Airbrushed Fridays: 1990 Topps #199

Alright, it's time to steer this train back onto its track. If you all had your Aramis Ramirez relics lined up and ready to send to me, you may as well stop now.

Sergio Valdez was a journeyman reliever and sometime starter who logged time in eight different seasons in the majors, including two stints with the Montreal Expos. Remember them?

Why did Topps airbrush Sergio's photo? Valdez was a mid-season acquisition for the Braves after toiling in the Expos minor league system for nearly three years, involved in the trade that shed the Braves of one Zane Smith.

What's wrong with this picture, anyway? Sergio's cap has the chalky effect we've seen on plenty of airbrushed cards from this era. It reminds me of those t-shirts designs that carny folk will spray for you at the county fair, putting your favorite band or crush or unicorns... you know, whatever you're into. Speaking of which, I wonder if dayf has a stamp-related t-shirt. It also appears that the "artist" got a bit creative with the design on Sergio's jersey. Not only that, but the entire photo looks like some bad high-school photo if it wasn't for the happy little trees in the background.

(If you are interested in obtaining a card featured here, 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.)