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Paul L.D. Blair
Baltimore Orioles
Outfield
Born: February 1, 1944, Cushing, OK
Signed: Signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent, July 20, 1961
Major League Teams: Baltimore Orioles 1964-1976; New York Yankees 1977-1979; Cincinnati Reds 1979; New York Yankees 1980
Died: December 26, 2013, Baltimore, MD (age 69)
David Allen Johnson
Baltimore Orioles
Second Base-Shortstop
Born: January 30, 1943, Orlando, FL
Signed: Signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent, June 2, 1962
Major League Teams: Baltimore Orioles 1965-1972; Atlanta Braves 1973-1975; Philadelphia Phillies 1977-1978; Chicago Cubs 1978
As a Manager: New York Mets 1984-1990; Cincinnati Reds 1993-1995; Baltimore Orioles 1996-1997; Los Angeles Dodgers 1999-2000; Washington Nationals 2011-2013
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| 2001 Topps Archives #270 |
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| 1978 Topps #317 |
Following several seasons as a minor league manager, Johnson was named the Mets manager for their 1984 season and he'd lead the club to their second World Series title in 1986. Johnson would enjoy a lengthy managerial career, winning Manager of the Year honors twice - in 1997 with the Orioles, and in 2012 with the Nationals. Johnson's career record as a manager was 1,372-1,071, ranking him 10th all time in winning percentage among all managers with at least 1,000 wins. He was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame in 1997 and the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 2010.
Building the Set
September 29, 2021 from Los Angeles, CA - Card #370
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 Orioles Rookie Stars card was mine with a winning bid of $9.50, and it was the second most expensive card I won, behind the Manny Mota (#463) card. 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 / Orioles Team Set
This is the rookie card for both Blair and Johnson, and there's an awesome retro logo for Pan Am right behind Blair on the outfield wall. The back of the card references Blair's acquisition from the Mets on November 26, 1962 as part of the first-year draft. With the lack of talent the Mets had in their early years, they definitely could have used Blair's skills. Johnson appeared on another Rookie Stars card in the 1966 Topps set before making his solo debut in 1967.
Building the Set
September 29, 2021 from Los Angeles, CA - Card #370
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 Orioles Rookie Stars card was mine with a winning bid of $9.50, and it was the second most expensive card I won, behind the Manny Mota (#463) card. 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.
This is the rookie card for both Blair and Johnson, and there's an awesome retro logo for Pan Am right behind Blair on the outfield wall. The back of the card references Blair's acquisition from the Mets on November 26, 1962 as part of the first-year draft. With the lack of talent the Mets had in their early years, they definitely could have used Blair's skills. Johnson appeared on another Rookie Stars card in the 1966 Topps set before making his solo debut in 1967.
This card, or at least the half of the card featuring Blair, has been reprinted a number of times. Blair's half is reprinted in the following sets: 2001 Topps Team Topps Legends Autographs, 2001 Topps Archives and Topps Archives Reserve, 2003 Topps Team Topps Legends Autographs and 2003 Topps Shoebox Collection.
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Blair
First Mainstream Card: 1965 Topps #473
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (17): 1965-1980
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2013 Topps Archives #224
163 - Blair non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 11/2/21.
Sources - Blair:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
Wikipedia
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Johnson
First Mainstream Card: 1965 Topps #473
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (22): 1965-1975, 1978-1979, 1984-1990, 1993, 2001
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2021 Topps x ESPN 30-for-30 "Once Upon a Time in Queens" #3
186 - Johnson non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 11/2/21.
Sources - Johnson:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
The Phillies Room
SABR
The Trading Card Database
Wikipedia
Previous Card: #472 Don Pavletich - Cincinnati Reds
1965 Season - Blair
Blair was the opening day center fielder for the young Orioles club, and he made 97 starts at the position throughout the season with Russ Snyder (#204) and Jackie Brandt (#33) getting 33 and 32 starts respectively. He appeared in 119 games overall, batting .234 with five home runs and 25 RBIs. But whatever production was lost with his bat was more than made up with by his glove, as Blair led all American League center fielders with a .992 fielding percentage.
Blair was the opening day center fielder for the young Orioles club, and he made 97 starts at the position throughout the season with Russ Snyder (#204) and Jackie Brandt (#33) getting 33 and 32 starts respectively. He appeared in 119 games overall, batting .234 with five home runs and 25 RBIs. But whatever production was lost with his bat was more than made up with by his glove, as Blair led all American League center fielders with a .992 fielding percentage.
1965 Season - Johnson
Johnson appeared in 19 games for the Orioles, playing both third and second base before being demoted to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings in mid-June. He'd return as a September call-up and appear in one more game big league game. He batted .170 (8 for 47) for the Orioles.
Phillies Career - Johnson
Johnson joined the Phillies as a free agent in February 1977 after spending two seasons playing in Japan. With Ted Sizemore and Larry Bowa as the regulars at second base and shortstop, Johnson was used in a utility role, appearing in 78 games overall with most of his time spent at first base. Wearing uniform #15, he had a solid first year with the Phillies, batting .321 with eight home runs in his limited role. He appeared in his final postseason game in 1977, starting at first base in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Dodgers and going 1 for 4 at the plate. Johnson began the 1978 season on the bench again and slumped to a .191 average. On August 6, 1978, the Phillies dealt him to the Cubs for pitcher Larry Anderson. Overall, Johnson appeared in 122 games for the Phillies, batting .273 with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs.
Johnson appeared in 19 games for the Orioles, playing both third and second base before being demoted to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings in mid-June. He'd return as a September call-up and appear in one more game big league game. He batted .170 (8 for 47) for the Orioles.
Johnson joined the Phillies as a free agent in February 1977 after spending two seasons playing in Japan. With Ted Sizemore and Larry Bowa as the regulars at second base and shortstop, Johnson was used in a utility role, appearing in 78 games overall with most of his time spent at first base. Wearing uniform #15, he had a solid first year with the Phillies, batting .321 with eight home runs in his limited role. He appeared in his final postseason game in 1977, starting at first base in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Dodgers and going 1 for 4 at the plate. Johnson began the 1978 season on the bench again and slumped to a .191 average. On August 6, 1978, the Phillies dealt him to the Cubs for pitcher Larry Anderson. Overall, Johnson appeared in 122 games for the Phillies, batting .273 with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs.
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Other Notable Baseball Cards - Blair
First Mainstream Card: 1965 Topps #473
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (17): 1965-1980
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2013 Topps Archives #224
163 - Blair non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 11/2/21.
Sources - Blair:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
Wikipedia
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Johnson
First Mainstream Card: 1965 Topps #473
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (22): 1965-1975, 1978-1979, 1984-1990, 1993, 2001
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2021 Topps x ESPN 30-for-30 "Once Upon a Time in Queens" #3
186 - Johnson non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 11/2/21.
Sources - Johnson:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
The Phillies Room
SABR
The Trading Card Database
Wikipedia
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