Felipe Alou---1974
The oldest of the three Alou
brothers, Felipe placed second to
sibling Matty in the 1966 National
League batting race. Felipe raked at
a .327 clip, paced the senior circuit
with 218 hits and 122 runs, and
clubbed career-high 31 home runs
that year, which was the Braves’ first
season in Atlanta after moving from
Milwaukee. Always outspoken about
the treatment of Latin American
players, Alou said it was no accident
that his strong performance
dovetailed with the change of
scenery.
“For players of color, Atlanta was a
wonderful place to come play, much
more so than Milwaukee,” Alou said.
“There was a much larger population
of people of color, and the weather
was much warmer, which was
wonderful for me.”
Given those events, it is unlikely Alou
was a happy camper when he was
traded back to Milwaukee by the
Montreal Expos prior to the 1974
season. As Topps was prone to do in
the early 1970s, Alou’s photo was
airbrushed with his new digs and his
card was emblazoned with a large
“TRADED” banner across the front.
At least one kid believed the player
was “WANTED” for a crime, or at
least unwanted by his previous
employer.
Alou, meanwhile, was well past his
prime in 1974, having become a
journeyman during his final few
seasons. He wound up playing three
games with the Brewers before
calling it a playing career, which
explains the airbrushing, as he
probably didn't want to be caught
dead (or in photo) wearing a
Milwaukee Brewers cap.
5/14/08
brothers, Felipe placed second to
sibling Matty in the 1966 National
League batting race. Felipe raked at
a .327 clip, paced the senior circuit
with 218 hits and 122 runs, and
clubbed career-high 31 home runs
that year, which was the Braves’ first
season in Atlanta after moving from
Milwaukee. Always outspoken about
the treatment of Latin American
players, Alou said it was no accident
that his strong performance
dovetailed with the change of
scenery.
“For players of color, Atlanta was a
wonderful place to come play, much
more so than Milwaukee,” Alou said.
“There was a much larger population
of people of color, and the weather
was much warmer, which was
wonderful for me.”
Given those events, it is unlikely Alou
was a happy camper when he was
traded back to Milwaukee by the
Montreal Expos prior to the 1974
season. As Topps was prone to do in
the early 1970s, Alou’s photo was
airbrushed with his new digs and his
card was emblazoned with a large
“TRADED” banner across the front.
At least one kid believed the player
was “WANTED” for a crime, or at
least unwanted by his previous
employer.
Alou, meanwhile, was well past his
prime in 1974, having become a
journeyman during his final few
seasons. He wound up playing three
games with the Brewers before
calling it a playing career, which
explains the airbrushing, as he
probably didn't want to be caught
dead (or in photo) wearing a
Milwaukee Brewers cap.
5/14/08
