Airbrushed Fridays: 1988 Topps #322

Did you know that pitchers and catchers report in six weeks? Six weeks! It sounds like Albert Pujols contract talks are finally gaining some traction, so hopefully that will be resolved before the 11th hour. Hopefully!

Vicente Palacios was a right-handed relief pitcher and spot starter who logged innings in a variety of roles in the majors, minors and Mexican League. Baseball-Reference.com compares him to such luminaries as Ramon Monzant and George Susce.

Why did Topps airbrush Vicente's photo? Palacios was bought out of the Mexican League by the White Sox back in the mid-'80s but never worked out. He came to the Pirates organization in December of 1986 and, after being picked in the Rule V draft and subsequently returned, finally made his first Major League appearances for the Pirates during the 1987 September callups. Topps apparently wasn't interested in sending a photographer out for any of those games but was interested in creating a baseball card for him for the following season.

What's wrong with this picture, anyway? His cap looks like a charcoal drawing. It's actually kind of cool looking in a way... but definitely not real.

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.