1963 Topps Baseball

Bob Schmidt was signed by the New York Giants in 1951, and played 2 seasons in the minors before missing the 1953-54 seasons while in military service. He returned for 3 more seasons in the minors, including the triple-A Minneapolis Millers in 1957, where his teammates included Felipe Alou, Orlando Cepeda, Jim Davenport, and Eddie Bressoud.


Bob cracked the Giants' starting lineup as a rookie at the start of the 1958 season, starting 107 games behind the plate and making the all-star team. The following season, he alternated with journeyman Hobie Landrith, making 56 starts to Hobie's 88. This arrangement continued in 1960, although Schmidt had the upper hand, starting 98 games.

In late April 1961, Schmidt and 2nd baseman Don Blasingame were traded to the Reds for catcher Ed Bailey. Bob occupied the 3rd-string slot behind rookies Jerry Zimmerman and Johnny Edwards, then was traded to the Senators in the off-season.

Schmidt's playing time increased in Washington, as he shared the job with Ken Retzer in 1962. The following season, the team acquired veteran Don Leppert from Pittsburgh, and Bob's old friend Hobie Landrith from the Orioles. This limited Bob to 9 appearances, and on May 8th he was sold to the Yankees.

Schmidt spend the rest of 1963 and all of 1964-66 playing for the Yankees' AAA teams, except for 20 games with the Yankees during the first 2 months of 1965.

After missing the 1964 Topps set, his final card was issued in the 1965 set.

Marv Breeding (#149) had a very short major-league career (1960-63). He was signed by the Orioles in 1955, and spent 2 seasons in the low minors before missing all of 1957-58 while in military service. He returned in 1959, where he collected 603 plate appearances as the regular 2nd baseman for the Orioles' triple-A Vancouver club.


Marv started 151 of 154 games at 2nd base for the Orioles as a rookie in 1960. He hit .269, but also committed 18 errors - 2nd on the team behind shortstop Ron Hansen's 29. The following season, Breeding shared the 2nd base job with rookie Jerry Adair, with Marv getting about 40% of the starts.

In 1962, Adair moved over to shortstop, but that didn't help Marv. Veteran Johnny Temple was acquired by the Orioles, and started 71 games at 2nd base to Marv's 56 starts. Breeding also appeared in another 40 games as a substitute and/or pinch-hitter.

After the season he was traded to the Senators, where he began the '63 season as the starting 2nd baseman. He soon lost his job to Chuck Cottier, and on June 30th was traded to the Dodgers for veteran pitcher Ed Roebuck. Marv finished out the '63 season with the Dodgers, but never played in the majors again.

He spent the 1964-68 seasons in the minors, playing for 8 organizations in 5 years, including a return to the Orioles' organization.