1953 could not have started any better for Roy. After enduring a year filled with injuries, Campanella began the new season with a single to left field off of Pittsburgh hurler Murry Dickson and just never stopped hitting.
During that Opening Day game he went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI. Over his first ten games he slashed .368/.442/.684/1.126 with three homers and 17 RBI. At twenty games Campanella exploded -- going .372/.437/.769/1.206 with nine home runs and 33 RBI. In thirty games he established a new Major League record by recording his 40th RBI in thirty games -- a mark that would not be eclipsed until Tino Martinez did it with the Yankees in 1997. BTW, he slashed .333/.420/.711/1.130 with twelve home runs and 44 RBI during those thirty games -- no doubt, Herculean type of numbers.
To honor his accomplishment that year Topps released a 'Turn Back the Clock' card yesterday for fans and collectors to purchase online. Go here to check it out and order. Unfortunately, at the time of this posting there is only an hour left to place an order (I apologize for being late here). Go here see an entire checklist of the set.
Below is what's written on the reverse of the card:May 10, 1953 -- Roy Campanella scintillating start to the 1953 campaign continued, as the catcher was responsible for all five of the Dodgers runs in a 5-0 win over the Phillies. Campanella's 3-for-5 game brought his batting average up tpo .390 on the season and his 40th RBI set the MLB record through the first 30 games of a season.Below is a current 'Turn Back the Clock' checklist of Dodger cards with corresponding print runs:
- #15 - Sandy Koufax - Opening Day CG Shutout (link here) 365 print run
- #16 - Jackie Robinson - Breaks Color Barrier (link here) 852 print run
- #25 - Sandy Koufax - MLB Record 18 Strikeouts (link here) 564 print run
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