Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #27T

The Yankees cap doesn't always fit. This time, it did.

Who is he? Ed Figueroa was a Puerto Rico-born pitcher who became the first from the territory to win 20 games in a season. He came up with the Angels, but his best years would lie ahead of him.

How did he get here? Figueroa was traded along with Mickey Rivers to the Yankees for Bobby Bonds. It worked out very well for Ed, as he'd pick up two World Series rings in pinstripes as a member of the rotation.

Repeat offender? No

Other versions of this card: 1976 Topps # 27

Airbrushed Score: 8

Comments: Airbrushed Yankees caps always look really goofy. This isn't the worst I've seen but the glowing blue cap and blurry pinstripes aren't helping at all.

Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #58T

I've almost exhausted all of the '70s airbrushed cards I own. I should do something about this.

Who is he? Ron Reed was a pitcher with a short name and a long career. Debuting with Atlanta in 1966, Reed earned All-Star honors in 1968 and won his first and only World Series title in 1980. He's also in the company of Dennis Eckersley and John Smoltz (and two others) as 100-win and 100-save pitchers who have thrown 50 complete games. He also played for the Detroit Pistons (basketball!) for three seasons early in his pro career.

How did he get here? Reed spent his first decade in a Braves uniform. A midseason trade found him in St. Louis in 1975, but he wouldn't stick with the Cardinals as they shipped him on to Philadelphia for Mike Anderson. It was as a member of the Phillies where Reed would find his greatest team success, as a World Series winner in 1980.

Repeat offender? No

Other versions of this card: 1976 Topps #58

Airbrushed Score: 5

Comments: The 'P' logo in any form has always been a difficult one to fake.

Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #44T

Baseball is back tonight! It seems like it's been forever. And it has...

Who is he? Doug Rader, the Red Rooster, was a five-time Gold Glover at the hot corner. He also had several short stints as an MLB manager in the '80s, and his name sounds like a passable TV detective.

How did he get here? After his Gold Glove days with the Astros, Rader was dealt to San Diego for Larry Hardy and Joe McIntosh. His time in San Diego was fairly brief, and he would finish his career up in Toronto.

Repeat offender? Yes

Other versions of this card: Here's the non-Traded version.

Airbrushed Score: 7

Comments: I always appreciate an old Padres cap, but this was mangled a bit. The sky is pretty, though!

Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #385T

The final weekend of regular season baseball is upon us. Also, Derek Jeter did something.

Who is he? Mickey Lolich is one of the Detroit Tigers all-time greats. He was a three-time All-Star pitcher and World Series MVP in 1968 as part of a hard-fought series with the Cardinals where he won 3 games. He still holds a number of Tigers team records and is one of the more prominent southpaw hurlers in big league history.

How did he get here? Lolich's career was in decline when the Tigers decided to trade him in a 4-player swap that saw Rusty Staub head to the Motor City. He struggled in his only season with the Mets, eventually retiring before a two season comeback with the Padres.

Repeat offender? No

Other versions of this card: Here's his regular 1976 Topps card, an action shot.

Airbrushed Score: 8

Comments: Anything with a glowing blue cap is going to rank an 8 or higher. Not even a wax stain could bring this one down.

Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #74T

It's time for one of the most famous airbrushed cards of all as we get ready for the second half of the 2014 season.

Who is he? Reduced to a goofy image these days, Oscar Gamble was at first a ballplayer and an outfielder who logged an impressive 17 seasons in the majors, including multiple stints with Chicago teams and the Yankees. He also must have been a headline writer's dream, as his last named provides all sorts of opportunities when connected to a game that at least partially involves risk and chance.

How did he get here? Gamble was playing for Cleveland in 1975 when they sent him to New York for the first time in exchange for a guy who was both an All-Star and a league leader in pitching losses in the same season (Pat Dobson, 1972, Baltimore.)

Repeat offender? No

Other versions of this card: Yes, but this card puts everything else to shame, so why would you want to look at it?

Airbrushed Score: 10

Comments: With apologies to 1987 Topps Mike Laga, this is simply the best. Two caps would have had trouble containing Oscar's hair, and the poor attempt at a complicated Yankees logo just seals the deal. His pinstripes were painted in watercolor. And the whole thing has a heavenly glow about it that makes this card one of the biggest must-own cards of the 20th century.

Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #85T

Oh Mickey, you're so fine. You're so fine, you blow my mind. Hey Mickey.

Who is he? Mickey Rivers, or "Mick the Quick" as he was often known, was a speedy center fielder who played throughout the '70s and the first half of the '80s. He also probably had to suffer through a few Toni Basil moments throughout the latter stages of his career.

