Al Ferrara--1966
“Look, it’s a bird… it’s a plane… no, it’
s Al Ferrara gazing aimlessly into the
sky during his Topps photo shoot.”
What the heck could he be looking
at? We surmise that this was
supposed to be some creative
moment by a frustrated photographer
who landed the gig only after he was
able to free himself from the morning
shift at Glenn’s Photo Shop in the
Evergreen Plaza.
The fourth outfielder and pinch-hitter
for the Los Angeles Dodgers during
the mid-1960s, Ferrera had an
interesting career. The Brooklyn
native shared a locker room with
Koufax and Drysdale, appeared on
both the small and silver screen and
as a youth once played piano in
Carnegie Hall. Ferrara broke up
Chicago Cub Dick Ellsworth’s no-hit
bid on May 15, 1965 (mistakenly
listed at 1966 on this card) with a
three-run homer for the Dodgers’
lone hit in a 3-1 win. He was also an
original Padre and was once the
roommate of Johnny Podres, which is
some sort of odd symmetry.
When presented with regular playing
time, Ferrera responded by being a .
270 hitter as he launched around 15
long balls per season.
Of course, maybe all Ferrara was
looking for when this Topps card
photo was taken was--- playing time.
(Editor's Note: I didn't realize that Al
was on Gilligan's Island, Batman and
Barretta when I was watching those
shows as a youth.)
(7/19/10)
s Al Ferrara gazing aimlessly into the
sky during his Topps photo shoot.”
What the heck could he be looking
at? We surmise that this was
supposed to be some creative
moment by a frustrated photographer
who landed the gig only after he was
able to free himself from the morning
shift at Glenn’s Photo Shop in the
Evergreen Plaza.
The fourth outfielder and pinch-hitter
for the Los Angeles Dodgers during
the mid-1960s, Ferrera had an
interesting career. The Brooklyn
native shared a locker room with
Koufax and Drysdale, appeared on
both the small and silver screen and
as a youth once played piano in
Carnegie Hall. Ferrara broke up
Chicago Cub Dick Ellsworth’s no-hit
bid on May 15, 1965 (mistakenly
listed at 1966 on this card) with a
three-run homer for the Dodgers’
lone hit in a 3-1 win. He was also an
original Padre and was once the
roommate of Johnny Podres, which is
some sort of odd symmetry.
When presented with regular playing
time, Ferrera responded by being a .
270 hitter as he launched around 15
long balls per season.
Of course, maybe all Ferrara was
looking for when this Topps card
photo was taken was--- playing time.
(Editor's Note: I didn't realize that Al
was on Gilligan's Island, Batman and
Barretta when I was watching those
shows as a youth.)
(7/19/10)
