Memorial Day Reprise.... Eddie Grant (T-205 Gold Border)

NOTE: Today being Memorial Day I thought I would reprint the post I made in each of the previous couple of years showing Eddie Grant, the first major league player to die in combat in the service of the United States.

The first major league player to die in the service of his country was Eddie Grant. With a law degree from Harvard he was quite unlike most of his contemporaries. It was said that instead of the usual "I got it!" called out when a player has a bead on a pop-up, Grant would shout "I have it!"

A native of Franklin, Massachusetts, he played 9 seasons of baseball with four different clubs, most notably the Phillies for whom he held down the regular third base job for most of four seasons, 1907 through 1910. Although only a .249 career hitter Grant nonetheless was able to lead the NL in singles in 1909 and 1910 and in hits overall in '09. A better fielder than hitter he finished near the top of several defensive categories when he was a regular.

Grant appeared in the 1913 World Series with the New York Giants as a pinch hitter and pinch runner. He left the game after the 1915 season to open a law practice in Boston.

He enlisted when his country called as we entered World War I in 1917. Wikipedia summarizes his Army service and the details of his death on the battlefield in France in 1918:

Grant was one of the first men to enlist when the United States entered World War I in April 1917, and he served as a Captain in the 77th Infantry Division. During the fierce battle of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, all of Grant's superior officers were killed or wounded, and he took command of his troops on a four-day search for the "Lost Battalion." During the search, an exploding shell killed Grant on October 5, 1918. He was the first Major League Baseball player killed in action in World War I. He was buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Lorraine, France.

This New York Times article (opens as a .pdf file) from October 22, 1918 relates the story in full.

I have the Eddie Grant T205 Gold Border (shown above) as well as his T206. The Gold Border cards are just a wonderful set and Grant's is a great portrait I think. Here are a few more pics and details from the life of Captain Eddie Grant found around the 'Net:

Here is the plaque that was installed in the Polo Grounds by the New York Giants to honor him.

It's position in the stadium is visible in this famous shot of Willie Mays' catch in the 1954 World Series. It's on the left under the 483 distance marker.

And finally, Eddie Grant's grave marker in Lorraine, France. R.I.P. and Thanks for making the ultimate sacrifice for freedom, Capt. Grant.

Memorial Day Reprise.... Eddie Grant

NOTE: Today being Memorial Day I thought I would reprint the post I made a year ago showing Eddie Grant, the first major league player to die in combat in the service of the United States. My usual 'Monday Morning Quarterback' post will run tomorrow.

The first major league player to die in the service of his country was Eddie Grant. With a law degree from Harvard he was quite unlike most of his contemporaries. It was said that instead of the usual "I got it!" called out when a player has a bead on a pop-up, Grant would shout "I have it!"

A native of Franklin, Massachusetts, he played 9 seasons of baseball with four different clubs, most notably the Phillies for whom he held down the regular third base job for most of four seasons, 1907 through 1910. Although only a .249 career hitter Grant nonetheless was able to lead the NL in singles in 1909 and 1910 and in hits overall in '09. A better fielder than hitter he finished near the top of several defensive categories when he was a regular.

Grant appeared in the 1913 World Series with the New York Giants as a pinch hitter and pinch runner. He left the game after the 1915 season to open a law practice in Boston.

He enlisted when his country called as we entered World War I in 1917. Wikipedia summarizes his Army service and the details of his death on the battlefield in France in 1918:

Grant was one of the first men to enlist when the United States entered World War I in April 1917, and he served as a Captain in the 77th Infantry Division. During the fierce battle of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, all of Grant's superior officers were killed or wounded, and he took command of his troops on a four-day search for the "Lost Battalion." During the search, an exploding shell killed Grant on October 5, 1918. He was the first Major League Baseball player killed in action in World War I. He was buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Lorraine, France.

This New York Times article (opens as a .pdf file) from October 22, 1918 relates the story in full.

I have the Eddie Grant T205 Gold Border (shown above) as well as his T206. The Gold Border cards are just a wonderful set and Grant's is a great portrait I think. Here are a few more pics and details from the life of Captain Eddie Grant found around the 'Net:

Here is the plaque that was installed in the Polo Grounds by the New York Giants to honor him.

It's position in the stadium is visible in this famous shot of Willie Mays' catch in the 1954 World Series. It's on the left under the 483 distance marker.

And finally, Eddie Grant's grave marker in Lorraine, France. R.I.P. and Thanks for making the ultimate sacrifice for freedom, Capt. Grant.

My Sloooooow Pursuit of the '64 Topps Giants Set

I've liked this set for a long time. I honestly don't remember seeing it back when it was fresh in 1964 but when I started hitting the hobby shows in the mid-to-late 70s and early 80s I picked up the three of Orioles that are included and then a few others. I thought they were neat cards. The fact that 1964 is right in my wheelhouse when it comes to being a baseball fan certainly adds to it's appeal to me. If you hadn't noticed I am partial to postcard sized collectibles and these of course fall under that umbrella. And finally I dig the fact that they are really inexpensive considering the star power throughout the checklist.

