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James Anthony Piersall
Los Angeles Angels
Outfield
Born: November 14, 1929, Waterbury, CT
Signed: Signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent before 1948 season
Major League Teams: Boston Red Sox 1950, 1952-1958; Cleveland Indians 1959-1961; Washington Senators 1962-1963; New York Mets 1963; Los Angeles Angels 1963-1965; California Angels 1966-1967
Died: June 3, 2017, Wheaton, IL (age 87)
Major League Teams: Boston Red Sox 1950, 1952-1958; Cleveland Indians 1959-1961; Washington Senators 1962-1963; New York Mets 1963; Los Angeles Angels 1963-1965; California Angels 1966-1967
Died: June 3, 2017, Wheaton, IL (age 87)
If you only know one fact about Jimmy Piersall, it should be this: On June 23, 1963, Piersall hit his 100th career home run of Phillies pitcher Dallas Green (#203) and circled the bases - first to home - while running backwards. Piersall battled personal demons throughout his career and eventually played in parts of 17 big league seasons, earning two All-Star Game berths and winning two Gold Gloves for his stellar center field defense. Given the tag of "spirited," Piersall had several run-ins with opposing players, teammates, umpires and his manager Lou Boudreau in 1952 before getting demoted to the minors. With his behavior increasingly erratic, he finally agreed to seek medical attention and was diagnosed with manic depression, which evolved into what we know today as bipolar disorder. He authored his autobiography, Fear Strikes Out, in 1955 which was made into a movie with Anthony Perkins starring as Piersall.
In between the ejections and the psychological struggles, Piersall appeared in 1,734 major league games and had a career .272 average with 104 home runs and 591 RBIs. He finished in the top ten in the American League for hits on three different occasions, and earned MVP votes in five different seasons. After retiring as a player, Piersall broadcast games for the Rangers and was paired with Harry Carey for White Sox games between 1977 and 1981. He served as a roving minor league outfield instructor for the Cubs between 1986 and 1999, and was a long-time radio personality in Chicago until his retirement in 2006.
Some text for this post originally appeared on my 1956 Topps blog.
April 17, 2021 from San Diego, CA - Card #256
With no in-person baseball card shows scheduled until at least June in my area, I've fallen into a pattern with my 1965 Topps set building. After adding a group of commons (say 10 to 20 cards) I then feel the need to add a few star cards as well. Back in the 1980s and 1990s when my Dad and I were actively building Topps sets, we'd follow a similar pattern when attending baseball card shows. I'd spend time hunched over a common box, picking out a stack of 1974 or 1976 or 1973 commons while my Dad would scour the showroom floor for deals on a few star cards. After adding 18 common and semi-star cards through eBay auctions in late March, I went directly to Kit Young Cards to offset those purchases with a few minor star card additions. This Piersall card was one of four 1965 Topps cards that arrived from San Diego in mid-April, and the card cost $6.
The Card / Angels Team Set
The photos used for Piersall's 1964, 1965 and 1967 Topps cards appear to have been taken at the same photo session. The back of the card smooshes the letters in Piersall's name to make room for all his major league statistics. Referencing him as a "popular and colorful" player, Topps highlights his six hit game from June 10, 1953 against the Browns. The big day at the plate raised his average 18 points from .252 to .274.
1965 Season
As a 35-year-old veteran, Piersall appeared in 53 games for the Angels, batting .268 with two home runs and 12 RBIs. Only 25 of those appearances were starts, with Piersall making 19 starts in left field, five starts in center field and one start in right field.
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First Mainstream Card: 1951 Bowman #306
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (12): 1956-1967
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2010 Topps Tales of the Game #TOG-10
131 - Piersall non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 4/26/21.
Sources:
1956 Topps Blog
Can you imagine if someone ran the bases backwards today? Brawls and yelling and screaming everywhere. I wonder what Dallas Green thought -- he was quite the no-nonsense manager, couldn't have been pleased.
ReplyDeleteSomething like this happening today would have been the topic of every sports-related show for a solid few weeks!
ReplyDeleteAnd from a 2013 article on Green's reaction: https://www.uticaod.com/article/20130616/BLOGS/306169964
"Upon hitting his milestone homer, Piersall ran the bases backwards. As a no-nonsense , direct individual, I was curious to bring this moment in Green’s pitching days up for reaction. ” When he ( Piersall ) was running the bases I was cursing him ”, Green,78, recalls. ” I told him ( Piersall ) that I would nail him the next time I would face him. Casey was smart to have taken him out of the game ”.
Green doubts a stunt such as Piersall’s running the bases backwards would fly today. He understands players ( not all ) like to showboat but what Piersall did just wouldn’t be accepted today. In Piersall’s case he did run correctly to first base, according to Dallas. However, after touching the bag, then Jimmy began his trot , from left to right, base to base."