#512 Cleon Jones - New York Mets

Cleon Joseph Jones
New York Mets
Outfield

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'0"  Weight:  185
Born:  August 4, 1942, Plateau, AL
Signed:  Signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent before 1963 season
Major League Teams:  New York Mets 1963, 1965-75; Chicago White Sox 1976

World Series Appearances:  New York Mets 1969, 1973

Cleon Jones spent parts of 13 seasons in the majors, but his All-Star season of 1969 was by far his most memorable.  Jones first received regular playing time in 1966 as the team's everyday center fielder, and he finished fourth in the league's Rookie of the Year voting after batting .275 with 57 RBIs.  After a move to left field to accommodate the newly acquired Tommie Agee (#364), Jones had a career year in 1969.  He was named to the All-Star team and batted a career-high .340 (third in the league) with 12 home runs and 75 RBIs.  An offensive catalyst for the Amazing Mets, Jones caught the final out of the 1969 World Series, in which the Mets defeated the highly-favored Orioles in five games.  The Mets returned to the World Series in 1973, with Jones batting .286 with a pair of doubles and a home run against the victorious Athletics.

He played with the Mets through mid-1975, and attempted a comeback with the White Sox in 1976.  Jones  collected 1,196 hits overall in 1,213 games, batting .281 with 93 home runs and 524 RBIs.  He's currently fourth on the Mets' all-time franchise leaderboard with 1,188 hits, and he was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame in 1991.

Some text for this post originally appeared on my 1965 Topps blog.

Building the Set / Card #621
September 21, 2025 from The Philly Show (Vintage Sports)

On Sunday morning, September 21st, I made the hour-long drive to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania for the latest installment of the Philadelphia Sports Card & Memorabilia Show, known to its friends as The Philly Show.  The show has a legitimate official sponsor (eBay) and the advertisement for the event notes the show is in its 50th year.  I hadn't attended a baseball card show since the last Philly Show in December, and I was flying solo to this one as our oldest son is in his first month of college at Villanova.  I posted a full summary of the show over at The Phillies Room.

I made stops at six tables at the show, all yielding needed cards for our 1969 Topps set, and I left the show with just 16 more cards to go for my version of a complete set.  My second stop was the aptly named Vintage Sports table.  I always appreciate a dealer with clear signage explaining their pricing method, and Vintage Sports had a marker in their selection of 1969 Topps cards laying out that cards without a sleeve were $1 and cards with a sleeve were $2.  I had one "high number" in a sleeve, and that was a whopping $4. 

I found 28 commons needed before moving on to my third stop.  This was the 27th of 28 total cards bought from Vintage Sports, and the 62nd of 91 cards for the set added overall on the day.  Sleeved, this card cost less than $2 after a dealer discount.

The Card / Mets Team Set / Accuracy Index +5

Jones' pose on his 1970 Topps card is almost the exact same pose as shown on this card.  I had to study both cards side by side to determine they were slightly different photos.  Topps reprinted the card in its 2002 Topps Archives set.  The back of the card recounts Jones' hot finish to the 1968 season and the cartoon highlights his college football exploits.

Accuracy Index:  Jones' card earns a standard +5 for the accurate uniform and hat.

1969 Season
As noted above, this was by far Jones' best season in the majors.  From his SABR biography, written by Fred Worth: 

Cleon Jones was as big a part of the Mets championship as anyone.  He batted .340 with an on-base percentage of .422.  He led the team in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, hits, doubles, stolen bases, walks, and even hit by pitches.  He was second on the team in RBIs, one behind Agee.  He started in the All-Star Game (two singles, reached on an error, and scored twice) and finished seventh in the league Most Valuable Player voting, behind winner Willie McCovey (#440) and teammates Tom Seaver (#480) and Agee. 

During the first National League Championship Series in history, Jones batted .429 with a homer, two doubles, and four RBIs.  The Mets hit .327 overall in the three-game sweep of Atlanta. 

