1960 Johnny Callison

When I was a little bitty kid, probably about 1958/59 I decided that I was going to be different than my Dad. Not that I didn't love him, I just didn't want to be another in a gaggle of Yankee fans. So, after about three minutes of thought, I settled on the Orioles as 'my' team. I had been born there and nobody I knew was an Oriole fan so I figured it was a perfect match. And I've been an Oriole fan for over fifty years now.

But I was also aware that there were two leagues so I figured it would be OK to have a favorite team over in the National League as well. I chose the Phillies. I have absolutely no recollection as to why. But the Phillies it was. And for those few years that I actually was a Phils fan, i.e. till about 1965 or so, Johnny Callison was my favorite Phillie. 

I don't know if it was because he was their best player. Maybe I just thought he was cool. My infatuation with the Phils lasted until Sandy Koufax won me away and the Dodgers became my #2 team. 

Anyway, here is one of my favorite players from one of my favorite sets, the 1960 Johnny Callison. I think I picked this up in a vintage card draft that Crinkly Wrappers (retired blogger) ran. The bonus is that Callison is wearing his terrific 'red outlined letters' White Sox hat and the Yankee Stadium scoreboard is in the background.