One less Brooklyn Dodger: RIP, Andy Pafko

He dies at 92:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/10/sports/baseball/andy-pafko-all-star-outfielder-who-stood-helpless-as-the-dodgers-lost-the-pennant-dies-at-92.html?_r=0



Also gone are a couple of journeyman players from the 1960s,

Bob Chance:

http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2013/10/bob_chance_a_major_leaguer_at.html



Dan Osinski:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/azcentral/obituary.aspx?n=Daniel-Osinski&pid=167448235#fbLoggedOut

 

Was the left fielder for the Dodgers in 1951. The Bobby Thomson home run went over his head. Don DeLillo wrote a novella entitled "Pafko at the Wall" (which was originally part of the novel "Underworld").

http://espn.go.com/classic/s/2001/0925/1255241.html

I think Pafko was the last living position from the "Boys of Summer" Brooklyn Dodgers. Only prominent guys left now are pitchers Don Newcombe, Ralph Branca and Carl Erskine. Pinch-hitter/fourth outfielder George "Shotgun" Shuba is also still alive.

Pafko was also one of only two remaining starters from the last Cubs team to make the World Series. Shortstop Lennie Merullo is still alive, but is 96.

 

Also was a member of the late 50s Milwaukee Braves which won one World Series and lost the other to the Yankees.

Had some terrific years with the Cubs, did OK with the Dodgers and Braves. RIP

 

I believe he was the last living member of the Cubs' last World Series team as well.

 

No. As I mentioned above, shortstop Lennie Merullo is still alive. Merullo was a scout for the Cubs and other teams for about 50 years. His grandson, Matt, had a journeyman MLB career.

 

An appreciation from Rob Neyer:

http://www.baseballnation.com/2013/10/10/4822356/andy-pafko-dead-obituary-don-dellilo-novel-underworld

 

Maybe the most famous card #1 of any baseball set. If collectors who needed it were looking for a deal, it won't be any time soon.

 

Steak, you're one of my favorite posters, but my eye doctor, therapist and internist all say if you don't get rid of that Dolphins thing, I either have to avoid your posts or accept that my head will eventually explode.

Which I assume will be worse than a spit take.

 

OK. Since you asked nicely.

I've replaced it with Champ Summers vs Bob Horner in 1984.

 

Besides being a card #1, what makes it so valuable?

 

Besides being the first card of the most valuable (and, arguably, popular) set since Topps started printing baseball cards the previous year, being the first card in the set means when people would put it at the top of their stack of cards from that year. The belief is the first card of the set would often get damaged due to this because of rubber band marks, etc. The odds of getting one in excellent condition are lowered.

 

Most valuable set because it contains the famed Mickey Mantle rookie card?