Airbrushed Fridays: 1978 Topps #611

If August marks the dog days of summer (and the baseball season), then January must be in the middle of the dog days of the baseball card release season. Nothing is going on right now. Nothing. There are a couple of brand new 2011 releases on the schedule for next month, but for now we're left with last year's leftovers and a bunch of football cards that nobody wants on the shelves.

Pat Scanlon was a former utility infielder who played through bits and pieces of four Major League seasons.

Why did Topps airbrush Pat's photo? Apathy? Lack of interest? Pat stuck with it for 11 professional seasons, but this final 1978 baseball card shows his complete Major League record. You get a bit of a nugget of information about Mr. Scanlon on the back of this here card.

What's wrong with this picture, anyway? When it came time to brush the 'D' on Pat's cap, the "artist" clearly ran out of room and just tried to make the best of the situation anyway. Did these guys only have one master photo to work with? Did anyone consider starting over? Even Pat dislikes how this turned out. Look at his face.

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.