How did he get here? After beginning his big league career with the Angels, Rivers was traded to the Yankees straight up for Bobby Bonds. It was in New York where his career would really blossom, as he made his only All-Star appearance with the Yankees. He also won two World Series rings on those Reggie Jackson era teams.

Repeat offender? No

Other versions of this card: 1976 Topps #85

Airbrushed Score: 5

Comments: Oscar Gamble thinks they did a fine job with this one.

Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #411T

Baseball is off and running and all of my fantasy teams are doomed!

Who is he? Bill Singer was a right handed starting pitcher who notched a couple of All-Star appearances and can claim a no-hitter. He's no household name in 2014, but he was one of the better pitchers of the '60s and early '70s.

How did he get here? Singer spent most of his career in a Dodgers uniform before he began to bounce around as many do as their careers get long. After a couple of years with the Angels (including his second All-Star appearance), California traded him to the Rangers for Jim Spencer and a pile of cash. His career would end just a couple of years later due to injuries.

Repeat offender? No

Other versions of this card: 1976 Topps #411

Airbrushed Score: 9

Comments: I think they actually used fingerpaint here.

Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #208T

Probably not a blockbuster deal if it says: "...expected to see duty as a lefthanded pinch-hitter and late inning defensive replacement..."

Who is he? Mike Lum logged more than 4000 plate appearances in a 15 year Major League career, but all but just a few of those seasons were spent as a part-timer. Lum played all three outfield positions and a little bit of first base.

How did he get here? After 9 years with the Braves, Cincinnati acquired Lum in exchange for infielder Darrel Chaney. Lum arrived just in time to win a World Series ring with the Reds, though his playing time was severely cut.

Repeat offender? No

Other versions of this card: 1976 Topps #208

Airbrushed Score: 7

Comments: It may just be the top of his cap, but it glows. Man, it glows!

Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #127T

Airbrushed Fridays gets a new format to keep things fresh.

Who is he? Larvell Blanks was a utility infielder who spent 9 big league seasons with three different teams, including a repeat tour in Atlanta.

How did he get here? Blanks was traded twice in the same day, first as part of a five-player deal between the Indians and Braves that in part netted Atlanta someone named Ozzie Osborn. The White Sox then flipped him to Cleveland for Jack Brohamer.

Repeat offender? No

Other versions of this card or photo: 1978 Topps #61

Airbrushed Score: 9

Comments: Well, this has the beginnings of a magic hat. Is that a baseball lurking beneath and slightly to the left of the 'C'?

Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #428T

The other Catfish?

Who is this week's victim, and why do we care? Jim Crawford was a lefty reliever and spot starter who split his five big league seasons over two franchises. He was also known as Catfish. Apologies to Mr. Crawford here, however, because if I pulled this card in the mid-'70s my eyes would go right to that little newspaper headline and I'd think I'd hooked myself a Catfish Hunter. Crawford was no Catfish Hunter, but by playing baseball professionally he has several legs up on me.

Why is this a thing? Crawford... sorry... Catfish spent a couple of seasons with the Astros before he was included in a six-player deal with the Tigers, a trade that involved the hilariously named Mark Lemongello. He presumably provided depth in the rotation and insurance in the bullpen, but his career ended very early at age 27.

Airbrushed Fridays is a weekly feature as the name seems to imply. If you know of a card with an altered photograph that you'd like to see featured, please contact me. You probably won't win anything other than a Subway Club card (missing three stamps), but you never know!

Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #120T

This week's airbrushed card asks the pivotal questions: What's a Staub? And why is it corroded?

Who is this week's victim, and why do we care? Rusty Staub has the rare distinction of being a beloved Montreal Expos icon, despite the fact that he only played there for 3 seasons and change, and also despite the fact that the Expos haven't really existed in awhile. If Rusty was elected to the Hall of Fame, he'd go in as an Expo, and they are the one team that has retired his number. That probably won't happen, but he'll have a seat at a table next to Larry Walker, Edgar Martinez and Jim Edmonds I suppose.

Why is this a thing? Before the 1976 season, the six-time All-Star was sent from the Mets to the Tigers in a trade that included Portlander Mickey Lolich. All told, Staub's 23 year career saw him play for 5 franchises, including two stops in Montreal. He was also the first player whose baseball card I flipped over that ever prompted me to ask what the heck a Colt .45 was.

Airbrushed Fridays is a weekly feature as the name seems to imply. If you know of a card with an altered photograph that you'd like to see featured, please contact me. You probably won't win anything other than tasty, tasty steroids, but you never know!

Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #579T

The weekend is nearly upon us, and by the time the weekend is over, the month June will be over. When June is over, we're pretty much at the midway point in the baseball season. Summer, hot dogs, waverunners, Otter Pops... those things are all happening, folks! What happened to this year? I haven't even figured out what my summer project is going to be. There probably won't be a summer project at this point. That would be a shame.

