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Merkle923 · 09-12-2015, 07:15 PM

Thanks for trying, but I saw the image. It's not Paul Speckenbach.

The Jhonny Richards story and Speckenbach's saga illustrate something that was quite common before the cut down to the 25-man roster was shifted from 30 days after the season opened, back to opening day. With all players who signed a bonus above a certain figure being immediately added to the 40-man roster, waivers were necessary to send them to the minors.

Many would be kept on the opening day 28-player roster and then sent down without having appeared in a big league game. The Dodgers not only lost Speckenbach that way in 1964, but another pitcher on the rookie card that also shows Jim Lefebvre in the 1965 set named Dennis Daboll also opened the year with L.A., never pitched, was sent out, claimed by the reds on waivers, and never appeared in the majors.

Lots of players you find on those late-series rookie cards of the '60s (like Jack McClure of the 1965 Astros) don't make sense until you understand the 28-Man roster, the May 15 cutdown day, and the first-year player/bonus rule.

09-12-2015, 07:15 PM	#26052
Merkle923 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 2,185	Thanks for trying, but I saw the image. It's not Paul Speckenbach. The Jhonny Richards story and Speckenbach's saga illustrate something that was quite common before the cut down to the 25-man roster was shifted from 30 days after the season opened, back to opening day. With all players who signed a bonus above a certain figure being immediately added to the 40-man roster, waivers were necessary to send them to the minors. Many would be kept on the opening day 28-player roster and then sent down without having appeared in a big league game. The Dodgers not only lost Speckenbach that way in 1964, but another pitcher on the rookie card that also shows Jim Lefebvre in the 1965 set named Dennis Daboll also opened the year with L.A., never pitched, was sent out, claimed by the reds on waivers, and never appeared in the majors. Lots of players you find on those late-series rookie cards of the '60s (like Jack McClure of the 1965 Astros) don't make sense until you understand the 28-Man roster, the May 15 cutdown day, and the first-year player/bonus rule.