Saturday, July 4, 2009

1961 Topps #144 Jim Coker

Recent purchase from Pitchout Baseball Cards in Avalon, NJ

From 1958 until 1962, Jim Coker played 99 games with the Phillies, hitting .227 with 7 home runs and 39 RBI. Somehow, his .214 average in 81 games in 1960 merited his election to the Topps All-Star Rookie team.

After leaving the Phils following the '62 season, Jim would play briefly for the San Francisco Giants (4 games in 1963) and in parts of four seasons (1964-1967) with the Cincinnati Reds.

Who is That?: The Phillies had no one on their active roster in 1960 who wore #39. So if I assume this picture was taken some time in 1960, and that's a big assumption, the guy in the background leaning on a bat is one of three Phillies' coaches from 1960 - Andy Cohen, Dick Carter or Peanuts Lowrey.

2 comments:

Jim from Downingtown said...

Looks like #29 to me. (See the gap in the lower right side of the 1st numeral?)

Jim said...

You're right! Pitcher Gene Conley wore #29 in 1960, and I don't think that's him. The mystery continues . . .