There was a time in my youth when the Phillies were a team I followed. Going to Shea Stadium with my friends and their fathers who were mostly National League fans I guess I felt I needed a team in that league to root for. The Phils' outfield with Johnny Callison, Wes Covington and Tony Gonzalez were fun and Callison remains a favorite to this day.

As for this set collection, I didn't do much about them for a very long time. I bought a lot of about ten a couple of years ago and never even took them out of the sleeves they were shipped in. Then about a year ago I decided to add a few here and there. The only card I can recall paying more than a buck or two for is the Koufax. And at the time I bought it I was buying more for the spot in my Koufax PC than the '64 Giant binder but it was nice to add in any case.

I still lack a few short prints and a few slightly pricier cards as well as some 'commons' but I'll knock off the last dozen or so that I need without too much angst.  If you've never seen the back of one of these take a peek at the Koufax.

Just in case anyone has any of these hanging around, here is my needs list:

• 11 BOB CLEMENTE
• 20 CHUCK HINTON
• 21 ELSTON HOWARD
• 25 MICKEY MANTLE
• 28 BOB FRIEND
• 42 DICK STUART
• 45 WAYNE CAUSEY
• 47 GALEN CISCO
• 49 HANK AARON
• 51 WILLIE MAYS
• 60 BILL SKOWRON

Here's Johnny!!

One of my 'slow and aimless' projects/collections centers around Johnny Callison. Unlike my Billy Pierce PC I don't even have a checklist of Callison cards. I keep the ones I have in a box on a shelf and when the mood strikes or I stumble across one cheap online I have to go though my little stack to see if I really need it.

When I began seriously following baseball Brooks Robinson quickly became my favorite player, and he remains so today. But I also followed the Phils, to a lesser extent than the Orioles to be sure but I followed them nonetheless. I guess it was just to have an National League team as my best friend was a fan of the Giants and my closest cousin was a Braves guy. I suppose I didn't want to be left out.

And I latched on to Johnny Callison pretty quickly. I'm not sure why. With Brooksie it was simple... he was THE guy on MY team, period. With Callison it might have been his 1960 Topps card which showed him wearing his cool S-O-X cap form his tenure with the White Sox posing in Yankee Stadium which was the only ballpark I knew at that point and yet ID'd him as a Phillie.

Our maybe it was that cool 1961 Callison. I picked one of those up a few weeks ago and I remembered it from back when it was new (or I think I did). Connie Mack Stadium looks pretty sharp behind him in that picture.

I know for sure I had a '63 Fleer Callison. I remember those cards creating a stir when they came out. I remember the cookie that came in the pack but unlike Topps' gum, I can't remember what it tasted like. They were really neat cards, though. I had quite a few. I've picked up some over the last few years but I doubt I'll ever try for the whole set. I did grab a Callison though.

Maybe, just maybe I was aware of just how suave Johnny Callison was and that's why I latched on to him. Heck, just look at how he latched on to that beauty in this publicity pic I found (and didn't buy) on eBay.

OK, so he isn't 'latched on'. You know he wanted to.

Eddie Grant... He made the Ultimate Sacrifice

The first major league player to die in the service of his country was Eddie Grant. With a law degree from Harvard he was quite unlike most of his contemporaries. It was said that instead of the usual "I got it!" called out when a player has a bead on a pop-up, Grant would shout "I have it!"

A native of Franklin, Massachusetts, he played 9 seasons of baseball with four different clubs, most notably the Phillies for whom he held down the regular third base job for most of four seasons, 1907 through 1910. Although only a .249 career hitter Grant nonetheless was able to lead the NL in singles in 1909 and 1910 and in hits overall in '09. A better fielder than hitter he finished near the top of several defensive categories when he was a regular.

Grant appeared in the 1913 World Series with the New York Giants as a pinch hitter and pinch runner. He left the game after the 1915 season to open a law practice in Boston.

He enlisted when his country called as we entered World War I in 1917. Wikipedia summarizes his Army service and the details of his death on the battlefield in France in 1918:

Grant was one of the first men to enlist when the United States entered World War I in April 1917, and he served as a Captain in the 77th Infantry Division. During the fierce battle of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, all of Grant's superior officers were killed or wounded, and he took command of his troops on a four-day search for the "Lost Battalion." During the search, an exploding shell killed Grant on October 5, 1918. He was the first Major League Baseball player killed in action in World War I. He was buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Lorraine, France.

This New York Times article (opens as a .pdf file) from October 22, 1918 relates the story in full.

I have the Eddie Grant T205 Gold Border (shown above) as well as his T206. The Gold Border cards are just a wonderful set and Grant's is a great portrait I think. Here are a few more pics and details from the life of Captain Eddie Grant found around the 'Net:

Here is the plaque that was installed in the Polo Grounds by the New York Giants to honor him.

It's position in the stadium is visible in this famous shot of Willie Mays' catch in the 1954 World Series. It's on the left under the 483 distance marker.

And finally, Eddie Grant's grave marker in Lorraine, France. R.I.P. and Thanks for making the ultimate sacrifice for freedom, Capt. Grant.

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.