Airbrushed Fridays: 1988 Topps Traded #61T

Sometimes you've just got to face the enemy.

Jeffrey Leonard was a two-time All-Star outfielder who spent the majority of his career with the San Francisco Giants, who the Cardinals happen to be squaring up against this weekend. While not particularly known as one of the premier outfielders of the time, he did get selected to the two All-Star teams and had a particularly murderous NLCS against the Cards in 1987. In fact, to date, Leonard is the last player to be selected the LCS MVP while playing for the losing team. He was also known for his fairly bizarre "one flap down" home run trot, where he'd circle the bases with one arm dangling down.

Why did Topps airbrush Jeffrey's photo? Leonard was a midseason acquisition who was sent to Milwaukee for past Airbrushed Fridays subject Ernie Riles. He would only finish out the season with Milwaukee before being signed by Seattle, where he'd spend his second All-Star season.

What's wrong with this picture, anyway? Topps goes classic on us by showing the sour-faced Leonard without a cap. They couldn't totally get away with it, however, because his jersey shows obvious signs of being re-colored. It also looks like Leonard is standing or sitting in front of some sort of painting canvas.

(If you are interested in obtaining a card featured here - but not this one - please send me an e-mail. If you have a card you would like to nominate for Airbrushed Fridays, please get in touch as well. I will require that I am able to see the card in person, either on loan or as a donation, so that I can examine the card and experience it in all its cruddiness.)