Nominated by: Bill Malson

Why did Bill Malson nominate Woodie Held for the HOM?

Why Woodie? Lots of reasons: He was from Wyoming. No baseball players are from Wyoming! He was the only baseball player I knew that looked more like a cowboy than a baseball player. Just look at that sun-weathered face, you can see it atop a horse. He was a Cleveland Indian - and I was a huge Tribe fan. But most of all, it had to do with my 10-year old perception of reality. I watched the Yankees, and I saw Mantle and Maris, and even at 10, I knew that I would never be able to play ball like that. But when I saw Woodie play shortstop, I figured that I might have a chance to be that good. Turns out, of course, that I really didn't. It only made it better when I learned that Woodie spent post-baseball years running a dude ranch and being a western hunting guide. I mean, he really was a cowboy after all. Woodie, wherever you are now, I wish you the best...

Card Checklist

YEAR / SET      CARD

=============== ====

1958 Topps       202

1959 Topps       266

1960 Leaf          2

1960 Topps       178

1961 Topps        60

1962 Topps       215

1963 Topps       435

1964 Topps       105

1965 Topps       336

1966 Topps       136

1967 Topps       251

1968 Topps       289

1969 Topps       636

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