#504 6th Series Checklist 513-588 / Brooks Robinson

It's Valentine's Day as I compose this post, and I can't think of anything more romantic than a baseball card checklist.  I kid, of course, and I'm taking a break from work on a Saturday in an attempt to keep this blog up to date as it chugs towards its conclusion.  Similar to where I was when I wrote about the 7th Series checklist (#582) back in October, we're 16 cards away from a complete 1969 Topps set, and the goal is to complete the set in 2026.  I've been good at keeping up a somewhat regular posting schedule here, on my new 1955 Bowman blog and my occasionally neglected 1934-36 Diamond Stars blog.  The latter should/could wrap up in 2026 as well, as long as I can find the last two cards needed for my set, including the pricey Hank Greenberg card.

Phillies spring training has started in Clearwater, but the snow and ice from almost a month ago is still piled up outside our house.  It was a brutal January, a better February and I'm hoping for a calmer March.

Once the Phillies season begins in earnest, and as I turn my attention to the daily exercise of posting game recaps, a hobby I thoroughly enjoy, my set building blogs could get less attention.  With the hope of wrapping up this blog and my Diamond Stars blog in the coming months, I need to start to plan what's next.  I've already unofficially started collecting cards for a 1959 Topps set build, but I don't want to neglect the 1960s, and committing to collecting the 1966 Topps set seems like a logical next step.  We shall see.

I continue to be grateful for my health, my family's health, and the ability to spend time each week writing about old baseball cards.

Building the Set / Card #633

September 21, 2025 from The Philly Show (Niagara Sports Cards)

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 third stop was a smaller table with the impossible to pass up offer of 1969 Topps commons that were only $1, unless marked.  The binder was right at the end of the table, making it an even easier sell.  The prices on some of the cards were stunningly low, so I was even more surprised when the dealer, Niagara Sports Cards, gave me an even deeper discount upon tallying up my total.

I found 12 cards needed from Niagara Sports Cards, and this was the 11th of those 12, and the 74th of 91 cards for the set added overall on the day.  The card was marked at $10, but I paid a little over $7 for it after the bulk dealer discount was applied. 

The Card / Orioles Team Set / Checklists

Brooks Robinson (#550) is likely the biggest name to appear in the set's sixth series, nudging out Willie Stargell (#545) for the cameo spot on the front of the card.  Nolan Ryan (#533) would eventually surpass them both, but in 1969 he had yet to throw any of his seven no-hitters, and he was only 139 strikeouts in to a career that would eventually lead him to strike out an all-time record of 5,714.  

I found it funny that Topps couldn't seem to fit in Yankees Rookies for card #519, shortening it instead to "Yank Rookies."  Robinson appears three times in the set, a base card, an All-Star card (#421) and this checklist card.

#503 Larry Brown - Cleveland Indians / #505 Bobby Bolin - San Francisco Giants

#250 Frank Robinson - Baltimore Orioles

Frank Robinson
Baltimore Orioles
Outfield

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  183
Born:  August 31, 1935, Beaumont, TX
Signed:  Signed by the Cincinnati Reds as an amateur free agent before 1953 season
Major League Teams:  Cincinnati Reds 1956-65; Baltimore Orioles 1966-71; Los Angeles Dodgers 1972; California Angels 1973-74; Cleveland Indians 1974-76

World Series Appearances:  Cincinnati Reds 1961; Baltimore Orioles 1966, 1969-71
As a Manager:  Cleveland Indians 1975-77; San Francisco Giants 1981-84; Baltimore Orioles 1988-91; Montreal Expos 2002-04; Washington Nationals 2005-06
Died:  February 7, 2019, Los Angeles, CA (age 83)
Hall of Fame Induction:  1982

Frank Robinson was the first player to win the MVP Award in both National and American Leagues, winning the honor in 1961 with the Reds and then in 1966 in his first season with the Orioles.  Robinson won National League Rookie of the Year honors with the Reds in 1956 and was a six-time All-Star with the club before a blockbuster deal sent him to Baltimore.  Robinson won the Triple Crown in 1966 and led the Orioles to their first World Series title that season, winning World Series MVP honors in the process.  He led the Orioles to their second World Championship title in 1970.  In 21 seasons, Robinson was a 14-time All-Star, batting over .300 nine times and hitting at least 30 home runs in 11 seasons.  When he retired, his 586 career home runs ranked fourth on the all-time list.  Robinson collected 2,943 career hits to go along with 1,812 career RBIs.

