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Arthur Willard Davis
San Diego Padres
First Base
Born: June 6, 1942, Graceville, MN
Signed: Signed by the Cleveland Indians as an amateur free agent before 1964 season
Major League Teams: Cleveland Indians 1965-1966; San Diego Padres 1969
Died: January 13, 2023, Edina, MN (age 80)
Clarence Edwin Gaston
San Diego Padres
Outfield
Born: March 17, 1944, San Antonio, TX
Signed: Signed by the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent before 1964 season
Major League Teams: Atlanta Braves 1967; San Diego Padres 1969-1974; Atlanta Braves 1975-1978; Pittsburgh Pirates 1978
As a Manager: Toronto Blue Jays 1989-1997, 2008-2010
Nicknamed the "Jolly Green Giant" due to his impressive height, Bill Davis had his best professional seasons in the minors. In 1965, with the Portland Beavers, then the Indians' top farm team, Davis batted .311 with 33 home runs and 106 RBIs, earning him a September call-up. He'd appear in 23 games with the Indians in 1966 before returning to the minors. Missing all of the 1967 season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, Davis had another solid season with Portland in 1968. A week following the 1968 expansion draft, Davis was dealt to the Padres for infielder Zoilo Versalles (#38). He was the opening day first baseman for the Padres with 12 more starts following the first game in Padres franchise history, but his struggles at the plate landed him back in the minors. Davis wouldn't return to the majors, and he'd retire having played in 64 games, batting .181 (19 for 105) with a home run and five RBIs.
Cito Gaston played in 11 major league seasons, finding his most success as an original Padre. Gaston was the club's regular center fielder during their inaugural season, making 102 starts and batting .230. He'd have his career year in 1970, batting .318 with 29 home runs and 93 RBIs. Gaston was acknowledged as the team MVP, and only Nate Colbert's (#408) 38 home runs kept him from winning the Padres' Triple Crown. He'd play in his only All-Star Game in 1970, and also earn MVP votes following the season. He never came close to replicating that success, and with his playing time dwindling in San Diego, Gaston was dealt to the Braves in November 1974. His roommate during his time in Atlanta was Henry Aaron (#100), and Gaston served as a back-up outfielder for five seasons. He'd retire in 1978 having played in 1,026 games, collecting 799 hits, 91 home runs, 387 RBIs and batting .256.
Gaston joined the Blue Jays as a coach in 1982, taking over as manager of the club in 1989. Regarded as a player's manager, he'd lead Toronto to back-to-back World Series titles in 1992 and 1993, becoming the first African-American manager in major league history to win a title. He managed the club through 1997, returning for another stint at the helm between 2008 and 2010. In 12 years managing the Blue Jays, Gaston was 894-837, and he was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.
Building the Set / Card #295
December 3, 2023 from The Philly Show (Uncle Dick's Cards)
Doug and I returned to The Philly Show in early December, once again held inside the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania. eBay has taken over sponsorship of the show, with the quaint, bubble-lettered Philly Show logo that had been in place since the 1980s replaced with a more modern logo, keeping with the times. I wrote about the show in a post over at The Phillies Room.
The Card / Padres Team Set / Davis Accuracy Index -12 / Gaston Accuracy Index -8
Amazingly, this is the fifth and final appearance for Davis on a Rookie Stars card in a Topps set - see below for the gallery. The photo is the same used for his 1966 Topps card, meaning it's likely from the 1965 season. On the back of the card, Topps shorts him an inch as Baseball Reference lists him at 6'7". This is Gaston's rookie card, and he's wearing a Braves jersey and hat.
December 3, 2023 from The Philly Show (Uncle Dick's Cards)
Doug and I returned to The Philly Show in early December, once again held inside the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania. eBay has taken over sponsorship of the show, with the quaint, bubble-lettered Philly Show logo that had been in place since the 1980s replaced with a more modern logo, keeping with the times. I wrote about the show in a post over at The Phillies Room.
Similar to my strategy from March, I wanted to focus on accumulating commons and having found success with Uncle Dick's Cards before, I didn't mess around and headed right for the neon green binders. I pulled 145 cards from the binder containing cards 301 to the end of the set, stopping when I reached 500. This card was the third of 145 cards purchased for our set, and after the dealer discount due to my bulk purchase, it cost me a little under $3.50.
The Card / Padres Team Set / Davis Accuracy Index -12 / Gaston Accuracy Index -8
Amazingly, this is the fifth and final appearance for Davis on a Rookie Stars card in a Topps set - see below for the gallery. The photo is the same used for his 1966 Topps card, meaning it's likely from the 1965 season. On the back of the card, Topps shorts him an inch as Baseball Reference lists him at 6'7". This is Gaston's rookie card, and he's wearing a Braves jersey and hat.
Accuracy Index: Davis loses points for the repeat photo (-4), the Indians jersey (-5) and blank hat (-3). Gaston's scores a little better since collectors hadn't seen this photo before.
1969 Season - Davis
As mentioned above, Davis was the first first baseman in Padres' franchise history. He played 31 games with the club, batting .175 (10 for 57) with a a double and an RBI. On May 22nd, Davis was dealt with Jerry DaVanon (#637) to the Cardinals for Sonny Ruberto and John Sipin. A few months later, on July 14th, he was dealt again, this time with Mel Nelson (#181) to the Twins for Bill Whitby. Davis didn't appear in the majors with either the Cardinals or the Twins. Stats aren't available for his time in the minor league systems of both clubs, other than he played in 90 games total.
As mentioned above, Davis was the first first baseman in Padres' franchise history. He played 31 games with the club, batting .175 (10 for 57) with a a double and an RBI. On May 22nd, Davis was dealt with Jerry DaVanon (#637) to the Cardinals for Sonny Ruberto and John Sipin. A few months later, on July 14th, he was dealt again, this time with Mel Nelson (#181) to the Twins for Bill Whitby. Davis didn't appear in the majors with either the Cardinals or the Twins. Stats aren't available for his time in the minor league systems of both clubs, other than he played in 90 games total.
1969 Season - Gaston
Gaston was the 30th and final pick by the Padres in the 1968 expansion draft. He'd make the opening day roster for the club, and quickly earned a spot as their regular center fielder. Gaston batted .230 with a pair of home runs, 28 RBIs and 117 strikeouts in his rookie season.
Gaston was the 30th and final pick by the Padres in the 1968 expansion draft. He'd make the opening day roster for the club, and quickly earned a spot as their regular center fielder. Gaston batted .230 with a pair of home runs, 28 RBIs and 117 strikeouts in his rookie season.
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Other Notable Baseball Cards - Davis
First Mainstream Card: 1965 Topps #546
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (5): 1965-1969
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #304
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 12 in the Beckett online database as of 5/12/24.
Sources - Davis:
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Gaston
First Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #304
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (18): 1969-1979, 1989-1993, 2009-2010
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2010 Topps #267
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 89 in the Beckett online database as of 5/12/24.
Sources - Gaston:
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#303 Cal Koonce - New York Mets / #305 Dick McAuliffe - Detroit Tigers
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