Don Zimmer - 1962 Topps Mets

He's wearing a Mets hat, but has Cincinnati Reds listed for his team. Don Zimmer was an original Met before he was an army helmet wearing Yankee coach.

This 1962 Topps card was a bit more difficult to find. I was lucky enough to stumble upon a dealer at a show with a few 1962 cards to sell. Zimmer was the first, third-baseman in NY Mets history. He hit .390 in spring training in 1962 and appeared ready to hold the hot corner at the Polo Grounds (where the Mets played prior to Shea), but he started the season with five hits in 52 ABs. The Mets quickly traded him to Cincinnati in May.

Zimmer was traded to the Dodgers (the LA version this time) in Jan. 1963 and six months later was sent to the Washington Senators where he ended his playing career two seasons later.

Zim is living baseball history. He played with Jackie Robinson in Brooklyn, made the move with the team to LA, played on Stengel's expansion team in NY, and played on a Washington Senators team managed by Gil Hodges (Zim's former teammate in Brooklyn).