In 1975, he was named a player-manager for the Indians, becoming the first black manager in Major League Baseball history.  Although he was named Manager of the Year in 1989, he never guided a team to the postseason.  Robinson was the final manager in Expos history and the first manager for the Nationals after the team had relocated to Washington, and he retired following the 2006 season with a career 1,065-1,176 record.  He was a first ballot Hall of Famer in 1982, and his #20 has been retired by the Orioles, Reds and Guardians.

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

Building the Set / Card #626

September 21, 2025 from The Philly Show (Niagara Sports Cards)

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 third stop was a smaller table with the impossible to pass up offer of 1969 Topps commons that were only $1, unless marked.  The binder was right at the end of the table, making it an even easier sell.  The prices on some of the cards were stunningly low, so I was even more surprised when the dealer, Niagara Sports Cards, gave me an even deeper discount upon tallying up my total.

I found 12 cards needed from Niagara Sports Cards, and this was the fourth of those 12, and the 67th of 91 cards for the set added overall on the day.  The card was marked at $25, but I paid a little over $18 for it after the bulk dealer discount was applied.

The Card / Orioles Team Set / Accuracy Index +5

Topps used a wildly off center photo for the card, but I guess it kind of works?  There's a lot of blue sky behind Robinson, so I still would have cropped it a little differently.  Topps reprinted the card in its 2001 Topps Through the Years insert set.  His impressive multi-league MVP wins are highlighted in the write-up on the back of the card.

Accuracy Index:  Robinson's card scores an off center +5.

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

1969 Season
From his SABR biography, written by Maxwell Kates: 

As the Orioles were poised for greatness in 1969, their catalyst was once again Frank Robinson.  Proving himself as a comeback player, he batted .308 while driving in 100 runs and hitting 32 homers, including 12 in April.  Off the field Robinson developed a way to perpetuate team chemistry while keeping his teammates relaxed.  Capitalizing on the television success of Laugh-In, Robinson established a clubhouse kangaroo court, proclaiming himself "da Judge."  Wearing a robe and a mop for a wig, Robinson levied fines for "crimes" such as missing the team bus, missing the cutoff man, or wearing running shoes in public.  As writer Ted Patterson remembered, only Robinson could have got away with saying "Stand up, Earl [Weaver]. (#516) Oh, you are standing."  The Orioles donated the proceeds of the 1969 kangaroo court fines to Cincinnati catcher Pat Corrales (#382), whose wife had died that summer giving birth to her fourth child.

Despite 109 regular-season wins and Robinson’s home run in the fifth game, Baltimore lost the 1969 World Series to the Miracle New York Mets.

1957 Topps #35

1961 Topps #360

1967 Topps #100

1975 Topps #580

2006 Topps #295

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1957 Topps #35
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (33):  1957-77, 1983-84, 1986, 1988-91, 2002-06
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2024 Topps Dynamic Duals Ripple Effect #RE-05
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards:  2,422 in the Beckett online database as of 2/1/26.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia

National Baseball Hall of Fame
Beckett Database / The Trading Card Database
1965 Topps Blog

#249 Ed Spiezio - San Diego Padres / #251 Ron Herbel - San Francisco Giants

#15 Boog Powell - Baltimore Orioles

John Wesley Powell
Baltimore Orioles
First Base

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'4"  Weight:  230
Born:  August 17, 1941, Lakeland, FL
Signed:  Signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent before 1959 season
Major League Teams:  Baltimore Orioles 1961-74; Cleveland Indians 1975-76; Los Angeles Dodgers 1977

World Series Appearances:  Baltimore Orioles 1966, 1969-71

Slugger Boog Powell helped lead the Orioles to their first two World Championship titles in 1966 and 1970, while also winning MVP honors in 1970.  Powell was a four-time All-Star, finishing in the top ten in the American League for batting average three times and in the top ten for both home runs and RBIs in seven different seasons.  While he never led the league in either category, he cleared the 30 home run plateau four times and drove in over 100 runs three times.  During his MVP campaign of 1970, Powell batted .297 with 35 home runs and 114 RBIs, a few short in each category from his 1969 career highs (37 home runs with 121 RBIs).

