Tuesday, May 1, 2012

The Topps Years of Albie Pearson

I have a project going on where I'm focussing on key Angels players and collecting a base card from the same manufacturer for each year they were in the Majors Leagues.

I'm going with Topps for Albie Pearson who played from 1958-1966 with the Senators, Orioles, and Angels.

*  *  *  *  *

Before the 1953 season Albie Pearson was signed as an amateur free agent by the Boston Red Sox out of Pomona Junior College, in California.
In January 1958 he was traded by the Boston Red Sox with Norm Zauchin to the Washington Senators for Pete Runnels.
1958 Topps #317
He was named American League Rookie of the Year in 1958 after batting .275 with 25 doubles, 64 walks and 63 runs in 610 plate appearances.  He received 58% of the first place votes over Ryne Duren and Gary Bell.


1959 Topps #4
In the middle of the 1959 season after a slow start, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Lenny Green.


1960 Topps #241
After the 1960 season he was drafted by the expansion Los Angeles Angels as the 30th and last pick in the 1960 major league expansion draft.


1961 Topps #288
On Opening Day 1961 Pearson scored the first run for the new franchise Los Angeles Angels.
(Cannot figure out what the pinstripped uniform is from unless Topps used an old Sentaors photo)


1962 Topps #343
In 1962 he set a record for most at bats with no hits when he came to the plate 11 times in an 18 inning double-header.
However, he was the leagues runs scored leader with 115.


1963 Topps #182
He was voted as an American League All-Star in 1963 when he batted .304.
He ended the year as the leagues singles leader.


1964 Topps #110
Back problems surfaced again and limited his playing time a bit in 1964.


1965 Topps #358
Pearson made the move to Anaheim to become a California Angel in 1965 making the adjustment to the new stadium by batting .278 in 360 at bats.


1966 Topps #83
On July 25, 1966 after appearing in only 2 games Albie Pearson was released by the Califonia Angels.
Back problems forcing him out of the game.

The Topps years of Albie Pearson.

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