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In the last week of the 1968 season, Tigers manager Mayo Smith made what could easily be the greatest managerial decision in the history of the Fall Classic.
The Detroit skipper decided to take centerfielder Mickey Stanley, and move him to shortstop.
1968 Topps #129 Mickey Stanley
The 1968 Topps Set is a favorite of mine.
The set is simple, with the player taking center stage.
👉 This picture of Mickey, in his road DETROIT uniform, was taken at old Yankee Stadium, probably in 1967.
👉 Mickey's also sporting the 1967 Tigers Olde English D Ballcap.
The move of playing Stanley at shortstop served two purposes, in that it allowed the great Al Kaline to play right field, and it removed the weak hitting Ray Oyler (.135 avg in '68), the Tigers every day shortstop, from the lineup.
In Stanley's place in center, Mayo Smith inserted power hitting left hander Jim Northrup.
Stanley played shortstop like he'd been there his entire life, making just two errors in the seven games.
🐯⚾️ The Tigers were heavy underdogs to the defending World Series Champions, and fell behind in the Series, 3-1, before making a monumental comeback.
Stanley would go back to his normal position in the Tigers outfield, becoming a 4 time Gold Glove Award winner.
👉 A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mickey Stanley turned 77 this past July 20th.
Enjoy the World Series, a battle of former Tigers Cy Young winners in Justin Verlander(2011], and Max Scherzer (2013), as well as former Tigers pitchers, and now Nats teammates, Anibal Sanchez and Fernando Rodney.
PLAY BALL! ⚾️📺
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