John Cumberland---1971
In this card, John Cumberland looks
lost. Like a man without a country.
Certainly, a man without a logo on his
cap. Surprisingly, when you look at
the back of his 1971 card,
Cumberland is pictured in a Giants
cap, which leads one to think, “Why
didn’t they use that picture on the
front?”
Hmmmmm.
Also, on the back of the card, it notes
that John led his Portland, Maine
American Legion team to the 1966
State Championship, tossing a one-
hitter and fanning 22 in the title game.
One can only imagine that there is a
picture of that club hoisting the
championship trophy as John is off to
the side frantically motioning to his
father to bring ice for his arm--- and in
a hurry.
When looking back at Cumberland’s
career, 1971 was indeed his best
season. The southpaw harnessed his
curve ball and moved from the Giants’
pen to the rotation in June, finishing
the season with a 9-6 record and a
2.92 ERA. His teammates named him
“The Bulldog,” for handling the middle
of the powerful Atlanta Braves lineup
during the course of the ‘71 season.
In fact, Cumberland was a Braves-
killer, logging four of his nine victories
that year against Atlanta as the
Giants captured the NL West Division.
Following the ’71 season, John
bounced from the Giants to the
Cardinals to the Twins, back to the
Giants and finally with the Angels in
1974 for his last major league hurrah.
Maybe Topps knew he was on the
verge of becoming a journeyman
pitcher and that is why his cap had
the logo airbrushed out.
Hmmmm.
lost. Like a man without a country.
Certainly, a man without a logo on his
cap. Surprisingly, when you look at
the back of his 1971 card,
Cumberland is pictured in a Giants
cap, which leads one to think, “Why
didn’t they use that picture on the
front?”
Hmmmmm.
Also, on the back of the card, it notes
that John led his Portland, Maine
American Legion team to the 1966
State Championship, tossing a one-
hitter and fanning 22 in the title game.
One can only imagine that there is a
picture of that club hoisting the
championship trophy as John is off to
the side frantically motioning to his
father to bring ice for his arm--- and in
a hurry.
When looking back at Cumberland’s
career, 1971 was indeed his best
season. The southpaw harnessed his
curve ball and moved from the Giants’
pen to the rotation in June, finishing
the season with a 9-6 record and a
2.92 ERA. His teammates named him
“The Bulldog,” for handling the middle
of the powerful Atlanta Braves lineup
during the course of the ‘71 season.
In fact, Cumberland was a Braves-
killer, logging four of his nine victories
that year against Atlanta as the
Giants captured the NL West Division.
Following the ’71 season, John
bounced from the Giants to the
Cardinals to the Twins, back to the
Giants and finally with the Angels in
1974 for his last major league hurrah.
Maybe Topps knew he was on the
verge of becoming a journeyman
pitcher and that is why his cap had
the logo airbrushed out.
Hmmmm.
