#tbt: A Trio of 61s

Every few months, my local mall has a cardshow where you can find some nice vintage cards for very cheap.  I generally get great deals from one seller in particular.  Below is a trio of 1961 Topps that I purchased for $2 combined.

Gene Baker

Vern Law

Smoky Burgess

Buc Hill Aces: 1961 Edition

The Pirates pitching staff looked incredibly strong last year lead by veterans AJ Burnett, Fransisco Liriano, and closer Jason Grilli.
Back in 1960, the World Series Champion Pittsburgh Pirates, had 2 other aces that catapulted their record to the best in the NL with a 95-59 record.
The Pirates pitching staff in 2013 allowed 577 runs compared to the 1960 pitching staff which allowed 593 runs.  If the Pirates are going to continue their success in 2014, they will have to depend on the arms of Gerrit Cole, Fransisco Liriano, Charlie Morton, and the effectiveness of the bullpen.  It's only been one game so far, but it looks like the Buc Aces are back!

Here's hoping for success from the aces in 2014, so that the Pirates can be champions much like Vern Law and Roy Face pictured above.
I bought this card for $6 when I went on vacation in February.

2 new 57s for the Treasure Room...and they're sharp

For $16, I add two new 1957 Topps cards to my ongoing pursuit to collect every flagship Topps Pirates card.  These fine specimens of vintage cardboard feature the 1960 Cy Young winner Vernon Law (#199) and outfielder Roman Mejias (#362).

In six seasons with the Pirates Mejias batted .245/.286/.367 while providing 17 homeruns and 83 RBI over 800 plate appearances.  He would leave to go to the Houston Colt .45s during the 1962 season and hit a team leading 24 homeruns over 610 plate appearances.  He finished out his MLB career with the Red Sox in 1964.

Vern Law played all 16 seasons of his major league career with the Pittsburgh Pirates.  His best season was in 1960 when he won the Cy Young award by going 20-9 with a NL leading 18 complete games and a 3.08 ERA.  He finished his career with a 162-147 record pitching with a 3.77 ERA, 119 complete games over 2,672 innings.