In the World Series win over Baltimore, Jones hit only .158, but he was in the thick of things. His foot and his knee live in Mets immortality.  He was hit by Dave McNally's (#340) "shoe polish" pitch and scored on Donn Clendenon's (#208) homer, getting the Mets back in the game.  And then, in the top of the ninth, he gently coaxed Davey Johnson's (#203) fly ball into his glove, making the Mets the world champions.

1965 Topps #308

1967 Topps #165

1972 Topps #31

1973 Topps #540

1975 Topps #43

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1965 Topps #308
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (11):  1965-75
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2018 Topps Heritage Miracle of '69 #MO69-CJ
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards:  121 in the Beckett online database as of 1/28/26.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia

Beckett Database / The Trading Card Database
1965 Topps Blog

#511 Diego Segui - Seattle Pilots / #513 Camilo Pascual - Washington Senators

#305 Dick McAuliffe - Detroit Tigers

Richard John McAuliffe
Detroit Tigers
Second Base

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'11"  Weight:  176
Born:  November 29, 1939, Hartford, CT
Signed:  Signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent before 1957 season
Major League Teams:  Detroit Tigers 1960-73; Boston Red Sox 1974-75

World Series Appearances:  Detroit Tigers 1968
Died:  May 13, 2016, Farmington, CT (age 76)

Dick McAuliffe spent all but two seasons of his16-year big league career with the Tigers, where he was an All-Star for three straight seasons between 1965 and 1967.  He was the regular second baseman for the 1968 Tigers team that defeated the Cardinals in seven games in the 1968 World Series.  Known for his unusual batting stance, McAuliffe enjoyed one of his best seasons in 1968 when he led the league with 95 runs scored and went the entire season without grounding into a double play - still an American League record.  He struggled at times defensively, leading the league twice for errors committed as a shortstop in 1964 and as a second baseman in 1967.  He finished in the top 10 in triples in the American League eight times.

McAuliffe was traded to the Red Sox in October 1973 for Ben Oglivie.  He had started the 1975 season as the manager for the Red Sox' Double-A team in Bristol, but was recalled and activated by the Red Sox in August appearing in seven games.  He retired following the 1975 season having appeared in 1,763 games and accumulating 1,530 hits with a .247 average.  He had 197 lifetime home runs.  

Some text for this post originally appeared on my 1965 Topps blog.

Building the Set / Card #614
September 21, 2025 from The Philly Show (Vintage Sports)

On Sunday morning, September 21st, I made the hour-long drive to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania for the latest installment of the Philadelphia Sports Card & Memorabilia Show, known to its friends as The Philly Show.  The show has a legitimate official sponsor (eBay) and the advertisement for the event notes the show is in its 50th year.  I hadn't attended a baseball card show since the last Philly Show in December, and I was flying solo to this one as our oldest son is in his first month of college at Villanova.  I posted a full summary of the show over at The Phillies Room.

I made stops at six tables at the show, all yielding needed cards for our 1969 Topps set, and I left the show with just 16 more cards to go for my version of a complete set.  My second stop was the aptly named Vintage Sports table.  I always appreciate a dealer with clear signage explaining their pricing method, and Vintage Sports had a marker in their selection of 1969 Topps cards laying out that cards without a sleeve were $1 and cards with a sleeve were $2.  I had one "high number" in a sleeve, and that was a whopping $4. 

I found 28 commons needed before moving on to my third stop.  This was the 20th of 28 total cards bought from Vintage Sports, and the 55th of 91 cards for the set added overall on the day.  Unsleeved, this card cost less than $1 after a dealer discount.

