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Cecil Lee Upshaw
Atlanta Braves
Pitcher
Born: October 22, 1942, Spearsville, LA
Signed: Signed by the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent, March 3, 1964
Major League Teams: Atlanta Braves 1966-69, 1971-73; Houston Astros 1973; Cleveland Indians 1974; New York Yankees 1974; Chicago White Sox 1975
Died: February 7, 1995, Lawrenceville, GA (age 52)
One of the top closers of the late 1960s/early 1970s, Cecil Upshaw spent parts of nine seasons in the majors, primarily with the Braves. Upshaw made his debut for the Braves in the penultimate game of the 1966 season, split the 1967 season between Atlanta and Richmond, and came up for good in 1968. He saved 13 games for the Braves in 1968, and then saved a career-high 27 games in 1969, second most in the league. Upshaw pitched in all three games for the Braves in the NLCS, allowing a home run and pitching to a 2.84 ERA in 6 1/3 innings. Upshaw suffered a serious finger injury on a basketball court in San Diego at the start of the 1970 season, missing the entire year. He'd come back in 1971, notching 17 saves and earning an 11-6 record in 49 appearances.
One of the top closers of the late 1960s/early 1970s, Cecil Upshaw spent parts of nine seasons in the majors, primarily with the Braves. Upshaw made his debut for the Braves in the penultimate game of the 1966 season, split the 1967 season between Atlanta and Richmond, and came up for good in 1968. He saved 13 games for the Braves in 1968, and then saved a career-high 27 games in 1969, second most in the league. Upshaw pitched in all three games for the Braves in the NLCS, allowing a home run and pitching to a 2.84 ERA in 6 1/3 innings. Upshaw suffered a serious finger injury on a basketball court in San Diego at the start of the 1970 season, missing the entire year. He'd come back in 1971, notching 17 saves and earning an 11-6 record in 49 appearances.
At the end of his career, Upshaw was traded four times in the span of two years, spending time with the Astros, Indians, Yankees and White Sox. He was 34-36 in 348 big league games, all in relief, with a 3.13 ERA. Upshaw saved 87 games and was in the top ten for the mark in five different seasons between 1967 and 1972.
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 37th 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 / Braves Team Set / Accuracy Index +5
Topps highlights Upshaw's status as one of the Braves top relievers on the back of the card. This photo was taken during spring training in 1969, and Upshaw is wearing the new, pinstriped home uniforms of the Braves.
Accuracy Index: Upshaw's card scores a +5.
1969 Season
One of Upshaw's best seasons, his presence at the back end of the Braves' bullpen helped the team clinch the National League West pennant. He was 6-4 with a 2.91 ERA, appearing in a career-high 62 games.
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First Mainstream Card: 1967 Topps #179
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (9): 1967-75
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1976 SSPC #138
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 32 in the Beckett online database as of 3/9/25.
Sources:
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia
Beckett Database / The Trading Card Database
#567 Pirates Rookie Stars / #569 Billy Harris - Kansas City Royals
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