Vintage Fridays: Art Ceccarelli, 1958 Topps #191

It's been a while since I posted a vintage card that was good and beat to hell. Someone nibbled on the top right corner, and there's a hefty center crease that left a white streak running down the side of Art Ceccarelli's head. Of course, the smaller horizontal creases combined with the bright blue background make it seem like Art is standing in front of a sparkling swimming pool. It adds a bit of texture that you don't get with the generally static 1958 Topps cards.

My hasty research tells me that Art's last name is pronounced "chick-a-RELL-ee". The Dodgers signed him out of high school in 1948, but his big league debut came with the Athletics in 1955. In between, he served two years in the U.S. Military during the Korean War. He didn't have a very accomplished career in the majors, amassing a 9-18 record with a 5.05 ERA in parts of five seasons. 1957 was his lone season as an Oriole. He pitched in 20 games (eight starts), with an 0-5 record and a 4.50 ERA in 58 innings. Ceccarelli walked 31 batters and struck out only 30. After his career ended, the lefty acknowledged that he never really honed his craft as a pitcher, instead relying too heavily on his fastball. His best outing with the O's was probably May 22, 1957. He held the visiting Tigers to three runs on five hits and a pair of walks, and struck out five in nine innings. Though Art didn't earn the decision, Baltimore picked up a walkoff victory when Tito Francona scored on Al Pilarcik's tenth-inning single. George Zuverink was credited with the win in relief. Make of this information what you will.