Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the ocean...it's another massive deposit of cards from Max! These originally arrived in my mailbox in late March of 2009, and there are some good ones yet to come. Um, not that I'm selling Doug Camilli short. I just love the odd, slightly off-center, glove-coming-at-you framing style of this photo. I also like that you can see the #35 on the front of his jersey, as well as the palm trees in the background. I was ready to say that this was Vero Beach, FL, but Doug's wearing a road jersey, so I guess he could be anywhere in Florida...
-His father, Dolph Camilli, was a major league first baseman from 1933-1945, and hit .277 with 239 home runs. He spent six seasons with the Dodgers and was the 1941 N.L. MVP while manning first base in Brooklyn.
-Shares his September 22 birthday with Hall of Famers Tommy Lasorda and Bob Lemon.
-Playing in his fifth career game on October 1, 1960, he lasted all 14 innings behind the plate and went 4-for-7 at-bat with a double, two runs scored, and an RBI. However, the Cubs outlasted L.A., 10-8.
-His best season was 1962, when he hit .284 with four homers and 22 RBI in 45 games.
-Was sold to the Senators prior to the 1965 season, and hit just .195 in three seasons in Washington before retiring to become the club's bullpen coach. Was activated for a single game in 1969, and went 1-for-3 to leave his batting average tantalizingly short of the Mendoza line at .19947. Hit 18 home runs and drove in 80 over parts of nine seasons.
Those same trees show up in some other Dodger cards in '65 & '66, but you're right, that doesn't mean it's Vero Beach. Always thought someone should round up the Topps photographers from those years and get their stories, there had to be some tales to tell.
ReplyDeleteDoug - I read an article on ESPN.com about a Topps photographer that was indeed enlightening. I think it was on their Page 2 subsite.
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