2003 Upper Deck Play Ball Reprints - Charley Gehringer

A year and a half ago I featured some of these cards.  This one was sitting in my draft folder.  So it gets featured today.  Not often do you get to see bunting and a full swing on a card.

2003 Upper Deck Play Ball Reprints
Charley Gehringer - Card # R-11 (originally # 19)

This card of the Hall of Famer evokes a quieter, simpler time.  His stats are impressive and there are many anecdotal stories floating around.  One is that Mickey Cochrane, fellow player (from 1934 to 1937) and his manager (from 1934 to 1938) said: "He says hello on opening day and good-bye on closing day, and in between he hits .350."

Actually, in 1935 Charley's BA was a paltry .330 and in 1938 it dropped to a horrendous .308.  He ended up his 19 seasons with a .320 BA in over 10,200 plate appearances.  Not bad for the six time All-Star and 1937 MVP.

I would have liked to have seen him play.