Airbrushed Fridays: 1988 Topps #628

The response was overwhelmingly positive to the introduction of more modern gaffes on cardboard to this series, so I think I'm keeping it. I don't want to lean too far in any one direction, however, so I've settled on a fairly set schedule/rotation that's super secret and un... figure... outtable. Yep. Trust me on this one.

Dave Henderson was a steady, but fairly unremarkable outfielder for the perpetual underdog Seattle Mariners for the first half of the '80s until the Red Sox snatched him up late in the 1986 season where he became a playoff legend. After trying to give away ALCS Game 5 with a glove-assisted HR that would almost make Jose Canseco proud, Hendu - who had hit just .196 in 51 late season, mostly pinch-hit ABs with Boston in the regular season - smacked a go ahead HR in the 9th and eventually won the game for the Sox in the 11th with a sacrifice fly. I did not like the Red Sox, even then.

Why did Topps airbrush Dave's photo? Dave couldn't keep the magic going in 1987, hitting .234 as a part-time player before getting passed off to the Giants late in the season. He only had 29 plate appearances in his month-long stint for the Giants before he crossed the bay and Tony La Russa somehow turned him into an All-Star.

What's wrong with this picture, anyway? Well, you could argue "nothing" here and I wouldn't necessarily disagree. I mean, look at this man. Don't you just want to give him a hug? Unfortunately, his interlocking 'SF' logo is too tally and skinny and he has weird blue "paint" on the bill of his helmet and his neck for some reason.

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.