What a card: This is the only Topps card of Keefe Cato. Considering Kato pitched in just eight games in 1984 (and 12 games overall), it's surprising he had even one.
My observation on the front: Cato looks happy to be on a baseball card. Can't say I blame him.
More opinion from me: When Kato Kaelin's name first came to the surface during all of the O.J. Simpson craziness in 1994, I thought it was Keefe Cato. That's how ingrained baseball cards are in my mind.
Something you might know: Cato is the first athlete from Fairfield University to play in a major professional sport. He was elected to the university's hall of fame in 1988.
Something you might not know: Cato's daughter, Britney, played softball for Winston-Salem State.
My observation on the back: Four straight years in Waterbury. Waterbury isn't far from Fairfield, Conn. I wonder if Cato was kept there because he was a "hometown player" (and the Reds apparently weren't high enough on him to move him quickly).
The blog wants to speak now: The News category is updated.
When I was younger around 1987 or 1988, I always got this card mixed up with the far more expensive (back then) Eric Davis rookie.
ReplyDeleteI have often considered it to be a parallel situation to the coral snake. The coral (Davis) is the "cool" poisonous snake, but there is the near lookalike (Cato) that is almost the same but isn't nearly as cool.
I have so many of this card...
ReplyDeletehiflew,
ReplyDeleteI have a post in mind that is exactly as you describe, except it's with two other players from a different set. If you don't mind, I think I'll use your coral snake comparison.
His record the second year in Waterbury didn't merit a promotion. That stadium must have been odd to see a game in. Almost all of the seats are on one side of the field. There is not much seating down the third base side at all. I have sometimes wondered who is the most obscure player in each Topps set. This player has to be a contender for the '85 set.
ReplyDeleteI have absolutely no recollection of this guy. This was in the era when I just bought the sets, put the cards in plastic sheets, and put the set binder on a shelf. I guess it was good that I at least bought sets, but I missed out on a lot of baseball history by not paying closer attention. The posts about the obscure guys are much more interesting to me than the stars.
ReplyDeleteNo mention of that mesh-backed cap!?
ReplyDelete