Monday, February 11, 2013

The Little Guy ('60s Version)

Topps had several card sets where they had two shots of each player.  Typically, there was a large close-up and a smaller full figure version, often in black and white.  Think of it as two for the price of one.

In the ‘50s, they included these mini-me’s for 1954, 1955, and 1956.  In the ‘60s, it was 1960 and 1963.  Both of those years relied heavily on cut and paste.  By the way, back then, that particular term meant an X-Acto knife and a tub of Elmer’s, not Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V.

So, take it away, Verne Troyer and friends …
 


I don’t know.  I hope he’s turning the double play.  Otherwise, Bob looks like he’s pretending to ride a pony.  Either that or he’s seriously double-jointed.

Bob Aspromonte was the regular 3rd baseman for the early Houston teams.  Though not exactly known for his big stick, Bob once imitated the Babe and hit a home run (actually, several homers) for a sick kid in the hospital.  Great story


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Ted throws like a girl, Ted throws like a girl …

Ted Abernathy was a submarining reliever who twice led his league in saves.   Overall, he finished with 148 saves in 14 years, getting in almost 700 games.

He’s quite a looker too, isn’t he?  Click here if you think you can stand some more.
 

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Now, that’s imaginative.  Couldn’t they at least have blown up and cropped the photo for a head shot on the right panel?  Also, real nice cropping job on the figure to the left.  You didn’t need that left leg now, did ya, big fella?

Mike Cuellar is best known as a member of those incredible pitching staffs that helped Baltimore look so good in the ‘60s and ‘70s.  He was one of their four 20-game winners in 1971, along with McNally, Palmer, and Dobson.  Overall, his career as an O included four 20-win seasons and one Cy Young Award.


Here's another look at Mike.
 

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Now exactly sure what Hal’s doing here.  It could be his follow through.  Alternatively, the photographer could have caught him lurching drunkenly along outside some bar somewhere after the game.  Or perhaps he’s pretending he’s Quasimodo.  Really hard to tell.

Hal Woodeshick summed up his journeyman career with a great quote: “People talk about pressure now, but pressure was driving a wife and child across the country with no contract, a bad back, and not knowing whether you're going to have a job next year.”
 


Poor Bob.  Looks like they got him again.  This time, though, seems like the problem was with the X-Acto knife.  Whoa! Sorry about the left side of your face, dude.

More Bob right here.

* - author has this card

1 comment:

  1. Great site. Just for fun, take a card of Ted Abernathy and compare it to blues pianist Marcia Ball. Separated at birth, I tell you.

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