Does Heritage Stay True? (1959 vs. 2008 edition) Chapter 3

Now we're up to the section of the '59 set that is The Sporting News rookies.  Unfortunately, even if you mix them up in terms of numbering, there really isn't a single pair that match up very well in ALL the rookies.  They're either different positions, or have different notable skills.  I guess the rookies are the rookies for that year, and so the diversity is limited enough that the two season's crops of newbies just don't correspond.  There are only 13 matching pairs of rookies on the same teams.  That's out of 30 possible combos.

The closest match I can find that pairs players from the same team and position, is Coles & Votto here.  They aren't even close to being similar card numbers, but at least Coles was the RBI leader in his minor league and we know that Votto is good at the plate.  Looking back, I would say Votto is the "star" rookie of the set, but back in 2008, maybe they didn't know it yet.

Moving on...

We jump to #147 and the next combo card.  I would have to say that the modern version is more consistent as far as star power across the three players.  Except for an 8-game HR streak by Dale Long, Ernie Banks dominates the stats described on the back of that card.  Meanwhile, Lee & Soriano went to the All-Star Game, and Ramirez was the team RBI leader.

For the next card pairing, you put Mike McCormick with Hunter Pence, while Barry Zito was the next card down?

That just had to be a mistake!

Although maybe this was the pairing they were going for.  Teams don't match, but the #149's do.

But #150 gets back on track in a big way.  Though that color for Pujols is cool but really unusual.  What would you call that? Periwinkle?

And right back off the rails with Sosa and a Senator.  Ex-Senator teams don't count for much in the matchup criteria. 

Especially with Bobby Thomson languishing alone at #429...  Sosa being on the Rangers at this point doesn't help either.

There we go - Yankee outfielders with good bats at #155.  And both well-known for long stints on other teams.

Next card, another combo.  I'll let it slide that they used two newer franchises.  But that font thing just isn't cutting it.  WTF?

Pirate shortstops at #160 in green.  I like this pairing.  Two guys that were under the radar compared to a lot of stars in their day.

I guess this one makes it even for the Jeter slight the other way.  You mismatched KOUFAX??  Survey said ~ a big fat BZZZZT!!

And this guy is in the set?  Again, not sure if Kershaw was Kershaw at this point, but now I would put 'em together in a heartbeat, even though it is a big time veteran and a rookie.

The subtle pairs are all over the place, but the superstars are left hanging.  It's just weird.  #165 puts these two Brave outfielders together.  Nicely done.  I'm not going to get into the old logo.

And the next card is the other Native American mascot team.  Still not going there.  These match up nice, though.  I got Colavito's autograph as a kid when he was a Royals coach at an Orioles game in the 80's.  Still have that program around here somewhere.  Should make a cut auto card out of it.

We've got a yellow trend now.  Baltimore outfielders at #170.  Markakis has been a Brave for so long now, it isn't weird any more.  Glad he's done so well in his overall career.

This might be one of the best duos in the sets.  Two Preston W's.  Gotta love the heck out of that.  Nice place to pause until next time.