[Merkle923]

A 27-year old rookie first baseman already with his third organization, Jim Campbell made the Cardinals' 1970 Opening Day roster. He pinch-hit thirteen times, got three singles, and was then sent back to the minors on May 13 when Mike Shannon was activated after his first bout with the near-fatal kidney ailment that would end Shannon's playing career that August (and send him to the Cardinal booth in 1972).

Campbell would be retired by then, too. He was a true minor league slugger in the Phillies, Orioles, Cards and Red Sox systems: three 20-homer campaigns, 127 total over 10 campaigns, and 101 RBI in just 128 games in the Pioneer League in 1963.

Topps managed to shoot him in Spring Training and at Shea Stadium and one of the negatives was sold via Topps Vault. They made the curious choice to leave him off the three-man Cardinals Rookies 7th Series card even though one of the players they did include - Reggie Cleveland - didn't make his 1970 debut until August.

I've never seen these Braces before, and they're pretty good.