Friday, August 12, 2011

Friday Giveaway: Your Team's Best Power Trio?

This last featured pickup from the 2011 National in Chicago is cool for a few reasons.

Scan from COMC, where 1961 Topps #25 starts at $2

First, just 50 cents netted me Frank Robinson, Gus Bell, and Vada Pinson in a nice pre-game shot from 1960. Second, those sleeveless Reds uniforms always mean classic baseball; who can forget Ted Kluszewski in 1957? Third, Topps reused Gus Bell's own uniform number (25) for the card itself.

Seeing these guys together--the top 3 in total bases for Cincinnati in 1960--made me wonder what the best 3-man slugging combos were for Seattle, my hometown team from ages 6 to 26. Who would I want anchoring their 2-3-4 or 3-4-5 lineup positions, year after year?

This is how we all think about cards, right?

The Mariners are an easy franchise to build a best-ever trio for, given their inconsistent (i.e., lousy) 1970s and 1980s teams. By the mid 1990s, though...
  • Ken Griffey, Jr. hit 50+ homers regularly
  • Edgar Martinez picked up the nickname "Dr. Double" (35+ of them 8 times)
  • Alex Rodriguez started doing what he's always done
That trio of teammates from 1996-1999 gets my vote as Seattle's best. Thus, the giveaway question!

HOW TO ENTER: Who do you think is the best lineup trio for another franchise? Just add a comment with team, players, and basic rationale.

[Greg Zakwin won the giveaway of this 1961 Topps #25, but feel free to add more "best lineups" to this post.]

UPDATE: Vintage Sportscards is also running a National-based 1952 Topps giveaway! Entering both is like the Doublemint gum of vintage contests.
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