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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

1959 Topps #268 Tito Francona

Tonight the Phillies take on the Indians who are led by former Phils skipper Terry Francona. 

Francona is in his first year in Cleveland managing the team for whom his his father once played.



1959 Topps #268 Tito Francona

Tito Francona spent 15 years in the Majors playing for 9 different Clubs.  His longest tenure was with the Indians from 1959-1964 which included his best year in 1959 when he hit .363 with 20 Home Runs.

Tito Francona spent a few months with the Phillies early in the 1967 season.  He only collect 17 hits in 73 ABs and the Phillies shipped him off to the Braves.

Terry Francona's Phillies connection is much more recent - his first career managing stint was in Philadelphia from 1997-2000 with the Phils. The teams results for those four seasons were mixed with the Phillies finishing between 3rd and 5th place.  Terry, of course, went on to lead 2 World Championship squads in Boston.

For The Collector

The above Tito Francona 1959 Topps Card is a common, off center, and severely bitten with a hole punch in the upper left corner - none of that matters as I found this baby in a dime box.

According to the Baseball Card Database Tito Francona's Rookie Card (as an Oriole) is in 1957 Topps.  His Last Topps Card is in 1970.

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