The latest addition to my 1953 Topps baseball set is Mr. Cal Abrams of the Pittsburgh Pirates:
Cal sure seems happy to be featured on a '53 Topps card, doesn't he? Well, between military service during World War II and a long climb through the minor leagues he didn't make his big league debut (with the Brooklyn Dodgers) until age 25. Cracking the Dodgers' roster in the '50s was no easy trick, yet he was bound to the team with the reserve clause still in effect. Eventually, the Dodgers dealt him to Cincinnati in 1952, and after finishing out that season with the Reds he joined the Pirates for '53.
1953 was Cal's best year by a long shot, his .286 batting average was a career high (if you don't count 1 hit in 3 at-bats for the White Sox to close out his career in 1956). He also set career highs that season with 15 home runs (never hit more than 6 any other year) and 43 RBI (never had more than 32 any other year). He'd play with Baltimore and then briefly with Chicago before retiring.
Cal's only other Topps card comes in the 1952 set, however he was featured in every Bowman release from 1951 through 1955.
Set Progress: 65 of 274 (24%)
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