Friday, June 19, 2015

1941 Double Play #5 Linus Frey


This blank-back set was issued by Gum Products in 1941 as a 150-player set of 75 cards (each card featured two teammates). Frey here was teamed with Johnny Vander Meer, but some kid nearly 70 years ago decided to free the two from each other. Made this one more affordable for yours truly.

As for the player, "Lonny" Frey spent 14 years in the majors (1933-1943, 1946-1948), half of which were played in Cincy the other half split among the Cubs, Giants, Dodgers, and Yankees. All three of his All Star appearances came as a Red and he received MVP votes three time as well. He led the NL in stolen bases once, double plays twice, and dWAR once. He was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1961. With all that praise, I feel it's ok to mention that in 21 World Series plate appearances, Frey went 0 for 20 with a walk including 0-17 in the 1939 Series alone. Yeesh. No matter. Another curious tidbit, he was the last major leaguer alive to play for all three classic New York teams.

Go Reds.

2 comments:

  1. Vintage oddballs are always fascinating; excellent find!

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    1. Thanks. Every time I buy vintage I'm left wondering why I buy modern instead of stuff like this

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