The InternationAlous

While working on building the 1964 Topps Venezuelan set, I have run into several other sets from other countries. I'm not going to even think about building those sets (yet), but every once in a while I see something I can't ignore. I am a big fan of the Alou brothers - Felipe, Matty and Jesús.

I found this 1962 Topps Venezuelan of the big brother Felipe. The original Topps version mentions his brother Matty Alou, but the Venezuelan version only includes the first factoid about Felipe, noting that he's getting better every year for the Giants, and became a "top star" in 1961. It also mentions his PCL betting title from 1958. The cartoon is the same for both, mentioning another batting title, this time for hitting .380 in the D-League in 1956. 

Speaking of brother Matty, after being released by the Padres in 1974, middle brother Matty traveled west to Japan. He played 50 games for the Taiheiyo Club Lions in 74, hitting .312 with 12 doubles and a pair of home runs. This card is from the 1975-1976 Calbee set, and features a full bleed photo like Stadium Club some 15 years later in the States. He actually has a pair of cards in this set, you can read about the other card on the blog "Getting Back into Baseball Cards . . . In Japan" 

Here's the back of the card - I don't speak or read or write Japanese, but I can tell you that this was card #602 in the set. I randomly stumbled across this card while waiting for a different eBay auction to end.

And just for the sake of a full set of Alou brothers, here's an American Jesús. Overwhelming millions everyday, like the song says. 

Jesús may not have had the same statistical success as his older brothers - he didn't win batting titles like Matty, he didn't go on to managerial success like Felipe, but he did manage to win 2 World Series championships while playing with Oakland, more than both his brothers combined. 

I'll continue to keep my eye out for more Alous, no matter where their cards were printed. Thanks for reading!