Ellie Rodriguez--1973
Card collectors received a four-for-one deal with this 1973 Ellie Rodriguez
card, as somewhere in this card appeared the catcher who played nine
seasons in the bigs. We see two Brewers and an umpire watch what we
assume is Rodriguez making a throw to first on a bunt play.
The player on the far left is the pitcher who looks to be right-hander Bill
Parsons, as he and Skip Lockwood were the only two Milwaukee hurlers
who had a “2” in the second digit of their number in '72. Of the two Parsons,
had the darker hair which flowed out from under the cap in this photo.
As for the dark complected player in the background, it had to be big first
baseman George Scott. While an aging Johnny Briggs did take his place at
first base in 28 games in 1972, Briggs was left-handed, thus the player in
the photo is Scott, who was wearing his famous "Black Beauty" glove on the
left hand.
Our main character in this card is Rodriguez, yet do we know that for
certain?
We know that Darrell Porter wore glasses, which knocks him out of the
picture. Backup hand snatchers John Felske and Paul Ratliff were big
hulking receivers, standing 6’3” and 6’2” respectively. Then there was
veteran Joe Azcue who was closing out his 11-year big league career with
11 games for the Brewers in 1972. Azcue was roughly the same size as
Rodriguez, however, on closer examination of box scores, Azcue never
caught Parsons in a home game in 1972.
So, yes, our deductions conclude that it really is Ellie Rodriguez in his card,
though in reality the best look we get is of an unknown umpire’s big butt,
which is first and foremost in the picture.
Editor's Note: On the subject of "notable Ellie's" I am of the conviction that
Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry missed the boat by not marrying Ellie the
Druggist. She was much more fun then Helen Crump, who was a prude and
could be downright mean at times. And on the subject of Ellie, how about
that Ellie Campett.....
(3/20/10)
card, as somewhere in this card appeared the catcher who played nine
seasons in the bigs. We see two Brewers and an umpire watch what we
assume is Rodriguez making a throw to first on a bunt play.
The player on the far left is the pitcher who looks to be right-hander Bill
Parsons, as he and Skip Lockwood were the only two Milwaukee hurlers
who had a “2” in the second digit of their number in '72. Of the two Parsons,
had the darker hair which flowed out from under the cap in this photo.
As for the dark complected player in the background, it had to be big first
baseman George Scott. While an aging Johnny Briggs did take his place at
first base in 28 games in 1972, Briggs was left-handed, thus the player in
the photo is Scott, who was wearing his famous "Black Beauty" glove on the
left hand.
Our main character in this card is Rodriguez, yet do we know that for
certain?
We know that Darrell Porter wore glasses, which knocks him out of the
picture. Backup hand snatchers John Felske and Paul Ratliff were big
hulking receivers, standing 6’3” and 6’2” respectively. Then there was
veteran Joe Azcue who was closing out his 11-year big league career with
11 games for the Brewers in 1972. Azcue was roughly the same size as
Rodriguez, however, on closer examination of box scores, Azcue never
caught Parsons in a home game in 1972.
So, yes, our deductions conclude that it really is Ellie Rodriguez in his card,
though in reality the best look we get is of an unknown umpire’s big butt,
which is first and foremost in the picture.
Editor's Note: On the subject of "notable Ellie's" I am of the conviction that
Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry missed the boat by not marrying Ellie the
Druggist. She was much more fun then Helen Crump, who was a prude and
could be downright mean at times. And on the subject of Ellie, how about
that Ellie Campett.....
(3/20/10)
