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Thomas Eugene Davidson
Cincinnati Reds
Pitcher
Born: October 4, 1939, Las Vegas, NV
Signed: Signed by the Cincinnati Reds as an amateur free agent before 1960 season
Major League Teams: Cincinnati Reds 1965-1968; Atlanta Braves 1968
Died: September 1, 2006, Bullhead City, AZ (age 66)
Tommy Vann Helms
Cincinnati Reds
Shortstop
Born: May 5, 1941, Charlotte, NC
Signed: Signed by the Cincinnati Reds as an amateur free agent before 1959 season
Major League Teams: Cincinnati Reds 1964-1971; Houston Astros 1972-1975; Pittsburgh Pirates 1976-1977; Boston Red Sox 1977
As a Manager: Cincinnati Reds 1988, 1989
I didn't find a lot about Ted Davidson when researching for this post, but I did find an interesting fact and a horrifying fact. First, the interesting fact is that Davidson received his "Ted" nickname based on his initials. And next, from the horrifying department, Davidson was shot and nearly killed by his estranged wife in March 1967. He was coming off a career year out of the Reds' bullpen, having appeared in 54 games and going 5-4 with a 3.90 ERA and four saves. His wife shot him outside a bar in Tampa following an argument, and while Davidson recovered from his wounds he was never the same pitcher. In 114 career games, he went 11-7 with a 3.69 ERA and five saves.
After brief appearances with the Reds in 1964 and 1965, Tommy Helms won the every day third base job and won National League Rookie of the Year honors in 1966. He'd go to the All-Star Game in 1967 and 1968 and win Gold Gloves at second base in 1970 and 1971. Helms reached the World Series with the Reds in 1970, but his team lost to the Orioles in five games. He was one of the key players swapped to Houston in November 1971 that brought Joe Morgan (#16) and several other key members of the future Big Red Machine to Cincinnati. Helms was an above average defender, leading the league in double plays turned three times and fielding percentage among second basemen three times. In 1,435 career games, he accumulated 1,342 hits while batting .269.
Helms served as a major league coach with the Rangers (1981-1982) and the Reds (1983-1989). He twice stepped in as interim manager for the Reds, going 12-15 when Pete Rose (#207) was suspended in 1988 for pushing umpire Dave Pallone. Helms stepped in again in 1989 following the accusations against Rose for betting on baseball. He guided the Reds to a 16-21 record and was replaced by Lou Piniella following the season.
Building the Set
June 19, 2021 from Moorestown Mall Baseball Card Show - Card #320
Following our youngest son Ben's flawless performance of Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy at his piano recital, our family headed to the Moorestown Mall in New Jersey to browse a real live baseball card show. Traditionally, I only venture into malls for baseball card shows and I can't honestly remember the last time, pre-pandemic, I had stepped foot into a mall. The show was small, hosted by S&B Sports Promotions, with about a dozen tables and not much vintage to offer, but it was a sight for sore eyes. It took us only about 15 minutes to scout the whole place out and I was lucky enough to find a friendly dealer with 1960s and 1970s Topps cards in great shape, in order and (best of all) reasonably priced. I took my time going through his 1965 Topps commons, settling on 29 cards we needed and adding a card from the star pile to give us 30 new cards total. I spent an even $100 (after a generous dealer discount) and this Reds Rookie Stars card was about $3.25.
The Card / Reds Team Set
Given the write-up on the back, and the fact that Davidson didn't debut with the Reds until the end of July, does that mean the set's third series didn't come out until that late in the summer? I was a bit surprised that neither his 1967 or 1968 Topps cards made mention of the shooting incident in 1967.
Building the Set
June 19, 2021 from Moorestown Mall Baseball Card Show - Card #320
Following our youngest son Ben's flawless performance of Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy at his piano recital, our family headed to the Moorestown Mall in New Jersey to browse a real live baseball card show. Traditionally, I only venture into malls for baseball card shows and I can't honestly remember the last time, pre-pandemic, I had stepped foot into a mall. The show was small, hosted by S&B Sports Promotions, with about a dozen tables and not much vintage to offer, but it was a sight for sore eyes. It took us only about 15 minutes to scout the whole place out and I was lucky enough to find a friendly dealer with 1960s and 1970s Topps cards in great shape, in order and (best of all) reasonably priced. I took my time going through his 1965 Topps commons, settling on 29 cards we needed and adding a card from the star pile to give us 30 new cards total. I spent an even $100 (after a generous dealer discount) and this Reds Rookie Stars card was about $3.25.
The Card / Reds Team Set
Given the write-up on the back, and the fact that Davidson didn't debut with the Reds until the end of July, does that mean the set's third series didn't come out until that late in the summer? I was a bit surprised that neither his 1967 or 1968 Topps cards made mention of the shooting incident in 1967.
Helms repeated on a Rookie Stars card in 1966, appearing with Dick Simpson (#374), before he earned his first solo card, complete with All-Star Rookie trophy, in 1967.
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Davidson
First Mainstream Card: 1965 Topps #243
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (4): 1965-1968
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1968 Topps #48
16 - Davidson non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 8/29/21.
Sources - Davidson:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
The Trading Card Database
Wikipedia
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Helms
First Mainstream Card: 1965 Topps #243
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (15): 1965-1978, 1990
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1990 Topps #110
90 - Helms non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 8/29/21.
Sources - Helms:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
Wikipedia
Previous Card: #242 George Brunet - Los Angeles Angels
1965 Season - Davidson
Davidson began the season with the Triple-A San Diego Padres, where he went 6-5 with a 3.62 ERA over 35 appearances and 92 innings pitched. He made his big league debut on July 24th against the Astros, and he'd appear in 24 games for the Reds, making one start. Davidson's rookie campaign was impressive as he finished with a 4-3 record and a 2.23 ERA over 68 2/3 innings pitched.
Davidson began the season with the Triple-A San Diego Padres, where he went 6-5 with a 3.62 ERA over 35 appearances and 92 innings pitched. He made his big league debut on July 24th against the Astros, and he'd appear in 24 games for the Reds, making one start. Davidson's rookie campaign was impressive as he finished with a 4-3 record and a 2.23 ERA over 68 2/3 innings pitched.
1965 Season - Helms
Helms appeared in 21 games for the Reds, with most of those appearances coming as a September call-up. He batted .381 (16 for 42) with six RBIs and earned himself a longer look in spring training 1966. With the Padres, Helms appeared in 96 games and batted .319 as their regular shortstop.
Helms appeared in 21 games for the Reds, with most of those appearances coming as a September call-up. He batted .381 (16 for 42) with six RBIs and earned himself a longer look in spring training 1966. With the Padres, Helms appeared in 96 games and batted .319 as their regular shortstop.
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Other Notable Baseball Cards - Davidson
First Mainstream Card: 1965 Topps #243
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (4): 1965-1968
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1968 Topps #48
16 - Davidson non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 8/29/21.
Sources - Davidson:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
The Trading Card Database
Wikipedia
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Helms
First Mainstream Card: 1965 Topps #243
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (15): 1965-1978, 1990
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1990 Topps #110
90 - Helms non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 8/29/21.
Sources - Helms:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
Wikipedia
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