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Joseph Richard Jay
Cincinnati Reds
Pitcher
Born: August 15, 1935, Middletown, CT
Signed: Signed by the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent, June 23, 1953
Major League Teams: Milwaukee Braves 1953-1955, 1957-1960; Cincinnati Reds 1961-1966; Atlanta Braves 1966
Joey Jay was a successful National League pitcher for 13 seasons, compiling a lifetime record of 99-91 and earning an All-Star game berth in his best season, 1961. A bonus baby with the Braves, Jay made his big league debut in 1953 at the age of 17, pitching a rain-shortened, seven-inning complete game shutout.
He was a 21-game winner in 1961, his first with the Reds, and he started Games 2 and 5 for the N.L. pennant winners against the powerhouse Yankees. Jay was fantastic in Game 2, throwing a complete game victory, and allowing two runs on four hits. He was roughed up in the decisive Game 5, lasting just 2/3 of an inning in a game the Yankees would ultimately win, 13-5 to clinch the championship.
He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2008.
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Acquired Circa 1981 - Card #1
For reasons that have been completely lost over time, my Dad brought home this Joe Jay card one day in either 1981 or 1982. I had recently become an active baseball card collector, opening as many packs as I could of the new Topps, Donruss and Fleer releases thanks to the generosity of my Dad and my Pop-Pop. Neither ever exited a Wawa without buying a pack of cigarettes for themselves and a pack of baseball cards for me.
The entirety of my baseball card collection was housed inside a now-falling-apart vinyl Sports Locker Card Case with each compartment designated for one of the then 26 teams, multi-player cards or checklists. The Phillies cards quickly broke through their compartment and had to be moved to a bigger box. But the other teams, including this Jay card, were secured safely inside for the first few years of my new obsession - baseball card collecting.
Jay was one of a trio of completely disconnected cards my Dad purchased somewhere in either 1981 or 1982 and added to my new collection - the others being a 1959 Topps Jim Busby with the right top corner missing and a 1961 Topps Juan Pizarro, which I vaguely recall he purchased because Pizarro's last name was similar to ours. My Dad was coaching my Little League team at the time, and I remember him telling me Jay had been the first Little League player to make it to the big leagues. These three cards were ancient in my mind and I handled them as if they may crumble to dust if they weren't treated gently. If my Dad were around today, I'd love to ask him if he remembers where and more importantly why he had bought these particular three cards. A few years later, the Magic Shoebox entered my life and I originally told that story in a blog post in 2011.
So recently, when I decided the 1965 Topps set would be the next set I'd be collecting, I also decided this slightly beat up Jay card would be the symbolic first card in our set. The rest of the cards we gather will be in much better shape than this, but given that this random baseball card has been a cornerstone in my collection since the beginning, it's only fitting it be the first of the other 597 1965 Topps cards that will soon join it.
The Card
Jay is shown wearing a Reds home uniform in the style worn by the team between 1961 and 1966. On the back of the card, it's odd that Topps would highlight the 17 games Jay won with the Wichita Braves in 1957 when he had been a 21-game winner twice since then with the 1961 and 1962 Reds.
1965 Season
Jay went 9-8 for the Reds, appearing in 37 games and making 24 starts. The Reds, managed by former Phillies great Dick Sisler (#158), finished in fourth place in the N.L. with a record of 93-69.
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First Mainstream Card: 1954 Topps #141
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (11): 1954-1955, 1958-1966
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1994 Topps Archives 1954 #141
71 - Jay non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 11/2/19.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
In some cases, the first and last cards listed above are subjective and chosen by me if multiple cards were released within the same year. Most recent mainstream card may also be subjective and does not include extremely low serial numbered cards, buybacks or cut autograph cards.
Prior Card: #173 Detroit Tigers Team Card
Next Card: #175 Bob Aspromonte - Houston Astros
Joey Jay finished his career pitching in the Phillies' organization in 1967. He has a page in the 1967 yearbook, but did not make the team.
ReplyDeleteLink to Joey Jay in the 1967 Phillies' yearbook.
ReplyDeleteI never knew this and thank you for sharing!
ReplyDelete