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Felix Elvio Jimenez
Pittsburgh Pirates
Outfield
Born: January 6, 1940, San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic
Signed: Signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent before 1959 season
Major League Teams: New York Yankees 1964
James Philip Shellenback
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pitcher
Born: November 18, 1943, Riverside, CA
Signed: Signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent before 1962 season
Major League Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates 1966-67, 1969; Washington Senators 1969-71; Texas Rangers 1972-74; Minnesota Twins 1977
Elvio Jimenez played in one game in the major leagues - a 13-inning game against the Indians on the last day of the 1964 regular season. He started in left field, going 2 for 6 and collecting two singles off Luis Tiant (#560) and Tommy John (#465). Jimenez played in a total of 17 professional seasons in the Yankees, Pirates, Senators and Reds systems, as well as parts of four seasons in the Mexican League in the early 1970s.
Like Jimenez, Jim Shellenback was originally signed by the Yankees, but his time in the Yankee organization lasted just part of the 1962 season before he was on the move. Shellenback pitched professionally for 16 seasons, 12 of those seasons in the minors. He'd appear briefly with the Pirates in 1966, 1967 and 1969, before a trade to the Senators in May 1969 gave him the opportunity for regular playing time in the majors. Shellenback was a swingman for the the Senators/Rangers between 1969 and 1972, appearing in at least 22 games each season and hitting a high water mark with 40 appearances for the 1971 club. He pitched in a career-high 120 innings that season. Shelleback found himself back in the minors for most of the five seasons between 1973 and 1977, pitching in just 13 games for the Rangers and five games for the Twins during that span. He was 16-30 with a 3.81 ERA in 165 big league games.
Shellenback served as a long-time minor league coach after retiring as a player, between 1983 and 2011. He was back in the majors for one season in 1983 as a coach with the Twins.
Building the Set / Card #480
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.
The Card / Pirates Team Set / Jimenez Accuracy Index -16 / Shellenback Accuracy Index +2
Oddly enough, this isn't the rookie card for either player. Jimenez had shown up on a Rookie Stars card way back in 1965, and Shellenback did the same in 1967. Topps must have thought Jimenez would join the Pirates at some point during the season, but he had already been optioned down to the minors when this card was printed.
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| 1965 Topps #226 |
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 36th of 98 commons pulled from the binder. After a generous dealer discount due to my bulk purchase, this card cost me less than a dollar.
The Card / Pirates Team Set / Jimenez Accuracy Index -16 / Shellenback Accuracy Index +2
Oddly enough, this isn't the rookie card for either player. Jimenez had shown up on a Rookie Stars card way back in 1965, and Shellenback did the same in 1967. Topps must have thought Jimenez would join the Pirates at some point during the season, but he had already been optioned down to the minors when this card was printed.
There are two versions of this card, with and without a black outline around the "1969 Rookie Stars" at the top of the card. I have the corrected version in our set, with the black outline around the wording.
Accuracy Index: Jimenez drops to a -16 for the Yankees jersey (-5), no hat (-3), and he didn't play with the Pirates in 1969 (-2) or ever (-6). I'll give Shellenback credit as he looks to be wearing a Pirates uniform (+5), but he's hatless (-3).
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Jimenez
First Mainstream Card: 1965 Topps #226
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (2): 1965, 1969
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #567
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 7 in the Beckett online database as of 3/7/25.
Sources - Jimenez:
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Shellenback
First Mainstream Card: 1967 Topps #592
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (5): 1967, 1969-71, 1974
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1993 Fleer ProCards #2673
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 39 in the Beckett online database as of 3/7/25.
Sources - Shellenback:
1969 Season - Jimenez
Jimenez spent the entire season with the Triple-A Columbus Jets, playing in 130 games and batting .275 with seven home runs and 58 RBIs. With Willie Stargell (#545), Matty Alou (#490) and Roberto Clemente (#50) patrolling the outfield for the Pirates, there really wasn't any room for Jimenez on the big league roster. He'd leave the Pirates' organization after the season, playing for two more seasons in the Senators' and Reds' organizations before moving on to the Mexican League in 1972.
Jimenez spent the entire season with the Triple-A Columbus Jets, playing in 130 games and batting .275 with seven home runs and 58 RBIs. With Willie Stargell (#545), Matty Alou (#490) and Roberto Clemente (#50) patrolling the outfield for the Pirates, there really wasn't any room for Jimenez on the big league roster. He'd leave the Pirates' organization after the season, playing for two more seasons in the Senators' and Reds' organizations before moving on to the Mexican League in 1972.
1969 Season - Shellenback
Shellenback began the season in the Pirates' bullpen, appearing in eight games and pitching 16 2/3 innings with a 3.91 ERA. On May 17th, the Pirates traded him to the Senators for Frank Kreutzer, another lefty reliever.
Shellenback joined the Senators' bullpen, and in his first start of the year he threw a complete game against the Athletics, earning his first win. He'd move back and forth between the bullpen and the starting pitching rotation the rest of the year, throwing another complete game, this time against the Yankees, on July 13th. With the Senators, Shellenback was 4-7 with a 4.04 ERA in 84 2/3 innings pitched.
Shellenback began the season in the Pirates' bullpen, appearing in eight games and pitching 16 2/3 innings with a 3.91 ERA. On May 17th, the Pirates traded him to the Senators for Frank Kreutzer, another lefty reliever.
Shellenback joined the Senators' bullpen, and in his first start of the year he threw a complete game against the Athletics, earning his first win. He'd move back and forth between the bullpen and the starting pitching rotation the rest of the year, throwing another complete game, this time against the Yankees, on July 13th. With the Senators, Shellenback was 4-7 with a 4.04 ERA in 84 2/3 innings pitched.
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Jimenez
First Mainstream Card: 1965 Topps #226
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (2): 1965, 1969
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #567
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 7 in the Beckett online database as of 3/7/25.
Sources - Jimenez:
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Shellenback
First Mainstream Card: 1967 Topps #592
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (5): 1967, 1969-71, 1974
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1993 Fleer ProCards #2673
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 39 in the Beckett online database as of 3/7/25.
Sources - Shellenback:
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#566 Ron Hansen - Chicago White Sox / #568 Cecil Upshaw - Atlanta Braves
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