Gambo and T_Wil1 Photopack

[bearman14]

Orlando Alvarez LA DODGERS

[bearman14]

Porfi Altamirano Plillies

[bearman14]

Brian Allard TEXAS RANGERS

[bearman14]

Bill Almon MONTREAL EXPOS

[brandigirl67]

I have been looking for a picture of Casey Stengel during his tenure with the Pittsburgh Pirates for a long time. I finally came across one in a Boston Post newspaper dated July 19, 1919 that was for sale on ebay. The accompanying story about Stengel reveals that he hated playing for the Pirates. If this is true, it kind of changes my thinking about Stengel.

[Expos 1969-2004]

Wilfredo Cordero, Reid Cornelius, Bryan Eversgerd and Jeff Fassero.

(This is the only color picture I have of Eversgerd in Expos uniform...)

[Expos 1969-2004]

Image published in 1993

[FatJack]

Remember these guys?

Merkle posted that image here back in October, asking (a la Jerry Seinfeld) "Who are these people?"

I had occasion, recently, to speak with Ray Apple--probably the first player the Mets ever signed back in 1961. He'd seen a custom card of him I'd done and posted at Baseball Birthdays and was interested to know where I'd found the picture, etc. (ebay, btw).

Ray was a hard throwing right-hander out of Ohio State (who played on the legendary OSU basketball team that went 27-0 in 1960-61--a team that featured John Havlicek, Jerry Lucas, and a young Bobby Knight). Several teams were interested, but the Mets scout (Lloyd Gearhart) convinced him the Mets would be his quickest path to the majors. He was rolling along in 1963--10-4 between two clubs--and the Senators were trying hard to get his rights. Then, starting a game in cold weather in Toronto, he heard a snap as he threw a curve. And, well, you know...rotator cuff. And Tommy John surgery hadn't been invented yet.

So Ray spent some time talking to me and I figured, since he was there, maybe he could identify our mystery Mets. So I emailed him the image.

He quickly dismissed the speculation of Hamilt and Fitzpatrick, who he knows. Then he said that those guys (in Merkle's picture) were NOT at Spring Training in 1962. He believes the picture is from the winter Instructional League. He doesn't recognize the guy on the right, but he believes the one on the left is John Bukowski (well, he said "John Bysckowski", but he also said "check that spelling" and John Bukowski is the only one close who had an affiliation with the Mets in that era).

So, maybe a bit anti-climatic for some who are out there now going "Who?" But, if you track John Bukowski down, maybe he can tell you who the other one is.

[Merkle923]

This is Bukowski at spring training with the Mets in '63. I don't see the resemblance.

Also: the photo is from a collection taken at '62 Spring Training (Sherman Jones, Gus Bell, other guys who were only at the one camp), and additionally, Bukowski was Houston property until drafted by the Mets in December '62. His presence with a Mets' winter instructional league is uncertain at best.

[FatJack]

Originally Posted by Merkle923

This is Bukowski at spring training with the Mets in '63. I don't see the resemblance.

Also: the photo is from a collection taken at '62 Spring Training (Sherman Jones, Gus Bell, other guys who were only at the one camp), and additionally, Bukowski was Houston property until drafted by the Mets in December '62. His presence with a Mets' winter instructional league is uncertain at best.

Hey, all I can tell you is what he told me. I wasn't at Spring Training 1962. He was. He says they weren't. He was also at the winter instructional league. I wasn't there, either.

[Merkle923]

Lefthanded pitcher. The player (on the left) Apple thinks was Bukowski is clearly wearing the glove on the left hand.

[Merkle923]

You don't see these guys too often - unloaded by Toronto on May 9 and July 16, 1977 respectively: Steve Hargan and Bill Singer.

[Braves70]

5 San Diego Padres from the first years


Walt Hriniak (1969 Topps Vault) / Bobby Klaus (1969 Topps Vault) / Steve Huntz (1970 Topps Vault) / Al Ferrara (1970 Topps Vault) / Pat Dobson (1970 Photo)

[Braves70]

Boston Red Sox 1970-71


Dick Mills (1970 Topps Vault) / Tony Muser (1970 Topps Vault) / Ben Oglivie (1971 Topps Vault) / Phil Gagliano (1971 Topps Vault) / Sonny Siebert (1971 Topps Vault)

[FatJack]

Originally Posted by Merkle923

Lefthanded pitcher. The player (on the left) Apple thinks was Bukowski is clearly wearing the glove on the left hand.

OK, well that's MY fault. I never knew my right from my left. The fat guy--the guy on the RIGHT--is the one he thought was Bukowski. The skinny right-hander--on the left--he didn't recognize. That's MY screw-up, not Ray's.

Here's his actual quote: "I believe that the guy on the right is John Bysckowski. You might check that spelling. I believe that picture may have been in 1963 winter instruction league. It was not 1962 spring training."

You know, you could just say you don't agree and move on.

[Expos 1969-2004]

Luis (Antonio) Rivera played 3 years for the Expos (1986-88).
He wore number 12 in 1987 and 1988.
Slide from an eBay lot.

[FatJack]

1977 New York Mets

One game. Two pictures.

[tnfoto]

Facepack upgrade, pictured with the 1897 Buffalo Bisons.

[tnfoto]

Facepack upgrade, pictured with the 1897 Buffalo Bisons.

[jeffersons34n2]

Originally Posted by Merkle923

You don't see these guys too often - unloaded by Toronto on May 9 and July 16, 1977 respectively: Steve Hargan and Bill Singer.

These are very nice...would like to see my dad's image like this.