Another one of the goals that I had on my list was trying to build up my Hall of Fame vintage collection. The SoCal Baseball Expo had plenty of vintage tables to chose from. 1971 Topps was the set I was most looking forward to find.
It is so much easier bringing a list and notes to a card show as opposed to trying to remember what you are searching for. I wrote down a list of categories that I was out to purchase. Sure enough, I followed my own guide and was able to stick to a collecting plan.
I have mulled over buying this Bob Gibson card on a few occasions. I love this photograph and am a fan of crowd shots from the baseball eras before my birth. I am not sure what stadium that Gibson is pitching in, on this card. The field level seats looks like a big section. Stadiums now seem to have less seats on the lower concourse. This stadium that had the privilege of hosting Bob Gibson, seems to have endless rows of people sitting down low.
I enjoy Frank Howard towering over two legends to claim his spot as the top power hitter in 1970. Harmon Killebrew seems too disappointed by being bested by Howard, that he doesn't even want to look at the camera.
Carl Yastrzemski looks like a thug in his photo. Yaz appears more pissed about coming in third place and less saddened by this feat. Yaz also looks like someone that could double as a violent felon.
The face of Yaz isn't the only picture from the '71 set that kind of creeps me out. The set has this creeper named Rollie Fingers. He didn't have a mustache yet and looks like less of a ball player without it.
Fingers, minus his 'stache, resembles a vampire to me. No wonder, the Oakland A's had so much success in the 70s, they had Count Dracula on their side.
The playing field wasn't level even back in the 70s.
Baseball would be more popular today if Phil Niekro didn't scare off so many fans 40 years ago. So, many of his cards make me not trusting of his face. I would not climb into a van with blacked out windows with him even if he offered me an autographed baseball with inscription.
Niekro seems to have mastered having "dead eyes". The "dead eyes" must have added about 1000 strikeouts to his career total. Batters must have just froze for a second too long, while gazing into the Niekro Death Stare.
Hoyt Wilhelm is in the Hall of Fame of Vintage Creepy Face. I chase down his cards, not only for his baseball accolades, but also because he has many disturbing looks.
Wilhelm has more looks than just "blue steel".
In his 1971 card, Wilhelm is bringing it with his grumpy grandpa look. Grumpy grandpa is pissed to have his photo taking while taking a break on his perch. He punched the photographer out five minutes after this photo was taken. It took him that long to unwind from this pose.
Surprisingly, I still have a couple more vintage finds to write about on the Platter. I may post about those later tonight before work. Be sure to check back later to see what else I purchased.
3 comments:
Very nice pickups! The '71 set is easily one of my favorites. Love the Gibson!
You know I've got to give some love to Hoyt, too. His '71 is one of the more interesting cards of his out there, given that he played in just three gams with the Cubs.
I love crowd shots from the 70s.
Unfortunately, no one seems to pay attention to crowd shots now, and you end up with 2011 Bowman JP Arencibia, playing in front of maybe 20 people at Skydome.
Hoyt looks younger here than on his 1962 Topps. I'm confused....
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