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Theodore Crawford Sizemore
Los Angeles Dodgers
Second Base-Catcher
Born: April 15, 1945, Gadsden, AL
Drafted: Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 15th round of the 1966 amateur draft
Major League Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers 1969-70; St. Louis Cardinals 1971-75; Los Angeles Dodgers 1976; Philadelphia Phillies 1977-78; Chicago Cubs 1979; Boston Red Sox 1979-80
William Paul Sudakis
Los Angeles Dodgers
Third Base
Born: March 27, 1946, Joliet, IL
Signed: Signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent before 1964 season
Major League Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers 1968-71; New York Mets 1972; Texas Rangers 1973; New York Yankees 1974; California Angels 1975; Cleveland Indians 1975
Died: September 15, 2021, Palm Springs, CA (age 75)
In 1,411 games, Sizemore batted .262 with 188 doubles, 23 home runs and 430 RBIs. His second base fielding statistics for assists (3,761), putouts (2,928) and double plays turned (835) are all currently within the top 100 all-time. Following his playing days, Sizemore worked as an executive for both Rawlings and the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.).
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| May 19, 1969 cover of Sports Illustrated |
Building the Set / Card #470
December 15, 2024 from The Philly Show (Uncle Dick's Cards)
On Sunday, December 15th, Doug and I attended the latest Philly Show, spaciously spread out inside Hall A of the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania. I wrote a full show report over at The Phillies Room, including some thoughts on attending the show with our oldest son, who first graced the Philly Show floors back in 2012.
December 15, 2024 from The Philly Show (Uncle Dick's Cards)
On Sunday, December 15th, Doug and I attended the latest Philly Show, spaciously spread out inside Hall A of the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania. I wrote a full show report over at The Phillies Room, including some thoughts on attending the show with our oldest son, who first graced the Philly Show floors back in 2012.
Having had success the prior two shows at Uncle Dick's Cards with his well-organized, neon common binders, I opted to pull up a chair once again at the friendly dealer's array of tables. The aim was simple: Clear out Uncle Dick's 1969 Topps commons, starting off where I had left off the year before with card #501 and going through the end of the set, card #664. In less than 25 minutes, I completed my quest, and this is the 26th of 98 commons pulled from the binder. After a generous dealer discount due to my bulk purchase, this card cost me less than $2.
The Card / Dodgers Team Set / Sizemore Accuracy Index -3 / Sudakis Accuracy Index +5
This is the rookie card for both players and Topps did a nice job squeezing in the eventual Rookie of the Year winner late into the set. I wonder how many Topps base cards between 1952 and 2005 contained the position designation of "2B-C"?
Accuracy Index: Sizemore might be wearing a Dodgers' uniform here, so I'll dock him just three points for being hatless. Sudakis scores a standard +5.
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Sizemore
First Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #552
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (12): 1969-80
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1980 Topps #81
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 53 in the Beckett online database as of 2/25/25.
Sources - Sizemore:
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Sudakis
First Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #552
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (7): 1969-75
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1975 Topps #291
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 33 in the Beckett online database as of 2/25/25.
Sources - Sudakis:
1969 Season - Sizemore
His first year in the majors was also one of his best as Sizemore slid into the shortstop role vacated by Zoilo Versalles (#38). He made 159 starts overall - 42 at shortstop and 117 at second base - batting .271 with 20 doubles, four home runs and 46 RBIs. His .979 fielding percentage at second base was second best in the league behind the Braves' Felix Millan (#210).
Phillies Career - Sizemore
On December 20, 1976, the Dodgers traded Sizemore and a player to be named later (Quency Hill) to the Phillies for catcher Johnny Oates. Having lost Dave Cash to free agency, Sizemore became the club's regular second baseman in 1977, one of the best seasons in franchise history. The 101-win Phillies won the National League pennant for the second season in a row, but fell to the Dodgers in four games in the NLCS. A costly error by Sizemore in Game 3 allowed the Dodgers to seal a comeback 6-5 win. Sizemore batted .281 for the season with 47 RBIs, while turning a league-leading 104 double plays.
In 1978, Sizemore was again the team's opening day second baseman, but he broke his hand in late April, missing all of May and most of June. He batted only .219 during the regular season, but hit .385 (5 for 13) in the NLCS against the Dodgers, lost again by the Phillies in four games. On February 23, 1979, the Phillies traded Sizemore, Barry Foote, Jerry Martin and minor leaguers Henry Mack and Derek Botelho to the Cubs for Manny Trillo, Greg Gross and Dave Rader. In 260 games with the Phillies, Sizemore batted .256 with 32 doubles, four home runs and 72 RBIs.
His first year in the majors was also one of his best as Sizemore slid into the shortstop role vacated by Zoilo Versalles (#38). He made 159 starts overall - 42 at shortstop and 117 at second base - batting .271 with 20 doubles, four home runs and 46 RBIs. His .979 fielding percentage at second base was second best in the league behind the Braves' Felix Millan (#210).
On December 20, 1976, the Dodgers traded Sizemore and a player to be named later (Quency Hill) to the Phillies for catcher Johnny Oates. Having lost Dave Cash to free agency, Sizemore became the club's regular second baseman in 1977, one of the best seasons in franchise history. The 101-win Phillies won the National League pennant for the second season in a row, but fell to the Dodgers in four games in the NLCS. A costly error by Sizemore in Game 3 allowed the Dodgers to seal a comeback 6-5 win. Sizemore batted .281 for the season with 47 RBIs, while turning a league-leading 104 double plays.
In 1978, Sizemore was again the team's opening day second baseman, but he broke his hand in late April, missing all of May and most of June. He batted only .219 during the regular season, but hit .385 (5 for 13) in the NLCS against the Dodgers, lost again by the Phillies in four games. On February 23, 1979, the Phillies traded Sizemore, Barry Foote, Jerry Martin and minor leaguers Henry Mack and Derek Botelho to the Cubs for Manny Trillo, Greg Gross and Dave Rader. In 260 games with the Phillies, Sizemore batted .256 with 32 doubles, four home runs and 72 RBIs.
1969 Season - Sudakis
By bWAR standards, this was Sudakis' best season in the majors as he earned a 1.9 mark. In 132 games, again a career high, he batted .234 with 14 home runs and 53 RBIs. He made 118 starts at third base for the Dodgers, and his .946 fielding percentage was third best int he league.
By bWAR standards, this was Sudakis' best season in the majors as he earned a 1.9 mark. In 132 games, again a career high, he batted .234 with 14 home runs and 53 RBIs. He made 118 starts at third base for the Dodgers, and his .946 fielding percentage was third best int he league.
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| From the 1978 Phillies Yearbook |
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Other Notable Baseball Cards - Sizemore
First Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #552
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (12): 1969-80
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1980 Topps #81
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 53 in the Beckett online database as of 2/25/25.
Sources - Sizemore:
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Sudakis
First Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #552
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (7): 1969-75
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1975 Topps #291
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 33 in the Beckett online database as of 2/25/25.
Sources - Sudakis:
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#551 Wayne Granger - Cincinnati Reds / #553 Ron Davis - Pittsburgh Pirates
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