1961 Topps #21, Zorro Versalles

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Zoilo Versalles' 1961 Topps #21 baseball card is shown
here, both front and back:

http://home.triad.rr.com/ovis/images...rsalles-1a.jpg

http://home.triad.rr.com/ovis/images...rsalles-1b.jpg

Zoilo Versalles was the A.L. MVP of 1965, with a .273 batting
average, his second Gold Glove Award, the league leader
in doubles, in triples (for the third year in a row), and in runs
scored. He finished 3rd in the A.L. in stolen bases, and was
selected to the All-Star squad. His team, the Twins, won the
American League pennant for the first time since becoming
the Twins in 1961, and the first in 32 years for the franchise
(formerly the Washington Senators).

Life was good for Zorro.

Two years later, in 1967, Zoilo's batting average would sink
to an abysmal .200, forcing the Twins to trade him away to
the Dodgers.

In 1968, with the Dodgers, Zoilo hit for an even worse .196
average. After a couple of deals in off season he wound
up with the Indians for the start of the '69 season, but would
end up the season with the Senators.

He ended up playing in Mexico in 1970, but was brought
up to the Braves for the 1971 campaign, and was released
by Atlanta after the season. He played 1972 in Japan.

As if his fall in baseball wasn't sad enough, Zoilo never
could find a good job after leaving the sport, lost his
house to foreclosure, had to sell his Gold Glove trophies,
his All-Star rings, and even his MVP trophy, and in June
of 1995, at the age of 55, he was found dead.

Zoilo Versalles had a lifetime batting average of .242.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Wade

Wasn't he a catcher?

"John Wade" wrote in message
...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------
Zoilo Versalles' 1961 Topps #21 baseball card is shown
here, both front and back:

http://home.triad.rr.com/ovis/images...rsalles-1a.jpg

http://home.triad.rr.com/ovis/images...rsalles-1b.jpg

Zoilo Versalles was the A.L. MVP of 1965, with a .273 batting
average, his second Gold Glove Award, the league leader
in doubles, in triples (for the third year in a row), and in runs
scored. He finished 3rd in the A.L. in stolen bases, and was
selected to the All-Star squad. His team, the Twins, won the
American League pennant for the first time since becoming
the Twins in 1961, and the first in 32 years for the franchise
(formerly the Washington Senators).

Life was good for Zorro.

Two years later, in 1967, Zoilo's batting average would sink
to an abysmal .200, forcing the Twins to trade him away to
the Dodgers.

In 1968, with the Dodgers, Zoilo hit for an even worse .196
average. After a couple of deals in off season he wound
up with the Indians for the start of the '69 season, but would
end up the season with the Senators.

He ended up playing in Mexico in 1970, but was brought
up to the Braves for the 1971 campaign, and was released
by Atlanta after the season. He played 1972 in Japan.

As if his fall in baseball wasn't sad enough, Zoilo never
could find a good job after leaving the sport, lost his
house to foreclosure, had to sell his Gold Glove trophies,
his All-Star rings, and even his MVP trophy, and in June
of 1995, at the age of 55, he was found dead.

Zoilo Versalles had a lifetime batting average of .242.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------
John Wade

John Diamond wrote:

Wasn't he a catcher?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No, Zoilo was never a catcher. He played only
shortstop for the first 10 years of his career. With
the Senators/Twins for nine years, and the Dodgers
for one.

His last two years, 1969 and 1971 (remember he
played 1970 in Mexico), with the Senators and
then the Braves, he played some second and third
base, as well as shortstop.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Wade

On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 01:53:28 GMT, John Wade wrote:

Life was good for Zorro.

Two years later, in 1967, Zoilo's batting average would sink
to an abysmal .200, forcing the Twins to trade him away to
the Dodgers.


Maybe the poor guy should have kept wearing glasses, like he did in
'64 - '65. I wouldn't be surprised if he started wearing them midway
through the '63 season, which was his first good year.

http://rbjorn1.home.comcast.net/images/zorro64.jpg

http://rbjorn1.home.comcast.net/images/zorro65.jpg

LOL,

Ron


In 1968, with the Dodgers, Zoilo hit for an even worse .196
average. After a couple of deals in off season he wound
up with the Indians for the start of the '69 season, but would
end up the season with the Senators.

He ended up playing in Mexico in 1970, but was brought
up to the Braves for the 1971 campaign, and was released
by Atlanta after the season. He played 1972 in Japan.

As if his fall in baseball wasn't sad enough, Zoilo never
could find a good job after leaving the sport, lost his
house to foreclosure, had to sell his Gold Glove trophies,
his All-Star rings, and even his MVP trophy, and in June
of 1995, at the age of 55, he was found dead.

Zoilo Versalles had a lifetime batting average of .242.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Wade

Maybe the poor guy should have kept wearing glasses, like he did in
'64 - '65. I wouldn't be surprised if he started wearing them midway
through the '63 season, which was his first good year.

http://rbjorn1.home.comcast.net/images/zorro64.jpg

http://rbjorn1.home.comcast.net/images/zorro65.jpg

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's great!

Bill James, in his "...Abstract" book, says that Zoilo
was the worst position player, (i.e. non-pitcher) to
ever win the MVP award. Although he adds that for
this year, 1965, he was not a bad pick.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Wade

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 03:00:23 GMT, John Wade wrote:

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That's great!

Bill James, in his "...Abstract" book, says that Zoilo
was the worst position player, (i.e. non-pitcher) to
ever win the MVP award. Although he adds that for
this year, 1965, he was not a bad pick.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Wade



He got 19 out of 20 first place votes, so it was pretty much a
landslide. It was an off year for Killebrew, who missed 50 games.
But out of the top 15 vote getters, 6 were from Minnesota. Tony Oliva
received the other first place vote and came in second for MVP.
Mudcat Grant won 21 games and got sixth. Earl Battey was 10th, Jimmy
Hall 13th, and Killebrew came in 15th.

Ron