Airbrushed Fridays: 1988 Topps #647

Welcome back to Cards on Cards. Here is your evening edition of Airbrushed Fridays, sponsored by nobody.

Pascual Perez was a character. A starting pitcher for the majority of his 12 year major and minor league career, Perez was known more for his on- and off-field antics than his actual game performance. Aside from one historically terrible season (1-13, 6.14 ERA for Atlanta in 1985) he had impressive big league numbers but continually bounced up and down between the majors and AAA for one reason or another. On the field, he would throw Eephus pitches and shoot opponents with imaginary finger guns, while off the field he was unfortunately plagued by drug problems.

Why did Topps airbrush Pascual's photo? I have no idea. The Expos signed him a full year before this set was released as you can see on the back of the card.

What's wrong with this picture, anyway? The entire thing, aside from Pascual's face, looks like it was a chalk drawing done by an imaginative child.

(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.)