The Card / Tigers Team Set / Accuracy Index +5

This card features a photo likely taken at the same time as the photo used for McAuliffe's 1968 Topps card.  His high home run totals for a shortstop (24 in 1964 and 23 in 1966) are highlighted on the back, along with the home run he hit in Game 3 of the 1968 World Series off Cardinals' pitcher Ray Washburn (#415).  For a few decades, McAuliffe held the Tigers' franchise record for most home runs in a season by a shortstop and a second baseman.  His shortstop record was surpassed by Alan Trammell in 1987, and his second baseman record was topped by Lou Whitaker in 1989.

Accuracy Index:  McAuliffe's card earns a +5.

1969 Season
From his SABR biography, written by John Cizik: 

A knee injury and subsequent surgery derailed his 1969 season, limiting the 29-year-old McAuliffe to 74 games.  He still managed 11 homers and 33 RBIs.  He matched 1968's error total with nine.  He would play four more years with Detroit, never reaching the heights of the 1960s.

1962 Topps #527

1966 Topps #495

1968 Topps #285

1973 Topps #349

1974 Topps #495

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1962 Topps #527
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (13):  1962-1974
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2004 Upper Deck Legends Timeless Teams #74
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards:  80 in the Beckett online database as of 1/18/26.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia

Beckett Database / The Trading Card Database
1965 Topps Blog

#304 Padres Rookie Stars / #306 Jim Grant - Montreal Expos

#299 Mark Belanger - Baltimore Orioles

Mark Henry Belanger
Baltimore Orioles
Shortstop

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  170
Born:  June 8, 1944, Pittsfield, MA
Signed:  Signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent, June 19, 1962
Major League Teams:  Baltimore Orioles 1965-81; Los Angeles Dodgers 1982

World Series Appearances:  Baltimore Orioles 1969-71, 1979
Died:  October 6, 1998, New York, NY (age 54)

A stellar shortstop who won eight Gold Gloves and still sits at the top of many defensive statistic leaderboards, Mark Belanger played in parts of 18 major league seasons, with all but 54 of his career 2,016 games with the Orioles.  Nicknamed "The Blade" due to his slim stature, Belanger inherited the Orioles' shortstop job in 1968, following the departure of Luis Aparicio (#75).  He'd man the position for Baltimore through six American League East pennants, five American League titles and a World Series championship in 1970.  His career year came in 1976, which was also the only year he'd go to the All-Star Game.  Belanger hit .270 with 22 doubles and 27 stolen bases that season, and it was one of six seasons in the 1970s he led all American League players in defensive bWAR.

Belanger played in 54 games with the Dodgers in 1982 before retiring.  He batted .228 lifetime, but his career defensive bWAR of 39.5 is currently second all-time, behind only Ozzie Smith.  Upon his retirement, he was the Orioles' all-time franchise leader in games, assists and double plays as a shortstop, with all marks eventually surpassed by Cal Ripken, Jr.  Belanger was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame in 1983.

Building the Set / Card #613
September 21, 2025 from The Philly Show (Vintage Sports)

On Sunday morning, September 21st, I made the hour-long drive to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania for the latest installment of the Philadelphia Sports Card & Memorabilia Show, known to its friends as The Philly Show.  The show has a legitimate official sponsor (eBay) and the advertisement for the event notes the show is in its 50th year.  I hadn't attended a baseball card show since the last Philly Show in December, and I was flying solo to this one as our oldest son is in his first month of college at Villanova.  I posted a full summary of the show over at The Phillies Room.

I made stops at six tables at the show, all yielding needed cards for our 1969 Topps set, and I left the show with just 16 more cards to go for my version of a complete set.  My second stop was the aptly named Vintage Sports table.  I always appreciate a dealer with clear signage explaining their pricing method, and Vintage Sports had a marker in their selection of 1969 Topps cards laying out that cards without a sleeve were $1 and cards with a sleeve were $2.  I had one "high number" in a sleeve, and that was a whopping $4. 

I found 28 commons needed before moving on to my third stop.  This was the 19th of 28 total cards bought from Vintage Sports, and the 54th of 91 cards for the set added overall on the day.  Sleeved, this card cost less than $2 after a dealer discount.

