RIP Nelson Doubleday / Mets keep truckin' / '85 Fleer Ceciliani Rook / '64 Topps Dick Smith

Artwork/Nelson Doubleday by John Pennisi

This post was almost in the can when I heard about the passing of Nelson Doubleday. I still wonder how things would have gone if Mets history went the opposite way, and Doubleday bought out the Wilpons.

 A sad day in New York Metropolitan history. Rest in peace Mr. Doubleday. I liked you.

Great article here about Nelson Doubleday and what he did for the Mets and what the Mets did to him. If you're a Mets fans this is required reading.

The Full Nelson: The Man Who Saved The Mets

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The Mets have been playing some very good baseball lately. Even losses have been exciting. They are a game and a half ahead of the Nats. And some of these wins show me a team that can run with the big boys. 

I think this is the first .gif card for the season set. Flores 11th inning single after Duda's shocking opposite field double for the walk-off win.

One of my favorite card designs is the 1985 Fleer. I had just started collecting baseball cards again and there were 3 major companies now. Topps, Fleer, and Donruss. In 1985 the Fleer design & set was my favorite of all.M.L. prospects. I introduced this Agee/Jones rookie card back in 2013 on Agee's page.

 

I said I would make a Plawecki/Robles rookie card and that slipped my mind. I did make a Plawecki Future Star and I owed Robles a rook, so here it is. Hansel will share a 1985 mfcFLEER M.L. prospects card with Darrell Ceciliani. I know that players from two different teams were portrayed on these cards, but as you can see I'm going all Mets.

 

Robels started out strong in early May and leveled out. He's had 5 holds, a win, a loss and a blown save. He's been used 20 times for 16 total innings walking 7 and striking out 14. He looks like he could be a thoroughbred but that hasn't happen. Yet.

Darrell Ceciliani started out weak (.125 in May) and has been coming on strong (.364 in June). Brings a young Lenny Dykstra to mind. Looks to have good baseball instincts and know how. The kid has some pop too.

 My nickname for Ceciliani is simply Cecil, and I can't think of Cecil without Beany.
This really ages me, lol.

Wouldn't be fair to only make fun of only one of them.

Yea, I know. It's actually spelt Hensel.

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Jason Fry of Faith & Fear In Flushing provided a decent picture of Dick Smith who played for the Mets in the mid 60's. It's not the best quality although it's the best I've run into. 

His original mfc card was one of my most disappointing customs, mainly because the image used was so small. I'm not too thrilled with this one either. Something does not look right.

In both cards the Polo Grounds background was added by me. Which is bad for the most recent. He's in his away uniform! DOH! Lets fix that and maybe work that pic better.

This card will be added to the 1965 mfc page.

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Credits

Thanks to John Pennisi for his great caricature of Nelson Doubleday. Another forced collaboration.

I do get to work with some great artists this way though. Great work of art Mr. Pennisi.

Photo of Dick Smith provided by Jason Fry.

1964 Met Fantazy Card Opening Day Line-up

The Mets started the 1964 season playing the Phillies in Philadelphia. They would lose the game by a score of 5-3.

An interesting note: In 1964, even though the New York Yankees went to the World Series, the basement-dwelling Mets drew 1,732,597 to brand-new Shea Stadium, far more then the Bronx Bombers.
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Read by Ralph Kiner:
"Hello ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Mets baseball. Today, opening day of the 1964 season, the Mets will take on the Philadelphia Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium.
The Phillies are taking the field and the Mets are coming to bat. The starting line-up for the New York Mets:

Batting in the lead-off spot, playing first base,-

-Dick was the first Met to ever get five hits in one game.
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Batting second, the second baseman,-

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Batting third and playing third-

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Batting cleanup for the Mets,-

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Hitting fifth and playing center field-

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The sixth batter will be the catcher-

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Batting seventh right fielder-

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-the shortstop will be batting eighth followed by the pitcher-"

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CREDITS & THANKS:
Again, David Rothenberg for the awesome Met photos he shares on facebook. That Joe Christopher is from Dave and what a great hi rez pic. To me that's like gold. Look for your initials in the tree Dave.

The Ron Hunt picture is from Steves Baseball Photography
I colorized the Amado Samuel picture for his card. His backround is a shot from Forbes Field circa 1960.