Gambo and T_Wil1 Photopack

[Merkle923]

My last - and favorite - from today's posts.

Lefty reliever Don Eddy of the 1970-71 White Sox (shown in 1971), and then in camp with the '73 Padres, for whom he never pitched.

[Merkle923]

I lied. THIS is my favorite from today.

Here is yet another Great White Whale of color '70s photography knocked off the list. Steve Eddy from Yale pitched exactly seven games for the 1979 A.L. West champion Angels, but four of them were starts.

Yet I've never seen anything better than a colorized photo of him - and the original is a black and white shot from a TCMA Quad Cities Angels card of him from 1976 or 1977.

As I once said, if you wore a major league uniform for more than half an hour between 1961 and 1985, the odds are 10:1 Topps has or had a color photo of you.

[hobbs11]

Originally Posted by Merkle923

I lied. THIS is my favorite from today.

Here is yet another Great White Whale of color '70s photography knocked off the list. Steve Eddy from Yale pitched exactly seven games for the 1979 A.L. West champion Angels, but four of them were starts.

Yet I've never seen anything better than a colorized photo of him - and the original is a black and white shot from a TCMA Quad Cities Angels card of him from 1976 or 1977.

As I once said, if you wore a major league uniform for more than half an hour between 1961 and 1985, the odds are 10:1 Topps has or had a color photo of you.

Concerning then Tom Underwood as a Cardinal, and to quote Jim Carrey in Dumb & Dumber, "So you're telling me there's a chance!"

[hobbs11]

Great members like Merkle and Braves70 have been kind to help provide pics on some of my requests. In this case, Braves70 jumped in months back on a Tom Egan wearing a specific Angels cap circa 1969-1970.

Well I'm going to turn the page on Egan's Dell Stamp and go with this upgrade via the Topps Vault....

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...ml#post3571683

[hobbs11]

Originally Posted by hobbs11

Just found this pic on John's baseball-birthday site with some apparent assistance from Buccos. However if someone has an applicable pic of Jeff solo, that would be appreciated! Thank you!

Sometimes it's like I'm talking to myself. - (Pics courtesy of Topps Vault via baseball-birthdays.com)

Shhhh - They'll hear you.

[keonleafs]

Why does a guy named Egan would spell his name EAgan on his glove??? Another big mystery revealed from the Topps 1950-60 photos.

[Merkle923]

It was written on there by the equipment manager.

[Merkle923]

Topps did NOT photograph him in a Cardinal uniform. Not only did I check the file years ago but the paint job on the 1978 Underwood card confirms they missed him in '77.

BTW in a related topic if you've ever wondered about the mediocrity of the airbrushing I also found out why they looked like that. The artists had to ply their craft directly onto the 2-1/2" by 3-1/2" negatives. Suddenly their work doesn't seem so bad.

[okcochise]

The greater question would be who decided it was important to have an image with an airbrushed hat/jersey? There was a time when they simply used a photo from the previous team and left it at that with the new team insignia etc of the card template. It is hard to imagine someone thinking they looked good.

Jeff

[Merkle923]

Tough to find Milwaukee third baseman-outfielder, probably from Spring Training 1972.

[hobbs11]

Originally Posted by Merkle923

Topps did NOT photograph him in a Cardinal uniform. Not only did I check the file years ago but the paint job on the 1978 Underwood card confirms they missed him in '77.

BTW in a related topic if you've ever wondered about the mediocrity of the airbrushing I also found out why they looked like that. The artists had to ply their craft directly onto the 2-1/2" by 3-1/2" negatives. Suddenly their work doesn't seem so bad.

Greaaaat. So he's a white whale with a very unique birthmark. Perfect.

Seriously though, I appreciate the insight sir...

[Merkle923]

Topps did extensive research on its card designs and sets, especially in the '50s. There are still copies of the research booklet compiled by their rival Bowman in late 1955 of data obtained by sending dozens of people into the field to meet with groups of boys. I'm sure somebody concluded that up-to-date hats were vital.

Airbrushing, after all, dates to the first full Topps set in 1952 - every image in that set is at best a colorized black and white photo and many have altered caps. There isn't one set until the '90s that doesn't have airbrushing, and Topps still alters caps - only now they use computer graphics.

[tnfoto]

Facepack upgrade, pictured in 1889 while playing for the Baltimore Orioles.

Thanks to bmarlowe for the ID!

[tnfoto]

Facepack upgrade, pictured in 1882 while playing for the Buffalo Bisons.

[tnfoto]

Facepack upgrade, pictured in 1882 while playing for the Buffalo Bisons.

[tnfoto]

Facepack upgrade, pictured in 1882 while playing for the Buffalo Bisons.

[tnfoto]

Facepack upgrade, pictured in 1882 while playing for the Buffalo Bisons.

[tnfoto]

Facepack upgrade, pictured in 1882 while playing for the Buffalo Bisons.

[okcochise]

Merkle, do you suppose that certain players were just missed? For instance, Pete Burnside of Orioles has Senators hat/uni on 1963 card. Did they miss that one and others that were in the 60s? That is the only one I can think of offhand but I am pretty sure there are others. Just wondering; no worries

Jeff

Originally Posted by Merkle923

Topps did extensive research on its card designs and sets, especially in the '50s. There are still copies of the research booklet compiled by their rival Bowman in late 1955 of data obtained by sending dozens of people into the field to meet with groups of boys. I'm sure somebody concluded that up-to-date hats were vital.

Airbrushing, after all, dates to the first full Topps set in 1952 - every image in that set is at best a colorized black and white photo and many have altered caps. There isn't one set until the '90s that doesn't have airbrushing, and Topps still alters caps - only now they use computer graphics.

[tnfoto]

Clearer 1950 Tigers image.