Airbrushed Fridays: 1978 Topps #583

Today's entry is the tale of an unloved pitcher, tossed around like so many unwanted baseball card doubles. I believe this is also the first time I've featured the same subject twice, although I'd need someone in the Research Dept. to verify that truth fact for me.

George "Doc" Medich was a right-handed starting pitcher who spent 11 seasons in the majors with 7 teams, primarily in the '70s. He won 124 games and lost 105 with a career ERA of 3.78 in nearly 2000 innings pitched. His best years were his early ones with the Yankees.

Why did Topps airbrush George's photo? When we last saw Doc, he was struggling to adapt to his new (airbrushed) Pirates jersey. Along came 1977, which saw him dealt to the A's in a 9 player deal. Oakland kept him for most of the season, but let the fledgling Seattle Mariners have him in September. Seattle didn't seem to be a fit either, even though he was successful there in 3 starts, so he finished up the season with his final appearance in a Mets uniform.

What's wrong with this picture, anyway? Aside from the massive 'T' that is threatening to devour the rest of the photo, there's also plenty of discoloring on the cap as it seems to vary in color from dark blue to dark blue/brown sludge. Don't miss the random yellow spot above his cap. I wonder what caused that.

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.