The Card / Orioles Team Set / Accuracy Index +1

Topps repeats the photo found on Belanger's 1968 Topps card.  The back of the card notes Aparicio's departure and Belanger's steady improvement on the offensive side of his game.  The cartoon highlights his first big league home run, hit on May 14, 1967 off the Yankees' Mel Stottlemyre (#470).  Belanger would hit 20 career home runs in the regular season and a surprising home run in the 1969 ALCS against the Twins.

Accuracy Index:  Belanger's card scores only a +1 given the same picture had been used before.

1969 Season
From his SABR biography, written by Frank Vaccaro: 

[In spring training,] bullpen coach Charlie Lau approached Belanger to offer batting tips.  Lau kept track of every pitch Belanger saw that year, sending him up to bat with instructions to take and swing on specific counts, and encouraging him to expect certain pitches in certain spots based on previous batter-pitcher matchups.  Belanger responded with his best batting season ever, won his first of eight Gold Gloves, and earned the nickname Blade for his silhouette as Baltimore rolled to a team record 109 wins.  He hit for a .287 average with 50 RBIs. 

Belanger became a respected member of the team, offering an articulate clubhouse interview and buffering Earl Weaver's (#516) rants.  Between the foul lines he was no-joke, all business, directing fielders to shade right or left and approaching rookies and new players with the abrupt "We don’t do it that way" - a line he even used on Jim Palmer (#573) in 1978.  Backed by veterans Brooks Robinson (#550) and Frank Robinson (#250), Belanger became a leader on the team, replacing Davey Johnson (#203) as assistant player representative . . .

Detroit manager Mayo Smith (#40) declared that trying to get a hit through the left side of the Baltimore infield was like "trying to throw a hamburger through a brick wall."  But in the 1969 World Series the New York Mets did just that, rolling seeing-eye hits between Mark and Brooks - back-to-back no less - in the top of the ninth inning of Game Two en route to a five-game upset.  When left fielder Don Buford (#478) lost Jerry Grote's (#55) double in the sun in the 10th inning of Game Four, and Belanger almost caught the ball, color commentator Lou Boudreau said he "never saw a shortstop go that far."  Broadcaster Tony Kubek called him a fourth outfielder.

1968 Topps #118

1973 Topps #253

1975 Topps #74

1979 Topps #65

1983 Topps #273

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1967 Topps #558
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (17):  1967-83
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2002 Topps Super Teams #105
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards:  106 in the Beckett online database as of 1/18/26.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia

Beckett Database / The Trading Card Database

#298 Dave Nicholson - Kansas City Royals / #300 Felipe Alou - Atlanta Braves

#262 Mike Kekich - New York Yankees

Michael Dennis Kekich
New York Yankees
Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  196
Born:  April 2, 1945, San Diego, CA
Signed:  Signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent before 1964 season
Major League Teams:  Los Angeles Dodgers 1965, 1968; New York Yankees 1969-73; Cleveland Indians 1973; Texas Rangers 1975; Seattle Mariners 1977

Mike Kekich pitched in nine different seasons, primarily with the Yankees, and he's best known for swapping wives and kids with fellow Yankees pitcher Fritz Peterson (#46).  Kekich was a 10-game winner for the Yankees in 1971 and 1972, throwing at least 170 innings in both seasons.  He hung on through the 1977 season as one of the more frequently used veteran relievers for the expansion Mariners.  Kekich also pitched in Japan and Mexico along the way.  In 235 career games, Kekich was 39-51 with a 4.59 ERA and 497 strikeouts.

Some text for this post originally appeared on my 1965 Topps blog.

