Nate Colbert---1969
Man, Nate is one happy guy in his
1969 card.
We trust that is it because of the two
expansion clubs that joined the
National League in 1969, Colbert
went to the sandy shores of San
Diego versus the cold Aprils (and
Frechmen) of Montreal. Then again,
he was probably just happy to be
selected in the expansion draft and in
the big leagues after gathering just
60 at-bats with the Houston Astros
during the 1966 and 1968 seasons.
Colbert went on to be a face for the
young Padres, representing them in
three Mid-Summer Classics during
the early 1970s, while slugging his
way into the records book.
On August 1, 1972, the first sacker
enjoyed one of Baseball’s best-ever
days at the plate. Colbert went 4-for-
5 in the first game of a double dip
against the Atlanta Braves,
hammering two long balls and driving
in five runs. He followed that with a 4-
for-5 performance in Game 2,
clearing the fences three more times,
while driving in eight more runs. On
the day, he equaled Stan Musial’s NL
mark of five homers in a
doubleheader, while setting a new
record with his 13 ribbies in the two
games. Amazingly Colbert, a St.
Louis native, claimed to have been in
the stands when Musial
accomplished his five-homer feat in
1954!
It was just a footnote on a season
that saw Colbert drive in 111 runs for
a Padres squad that plated just 488
runs for the year.
Colbert's total of 163 homers during
six seasons in a Padres uniform still
stands as a franchise record to this
day.
Colbert was just one Happy Padre.
He was even smiling at the possibility
of a Padres move to Washington, DC
in 1974. Hang with the President.
Speak with Congress. Hit a long one
over the Jefferson Monument. Yeah,
he was even happy to do that.
1969 card.
We trust that is it because of the two
expansion clubs that joined the
National League in 1969, Colbert
went to the sandy shores of San
Diego versus the cold Aprils (and
Frechmen) of Montreal. Then again,
he was probably just happy to be
selected in the expansion draft and in
the big leagues after gathering just
60 at-bats with the Houston Astros
during the 1966 and 1968 seasons.
Colbert went on to be a face for the
young Padres, representing them in
three Mid-Summer Classics during
the early 1970s, while slugging his
way into the records book.
On August 1, 1972, the first sacker
enjoyed one of Baseball’s best-ever
days at the plate. Colbert went 4-for-
5 in the first game of a double dip
against the Atlanta Braves,
hammering two long balls and driving
in five runs. He followed that with a 4-
for-5 performance in Game 2,
clearing the fences three more times,
while driving in eight more runs. On
the day, he equaled Stan Musial’s NL
mark of five homers in a
doubleheader, while setting a new
record with his 13 ribbies in the two
games. Amazingly Colbert, a St.
Louis native, claimed to have been in
the stands when Musial
accomplished his five-homer feat in
1954!
It was just a footnote on a season
that saw Colbert drive in 111 runs for
a Padres squad that plated just 488
runs for the year.
Colbert's total of 163 homers during
six seasons in a Padres uniform still
stands as a franchise record to this
day.
Colbert was just one Happy Padre.
He was even smiling at the possibility
of a Padres move to Washington, DC
in 1974. Hang with the President.
Speak with Congress. Hit a long one
over the Jefferson Monument. Yeah,
he was even happy to do that.
But by this 1976 card, Nate was not smiling anymore as he was now with Montreal. Colbert would hit just six home runs in 52 games for the Expos while collecting some of his final paychecks in Canadian "funny" money and looking for a good beach. |
