1963 FLEER ROGER CRAIG
No triskaidekaphobe, our Roger Craig.
He started the 1962 season wearing number 38, and ended up with a 10-24 record.
By August of 1963, Craig was sporting a 2-20 mark. At that point, I suppose he figured that he could break all the mirrors, walk under all the ladders, and cross all the black cats he liked– it would be hard to find worse luck than the combined 12-44 that number 38 had brought him.
So on August 8th of that year, Roger Craig changed his uniform number to 13, thus becoming the first Mets player to don the baker’s dozen. And sure enough, he finished the season by going a thoroughly respectable 3-2.
Craig was traded to the Cardinals after the 1963 season, and the Mets steered clear of issuing number 13 until Neil Allen took it on in 1981…
Here’s hoping that your own ’13 is full of more wins than losses, with perhaps a few saves thrown in for good measure.
Happy New Year!
I like this card.
On my list of things to do after I win the lottery is to collect this ’63 Fleer set. I like the ’63 Topps but this one is even better.
I’m shocked that no one wore #13 for the Mets for almost two decades. I would never have guessed that.
The good thing about this set is that it’s small (66 cards + checklist) and Mantle-free, so it’s relatively affordable to build.