Airbrushed Fridays: 1987 Topps #207

As this has become known as the week of the Topps Million Card giveaway, I found the overall distribution results a bit interesting. I have yet to see anyone get a great vintage Cardinals card (or Ozzie Smith rookie) on any of the blogs that I frequent, but not everyone has been inundated with late '80s junk. Apparently you can get 2009 Topps cards in the redemption promotion, which just seems like a dirty trick since there are still plenty of stores out there with 2009 stuff on the shelves. Thanks to bdj610's Topps blog, I now know how you can even look up today's featured airbrushed card on the Topps giveaway site. If I run short on ideas, maybe I'll start browsing through their archives. I wouldn't even need to do a scan, come to think of it. Thanks, Topps!

George Frazier was a career reliever who primarily pitched in the '80s. He had the odd distinction of being a member of my top two favorite teams, my least favorite team (Cubs) and the team that defeated the Cards in the '87 World Series (Twins) before his career was through. He's now a TV broadcast announcer for the Rockies.

Why did Topps airbrush George's photo? Frazier was involved in a late-season trade in 1986 involving a bunch of players nobody's really heard of. See the transactions section on his B-R page for further details. Incidentally, 1987 would be his final season in the majors, giving no one an opportunity to airbrush another one of his photos.

What's wrong with this picture, anyway? Although more subtle than most airbrushed cards I've featured here, this still has some of the telltale signs to go along with the late deadline Topps must have faced with his August trade. His cap changes colors from the top to the bill and the logos are okay but a little shaky, giving evidence of some added "handiwork". Some further, non-airbrush-related thoughts: Would this qualify as a "night card"? Is this a "dusk card"? A "sunset card"? And, George, what's up with those ripped sleeves?