After two seasons in Cleveland and a brief stint with the Dodgers late in his career, Powell retired in 1977 after 2,042 games.  He had a lifetime .266 average with 339 home runs and 1,187 RBIs.  His 303 home runs with the Orioles are third on their all-time franchise list behind Cal Ripken (431) and Eddie Murray (343).  Powell was elected into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame in 1979 and throughout the early 1990s and 2000s, he could be found at Boog's Barbecue on game days, a highly recommended stop if you ever visit Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

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

Building the Set / Card #624

September 21, 2025 from The Philly Show (Niagara Sports Cards)

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 third stop was a smaller table with the impossible to pass up offer of 1969 Topps commons that were only $1, unless marked.  The binder was right at the end of the table, making it an even easier sell.  The prices on some of the cards were stunningly low, so I was even more surprised when the dealer, Niagara Sports Cards, gave me an even deeper discount upon tallying up my total.

I found 12 cards needed from Niagara Sports Cards, and this was the second of those 12, and the 65th of 91 cards for the set added overall on the day.  True to its advertising, this card was stunningly less than a dollar after the discount.

The Card / Orioles Team Set / Accuracy Index +1

This is the first card in the set to repeat a photo collectors had already seen, as the same exact photo of Powell is used for his 1968 Topps card.  A lot of the cartoons used on the back of these cards are fairly basic, but this one genuinely made me chuckle.  His success in the 1966 World Series and his team-leading 22 homer runs in 1968 are highlighted in the write-up.  That's a low tally by today's standards, but 1968 is universally regarding as the Year of the Pitcher.

Topps reprinted this card in its 2002 Topps Archives set.

Accuracy Index:  Powell's card drops to +1 for the repeat photo usage.

1969 Season
From his SABR biography, written by Joseph Wancho: 

Powell had a great season in 1969, smacking 37 home runs and 25 doubles, and setting career marks in RBIs (121) and batting average (.304).  He was the American League’s starting first baseman in the All-Star Game.  He had an 18-game hitting streak from May 9 to May 30, falling two short of the club record set by Bob Nieman in 1956.  On August 16 at Sick’s Stadium in Seattle, he hit an inside-the-park home run off former teammate Steve Barber (#233).  He made only seven errors at first base.  "Boog has come so far in the last couple of years," said second baseman Dave Johnson (#203).  "He used to hug the line and just cover the bag four or five years ago, playing every hitter the same.  Now he’ll come off, allowing me to shade second."  After sweeping the Twins in the playoffs, the Orioles fell flat in the 1969 World Series, losing to the underdog New York Mets in five games.  Powell had a disappointing Series, hitting .263 with no extra-base hits and four strikeouts.

1962 Topps #99

1967 Topps #230

1970 Topps #410

1975 Topps #625

1977 Topps #206

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1962 Topps #99
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (16):  1962-77
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2020 Topps Update Decades' Best #DB-22
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards:  368 in the Beckett online database as of 2/1/26.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia

Beckett Database / The Trading Card Database
1965 Topps Blog

#14 Al McBean - San Diego Padres / #16 Giants Rookie Stars

#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

#203 Dave Johnson - Baltimore Orioles

David Allen Johnson
Baltimore Orioles
Second Base

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  170
Born:  January 30, 1943, Orlando, FL
Signed:  Signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent, June 2, 1962
Major League Teams:  Baltimore Orioles 1965-72; Atlanta Braves 1973-75; Philadelphia Phillies 1977-78; Chicago Cubs 1978

World Series Appearances:  Baltimore Orioles 1966, 1969-71
As a Manager:  New York Mets 1984-90; Cincinnati Reds 1993-95; Baltimore Orioles 1996-97; Los Angeles Dodgers 1999-00; Washington Nationals 2011-13
Died:  September 5, 2025, Sarasota, FL (age 82)

Davey Johnson was the everyday second baseman for the Orioles between 1966 and 1972, winning two World Series rings with the club in 1966 and 1970.  He made three All-Stars teams with the Orioles and won three Gold Gloves.  Traded to the Braves following the 1972 season, Johnson's power numbers exploded as he hit a career-high 43 home runs (42 as a second baseman) to go along with 99 RBIs.  His home run tally tied the record for second baseman set by Rogers Hornsby, and the record stood until 2021 when Marcus Semien hit 44 at the position.  Johnson, Darrell Evans and Henry Aaron (#100) all hit at least 40 home runs in 1973, making that Braves team the first with a trio of players to reach the mark.  Johnson spent the 1975 and 1976 seasons playing in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants.  He returned to the majors in 1977 with the Phillies and played two more seasons before retiring and beginning his managerial career.

