A Vintage play at the plate from Topps

I may be one of the only ones still checking the Topps Million Card Giveaway site on a daily basis. I get about 15-20 trade offers every day and I like to keep tabs on them. Normally, when I go to the site, I'll look to see the cards that were recently unlocked. If there is a card from the '50s or 60's, I'll click on it to see what it looks like.


Recently, I saw a 1956 card that I wanted. No, it wasn't the great Sandy Koufax or Jackie Robinson (I wish), but it WAS a vintage play at the plate. I made what I thought was a fair offer and soon I had the card (well, not really, Topps still has it) in my portfolio.

It's a 1956 Wayne Terwilliger. I've seen a number of these vintage cards that show plays at the plate, but this is the first one in my collection. Or will be when I get it shipped. So far, 12 of these Terwilliger's have been unlocked. I don't know which team the Giants are playing in the picture. I don't know if the card is based on a real play. I do know I like it and can't wait to put it in my collection.

Wayne Terwilliger didn't have an great career. But he did have a career, one that I would love to have. He played 9 seasons, appearing in over 660 games. He hit 22 homers and drove in 162 while batting .240. I like the "Giant Sparkplug" cartoon on the back.

Wayne was involved in one trade of interest. On June, 15, he was traded by the Chicago Cubs (with Johnny Schmitz, Rube Walker and Andy Pafko) to the Brooklyn Dodgers for Bruce Edwards, Joe Hatten, Eddie Miksis and Gene Hermanski. That is interesting to me because I also have one 1952 Topps card in my MCG portfolio. Bruce Edwards who came to the Cubs in that trade.