Leon McFadden---1969
Looking down the Houston Astros Spring Training roster the Topps
photographer sighs as he says to himself, “One to go, but I better hurry if I am
gonna catch that 7:45 Pan Am flight back to New York.”
Making his way in from the batting cages, with two bats slung over his left
shoulder as his glove and cap dangle from his right hand, Leon McFadden
makes his way to the Cocoa Stadium locker room that houses the Astros each
March.
The photographer recognizes the NFL lineman type number on McFadden
and realizes that he has his last man. On the strength of a September call up
in 1968, in which he collected a hit in 11 of 16 games, the shortstop earned a
photo shoot for a 1969 Topps rookie card.
With only a few minutes to spare, the photographer stops McFadden, stands
him against the corridor wall and snaps a headshot of the youngster, who is
obviously not pleased that his first baseball card photo is being taken with
such haste. Nevertheless, the shutter clicks several times and the deed is
done.
While McFadden was sharing the same infield skin during spring training with
second sacker Joe Morgan and Dennis Menke at short, he was hopelessly
obstructed from regular playing time by the All-Stars. Spending the entire 1969
season with Houston, McFadden logged sporadic playing time hitting just .176
in 44 games. He opened that 1970 season with the Astros, but after two games
where he entered as a late inning defensive replacement that yielded no at-
bats, McFadden was shipped off to the minors, never to set foot on a big
league diamond again.
Sometimes life just isn’t fair.
To be an afterthought for his first card was a unfortunate, but to have his
second card also to be shot along the same brick wall was a shame. At least
the photographer let McFadden take a moment to put a cap on for his 1970
card.
(Oct. 5, 2008)
photographer sighs as he says to himself, “One to go, but I better hurry if I am
gonna catch that 7:45 Pan Am flight back to New York.”
Making his way in from the batting cages, with two bats slung over his left
shoulder as his glove and cap dangle from his right hand, Leon McFadden
makes his way to the Cocoa Stadium locker room that houses the Astros each
March.
The photographer recognizes the NFL lineman type number on McFadden
and realizes that he has his last man. On the strength of a September call up
in 1968, in which he collected a hit in 11 of 16 games, the shortstop earned a
photo shoot for a 1969 Topps rookie card.
With only a few minutes to spare, the photographer stops McFadden, stands
him against the corridor wall and snaps a headshot of the youngster, who is
obviously not pleased that his first baseball card photo is being taken with
such haste. Nevertheless, the shutter clicks several times and the deed is
done.
While McFadden was sharing the same infield skin during spring training with
second sacker Joe Morgan and Dennis Menke at short, he was hopelessly
obstructed from regular playing time by the All-Stars. Spending the entire 1969
season with Houston, McFadden logged sporadic playing time hitting just .176
in 44 games. He opened that 1970 season with the Astros, but after two games
where he entered as a late inning defensive replacement that yielded no at-
bats, McFadden was shipped off to the minors, never to set foot on a big
league diamond again.
Sometimes life just isn’t fair.
To be an afterthought for his first card was a unfortunate, but to have his
second card also to be shot along the same brick wall was a shame. At least
the photographer let McFadden take a moment to put a cap on for his 1970
card.
(Oct. 5, 2008)
