Airbrushed Fridays: 1971 Topps #326

Happy Friday! We're having the nicest weather of the year here in Portland right now, so let me get right to it so I can go outside... to... work. Ugh.

Richie Scheinblum was a journeyman outfielder who played in the majors from the mid-'60s through the mid-'70s, playing for 6 teams before spending a couple of seasons in Japan. Coming off of a 1971 season in which he only made 57 plate appearances, he turned in a solid 1972 season with the Royals and made his first and only All-Star team.

Why did Topps airbrush Richie's photo? As the text on the back explains, Richie's contract was purchased by the Senators following the completion of the 1970 season, which made it difficult to capture him in his new uniform.

What's wrong with this picture, anyway? For once, it's not the front of the card that's jacked up. Topps used a common technique of the time by having Scheinblum appear on a cap-less head shot. The back of the 1971 Topps cards, however, also had photos and they saw fit to doctor the 'W' logo of the Washington Senators. My only question is if they "airbrushed" an already black & white photo (which might require a different technique perhaps) or if they worked with a color one first.

(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.)