The first manager card invasion

 

I picked up some manager cards last month in a Twitter sale (I've decided I'm going to call that site "Twitter" until it dies). They were all from a period when I was not collecting, 2001 and 2002.

 

The 2001 ones are above, if you're as clueless about cards as I was then.

 

Here are the ones from 2002:

 

These are all very nice and most are brand-spanking new to me -- if I ever want to collect a set where every card is new-and-fascinating, well 2002 Topps is a good place to start. This period beginning in 2001, I believe, is the start of the third manager card invasion, which lasted until Topps booted managers to Heritage about 10 years ago and now they've whitewashed the job off of cards altogether, except for sporadic appearances in A&G and such.

 

But speaking of "manager card invasions," this made me remember the post I wrote about the "second manager card invasion," which was the 1980s (and into the early part of the '90s). In that post I wrote that I might tackle the FIRST manager card invasion.

 

Well, this is that time.

 

My knowledge of 1960s manager cards are that they are charmingly '60s. Obviously they're before my time with people at the position who played in the 1910s for heck's sake! But outside of a few examples -- mostly Walter Alston -- I didn't have a firm idea of what was what.

 

After going through them quickly, I realized that, yes, there are some great ones. Also there is a lot of repetition, from reusing the same photo, to the same themes repeated.

  

 According to Topps, managers were equipped with a hand glued to the side of their face and they were always, always SHOUTING. Shouting the live long day. "Won't the manager please just shut up?" players pleaded.

 

The "manager call" cards are a lot of fun and the first ones I thought of when starting this exercise. But there are so many of them that I tried to narrow that particular pose down to the very best examples. Sorry, Chuck, you didn't make it.

 

Just to set parameters, the first manager card invasion started in 1960 and continued through 1974. But I'm going to stick with the 1960s for time reasons.

 

Here now are my favorite 12 manager cards of the 1960s.

 

12. Ted Williams, 1969

On a different day, this card would be a lot higher, maybe even No. 1. The idea of Ted Williams as a manager is wild to me and I wasn't around to experience him as a player or even as a manager.

 

 

11. Johnny Keane, Cardinals

 

Here is some manager shouting!! Johnny Keane is really putting his back into this. Some poor umpire is getting slaughtered.

10. Harry Walker, 1966

A personal favorite thanks to it being one of the first manager night cards and a better night card it couldn't be -- look at that bank of lights. Walker KNOWS this is making a great card.

9. Wes Westrum, 1967

I know Wes Westrum as a crusty Giants manager from the 1970s, he looks positively youthful here as he cleans up after his messy players and sorts the bat rack.

 

 

8. Herman Franks, 1966

 

I enjoy the shouting cards where the manager is at a bit of a distance, gives you an idea of how far he's trying to project.

 

 

7. Billy Jurges, 1960

 

Lots to like about the 1960 manager cards and this is one of my favorites as you see Jurges casually propping a leg on the batting cage wheel. He's also wearing a glove, it isn't often you see today's manager wearing a glove.

 

 

6. Ralph Houk, 1962

Houk doesn't seem to be too into the yelling but I appreciate his ability to handle this while on one knee. Also is that Yogi in the background?

5. Sam Mele, 1965

Yeah, more close-up shouting, but this is the first card I think of when this type of manager card is mentioned. It's like the template of 1960s manager cards for me.

 

 

4. Joe Schultz, 1969

A long-time favorite just because it's got to hold the record for the widest expanse of chrome dome on a baseball card. You might be able to play a baseball game under that thing. And pound some Budweiser afterward.

3. Bill Rigney, 1963

Bill Rigney might have the best collective group of manager cards in the 1960s. He managed for just about the entire decade and some of his cards are great, this one is the best. Move back, outfield, your manager is telling you.

 

2. Walt Alston, 1962

I think we all know that Bat Rack photos are the greatest card photos of all-time. And I will put this one against any other. This is a phenomenal pose.

1. Casey Stengel, 1965

One of the most interesting/best cards of the entire decade. It sums up The Old Perfessor perfectly and I would love to know what well-told story he's telling.

This card, you likely know is not far off from Stengel's 1964 card.

I don't know which came first. Stengel looks a little more relaxed here but he's more animated in the 1965 shot and that's why I like that one better.

So there are 12 favorite manager cards from the first invasion. I admit I didn't know what to do with this great card:

The Cubs were pretty adamant at the time that they didn't want a manager. Instead there was a "college of coaches" and in the 1965 set Bob Kennedy is the "head coach". So does he belong in the list of manager cards?

It's a terrific picture, it captures the Cubs confusion from the time. He sure does look puzzled!

So there you are. I might do a post on the third manager invasion at some point. I don't think it'll be as interesting as the '60s or '80s periods though.

And, as always, bring back manager cards!!! Yes, this is me with my hand to my cheek YELLING!