From the 1978 Phillies Yearbook

Following several seasons as a minor league manager, Johnson was named the Mets manager for their 1984 season and he'd lead the club to their second World Series title in 1986.  Johnson would enjoy a lengthy managerial career, winning Manager of the Year honors twice - in 1997 with the Orioles, and in 2012 with the Nationals.  Johnson's career record as a manager was 1,372-1,071, ranking him 10th all time in winning percentage among all managers with at least 1,000 wins.  He was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame in 1997 and the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 2010.

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

Building the Set / Card #606
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 11th of 28 total cards bought from Vintage Sports, and the 47th of 91 cards for the set added overall on the day.  Unsleeved, this card cost less than $1 after a dealer discount - a surprisingly low price for a semi-star card from the set.

The Card / Orioles Team Set / Accuracy Index +5

This is Johnson's fifth appearance in a Topps flagship set, and he'd start to earn so-called Topps hero numbers (cards ending in 0s or 5s) in the 1970 Topps set.  The back of the card focuses on his success against the Dodgers in the 1966 World Series and his "skindiving" hobby.

Accuracy Index:  Johnson's card scores a solid +5.

1969 Season
Johnson spent his fourth season in a row as the Orioles' everyday second baseman.  From his SABR biography, written by Mark Armour: 

Johnson battled back woes in 1969, but still hit .280 with 34 doubles, his best offensive season to date.  He was selected to another All-Star Game, though he did not play, and won his first Gold Glove for his defensive play.  He did all this despite regular visits to the chiropractor and enough discomfort that he often could not sit down.  He hit just .231 in the playoff series with the Twins, and was just 1-for-16 in the World Series loss to the Mets.  "I'm still flabbergasted we lost," remembered Johnson decades later, "that destiny made all sorts of funky things happen.  Gusts of wind blowing balls back to their outfielders, [Ron] Swoboda’s (#585) diving catch, Al Weis hitting a home run; our winning just wasn’t meant to be."

Phillies Career - Johnson
Johnson joined the Phillies as a free agent in February 1977 after spending two seasons playing in Japan.  With Ted Sizemore (#552) and Larry Bowa as the regulars at second base and shortstop, Johnson was used in a utility role, appearing in 78 games overall with most of his time spent at first base.  Wearing uniform #15, he had a solid first year with the Phillies, batting .321 with eight home runs in his limited role.  He appeared in his final postseason game in 1977, starting at first base in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Dodgers and going 1 for 4 at the plate.  Johnson began the 1978 season on the bench again and slumped to a .191 average.  On August 6, 1978, the Phillies dealt him to the Cubs for pitcher Larry Anderson.  Overall, Johnson appeared in 122 games for the Phillies, batting .273 with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs.

1965 Topps #473

1971 Topps #595

1974 Topps #45

1986 Topps #501

2001 Topps #340

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1965 Topps #473
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (22):  1965-75, 1978-79, 1984-90, 1993, 2001
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2022 Topps Archives Fan Favorites Autographs #83FF-DJ
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards:  191 in the Beckett online database as of 1/2/26.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia

Beckett Database / The Trading Card Database
1965 Topps Blog / The Phillies Room

#202 Don Wilson - Houston Astros / #204 Jack Hiatt - San Francisco Giants

#141 Bill Dillman - Baltimore Orioles

Willliam Howard Dillman
Baltimore Orioles
Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  180
Born:  May 25, 1945, Trenton, NJ
Drafted:  Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 6th round of the 1965 amateur draft, June 8, 1965
Major League Teams:  Baltimore Orioles 1967; Montreal Expos 1970

A former Wake Forest Demon Deacon baseball player, Bill Dillman was drafted by the Orioles in 1965 and made his big league debut in 1967.  In 32 games with the Orioles that season, he was 5-9 with a 4.35 ERA, making 15 starts.  Dillman threw two complete games, including a shortened 6 2/3 inning shutout against the Indians on July 2nd.  He also saved three games that season.  Dillman spent the entire 1968 and 1969 seasons in the minors, and after a brief stay in the Cardinals' organization to start the 1970 season, he was traded to the Expos on May 5, 1970 for Carroll Sembera (#351).  Dillman's final 18 big league appearances, all in relief, came with the Expos that year.  He'd pitch in two more minor league seasons before retiring in 1972.  In 50 major league games, Dillman was 7-12 with a 4.54 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 154 2/3 innings pitched.