Who is this week's victim, and why do we care? Clay Kirby is a repeat offender. You can read about him here. He did not live long, but he had the great fortune to be a Major League Baseball player and have his own baseball cards to document his legacy, which is a pretty cool thing if you ask me.

Why is this a thing? When we left off last, Kirby was appearing on a card from 1974 as an airbrushed Red. He'd spend two seasons in total with Cincy before he'd head to Montreal for his final stop in the bigs, swapped for one Bob Bailey. The Expos released him after a single season, and he would spend one last season in AAA before hanging it up.

Airbrushed Fridays is a weekly feature as the name seems to imply. If you know of a card with an altered photograph that you'd like to see featured, please contact me. You probably won't win anything other than a hyperlink and Jeffrey Loria bumper sticker, but you never know!

Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #338T

Last night, greatness was finally achieved. Angel Pagan won free Doritos-laced tacos for all of America, and Backstop Cards will reap the rewards. Thankfully, the internet has done your job for you and no one will need to come up with a zany GIF that tops this.

Who is this week's victim, and why do we care? Bob Bailey was a third baseman of average (by MLB standards) skill and great longevity. He spent 17 years in the league, winning a title with the Reds in 1976. Bailey seems to have retired from a life full of baseball and the need for Wikipedia updates some time after the late '80s.

Why does this card exist? Bailey found his way to the Reds after seven years with Montreal by way of an offseason deal that landed the Expos the previously featured Clay Kirby. He looks pleased.

Airbrushed Fridays is a weekly feature as the name seems to imply. If you know of a card with an altered photograph that you'd like to see featured, please contact me. You probably won't win anything other than a hyperlink and a used Little Nicky DVD, but you never know!

Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #592T

So many posts, so little time! Don't you people understand that there are some Olympics going on? Olympics!

Who is this week's victim, and why do we care? Why, it's Willie Randolph! To me, Willie Randolph was a product of the Yankees '80s bloated period of extremely low success-to-controversy ratio. In eighteen years, most of them with the Yankees, Randolph manned the keystone position and made six All-Star teams. He also managed the Mets for a few years, including a 2006 team that came up short against a certain Cardinals club.

Why does this card exist? Randolph's rookie season was spent in Pittsburgh. The Yankees swooped him up per the deal on the back of this early Traded set card and the rest was history.

Airbrushed Fridays is a weekly feature as the name seems to imply. If you know of a card with an altered photograph that you'd like to see featured, please contact me. You probably won't win anything other than a hyperlink and a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, a Bip Roberts card, and a Bip Roberts card, but you never know!

Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #649T

Official baseball games are less than a week away, with the start of an oddly scheduled opening series in Japan between the Mariners and the A's, while everyone else is still in spring training. The Cardinals then open their title defense against the newly minted and hideously attired Miami Marlins a week later... while everyone else is still in spring training. And then, I suppose, there's Opening Day?

Dave Roberts was a left-handed starting pitcher who famously pitched for 11 teams in his 13 year career. Despite this card's suggestion, he did not play for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals. He passed away in 2009, a victim of lung cancer.

Why did Topps airbrush Dave's photo? It was hard to capture Roberts sitting around any one franchise for too long, as evidenced by how many times he changed uniforms over the course of his career. In this case, he was shipped by the Astros to Detroit as part of a 7-player swap, including such luminaries as Gene Pentz and Mark Lemongello (actual name.)

What's wrong with this picture, anyway? Dave is a wistful man without a team to identify with. And he has a poorly airbrushed cap.

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.

Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #80T

Big game tonight! Super big game. The superist of big games, even. The Cards take on the Phillies in Philly to decide their NL Division Series to determine who will take on the Brewers or the Diamondbacks (hopefully the Diamondbacks, so there are some west coast friendly start times.) My prediction? At least one team will win, and at some point obscenities will be bandied about in a most uncouth manner.

Jim Kaat was a three-time All-Star left-handed pitcher who was an exceptional fielder, amassing 16 Gold Gloves in his career. He took home a World Series ring in 1982 with your St. Louis Cardinals and also has the distinction of playing for the opposing team in tonight's pivotal matchup. My own personal memories of Kaat are primarily as a broadcaster with NBC Sports in the '80s. He now does the occasional game for the MLB Network.

Why did Topps airbrush Jim's photo? Kaat, originally a Washington Senator who played with the Senators/Twins franchise for 16 seasons, was with the White Sox for a short spell before being traded to the Phillies as part of a four player deal at the end of the 1975 season.

What's wrong with this picture, anyway? The 'P' on Kitty Kaat's cap is large and kind of ridiculous, kind of like Ryan Howard's contract. Hiyoooo!

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.

Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #158T

There are six games left in the MLB regular season. Six! What happened to this season? What happened to summer? Where did the time go? Why was last night's season premiere episode of NBC's Community so... blah?

Ken Reitz was a former All-Star and Gold Glove winning third baseman who played most of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals in an era where the Cards were just flat out not very good. St. Louis has had this even/odd decade thing going on, where they have traditionally been far less successful in odd decades. Let's hope that trend ends this decade.

Why did Topps airbrush Ken's photo? Reitz (pronounced like "beets") was dealt to the Giants after 4 seasons with the Cards in December of 1975, only to be returned to St. Louis the following offseason. After three more years with the Cards, he would eventually be involved in the deal that would bring future HOFer Bruce Sutter to town.

What's wrong with this picture, anyway? Where do I start, with the glowing navy blue cap or the ridiculous smudgy crayon look of the 'SF' logo? Whoever came up with the banner headline on these early Traded set cards was at least thinking straight, knowing that they could usually cover up most of the jerseys.

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.

Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #497T

I'm not dead! Neither is Smed's Baseball Card Blog, if you're interested. I have been enjoying MusicfestNW this week and when you throw in a heaping helping of crazy other things, I have barely had time to breathe. The usual Ducks thing will head this way tomorrow and then regular posting (and mailing of past due packages) should resume next week. In the meantime, today's card was chosen for a reason. It sounds like Bud Selig is trying to pressure the Houston Astros to move to the American League, which just has travesty screaming all over it if you ask me. Selig likes to pick on the weakest, poorest teams in the league and push them around. Remember when he wanted to contract the Twins and the Expos? Hey, Bud, why don't you move your stupid Brewers back to the AL, instead? That's where they belong.

Joe McIntosh was, briefly, a right handed pitcher in the major leagues. He pitched for the Padres. And then a lot of mysterious stuff happened. That stuff, perhaps, was lost to the sands of time.

Why did Topps airbrush this photo? As mentioned above, McIntosh was traded along with Larry Hardy to Houston for Doug Rader after the end of the 1975 season. And that's where it gets weird...

What's wrong with this picture, anyway? He never suited up with Houston. At least, there's no evidence of it. BR's Minors page for McIntosh shows that he resurfaced in the Astros organization in 1979 at rookie ball level for all of 4 games and 9 total innings. And that was it. Does anyone know what happened to this guy?

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.

Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #146T

Lousy rotten Braves have just taken the lead in the 7th on the Cardinals as I write this. Where's John Rocker to make fun of when you need him?

George "Doc" Medich was a right-handed starting pitcher who spent 11 seasons in the majors with 7 teams, primarily in the '70s. He earned the nickname Doc from... now, help me out here, please... was it because of his last name or was it that he literally became a licensed medical doctor by the end of his baseball career? Doc bowed out of the league following a lone World Series appearance for Milwaukee (against the Cards) where he allowed 6 runs in 2 innings. He also lost his medical license due to a drug addiction. (Man, this is not the happiest entry in this series, is it?)

Why did Topps airbrush George's photo? Like many things the Pirates would do later in their franchise history, Medich's trade was a rather one-sided affair that would prove to benefit another team. The Yankees picked up franchise staple-to-be Willie Randolph along with George Brett's brother and the Acid Man in a late December 1975 exchange.

What's wrong with this picture, anyway? The only visible portion of the top of Doc's cap is repainted a safety vest yellow with no consideration for a team logo. He should probably do something about that sweaty lock of hair that the cap isn't containing as well. Additionally, I think they left Doc's collar in Yankees navy blue.

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.

Airbrushed Fridays: 1976 Topps Traded #554T

I went to the Blazers game last night, and after it got out I grabbed a MAX train to head home. This hipster looking guy got on the train and the first thing he blurted out was, "I [expletive] hate sports events!" It was a hilarious moment on a hilarious night. Portland had just beaten the Cavs in an extremely absurd way, leading at various points 33 to 4, 80 to 39 and 89 to 45. The train was full, and he attracted a lot of glances, but ultimately he did not end up challenging the entire car full of Blazer fans to a fight.

Ray Fosse was a hipster, clearly. That's why Pete Rose knocked him clear into next week. Pete Rose hates hipsters. And gambing. (Just kidding on the gambling part.)

Why did Topps airbrush Ray's photo? Because he is a hipster. He was originally wearing a fedora, but Topps wasn't having any of that.

What's wrong with this picture, anyway? Urban Dictionary defines the term "ironic mustache" as the following: "an ugly mustache grown initially as a joke and to impress one's friends with the level of commitment necessary to maintain it. these mustaches often remain with the wearer far longer than they are funny and become a part of the person's "look"." Of course, the entry was created by someone with the name "bad daddy schlong", for what it's worth.

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.