Autograph #313 – This is an autograph from former MLB 3rd baseman Ralph “Putsy” Caballero in response to my May 9, 2004 request for an autograph. I don’t have a record of when I received it. Caballero passed away on December 8, 2016.

Caballero was signed as an amateur free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies in September 1944 out of Jesuit High School in New Orleans. He made his MLB debut on September 14, 1944 against the New York Giants. He played in 4 games for the Phillies in 1944 at the age of 16 years old. In 1945, he played in 9 games for the Phillies. In 1946 and most of 1947, he served in World War II. He did play in 2 games for the Phillies at the end of 1947. From 1948 to 1952, he played at the Major League level and then was sent down to AAA Baltimore Orioles in 1953 and the Syracuse Chiefs in 1954 & 1955. During his 8 year career at the MLB level, he played in 322 games, with an average of .228 and hitting 1 homerun. He had 40 RBI’s.