#231 Jerry Adair

This is a first for me when it comes to vintage card collecting. I've seen homemade "traded" cards before, but this is the first homemade error card that I can recall. The anonymous designer had correctly designated Jerry Adair as a Kansas City Royal following his selection in the 1968 expansion draft, but then second-guessed himself. Perhaps he was still confused by the Athletics' recent relocation from Kansas City to Oakland and hedged his bets. Then again, maybe this card was altered again during Adair's coaching stint with the A's. Poor Jerry looks just as confused as the previous owner of his card.

Fun facts about Jerry Adair:

-An Oklahoman through and through, he signed with the Orioles for a $40,000 bonus in 1958 after starring in both baseball and basketball at Oklahoma State University.

-Had his finest all-around season with the bat in 1962, his second year as a regular: .284, 29 2B, 11 HR, 48 RBI.

-Carved out a reputation as an excellent defensive player, setting a record with 89 straight errorless games (a total of 458 chances) at second base in 1964.

-Led the American League with a .994 fielding percentage in 1964 and a .986 mark in 1965.

-Had a reputation as a tough player who often took the field with various nagging injuries. During the first game of a doubleheader against the Tigers in 1964, he was struck in the mouth with an errant throw and suffered a laceration that required 11 stitches. He was reportedly back in uniform for Game Two.

-After spending a year on the south side of Chicago, changed socks via a June 1967 trade to Boston. Played an important role for the "Impossible Dream" Red Sox, hitting .291 and filling in at three different infield positions (shortstop, second base, third base).

-Unfortunately, hit .125 (2 for 16) in Boston's seven-game World Series loss to the Cardinals.

-His major league career ended in 1970 with the Royals. In parts of thirteen seasons, he batted .254 with 57 home runs and 366 RBI.

-Played one season in Japan with the Hankyu Braves before embarking on a brief coaching career with the Athletics (1972-1974) and Angels (1975).

-Liver cancer ended his life prematurely; he passed away in 1987 at age 50.