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Donald Eugene Cardwell
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pitcher
Born: December 7, 1935, Winston-Salem, NC
Signed: Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent before 1954 season
Major League Teams: Philadelphia Phillies 1957-1960; Chicago Cubs 1960-1962; Pittsburgh Pirates 1963-1966; New York Mets 1967-1970; Atlanta Braves 1970
Died: January 14, 2008, Winston-Salem, NC (age 72)
Don Cardwell was a starting pitcher for most of his 14 years in the majors, winning at least 13 games in three different seasons and earning a World Series ring with the 1969 Amazin' Mets. Cardwell was signed by the Phillies and struggled somewhat during his first three seasons in the majors. Dealt to the Cubs on May 13, 1960, Cardwell threw a no-hitter in his first start for his new team becoming the first player to accomplish that feat. He led the league with 38 starts in 1961, and threw a career-high 259 1/3 innings while winning a career-high 15 games. Cardwell crossed the 200-inning plateau in four different seasons. Effectively wild, he led the league in hit batters twice, in 1963 and 1965. As a member of the Mets pitching staff in 1969, he went 8-10 with a 3.01 ERA in 30 appearances, throwing a shutout inning in Game 1 of the World Series against the Orioles.
Building the Set
March 6, 2022 from The Philly Show (Uncle Dick's Cards - Babylon, NY) - Card #521
This is the 37th of 102 cards acquired for our set from the Baseball Card Sports Memorabilia Show, affectionately known as The Philly Show, held in the basement of the Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia in early March. We went nuts and left the show needing only 12 more cards to complete our 1965 Topps set, and I wrote about the show in detail over at The Phillies Room. Having wandered aimlessly among the dealer tables looking for binders with vintage commons, I decided to check to see if Uncle Dick's had refreshed their inventory following the December show, during which I had wiped out both their 1965 Topps binders. Much to my pleasant surprise, they had. This Cardwell card was $4 and was one of 49 commons purchased in my triumphant return to Uncle Dick's and his replenished neon green binders.
Depending on my ability to compose five posts a week on the cards acquired at this show, I should be completely caught up on this blog by mid-October. It's entirely feasible we complete our 1965 Topps set by the end of 2022, although nine of the remaining 12 cards needed are fairly expensive.
The Card / Pirates Team Set
The creator of this particular card should have nudged the photo of Cardwell over the right a half-inch as he's leaning a little to the left here. The back of the card highlights his no-hitter for the Cubs, in his first start with the club. It came in the second game of a double header on May 15, 1960 against the Cardinals in a day game at Wrigley Field. Cardwell walked the second Cardinals batter of the game, Alex Grammas, ruining the perfect game bid. He'd retire the next 26 batters in order, striking out seven in the process. Richie Ashburn contributed an RBI-double and Ernie Banks (#510) contributed a two-run home run in the 4-0 win.
1965 Season
Cardwell was in the Pirates starting pitching rotation all season, making 34 starts and going 13-10 overall with a 3.18 ERA in his first winning season. He was one of four starters used regularly by the third place Pirates along with Bob Veale (#195), Bob Friend (#392) and Vern Law (#515). Cardwell threw 12 complete games and two shutouts, and his 240 1/3 innings pitched were second most for his career.
Cardwell made his big league debut with the Phillies on April 21, 1957, pitching the final three innings of an 8-5 win over the Giants at the Polo Grounds, and saving the game for starter Jack Sanford (#228). He'd be used primarily as a starter for the Phillies, and his best season with the club came in 1959 when he was 9-10 with a 4.06 ERA in 25 games, including 22 starts. Cardwell began the 1960 season with the Phillies, but was dealt to the Cubs in mid-May with first baseman Ed Bouchee for infielder Tony Taylor (#296) and catcher Cal Neeman. He'd throw his no-hitter in his first start with the Cubs, but I'd say the Phillies eventually won the trade given the Wall of Fame career of Taylor, and his role as an ambassador for the club until his passing in 2020.
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First Mainstream Card: 1957 Topps #374
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (14): 1957-1970
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1990 Swell Baseball Greats #72
65 - Cardwell non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 5/28/22.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
The Phillies Room
SABR
The Trading Card Database
Wikipedia
Previous Card: #501 Indians Rookie Stars
Previous Card: #501 Indians Rookie Stars
Next Card: #503 Phil Gagliano - St. Louis Cardinals
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