Tuesday, July 9, 2013

1967 Coca-Cola Washington Senators Baseball Crowns, #5 Camilo Pascual

Master of the curveball and 5-time All-Star, Camilo Pascual showed uncommon durability for a strikeout specialist, totaling 18 major league seasons and becoming just the 13th man to collect 150 career wins and 2000 strikeouts. Few pitchers manage the feat then or now, even in an era of free-swinging hitters and better physical conditioning (full list at B-R).


Camilo's also one of a handful to play for both Washington Senator franchises. He debuted in 1954 and followed the first version to Minnesota when they moved west in 1961. The Twins then traded him back to the "expansion" Senators prior in late 1966 and all but two of his 174 career wins came wearing a Washington or Minnesota jersey (career stats). I prefer the Senators long-sleeve-red-under-pinstripe.


Coke added players for most teams to their bottle caps for 1967, but cut back to just a handful (and no Washington) for their 1968 series. See also Fleer Sticker Project's profile of the Coke overlaps with Dexter Press, another early set licensed by the emerging Major League Baseball Players Association.


The Senators Coke checklist doesn't include many enduring stars, but I've met my share of Frank Howard and Ken Harrelson fans over the years. (Any Fred Valentine aficionados out there?)
  1. Bob Humphreys
  2. Bernie Allen
  3. Ed Brinkman
  4. Pete Richert
  5. Camilo Pascual
  6. Frank Howard
  7. Casey Cox
  8. Jim King
  9. Paul Casanova
  10. Dick Lines
  11. Dick Nen
  12. Ken McMullen
  13. Bob Saverine
  14. Jim Hannan
  15. Darold Knowles
  16. Phil Ortega
  17. Ken Harrelson
  18. Fred Valentine

TRIVIA: These nine guys played for both the pre- and post-expansion Washington Senators.
  • Rudy Hernandez
  • Hector Maestri
  • Don Mincher
  • Camilo Pasqual
  • Pedro Ramos
  • Johnny Schaive
  • Roy Sievers
  • Zolio Versailes
  • Hal Woodeshick

BONUS TRIVIA: Hector Maestri appeared in two career games, 1 for the 1960 Senators and 1 for the 1961 Senators (career stats). He technically moved with the Twins after 1960, but Washington selected him during their expansion draft.

Value: This #5 cost $3 on eBay. Most caps (a.k.a., crowns) turn up for a dollar or less at collector shows.

Fakes / reprints: Can't imagine how someone would fake a Coke cap and it'd be interesting to see someone try.

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