Building the Set / Card #599
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 4th of 28 total cards bought from Vintage Sports, and the 40th of 91 cards for the set added overall on the day. Unsleeved, this card cost less than $1 after a dealer discount.

The Card / Orioles Team Set / Accuracy Index +3

Topps must have felt good about Dillman's chances of making the Orioles out of spring training in 1969, even though he had spent all of 1968 in the minor leagues.  The back of the card references how his demotion the prior year was for Dillman to learn a new pitch to go along with his fastball and curve.

Accuracy Index:  Dillman earns a +5 for the accurate Orioles uniform, but loses two points as he didn't pitch with the club during the season.

1969 Season
With the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, Dillman was 5-6 with a 4.95 ERA in 41 appearances, including six starts.  He had eight saves on the season.  On December 5th, his contract was sold to the Cardinals.

1967 Topps #558

1968 Topps #466

1970 Topps #386

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1967 Topps #558
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (4):  1967-70
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2019 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #ROA-BD
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards:  14 in the Beckett online database as of 11/17/25.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference / Wikipedia

Beckett Database / The Trading Card Database

#140 Jim Lefebvre - Los Angeles Dodgers / #142 Woody Woodward - Cincinnati Reds

Blog Update:  As we hurtle excitedly toward the holiday season, I'll be pivoting from my Blog Workshop to Santa's Workshop.  Posts will likely be sporadic (or non-existent) for the remainder of the calendar year, with a goal of wrapping up the overall set build and this blog in 2026.  Thanks for following along, and I wish you, your family and your friends continued health and happiness this holiday season and for the new year!

#9 1968 A.L. Pitching Leaders - McLain / McNally / Tiant / Stottlemyre

Beginning in 1961, Topps started including league leader cards in its sets and there are 12 league leaders cards kicking off the 1969 Topps set.  League leader cards can be found at the beginning of each Topps set issued in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968 and 1969.

Building the Set / Card #560
September 21, 2025 from The Philly Show (America's Pastime)

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.  The first place I stopped was a table with well-organized and well-marked binders of commons and semi-stars with 20% Off notes across the front of each binder.  

I took my time and found 32 commons and semi-stars needed before asking to see the dealer's star cards from the set.  It turned out this first purchase was also my biggest, as I spent over half my allotted budget here, America's Pastime from Fair Lawn, New Jersey, before moving on to my second stop.  This was the first of 36 total cards bought from America's Pastime, and the first of 91 cards for set added overall on the day, and it cost a little over $3 after the dealer discount.

The Card / Tigers Team Set / Orioles Team Set / Indians Team Set / Yankees Team Set

This is the only League Leaders card in the set featuring four players.  Given the rarity of 20-game winners in today's game, it's still incredibly impressive to turn this card over and see 31 wins next to Denny McLain's (#150) name.  No one else was even close to him.  Dave McNally (#340) won his 22nd game on the penultimate day of the 1968 season, giving him sole possession of the card's middle panel.  

Luis Tiant (#560) and Mel Stottlemyre tied for third place with 21 wins each.  Tiant won his 21st in Indians' Game 160 on September 25th, and Stottlemeyre (#470) reached his 21st win in Yankees' Game 159 on September 24th.  There was enough room on the back of the card to highlight each American League pitcher with at least seven wins in 1968.  The eight tied with six wins, and omitted from the back of the card due to space constraints, were Steve Barber (#233), Gene Brabender (#393), Jim Lonborg (#109), Sparky Lyle (#311), Juan Pizarro (#498), Pete Richert (#86), Diego Segui (#511) and Joe Verbanic (#541).

#8 1968 N.L. ERA Leaders / #10 1968 N.L. Pitching Leaders