Building the Set / Card #609
September 21, 2025 from The Philly Show (Vintage Sports)

On Sunday morning, September 21st, I made the hour-long drive to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania for the latest installment of the Philadelphia Sports Card & Memorabilia Show, known to its friends as The Philly Show.  The show has a legitimate official sponsor (eBay) and the advertisement for the event notes the show is in its 50th year.  I hadn't attended a baseball card show since the last Philly Show in December, and I was flying solo to this one as our oldest son is in his first month of college at Villanova.  I posted a full summary of the show over at The Phillies Room.

I made stops at six tables at the show, all yielding needed cards for our 1969 Topps set, and I left the show with just 16 more cards to go for my version of a complete set.  My second stop was the aptly named Vintage Sports table.  I always appreciate a dealer with clear signage explaining their pricing method, and Vintage Sports had a marker in their selection of 1969 Topps cards laying out that cards without a sleeve were $1 and cards with a sleeve were $2.  I had one "high number" in a sleeve, and that was a whopping $4. 

I found 28 commons needed before moving on to my third stop.  This was the 14th of 28 total cards bought from Vintage Sports, and the 50th of 91 cards for the set added overall on the day.  Unsleeved, this card cost less than $1 after a dealer discount.

The Card / Yankees Team Set / Accuracy Index -8

Kekich had last appeared in a Topps set way back in 1965, and he's very likely wearing a Dodgers jersey and on this card.  The back of the card contains an uncorrected error, as Topps misspelled the name of the player traded by the Yankees for Kekich - see below.  The cartoon highlights the shutout he threw against the Mets on August 4, 1968.  He struck out 11 and allowed only one hit - a seventh inning single to Rob Swoboda (#585).  It was the only shutout of Kekich's big league career.

Accuracy Index:  It's been a while since we've had a -8 score for a former team jersey and a hat without a logo.

1969 Season
On December 4, 1968, Kekich was traded by the Dodgers to the Yankees for outfielder/first baseman Andy Kosco (#139).  In his first season with the Yankees, Kekich pitched in 28 games, making 13 starts, and was 4-6 with a 4.54 ERA, throwing 105 innings.  He was wild throughout his career, and this season was no different, as he struck out 66 but walked 49.

1965 Topps #561

1971 Topps #703

1973 Topps #371

1974 Topps #199

1976 Topps #582

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1965 Topps #561
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (8):  1965, 1969-74, 1976
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  1990 Pacific Senior League #73
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards:  33 in the Beckett online database as of 1/3/26.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference / Wikipedia

Beckett Database / The Trading Card Database
1965 Topps Blog

#261 Bob Johnson - Atlanta Braves / #263 Jerry May - Pittsburgh Pirates

#220 Sam McDowell - Cleveland Indians

Samuel Edward McDowell
Cleveland Indians
Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'5"  Weight:  190
Born:  September 21, 1942, Pittsburgh, PA
Signed:  Signed by the Cleveland Indians as an amateur free agent before 1960 season
Major League Teams:  Cleveland Indians 1961-71; San Francisco Giants 1972-73; New York Yankees 1973-74; Pittsburgh Pirates 1975

Bolstering the Indians' starting pitching rotation through the mid to late-1960s, Sudden Sam McDowell was a six-time All-Star, won the ERA title in 1965 and led the league five times in strikeouts.  He was a superstar with the Indians, and his sneaky fastball contributed to eight seasons in a row with at least nine or more wins between 1964 and 1972.  His best season came in 1970 when he finished third in the American League Cy Young voting behind Jim Perry (#146) and Dave McNally (#340).  That season, McDowell went 20-12 with a 2.92 ERA over 305 innings pitched, which led the league.  He also led the league with 304 strikeouts, the second time in his career he had reached the 300 strikeout plateau in a season.  While he missed out on the Cy Young, The Sporting News named him their American League Pitcher of the Year.

McDowell struggled somewhat with his control throughout his career and those struggles intensified following the 1971 season when he demanded a trade from the Indians.  McDowell was dealt to the Giants for future Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry (#485) and the two pitchers' careers headed in opposite directions.  McDowell pitched briefly for the Yankees and Pirates before retiring.  He struggled with alcoholism before entering a rehabilitation facility and then eventually earning a college degree in sports psychology and addiction.  McDowell served as a sports addiction counselor with the Blue Jays and Rangers, earning a 1993 World Series ring with the Blue Jays.

