Friday, July 23, 2010

Unpossible Autograph- Johnny Powers

Two weeks ago, my Unpossible Autograph profile featured Gene Brabender, who I said has the greatest name in Orioles history. I'm not going back on that, by Johnny Powers is a pretty freakin' awesome name too, it sounds like a 1970's cartoon superhero.

Johnny Powers was a prolific power hitter in the Minor Leagues; he hit 298 HR's over his 13 seasons in the Minors, averaging just under 23 a year. Unfortunately, that power never translated to the Major Leagues and he managed only 6 homers over 215 ABs. However, one of those 6 round-trippers was historic, as he hit the last HR ever at the Polo Grounds in New York on September 29, 1957.

Overall, Johnny played 151 games with 4 different teams over his 6 big league seasons. He spent only ten games with the Orioles in 1960, but earned a spot in the 1960 Topps set, as well as being included in the Crown set that all Orioles players from 1954-91 were in. I got this card on the bay a few months back.

Johnny died on September 25, 2001 in Birmingham, AL. RIP Johnny.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

This is my grandfather! great looking card! I still have his contract with baltimore!