Surprise Vintage Auto

Batting Out of Order dropped some hotness in the mail for yours truly recently. This is among the most obscure Reds autos I own now. Fantastic.

cxvv

 

Who is Vern Benson, you may ask. Major League debut in 1943 at age 18 for the A's. Went 0 for 2 and didn't make it back to The Show for 3 years and promptly went 0 for 5. Another 5 year stint in the minors then about 100 at bats for the Cardinals 1951-1953, barely clearing the Mendoza line, and it's onto a coaching career.

 

A few minor league head coaching gigs and several Major League bench coaching gigs that led to precisely one game as the Atlanta Braves manager when the league got angry at Ted Turner for firing manager Dave Bristol and taking over the helm himself. MLB told Teddy he can't manage as an owner. One game with Turner managing (a loss) and then one game managed by Benson (a win) while Bristol was being compelled to return. 

 

Signed is a 1967 Cincinnati Reds Photocard from one of the four years bench coaching the Reds under Bristol. Sweet.

 

Also included was this nonsense I put on my want list, because I'm truly insane.

 

And toss in a couple Salt Lake Bees cards, which have upgraded my Opening Day Nines album. This set was produced by a local radio station in Utah as a promo for the local Minor League squad. Handful of legends for the kids.

 

Thanks, dude. Go Halos.

And Go Redlegs.