Monster Card Monday: 1930 Freddie Lindstrom

Okay, I’ll admit it.  I’m sneaking in this 1930 Freddie Lindstrom card (courtesy of Pastor Rich) today because I want to include him in my Terribles vs Monsters poll for thirdabsemen.  He deserves a chance to play for the big boys.  His card is one of favorites from the 1930 set.

Lindstrom indeed had an incredible year for the New York Giants even in comparison to his .401 hitting teammate, Bill Terry.  He batted .379 with 231 hits including 22 homers and 68 extra base hits.  He drove home 106 runs and scored 127 times.

Here’s a pretty amazing stat… Lindstrom struck out only 33 times in 671 plate appearances.

I always notice two things when it comes to Freddie Lindstrom’s 1930 card.  His 3B-6 and his 51-7.  While his power numbers aren’t bad at 1-4-6-6, it’s his hit numbers that bring it home.  He’s got three 7s and two 10s to go along with his three 8s and two 9s.

There are the little things that help too.  Freddie gets just one 13 at 46.  As noted, he gets the rare 3B-6 rating.  He’s also rated as a Fast baserunner.  However, he did get two 24s which isn’t ideal for someone who batted third in the lineup in real life.  That can be alleviated with the hit and run though… Lindstrom has three 31s.

Fun numbers:  51-7, 62-9, 3B-6

You’ll notice that Lindstrom is rated as a OF-2 on this card from the original 1930 set.  He never played the garden that year so it’s my guess that APBA gave him the position to help cover the Giants’ outfield.

Then why rate him an OF-2?  Lindstrom did play a fair amount of games in the outfield in his career, 551 to be specific.  That is my only guess why he got a better rating for a position he didn’t even play.

I learned something while doing research for this card.  While 1930 has a special place for baseball history buffs and APBA replayers in particular, I realized that was the one year there was no equivalent to the “MVP” award in major league baseball.  The Chalmers Award existed from 1911-1914.  The AL began giving out League awards in 1922 and the NL followed suit in 1924.  Those awards continued through 1929.  It wasn’t until 1931 when the MVP award as we know it, voted on by the BBWAA, came about.  But there is no equivalent to the MVP award for 1930 one of the most hitting-offensive years in baseball.

Thanks again to Pastor Rich!