Bill Bradley pin and cards

I don't like the nastiness of politics but I am fascinated by politicians, particularly those that run for President. That's what's behind my collection of campaign pins and Presidential biographies. The Bill Bradley pin is part of a big haul I pulled in recently. 

Bradley ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination in 2000. He served as U.S. Senator from New Jersey for three terms. He's an author, Air Force Reserve veteran, Rhodes scholar, radio host, Starbucks board member and investment bank partner. Busy guy. 

But this post ties into sports directly because Bill Bradley is also a former Princeton hoops star, NBA player with the NY Knicks, Basketball Hall of Famer, and timely because he was an Olympic basketball Gold Medal winner at the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo.

I have maybe a dozen Bradley basketball cards total. Here are two. The first one is a 1973 Topps. 

This one is from the 1983 Greatest Olympians set. Bradley looks very much like a young Johnny Carson in this one. 

Jim Bouton Upper Deck Game Worn

It's too bad they can't tell you which game(s) this jersey was worn in. I saw Jim Bouton pitch quite a few. I wouldn't have normally picked this up except it has a pinstripe on the material and I did see Bouton pitch. 

When I was playing Pony League baseball back in Nutley, New Jersey one of the guys on our team was Danny Bouton, who was either Jim's nephew or cousin. I don't remember much except he was good. And being related to a big leaguer didn't do anything to diminish his reputation. 

I'm in the middle of a trip back to New York City including a visit to my old hometown of Nutley. It was a great place to grow up in the 50s and 60s.