Don Buford was an American professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder and second baseman from 1963 to 1976. Considered one of the fastest players of his era, Buford played for the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers over the course of his 14-year MLB career. He was a two-time All-Star and helped the Orioles win the 1966 World Series. Due to his speed and athleticism, Buford produced some memorable baseball cards over the years that captured the excitement of his playing style.
One of the most iconic Don Buford baseball cards comes from his rookie season with the Orioles in 1963. That year, Topps produced Buford’s rookie card as part of their 1963 baseball card set (card #464). The black-and-white photo on the card shows Buford batting from the left side wearing an Orioles road uniform. It depicts his athletic stance and swing technique that made him a threat on the basepaths. The card lists his vital statistics from 1962 in the minors, noting he hit .288 with 16 home runs and 68 RBI’s that season in the farm system. It also provides career stats for his 1963 MLB debut in which he hit .250 with 4 home runs and 16 RBI’s in 77 games. This rookie card captured the promise of Buford’s speed and power potential at the start of his major league career.
In 1964, Topps continued featuring Buford as a rising young star for the Orioles with their color photo card (card #475). The vibrant image shows Buford running the bases, exemplifying his blazing speed that was already becoming his trademark. It lists his improved stats from the 1963 season, noting he hit .280 with 7 home runs and 33 RBI’s in 105 games as he became a regular in the Baltimore lineup. This colorful card better illustrated why Buford was considered an exciting young talent that could impact games with both his bat and legs. It highlighted the upward trajectory of his career at that point.
Buford’s breakout season came in 1965 when he hit .273 with career highs of 13 home runs and 58 RBI’s to earn his first All-Star selection. Topps commemorated this breakout campaign with an action shot card (card #447) from their 1965 set. The photo depicts Buford swinging aggressively and following through, capturing the increased power he was showing at the plate. His stats from 1964 and 1965 are listed, cementing his emergence as an everyday player for the Orioles. This card captured Buford at the peak of his abilities and recognized the improvements he was making year over year.
One of the most coveted Buford cards comes from the 1966 season, when he helped lead the Orioles to a World Series championship. Topps produced a card (card #454) featuring Buford celebrating with his teammates after winning the Fall Classic. The jubilant photo shows Buford smiling ear to ear and holding the Commissioner’s Trophy aloft. Listed are his stats from the ’66 regular season, when he hit .276 with 8 home runs and 46 RBI’s, as well as his World Series performance of hitting .333 with a home run against the Dodgers. This memorable card commemorated one of the pinnacles of Buford’s career in capturing baseball’s top prize.
In 1967, Topps continued to showcase Buford’s speed and athleticism with an action card (card #439) of him sliding headfirst into third base. The photo perfectly captures his aggressive and daring baserunning skills. His stats from 1966 and 1967 are listed, showing he maintained his production with batting lines of .276/.341/.406 and .268/.335/.384 respectively. This dynamic card portrayed why Buford was still considered one of baseball’s premier tablesetters.
After being traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1969, Topps featured Buford on the 1969 team card for the Pale Hose. The group photo provided a snapshot of the White Sox roster at that time, with Buford listed second from the left in the bottom row. It signified his continuing contributions as a valuable veteran player, even after leaving the Orioles.
Buford spent his final seasons from 1974-1976 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1975, Topps produced a card (card #591) of Buford batting from the left side in a Dodgers road uniform. By this point in his career, Buford was more of a role player and pinch hitter, but he still maintained a useful role for the Dodgers off the bench. The card represented his longevity in still appearing in the Topps sets over 15 years after his rookie card.
In total, Don Buford was featured on at least 10 different Topps baseball cards between 1963-1975, chronicling the various stages and teams of his prolific 14-year MLB career. While he didn’t achieve the biggest accolades of some other stars, Buford’s cards depicted him as one of the game’s premier speedsters and all-around talents of his era. They captured a dynamic and athletic player who could impact games in many ways. For baseball card collectors and historians, Don Buford’s cards serve as a reminder of one of the most exciting “five-tool” players from the 1960s.
