Airbrushed Fridays: 2009 Topps #537

This week's post is brought to you by the lovely and talented Erin, who weighs in about a misstep featuring one of her favorite subjects. Enjoy!

To those that know me, it is no surprise I would be writing about an Anthony Reyes card. This is a player I have had to defend to my family of die hard Cardinals fans time and time again. Great Cardinals fans as they are, my family never gave Anthony Reyes a fair shake. (Of course, the same could be - and should be - said about the Cardinals organization.) I could go on about that, but you're reading this to check out the card and not read about how Anthony Reyes was completely mishandled and perhaps had his baseball career derailed to the point of no return. I surely hope the latter is not true.

Anthony Reyes is THE 2006 World Series Game 1 Winner. (And, of course, a member of the World Series Champions, St. Louis Cardinals.) In his lone start, he went 8 innings, defeating Justin Verlander and the Tigers in Detroit. It was rather tough feat, in a game the Cardinals entered without high expectations from their young pitcher.

Why did Topps airbrush Anthony's photo? There really isn't any (good) reason why this picture is airbrushed. Reyes was with Cleveland the year before this card debuted, albeit late in the year, after a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals in late July 2008. He clocked in 6 starts in 2008, giving the Topps team ample photo opportunities. (Especially considering this card is not from series one, it is from series TWO.) That's flat out lazy, Topps. Pathetic. Shameful. And so on.

What's wrong with this picture, anyway? If one merely glances at this card, they could easily overlook the photoshopped elements. However, I noticed right away something was off. It is more than possible that my keen eye decided to present itself because this is an Anthony Reyes card. It seems people that photoshop baseball cards are unaware of how fabric should MOVE. Check out the end of the name "Cleveland." Not only does the "land" look compeltely straight and stiff, the "nd" is riding on Anthony's shoulder. If Anthony stood up straight, that uniform would look mighty ridiculous, as the letters would be completely off kilter.

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.