Uncommon commons: In more than 30 years in
sportscards publishing I have thrown hundreds of notes into files about the
players – usually non-star players – who made up the majority of the baseball
and football cards I collected as a kid. Today, I keep adding to those files as
I peruse microfilms of The Sporting News from the 1880s through the
1960s. I found these tidbits brought some life to the player pictures on those
cards. I figure that if I enjoyed them, you might too.
The 1956
season was a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde affair for Detroit Tigers pitcher Frank Lary.
From the season opener through Aug. 7, he was 10-12 with an earned run average
of 4.45.
From that
point on, however, he won 11 and lost only one on an ERA of 1.00.
His season
totals for 1956 included a 21-13 record with 3.15 ERA. His 21 victories were
tops in the American League. He also led the league with 294 innings pitched.
That was also the season that Lary earned his nickname of "The Yankee Killer."
In six decisions pitching against New York, Lary won five. Over the course of his major league career he faced the Yankees in 56 games, winning 28 and losing 13 with an ERA of 3.32.
That was also the season that Lary earned his nickname of "The Yankee Killer."
In six decisions pitching against New York, Lary won five. Over the course of his major league career he faced the Yankees in 56 games, winning 28 and losing 13 with an ERA of 3.32.
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