What a card: Larry Milbourne completed his second tour of duty with the Mariners in 1984, appearing in 79 games. He last played for the Mariners from 1977-80.
My observation on the front: It appears to be cold at the game. Also, I think I see a security guard or usher in the background. Or just a guy in a jacket.
More opinion from me: That 2B-SS-3B designation underlines his utility role, which lasted his whole career.
Something you might know: Milbourne proved to be a valuable asset for the 1981 Yankees, appearing in 14 games that postseason. He hit .316 against the Brewers in the ALDS and .462 against the A's in the ALCS.
Something you might not know: Milbourne played a small part in the biggest controversy of the decisive Game 6 of the 1981 World Series. With the score between the Yankees and Dodgers tied at 1-1 in the fourth inning and the Yankees' Graig Nettles on second base with two out, Milbourne came to the plate. The Dodgers walked Milbourne intentionally, bringing up pitcher Tommy John's spot in the order. But Yankees manager Bob Lemon replaced John with pinch-hitter Bobby Murcer, who flew out. The Yankees bullpen blew the game as the Dodgers scored eight more runs and won the World Series.
My observation on the back: Something about this write-up isn't correct. There is no "Milville High School." There is a "Millville High School" that is in New Jersey, but it is in Millville, N.J., which is in southern New Jersey and not anywhere near Port Jervis, which is in New York (Port Jervis is where you can stand in one spot and be in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania all at the same time. I enjoyed that quite a bit when we would go through there when I was a kid).
The blog wants to speak now: The News category is updated (Dec. 9th again).
Looked it up - Milbourne was born and raised in Port Norris, NJ (not born in Dallas). Port Norris high schoolers go to Millville High. Also his birthday is today! Yes, Topps got the birthdate wrong too. His birthdate and place are correct on his other cards.
ReplyDeleteRuppert Jones was born March 12, 1955 in Dallas. For some reason they gave Milbourne Jones's information on this card.
Wow, what a disaster of a card back. Something told me his birthday was today, too, but then I checked the date and dismissed it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the research.
I once fell asleep on the train and it ended in Port Jervis. I was quite annoyed that I had to kill an extra hour and few bucks I didn't have to get back home but it would have been mildly soothed had I know I could have been standing in three states at once if I had just left the station. This information has reached me a couple decades late. Now I am mad all over again.
ReplyDeleteIt also says he bats left and throws left. He’s clearly hitting from the right side and I’m pretty sure we’d remember a left handed throwing 2B-SS-3B. More evidence Topps mixed him up with Ruppert Jones.
ReplyDeleteAll of the biographical information on the back of the card belongs to Ruppert Jones; it matches what is on the back on Jones' card (#126). Besides what's already been noted, Milbourne wasn't drafted (he was signed by the Orioles as an undrafted free agent in 1969), was acquired by his current team in a trade in February 1984, and had been shown living in the Seattle area (first Redmond, WA, then Kirkland, WA) on all of his previous Topps cards from 1979 to 1984.
ReplyDelete