Gambo and T_Wil1 Photopack

[Merkle923]

From the "used" department, the shot of the perpetual backup catcher Topps used on its Canadian card of him in 1977, which saw him finish his career with three games for Toronto.

[Merkle923]

A not very effective starter for the Padres and Angels who broke in very briefly with the '68 Cubs. There are three color images of him in a Chicago uniform: a fair Brace, an excellent McCarthy, and the shot Topps used on his rookie card (which I'm not convinced was taken by any of their photographers). Posted today was a "clean" version of that third image, below.

And since they weren't finished off upstream, here's the rest of the Friday uploads from Topps: 371-372 Tom Raponi (Detroit NRI 1977); 373-374 Merritt Ranew; 375-378 Bombo Rivera; 379-380 Jim Rittwage; 381-382 Doug Ritter; 383-384 Jay Ritchie; 385-386 Allen Ripley; 387-388 Jose Rios; 389-390 Jeff Rineer; 391-392 Del Rice; 393-394 Dennis Ribant; 395-396 Tommie Reynolds; 397-398 Ken Reynolds; 399-400 Craig Reynolds; 401-402 Archie Reynolds; 403-404 Ellie Rodriguez; 405-406 Eduardo Rodriguez; 407-410 Aurelio Rodriguez; (Used illustrations): 411 Jerry Robertson; 412 Bob Robertson; 413 Leon Roberts; 414 Dave A. Roberts; 415 Cookie Rojas; 416 Roberto Rodriguez; 417 Mike Ryan; 418-419 Ray Sadecki; 420 Reggie J. Sanders; 421 Rich Rollins; 422-423 Phil Roof; 424 Gary Ross; 425 Ken Rudolph; 426-427 Vern Ruhle; 428 Dick Ruthven; 429 Bill Russell; 430 Tim Salmon.

[Dto7]

Bill Batsch in a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform. Played in 1 game and had 1 AB in 1916.

[Buccos]

Oh boy, more Ralph Rickey images!

He may be the guy with the most Vault pics and zero MLB time.

Maybe Ron Mitchell.

[Dto7]

Ferdie Schupp in a St. Louis Cardinals uniform

[Dto7]

Ted Turner 1920 Chicago Cubs

[RUKen]

John McPherson 1901
After starting (and losing) one game as a pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics on July 12th, 1901, McPherson did not appear again in the major leagues until 1904. That season he was on the Phillies' roster (as he is pictured here), and in twelve starts and three relief appearances he compiled a won-lost record of 1-12; the one win was a shutout. In August his contract was sold to Toledo of the American Association and he never again played in the major leagues.

[Cusick]

I'm concluding that this was a pitcher by the name of Tom Raponi. Tom was a prospect from Queens, NY, who had starred with the St. John's University baseball team. He was a non-roster invitee with the Detroit Tigers in 1977.

The only two non-major leaguers I can discern in Tigers' spring camps whose surnames began with Ra... were Raponi and Jose Ramos. They were both southpaw pitchers. I only have a photo of Raponi at an advanced age, so it's not very useful for comparison. In looking at the Ramos, baseball card, it doesn't seem to be he. Besides, the marking on the Topps Vault player shoes says "RAP." Finally, the patch in the Topps Vault uniform suggests that 1977 would be the right era. Jose Ramos was on the Tigers spring roster in 1991.

Photos (L to R) are Topps Vault KA 372, Jose Ramos baseball card, and Tom Raponi at advanced age.

[Cusick]

Just found the following shot as one of Tom's profile photos on his Facebook page. Think this seals the deal in making comparisons with the above Topps Vault photo.

[Dto7]

Buddy Crump New York Giants...from 1926 newspaper.

[Pinetarpress]

Says Rap on his shoes too....i would think guys like him would love seeing these photos...

Why can't i find record of him on baseball reference?

Originally Posted by Cusick

Just found the following shot as one of Tom's profile photos on his Facebook page. Think this seals the deal in making comparisons with the above Topps Vault photo.

[Merkle923]

Fer crying out loud, he's general manager of Channel 25 in Boston. He just confirmed it's him, remembers the photo shoot, and says he's only been looking for those photos for 39 years (which is the typical and always heart-warming response when you reach one of these guys we just normally blow past as the bottomless pit of the Topps Vault spits out image after image).

Raponi was a St John's graduate in 1976 and says he was sent to Class-A ball (under manager Jim Leyland) and blew out his rotator cuff. With only electric stim available, he had nothing during his camp stay with the Tigers in '77 and was released at the end of Spring Training. He pitched some BP for the Yankees in 1978 and then went full time into television in '79.

Nice detective work, Mr. Cusick

[rlumpkin1@tampabay.rr.com]

anyone have photo's from 1969 spring training of the San Diego Padres?

[cinemaodyssey]

Pictured with the 1887 Oshkosh minor league team.

[cinemaodyssey]

Pictured with the 1887 Oshkosh minor league team. Not a great photo, but an option for those who don't want the line drawing image in the photopack.

[cinemaodyssey]

Pictured with the 1887 Oshkosh minor league team.

[cinemaodyssey]

Pictured with the 1887 Oshkosh minor league team.

[RUKen]

Frank Gatins 1898
Gatins appeared in 17 games as a shortstop for the Washington Senators in 1898, and then was out of the major leagues until 1901, when he made the roster of the Brooklyn Superbas (as he is pictured here). That season, Gatin appeared in 50 games for Brooklyn, primarily as a third baseman, before he was released on July 16th, ending his major league career. He continued in the minor leagues through 1909 and died in 1911.

[Dto7]

Paul Musser tryout with the 1918 Chicago White Sox

[rrb77]

1926 NY Yankees ...walked in only PA ... RMY Auctions