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Peter Joel Craig
Washington Senators
Pitcher
Born: July 10, 1940, LaSalle, Canada
Signed: Signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent before 1963 season
Major League Teams: Washington Senators 1964-1966
As a Manager: San Diego Padres 1978-1979; San Francisco Giants 1985-1992
Richard Leroy Nen
Washington Senators
First Base
Born: September 24, 1939, South Gate, CA
Signed: Signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent before 1961 season
Major League Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers 1963; Washington Senators 1965-1967; Chicago Cubs 1968; Washington Senators 1970
Pete Craig was drafted by the Tigers out of the University of Detroit as a bonus baby, and was claimed off waivers by the Senators in early 1964 when the Tigers needed room on their roster for fellow bonus baby signings Joe Sparma (#587) and Fritz Fisher. Craig was a September call-up by the Senators and made his big league debut on September 24, 1966. Over three seasons, he'd appear in six games for the Senators, going 0-3 with a 11.50 ERA over 18 innings pitched. Craig retired following a year in the minors in 1967.
Dick Nen appeared in parts of six different big league seasons, primarily as a first baseman and a pinch-hitter. His only hit with the Dodgers came in the second at-bat of his big league debut on September 18, 1963. Nen hit a dramatic game-tying home run in the ninth inning off Cardinals' reliever Ron Taylor (#568), in a game the Dodgers would win in 13 innings, increasing their lead in the league to four games. He was ineligible for the postseason, but the Dodgers swept the Yankees in four games in the World Series. In December 1964, he was the player to be named later in a blockbuster seven-player deal between the Dodgers and the Senators. Nen would play the bulk of his career with the Senators, appearing in 279 games over three seasons. He was the club's opening day first baseman in 1967. Nen appeared in 367 career big league games, batting .224 with 21 home runs and 107 RBIs. His son Robb was a three-time All-Star and the league's saves leader in 2001. Robb Nen won a World Series ring with the Florida Marlins in 1997 and played in 10 seasons with the Rangers (1993), Marlins (1993-1997) and Giants (1998-2002).
Building the Set
September 29, 2021 from Los Angeles, CA - Card #369
With everyone back in school, the Phillies' playoff hopes growing dimmer, my workload picking up at my chosen profession and a dwindling pile of purchased 1965 Topps cards to compose posts for, I decided I was in need of a nice stack of commons (and some semi-stars) for our set. Over the course of an enjoyable evening, mostly while sitting in my car in a parking lot next to where Doug's baseball team was practicing, I bid on about 45 cards up for auction from Greg Morris Cards, located in Los Angeles. When the dust settled and I checked my phone the next morning, I had won 19 cards, ranging in price from $1.75 to $11 and averaging around $4 per card. This Senators Rookie Stars card was mine with a winning bid of $3.25. Doug's free time is spent practicing baseball, Ben has found he thoroughly enjoys his school's cross country team, and I have a stack of 1965 Topps cards to study and write about whenever I need a break from adulting. All is well.
The Card / Senators Team Set
Craig appeared on Rookie Stars cards in three consecutive Topps sets, with this being his first appearance. In 1966, Topps used the same photo of Craig, wearing a Tigers uniform, and paired him with Brant Alyea. In 1967, Topps finally produced a photo of Craig wearing a Senators hat and featured him with Dick Bosman. Nen is wearing a Dodgers uniform here and he appeared on a Dodgers Rookie Stars card in the 1964 Topps set with Nick Willhite (#284). Willhite would join Nen in Washington when he was purchased from the Dodgers on May 11, 1965.
Building the Set
September 29, 2021 from Los Angeles, CA - Card #369
With everyone back in school, the Phillies' playoff hopes growing dimmer, my workload picking up at my chosen profession and a dwindling pile of purchased 1965 Topps cards to compose posts for, I decided I was in need of a nice stack of commons (and some semi-stars) for our set. Over the course of an enjoyable evening, mostly while sitting in my car in a parking lot next to where Doug's baseball team was practicing, I bid on about 45 cards up for auction from Greg Morris Cards, located in Los Angeles. When the dust settled and I checked my phone the next morning, I had won 19 cards, ranging in price from $1.75 to $11 and averaging around $4 per card. This Senators Rookie Stars card was mine with a winning bid of $3.25. Doug's free time is spent practicing baseball, Ben has found he thoroughly enjoys his school's cross country team, and I have a stack of 1965 Topps cards to study and write about whenever I need a break from adulting. All is well.
The Card / Senators Team Set
Craig appeared on Rookie Stars cards in three consecutive Topps sets, with this being his first appearance. In 1966, Topps used the same photo of Craig, wearing a Tigers uniform, and paired him with Brant Alyea. In 1967, Topps finally produced a photo of Craig wearing a Senators hat and featured him with Dick Bosman. Nen is wearing a Dodgers uniform here and he appeared on a Dodgers Rookie Stars card in the 1964 Topps set with Nick Willhite (#284). Willhite would join Nen in Washington when he was purchased from the Dodgers on May 11, 1965.
1965 Season - Craig
Again a September call-up, Craig made three starts for the Senators, with his best showing coming on September 15th against the Yankees. Although he took the loss, Craig battled for seven innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits and striking out a pair - Roger Repoz and opposing pitcher Mel Stottlemyre (#550). Craig was a decent hitter and he recalls in his SABR biography he just missed hitting a home run off Stottlemyre, with a long single that bounced off the top of the right field wall.
Craig spent most of the season with the Triple-A Hawaii Islanders, making 31 starts and going 14-11 with a 3.76 ERA. He led the Islanders pitching staff with 154 strikeouts and 218 innings pitched.
Again a September call-up, Craig made three starts for the Senators, with his best showing coming on September 15th against the Yankees. Although he took the loss, Craig battled for seven innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits and striking out a pair - Roger Repoz and opposing pitcher Mel Stottlemyre (#550). Craig was a decent hitter and he recalls in his SABR biography he just missed hitting a home run off Stottlemyre, with a long single that bounced off the top of the right field wall.
Craig spent most of the season with the Triple-A Hawaii Islanders, making 31 starts and going 14-11 with a 3.76 ERA. He led the Islanders pitching staff with 154 strikeouts and 218 innings pitched.
1965 Season - Nen
Nen appeared in 69 games for the Senators and played in 82 games for the Triple-A Islanders as their most frequently used first basemen. With the Senators, he batted .260 (a career high) with six home runs and 31 RBIs (also a career high). Nen took over as the club's every day first baseman beginning in July, replacing the demoted Bob Chance (#224).
Nen appeared in 69 games for the Senators and played in 82 games for the Triple-A Islanders as their most frequently used first basemen. With the Senators, he batted .260 (a career high) with six home runs and 31 RBIs (also a career high). Nen took over as the club's every day first baseman beginning in July, replacing the demoted Bob Chance (#224).
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Other Notable Baseball Cards - Craig
First Mainstream Card: 1965 Topps #466
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (3): 1965-1967
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1967 Topps #459
8 - Craig non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 11/1/21.
Sources - Craig:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
Wikipedia
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Nen
First Mainstream Card: 1964 Topps #14
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (5): 1964-1968
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2017 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #ROA-DN
19 - Nen non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 11/1/21.
Sources - Nen:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
The Trading Card Database
Wikipedia
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Next Card: #467 Ray Washburn - St. Louis Cardinals
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