#301 Bob Porterfield

#301 Bob Porterfield
Progress: 1st of this card
277 of 407 68% complete
How acquired: $7.99 on eBay
Condition: Fair

I think somebody out there is spreading an ugly rumor that the hi-numbers begin at #300 in this set.  From everything I've read about print runs, and the set-up on the printing sheets, there is nothing particularly special about #300-310.  Yet, people charge for them like they're some kind of exotic scarcity.  I was ready to high five someone after picking this card up for under $10 bucks.  I ran into the same thing to a lesser degree when working on the 1970 Topps.  The hi-numbers started at #634 and run through #720.  They all share the same size print run.  But cards #700-720 seemed to cost more than #634-699.  I guess people just like big numbers.

This Porterfield isn't the most exciting card in the set, but there isn't anything really wrong with it either.  I guess they can't all be winners.  Porterfield was about to begin what was easily the best four year stretch of his career in 1952 and may have seen better treatment had he started that stretch an year earlier in '51.  Yankees probably should have given him one more year to develop.

Stats: 12 seasons, All-Star, 87 wins, 97 losses, 3.79 ERA, 92 CG, Led AL with 22 wins and 9 shut-outs in '53, Led AL in complete games in '53 (24) and '54 (21), 3x World Series Rings (NYY '49-51)

Best Hall of Fame Showing: 0.3% 1966