#300 Barney McCosky

#300 Barney McCosky
Progress: 1st of this card
276 of 407  67.8% complete
How acquired: $11.00 on eBay
Condition: Fair

Last year I spent a good amount of time being very upset at how difficult it was to find 1970 Topps high numbers for under $2.00 on the various online sites.  In retrospect, that wasn't so bad.  These fifth series 52's are much worse.  Granted they're older, but come on, I refuse to believe that this McCosky (or any 5th series card) is really that much rarer than any of the other card in the first 310 in this set.  Yet they all seem to have a $10+ plus price point unless you get lucky and find a steal.  Thankfully, I'm almost done (I miss being able to buy packs of new stuff).

McCosky's career numbers were likely affected by his military service as much as any player I've come across.  His first four seasons in the league saw him have at least 160 hits in each (including an AL best 200 in 1940) and receive MVP votes each year.  Then at the age of 26, he missed four seasons while in the Navy.  When he returned at age 30 he had a few more very productive seasons (though not as productive as his first four), before winding down with a few seasons as a seldom used reserve.   He finished with an impressive career average of .312. Those four years likely didn't cost him a spot in Cooperstown, but it's easy to argue his career hit total is probably close to 1,000 less between the lost seasons and reduced numbers upon his return due to lack of playing.  In any event, it may have been the difference between being a player most baseball fans had heard of, and one that is relatively obscure.

Stats: 11 seasons, 1,301 hits, 24 home runs, .312 avg., led AL with 200 hits and 19 triples in 1940.

Best Hall of Fame Showing: N/A