Some text for this post originally appeared on my 1965 Topps blog.

Building the Set / Card #608
September 21, 2025 from The Philly Show (Vintage Sports)

On Sunday morning, September 21st, I made the hour-long drive to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania for the latest installment of the Philadelphia Sports Card & Memorabilia Show, known to its friends as The Philly Show.  The show has a legitimate official sponsor (eBay) and the advertisement for the event notes the show is in its 50th year.  I hadn't attended a baseball card show since the last Philly Show in December, and I was flying solo to this one as our oldest son is in his first month of college at Villanova.  I posted a full summary of the show over at The Phillies Room.

I made stops at six tables at the show, all yielding needed cards for our 1969 Topps set, and I left the show with just 16 more cards to go for my version of a complete set.  My second stop was the aptly named Vintage Sports table.  I always appreciate a dealer with clear signage explaining their pricing method, and Vintage Sports had a marker in their selection of 1969 Topps cards laying out that cards without a sleeve were $1 and cards with a sleeve were $2.  I had one "high number" in a sleeve, and that was a whopping $4. 

I found 28 commons needed before moving on to my third stop.  This was the 13th of 28 total cards bought from Vintage Sports, and the 49th of 91 cards for the set added overall on the day.  Sleeved, this card cost less than $2 after a dealer discount.

The Card / Indians Team Set / Accuracy Index +1

This same exact photo was used on McDowell's 1967 Topps card.  The back of the card highlights a few memorable events from the 1968 season - McDowell's 283 league-leading strikeouts and his scoreless inning in the All-Star Game.  He struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh, retiring Tom Haller (#310), Willie Mays (#190) and Willie McCovey (#440), as the American League won the game, 1-0.

Accuracy Index:  McDowell's card sinks to a +1 given the repeat photo.

Inserts:  McDowell is included as one of the 48 decals in the Topps Decals insert set.

1969 Season
From McDowell's SABR biography, written by Joseph Wancho: 

Heading into the 1969 season, McDowell was happy pitching for the Indians and his manager.  In spring training he was confident that the Tribe could contend for the pennant.   "As a strategist, [manager Al] Dark (#91) shows me things I never dreamed of before," he said.  "He has it all, and because he does, we’ve got a shot at the pennant this year - you better believe it."  But it did not turn out that way.  McDowell with an 18-14 record, led the team in victories and had a 2.94 ERA.  He led the league in strikeouts with 279.  But [Luis] Tiant (#560) finished with a record of 9-20, and led the league in losses.  (New Commissioner Bowie Kuhn had restored the 10-inch height of the pitching mound and shrunk the strike zone.)  Neither [Dick] Ellsworth (#605) nor [Juan] Pizarro (#498) [acquired in a preseason trade with the Red Sox] did much to help the staff.  On June 27, McDowell threw the 1,500th strikeout of his career, whiffing Yankees center fielder Ron Woods (#544).  But Sam’s prediction for the team fell flat; as they finished 46 1/2 games behind first place Baltimore.

1962 Topps #591

1967 Topps #295

1970 Topps #650

1973 Topps #511

1974 Topps #550

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1962 Topps #591
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (13):  1962-74
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2013 Panini Golden Age #71
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards:  161 in the Beckett online database as of 1/3/26.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia

Beckett Database / The Trading Card Database
1965 Topps Blog

#219 Freddie Patek - Pittsburgh Pirates / #221 Art Shamsky - New York Mets

#171 Glenn Beckert - Chicago Cubs

Glenn Alfred Beckert
Chicago Cubs
Second Base

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  190
Born:  October 12, 1940, Pittsburgh, PA
Signed:  Signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent before 1962 season
Major League Teams:  Chicago Cubs 1965-73; San Diego Padres 1974-75

