Ed Kirkpatrick--1969
While I had been exposed to baseball
cards throughout the 1960’s, it was the
1969 Topps set that was the first year in
which I genuinely collected cards. At 5
cents a pack, my father would
occasionally surprise this youngster with
a pack of cards upon his return from a
business trip. During the Summer of ’69 I
would spend my weekly allowance of a
quarter on my cardboard gods.
Having followed the Cardinals the
previous two seasons, I paralleled my
father with a new-found allegiance to the
Cubs in 1969. However, I was
mesmerized by the four expansion clubs.
It was a time of learning where the
players landed after the dispersal draft
and subsequent trades that helped form
the infant ball clubs.
Of the many Kansas City Royals cards, it
is this Ed Kirkpatrick card that I
remember the most.
Traded along with utility catcher Dennis
Paepke for future Hall of Famer Hoyt
Wilhelm, the versatile Kirkpatrick was
ready to make the Angels pay for
relegating him to bench duty during the
1960’s. With gritted teeth and eyes
intently focused on mashing cowhide with
his stick of wood; Ed Kirkpatrick stood as
a proud Royal.
Handed consistent playing time at a
variety of positions from a carousel of
managers, the lefty swinger was able to
hit .248 during five seasons with Kansas
City, including a career-high .275 in
1972.
Unfortunately for Kirkpatrick, who was
nicknamed "Spanky," the astute scouting
from the development-minded Royals
executives made him expendable as
Kansas City began their string of playoff
contending teams of the mid-70’s.
Though Kirkpatrick would help the
Pittsburgh Pirates during the playoffs in
1974 and ’75, with a batting average in
the .220s he would only chip in as a role
player for the Bucs.
By 1978 Kirkpatrick’s big league career
would be over, as he returned to the
Angels for a season of Triple-A ball. In
theory, maybe the California executives
were right after all... but in my nine-year-
old mind of 1969, Ed Kirkpatrick was a
hero. A hard-playing and tough
cardboard god.
Editor's Note: I was saddened to hear
that Kirkpatrick recently passed away,
which led to the post of this card.
Paralyzed in a car accident in 1981, it
sounded as if Kirkpatrick led a difficult
post-baseball life, though he has been
annually remembered by his community
with an award presented to a person who
provided exemplary service to youth
sports.
(11/30/10)
cards throughout the 1960’s, it was the
1969 Topps set that was the first year in
which I genuinely collected cards. At 5
cents a pack, my father would
occasionally surprise this youngster with
a pack of cards upon his return from a
business trip. During the Summer of ’69 I
would spend my weekly allowance of a
quarter on my cardboard gods.
Having followed the Cardinals the
previous two seasons, I paralleled my
father with a new-found allegiance to the
Cubs in 1969. However, I was
mesmerized by the four expansion clubs.
It was a time of learning where the
players landed after the dispersal draft
and subsequent trades that helped form
the infant ball clubs.
Of the many Kansas City Royals cards, it
is this Ed Kirkpatrick card that I
remember the most.
Traded along with utility catcher Dennis
Paepke for future Hall of Famer Hoyt
Wilhelm, the versatile Kirkpatrick was
ready to make the Angels pay for
relegating him to bench duty during the
1960’s. With gritted teeth and eyes
intently focused on mashing cowhide with
his stick of wood; Ed Kirkpatrick stood as
a proud Royal.
Handed consistent playing time at a
variety of positions from a carousel of
managers, the lefty swinger was able to
hit .248 during five seasons with Kansas
City, including a career-high .275 in
1972.
Unfortunately for Kirkpatrick, who was
nicknamed "Spanky," the astute scouting
from the development-minded Royals
executives made him expendable as
Kansas City began their string of playoff
contending teams of the mid-70’s.
Though Kirkpatrick would help the
Pittsburgh Pirates during the playoffs in
1974 and ’75, with a batting average in
the .220s he would only chip in as a role
player for the Bucs.
By 1978 Kirkpatrick’s big league career
would be over, as he returned to the
Angels for a season of Triple-A ball. In
theory, maybe the California executives
were right after all... but in my nine-year-
old mind of 1969, Ed Kirkpatrick was a
hero. A hard-playing and tough
cardboard god.
Editor's Note: I was saddened to hear
that Kirkpatrick recently passed away,
which led to the post of this card.
Paralyzed in a car accident in 1981, it
sounded as if Kirkpatrick led a difficult
post-baseball life, though he has been
annually remembered by his community
with an award presented to a person who
provided exemplary service to youth
sports.
(11/30/10)
I loved these mini-posters too... had
them hanging up on my bedroom walls!
them hanging up on my bedroom walls!