Phil Masi has been released from his entombment.

I did it. I bought my first professionally graded card for my collection. It was #19 Phil Masi from the 1951 Topps blue back set. It was vg-ex 4. It is a nice looking card. It has a mild crease in it but that is it. I didn’t think cards in that range would have a crease but that is ok. It must be ok, the graders said so. It is still a nice card and I will keep it as I tinker with the set. Phil was the starting catcher for the White Sox that year. He caught 85 games for the southsiders in 1951. It was at the twilight of his career. Phil was born in Chicago so I would think he was happy to be winding down his career back home. He would only appear in 30 more games for the Sox in 1952 and then his major league playing career would be over. It had been a couple years since his last All-Star appearance. Phil was selected to the squad 4 years in a row from 1945-48 while playing for the Braves. Phil died in Mt. Prospect IL in 1990. I didn’t think Phil deserved to be slabbed. He deserved better. So I released Phil from his plastic entombment. I think I heard a sigh when I took him out. Phil’s birthday is January 6. Happy birthday Phil.