Died:  April 12, 2020, Englewood, FL (age 79)

During his 11-year major league career, including nearly a decade with the Cubs, Glenn Beckert was a four-time All-Star and a Gold Glove winner in 1968.  He and Don Kessinger (#225) were the Cubs' steady double play combination for most of the 1960s.  Beckert's Gold Glove season saw him bat .294 with a league-leading 98 runs scored.  He'd make the first of four consecutive All-Star teams in 1969 and Beckert finished as the runner-up to the league's batting title in 1971 when he batted .342.  Tough to strike out, he led the league five times in at-bats per strike out.  Beckert spent the final two seasons of his career as a back-up infielder for the Padres in 1974 and 1975.  In 1,320 career games, he batted .283 with 685 runs scored and his 3,712 assists as a second baseman are currently 70th on the all-time list.  Beckert was among the many Cubs' immortals inducted into the inaugural Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame class in 2021.

Some text for this post originally appeared on my 1965 Topps blog.

Building the Set / Card #603
September 21, 2025 from The Philly Show (Vintage Sports)

On Sunday morning, September 21st, I made the hour-long drive to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania for the latest installment of the Philadelphia Sports Card & Memorabilia Show, known to its friends as The Philly Show.  The show has a legitimate official sponsor (eBay) and the advertisement for the event notes the show is in its 50th year.  I hadn't attended a baseball card show since the last Philly Show in December, and I was flying solo to this one as our oldest son is in his first month of college at Villanova.  I posted a full summary of the show over at The Phillies Room.

I made stops at six tables at the show, all yielding needed cards for our 1969 Topps set, and I left the show with just 16 more cards to go for my version of a complete set.  My second stop was the aptly named Vintage Sports table.  I always appreciate a dealer with clear signage explaining their pricing method, and Vintage Sports had a marker in their selection of 1969 Topps cards laying out that cards without a sleeve were $1 and cards with a sleeve were $2.  I had one "high number" in a sleeve, and that was a whopping $4. 

I found 28 commons needed before moving on to my third stop.  This was the 8th of 28 total cards bought from Vintage Sports, and the 44th of 91 cards for the set added overall on the day.  Unsleeved, this card cost less than $1 after a dealer discount - another absolute bargain.

September 9, 1969 - Beckert and the black cat

The Card / Cubs Team Set / Accuracy Index +1

Topps used the same exact photo as already seen on Beckert's 1967 card.  The back of the card highlights Beckert's accomplishments from the 1968 season, including his Gold Glove win and his 28-game hitting streak.

Accuracy Index:  Beckert's card slips to a rating of +1 due to the repeat photo.

1969 Season
Beckert suffered through a series of injuries throughout the season, including a likely concussion from an on-field collision with Mike Shannon (#110) in April, the effects of the flu that same month, a beaning resulting in 15 stitches on his chin on a pitch thrown by Gary Ross (#404) in May, and finally a severely jammed thumb on a collision with baserunner Tony Cloninger (#492) in May.  Beckert still managed to make the All-Star team, but a supposed curse from a black cat crossing Beckert's path on September 9th cost the Cubs at shot at the playoffs.  The Cubs had a 7 1/2 game lead with 40 games remaining to play, but eventually fell to the Mets in the division following the black cat incident.  Beckert played in 131 games, batting .291 with 22 doubles, a home run and 37 RBIs.

1965 Topps #549

1967 Topps #296

1972 Topps #45

1973 Topps #440

1975 Topps #484

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1965 Topps #549
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (11):  1965-1975
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  1993 Upper Deck All-Time Heroes #8
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards:  97 in the Beckett online database as of 1/1/26.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia

Beckett Database / The Trading Card Database
1965 Topps Blog

#170 Frank Howard - Washington Senators / #172 Jerry Stephenson - Boston Red Sox