Willie Kirkland (#187)

I previously posted Willie Kirkland's 1966 card, so I won't say too much about him this time. I just thought this was a good look at the early-1960s Indians' caps. 

Kirkland was the regular right fielder for the Giants from 1958-60, and for the Indians from 1961-63. After leaving Cleveland he was mostly a backup outfielder. 

 

He was traded to the Orioles after the 1963 season, but by the following August was playing for the Senators, where he was the 4th or 5th outfielder, until getting his release after the 1966 season. 

 

After a season with the AAA Hawaiian Islanders, he played in Japan from 1968-73. 

 

Bob Buhl (#175)

Hey, remember me? The 1963 Topps blog? 

I posted Bob Buhl's final card on my 1967 Topps blog back in 2009, but that was a capless photo, and a scary one at that.

By 1967, most Phillies fans (including me) were giving Buhl little attention, because of his participation in the early-1966 trade that sent prospect Ferguson Jenkins to the Cubs for a pair of aging starting pitchers.

By then, Bob's career was winding down just as Jenkins began an 8-year stretch where he won 20 games 7 times, 2 All-Star berths, 1 Cy Young Award, and led the league in wins twice, complete games 4 times, and strikeouts once. The Phillies had their own in-house Steve Carlton, and let him get away!

So here is a photo of Buhl from better times. It's still a little scary, but at least Topps has him in full uniform.