Leading Players: Words on the back of 1950 Bowman Baseball Cards as follows:

* Ted Williams Outfield Bats Left, Throws Right – Ted ‘The Thumper,’ is one of the most feared hitters in the history of baseball. In 1949 Ted Williams led the league in homers, 43, runs scored, 160, total bases, 368, and two-base hits, 39. He drove in 159 runs which tied him for the lead in that department. Voted the league’s most valuable player, 1949, 1946. In 1941 hit an amazing .401.

* Billy Goodman First Base, Bats Left, Throws Right – Young Billy Goodman topped AL first basemen in fielding in 1949 with .992. Made but 9 errors in handling 1157 chances. Hit .296 and batted in 56 runs. Sox purchased Bill’s contract from Atlanta (minors at this time-frame) Late in 1946 for a reported 5-figure check. In rookie Year with BoSox (1948), Billy hit .310 and fielded .993.

* Warren Rosar Catcher Right-handed – Traded to Red Sox by A’s (Philadelphia) at the close of 1949 season. Caught 32 games for A’s in 1949. Hit .200. After five years in the minors, came to Yankees in 1939. In 1942 joined Cleveland. Traded to A’s in 1945. In 1948 Buddy Rosar caught 90 games, and hit .255. Continued superior fielding, leading AL catchers with a .997 fielding average.

* Walt Masterson Pitcher Right handed - The bespectacled right-hander began 1949 with the Senators with whom he had a 3-2 record in 10 appearances. Then he switched to the Red Sox. Played in 18 games for the Fenway Park club, winning 3 and losing 4. Walt Materson best year was 1947 when he was chosen for the American League All Star Team. Spent 3 years in the service.

* Johnny Pesky Third Baseman Bats Left, T RH - Hit .306 in 1949. Slammed 27 doubles and drove in 69 runs. Johnny Pesky has compiled major league batting averages of .331, .335, .334, .281. In his rookie year Johnny collected 205 hits, tying a major league record for first year men. Led the league in base hits in 1942, 1946 and 1947. Voted American Association's Most Valuable Player in '41. Pesky served in military 1942-45.

* Vern Stephens Shortstop Right-handed - Born: McAllister NM - Vern is one of the game's better shortstops. In the 1949 champaign he hit .290, and tied for the league lead with 159 RBIs. He hammered out 31 doubles and 39 homers. Slugging percentage, .539. Vern was traded to the Sox by the Browns after the 1947 season. In '45 he topped the circuit in homers. Has been on 5 all star teams.

* Lou Stringer Infielder Right-handed – Got into 35 games for the 1949 Red Sox, and batted .268. Had first start in organized ball with Ponca City, Western Association, 1937. Moved to Los Angeles (minors during this time-frame), ’39. With the Cubs for 2 seasons, followed by 3 years in the service. At the end of 1948 brought up by the Red Sox.

* Al Papai Pitcher Right-handed – Got start in Western League in ’40. With Springfield of the Western Association In ’41. On Springfield’s roster, 1942-44, but the time was actually spent in military service. Made the majors with Cards in 1948. Waived to Browns, May 1949, to Red Sox, December 1949.

* Earl Johnson Pitcher Left handed - Won 3 and lost 6 in 19 games in 1949. Started in organized ball with Rocky Mount of the Piedmont League, 1940. Won 12 and lost 6. Called up by the Red Sox at the end of the season. Hung up a 6-2 record on hitting the American League. Has remained with the Boston team. Won 12 in '47. Dropped 11. In 1948 Earl Johnson compiled a nice record of 10 and 4.

* Walt Dropo First Baseman Right-handed – 6-ft 5-inches, 220 lbs; Born: Moosup Conn. – Had a great athletic career at Connecticut University. Signed by the Red Sox in June 1947. Shuttled about in the minors to acquire experience. Brought up to majors after the 1950 season had started. Replaced regular BoSox first baseman, sidelined by injury. Began hitting at terrific clip. Has turned down pro football offers… (Note: in 1950 Walt Dropo exploded to hit .322, 34 homers, and tied teammate Vern Stephens for the AL lead with 144 RBIs and was voted the 1950 Rookie of the Year.

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Leading Players: Words on back of 1950 Bowman Baseball Cards as follows:

* Vern Bickford Boston Braves Pitcher Right-handed – In 37 games for the 1949 Braves, Vern had a 16-11 record. Had lots to do with the Braves’ 1948 pennant drive. Pitched the game that clinched the bunting (pennant). Bickford’s record that year – his rookie season – was 11-5. Opened 1947 with Milwaukee – minors at this time – in relief roles. Got a starting assignment. Won 1-0. Kept on as starter. Vern Bickford is a control pitcher with a fine curve ball.

* Tommy Holmes Boston Braves Outfielder Left-handed – Hit .266 in 117 games in 1949. Drove in 59 runs. Tommy Holmes best year was ’45 when he hit .352, rapping out 47 doubles, 6 triples, 28 homers. Batted in 117 runs. He hit .325, third highest in league when in 1948, when Braves won pennant. Spent five seasons in minors as property of Yanks, but his 8 big-league seasons have been with the Braves.

* Harold ‘Pete’ Reiser Boston Braves Outfielder Bats Both, Throws Right – Pete Reiser hit .274 in 84 games in 1949. His first full season in majors was ’41. That year he was the National League’s leading batsman. His average was .343. He led the senior circuit in total runs scored (117), total bases and triples 17. Has been on 2 all star teams and in 2 World Series. Traded to the Boston Braves in fall of 1948.

* Sibby Sisti Boston Braves Second Baseman, Shortstop, RH – Played 101 games in 1949 hitting .257. Started in organized ball in ’38 with Hartford. Joined the Braves late in ’39. Stayed with them until 1943. After discharge from service, Sibby Sisti came back to Braves in 1946. Played one game then was shunted to Indianapolis. There Sibby Sisti hit .343. Hit .281 for Braves in 1947.

* Earl Torgeson Boston Braves First Baseman Left handed – Born: Snohomish Washington on Jan 1 1924; 6-ft, 2-inches; 180lbs - After playing 25 games, and batting .260 in 1949, Earl Torgenson injured his shoulder. He was out of action for the rest of the season. The bespectacled first-sacker played two years in the minors, than spent 3 years in military service. Back in civilian life, he joined the Seattle club (minors) in ’46. Was with Braves in ’47, hitting .281. Hit .253 in 1948.

* John Buddy Kerr Braves Shortstop Right-handed – Born: Astoria Long Island NY – Traded to Boston Braves by NY Giants after the 1949 season. Buddy Kerr had been with Giants from the end of the ’43 campaign when he came up from Jersey City. His best season was 1947 when he hit .287 and drove in 49 runs. Holds major league record for most consecutive chances accepted by a shortstop without an error, 383. Buddy Kerr has played on one all star team.

*Bob Chipman Pitcher Left handed – Born: Brooklyn – Compiled a season record of 7 wins and 8 loses for the Chicago Cubs in 1949. Bob Chipman started in organized ball in ’39. Spent part of ’41 and part of ’42 on the roster of Brooklyn. Finished ’42 in minors with Montreal Royals. Back with Brooklyn in ’43. Sent to Cubs in ’44. Traded to Braves, 1950.