How I know it was for ME was that it had the name STEVE before my last name.

That being said, there were 16 cards in all . . .

destined for my daughter are six National League All Star Team cards form the Score 1991 subset including none other than Chicago Cub "great" and HOF Ryne Sandberg. Also included were Santiago, Larkin, Bonds, Bonilla and Davis. These are "fun" cards with the over sized head drawings.

Night Owl also included another start to the Score 1991 project of my daughters with Dream Team cards (#'s 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13). Need I mention again that my wife "stole" three of them and left my daughter with the remaining five "suitable" cards including Larkin standing tall.

So that leaves me with my two "vintage" cards; two Cubs cards I really like and two cards that will be proud to join MY collection.

Topps 1955 Frank Baumholtz: because his last game played was in 1957 I never got to see him play but sources say his back to back seasons of '52 and '53 batting .325 and .306 respectively made Baumholtz a solid outfielder for the Cubs.

Topps 1973 Milt Pappas: are those ear flaps he his wearing or just the hair of the times ? Pappas had several career highlights including a nine pitch / three strikeout / half inning of work on September 24th, 1971 and on September 2 1972 was one pitch away from a perfect game, the 27th batter to face Pappas was given a walk (controversial to this day) yet Pappas did retire the next batter to preserve his no-hitter. Pappas deserves a longer post and I will do a more thorough account of his career in a later post.

So thanks to Night Owl, my daughter ends up with 11 cards, my wife three and for me . . . two. I guess having three "interested" collectors in my home is not a bad thing. I am learning to share.