Al Gallagher---1971
With a mother who wanted many
sons yet had just one, the burden of
carrying all her favorite names
through life fell to Alan Mitchell
Edward George Patrick Henry
Gallagher. Those in baseball,
meanwhile, just refer to him as “Dirty
Al.”
The story goes that as a college
standout at Santa Clara University ,
the superstitious Gallagher swore
that he wouldn’t wash his uniform
until the Broncos lost or he failed to
get a hit. Well, the streak lasted 25
games before a smelly Gallagher
would wash the uni.
In 1965, the native San Franciscan
became the first draft pick of the
Giants, going 14th overall. He
headed straight to Triple-A where he
began a career of mediocrity that
ended in 1973 after 442 games due
to a shoulder injury.
In fact, this card gives us his career
highlight of being named to the
Topps 1970 All-Star Rookie Team.
Gallagher garnered the honor by
edging out Boston ’s Carmen
Fanzone and St. Louis ’ Ed Crosby,
who shared the “Mr. Congeniality
Award” for rookie third basemen.
“Phew, what stinks? Oh, it’s just, Al.”
sons yet had just one, the burden of
carrying all her favorite names
through life fell to Alan Mitchell
Edward George Patrick Henry
Gallagher. Those in baseball,
meanwhile, just refer to him as “Dirty
Al.”
The story goes that as a college
standout at Santa Clara University ,
the superstitious Gallagher swore
that he wouldn’t wash his uniform
until the Broncos lost or he failed to
get a hit. Well, the streak lasted 25
games before a smelly Gallagher
would wash the uni.
In 1965, the native San Franciscan
became the first draft pick of the
Giants, going 14th overall. He
headed straight to Triple-A where he
began a career of mediocrity that
ended in 1973 after 442 games due
to a shoulder injury.
In fact, this card gives us his career
highlight of being named to the
Topps 1970 All-Star Rookie Team.
Gallagher garnered the honor by
edging out Boston ’s Carmen
Fanzone and St. Louis ’ Ed Crosby,
who shared the “Mr. Congeniality
Award” for rookie third basemen.
“Phew, what stinks? Oh, it’s just, Al.”
