The 1961 Topps baseball card #380 features right-handed pitcher Stan Williams of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The card provides a glimpse into Williams’ career at that point as well as contextualizing information about the 1961 Dodgers and Topps baseball card set.
Stan Williams debuted in the major leagues in 1955 with the Cincinnati Reds at just 19 years old. He showed promise in his early years, striking out 155 batters over 176 innings in 1956. Injuries and inconsistency hindered his development. In 1960, the Reds traded Williams to the Dodgers in hopes that a change of scenery could help maximize his potential.
The 1961 season profiled on this card saw Williams take advantage of his fresh start in Los Angeles. He enjoyed his best year to date, establishing career bests in wins (15), ERA (2.99), strikeouts (149), and innings pitched (204). His performance helped stabilize the Dodgers’ rotation and was a key factor in the team winning the National League pennant that year.
At age 28, Williams appeared to be hitting his pitching prime. This 1961 Topps card captures him in an action photo, showing his windup and follow through. His statistics from 1960 are listed on the back, emphasizing his breakout season. Standing at 6’3″ and weighing 195 lbs, Williams had an imposing stature paired with a blazing fastball that he could command effectively.
That 1961 Dodgers team was stacked with future Hall of Famers like Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Maury Wills, and Tommy Davis. They edged the Cincinnati Reds by one game to win the NL title, though they fell in five games to the New York Yankees in the World Series. Williams pitched well in that Fall Classic, with a 1.93 ERA over two starts against the vaunted Yankee lineup.
When the 1961 Topps set was released that year, it featured 660 player and manager cards as well as inserts. Some notable rookies included Tom Seaver, Reggie Jackson, and Ted Williams in his final card. The design featured an orange border around each photo with team names across the top. On the back was a black and white photo plus career stats. It remains one of the most iconic vintage sets highly sought after by collectors today.
Stan Williams went on to have an impressive 13-year big-league career. He earned All-Star nods in 1963 and 1964 pitching for the Dodgers and Indians. From 1960-1964, he never posted an ERA above 3.03, proving his breakout 1961 season was no fluke. Williams finished with a 111-121 record, 2.90 ERA, 1,362 strikeouts, and seven complete games over 1,778 innings pitched. He showed excellent durability, making 30 or more starts five times.
The 1961 Topps #380 card offers a snapshot of a critical season that may have defined Stan Williams’ career. At 28 years old pitching for the powerful Dodgers, he achieved new heights and validated the potential he had flashed earlier. The card pays fitting tribute to Williams’ breakout campaign and place on a legendary Los Angeles ballclub. It remains a treasured piece of memorabilia for fans and collectors of that era.
