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Clay Palmer Carroll
Milwaukee Braves
Pitcher
Born: May 2, 1941, Clanton, AL
Signed: Signed by the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent before 1961 season
Major League Teams: Milwaukee Braves 1964-1965; Atlanta Braves 1966-1968; Cincinnati Reds 1968-1975; Chicago White Sox 1976; St. Louis Cardinals 1977; Chicago White Sox 1977; Pittsburgh Pirates 1978
Philip Henry Niekro
Milwaukee Braves
Pitcher
Born: April 1, 1939, Blaine, OH
Signed: Signed by the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent, July 19, 1958
Major League Teams: Milwaukee Braves 1964-1965; Atlanta Braves 1966-1983; New York Yankees 1984-1985; Cleveland Indians 1986-1987; Toronto Blue Jays 1987; Atlanta Braves 1987
Died: December 26, 2020, Flowery Branch, GA (age 81)
Hall of Fame Induction: 1997
Clay Carroll pitched for 15 seasons in the majors, going to the All-Star Game twice in 1971 and 1972 and winning a World Series ring with the Reds. A reliable reliever throughout his career, Carroll twice led the league in appearances and led the league in saves with 37 in 1972, winning The Sporting News Fireman of the Year honors. He helped the Reds reach the postseason in 1970, 1972, 1973 and 1975, with the Big Red Machine winning it all in 1975. Carroll was a postseason star for the Reds, appearing in 22 games and going 4-2 with a 1.39 ERA over 32 1/3 innings. His 486 games pitched for Cincinnati is currently third on their all-time list behind Scott Sullivan with 494 and Pedro Borbon with 531. For his career, Carroll owned a 96-73 record with a 2.94 ERA and 143 saves, currently 94th on the all-time list. He was inducted in the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1980.
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| 1982 Donruss #10 |
Niekro combined with his brother Joe for 539 career wins, the most by two siblings in baseball history. He retired at the age of 48 after re-signing and starting one last game for the Braves on September 27, 1987. Niekro's career numbers rank him among the all-time leaders, as he went 318-274 with a 3.35 ERA and 3,342 strikeouts over 864 games, including 716 starts and 5,404 innings pitched. His #34 was retired by the Braves in 1984, and he was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in 1997.
Building the Set
December 30, 2020 from Tomball, TX - Card #218
This was a pure impulse buy, purchased the afternoon Niekro passed away, the day after Christmas. Browsing eBay auctions for a card in decent shape and at a reasonable price, I clicked Buy It Now on this card for sale by The Battersbox, located in Tomball, Texas. Almost a year prior to this purchase, I had acquired the Don Larsen card (#389), along with the card for manager Al Lopez (#414) from The Battersbox on the day Larsen passed away. 2020 was a brutal year for losing Hall of Famers.
The Card / Braves Team Set
While this is Carroll's rookie card, it's not the rookie card for Niekro as he also appeared on a 1964 Topps Rookie Stars card with Phil Roof (#537). The photos used for both Niekro's 1964 and 1965 cards appear to be the same, but reversed. Topps does a nice job on the back of this card attributing Niekro's early success to his knuckleball.
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Carroll
First Mainstream Card: 1965 Topps #461
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (14): 1965-1978
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1978 Topps #615
57 - Carroll non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 2/8/21.
Sources - Carroll:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
Wikipedia
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Niekro
First Mainstream Card: 1964 Topps #541
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (25): 1964-1988
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2020 Topps x Super 70s Sports Happening Hairdos #HH-4
771 - Niekro non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 2/8/21.
Sources - Niekro:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
National Baseball Hall of Fame
SABR
The Trading Card Database
Wikipedia
Previous Card: #460 Richie Allen - Philadelphia Phillies
Building the Set
December 30, 2020 from Tomball, TX - Card #218
This was a pure impulse buy, purchased the afternoon Niekro passed away, the day after Christmas. Browsing eBay auctions for a card in decent shape and at a reasonable price, I clicked Buy It Now on this card for sale by The Battersbox, located in Tomball, Texas. Almost a year prior to this purchase, I had acquired the Don Larsen card (#389), along with the card for manager Al Lopez (#414) from The Battersbox on the day Larsen passed away. 2020 was a brutal year for losing Hall of Famers.
The Card / Braves Team Set
While this is Carroll's rookie card, it's not the rookie card for Niekro as he also appeared on a 1964 Topps Rookie Stars card with Phil Roof (#537). The photos used for both Niekro's 1964 and 1965 cards appear to be the same, but reversed. Topps does a nice job on the back of this card attributing Niekro's early success to his knuckleball.
1965 Season - Carroll
Carroll began the season with Milwaukee but was sent down on June 1st, and returned in early August. He appeared in 19 games with the Braves, going 0-1 with a 4.41 ERA and a save. With the Atlanta Crackers, the Braves' top farm team, Carroll made 13 starts and went 3-6 with a 2.42 ERA over 93 innings pitched.
Carroll began the season with Milwaukee but was sent down on June 1st, and returned in early August. He appeared in 19 games with the Braves, going 0-1 with a 4.41 ERA and a save. With the Atlanta Crackers, the Braves' top farm team, Carroll made 13 starts and went 3-6 with a 2.42 ERA over 93 innings pitched.
1965 Season - Niekro
Niekro was used primarily as a reliever in 1965, despite what the back of this card says. He appeared in 41 games, making just one start, and had a 2-3 record with a 2.89 ERA over 74 2/3 innings pitched. He collected his first win and his first career hit on May 13th.
Niekro was used primarily as a reliever in 1965, despite what the back of this card says. He appeared in 41 games, making just one start, and had a 2-3 record with a 2.89 ERA over 74 2/3 innings pitched. He collected his first win and his first career hit on May 13th.
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Other Notable Baseball Cards - Carroll
First Mainstream Card: 1965 Topps #461
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (14): 1965-1978
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1978 Topps #615
57 - Carroll non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 2/8/21.
Sources - Carroll:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
Wikipedia
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Niekro
First Mainstream Card: 1964 Topps #541
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (25): 1964-1988
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2020 Topps x Super 70s Sports Happening Hairdos #HH-4
771 - Niekro non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 2/8/21.
Sources - Niekro:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
National Baseball Hall of Fame
SABR
The Trading Card Database
Wikipedia
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Next Card: #462 Lew Krausse - Kansas City Athletics
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