Current Collection - 1967

Have a nice start to the 1967 Orioles' set, with two outfielders in place, Frank Robinson and Curt Blefary, and a pitcher whom I had not heard of, Gene Brabender. Robinson and Blefary combined for 52 home runs and 175 RBI that season, though the O's, despite scoring nearly 60 more runs than they gave up (654 for, 592 against), had a mighty fall from their championship season the year before, finishing 76-85. Brabender, for his part, pitched well, starting 15 games and going 6-4 with a tidy 3.35 ERA, including three complete games.

Targeted cards to fill up the first 9-sheet sleeve (to join the two OFs mentioned above):

C - Andy Etchebarren
1B - Boog Powell
2B - Davey Johnson
SS - Luis Aparicio
3B - Brooks Robinson
CF - Paul Blair
SP - Tom Phoebus (RC)*

*Brabender will serve in his spot until Phoebus joins the collection. Phoebus will be slotted for this front-page spot, having had a sensational first season (14-9, 3.33 ERA, 7 CG, 208 IP), winning Rookie Pitcher of the Year.

Collecting those front-page cards will be no easy task, with that formidable lineup. It's difficult to imagine what must've happened that season, with a lineup such as the one above and what looked to be some pretty decent pitching.

For the second and third sheets, targets are (again, will be some challenging ones, especially with an early Palmer card and a rookie Belanger):

OF - Russ Snyder
SS - Mark Belanger (RC)
SP - Pete Richert
SP - Dave McNally
SP - Jim Hardin
SP - Steve Barber
RP/SP - Wally Bunker
SP - Jim Palmer
RP - Moe Drabowski
RP - Eddie Watt
RP - Stu Miller
Mgr - Hank Bauer
C - Larry Haney (RC)
OF - Sam Bowens

Special cards:

Bird Bombers - Powell and Blefary
World Series cards
Team Card
World Champs, with three O's on the dugout steps

Should be a fun group to add to the collection.