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Interesting stories/tidbits behind certain sportscards

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sportscardtheory

Active member
Aug 16, 2008
8,461
2
Buffalo, New York
Ever notice that the player being tagged by Thomas on his Topps RC has no face?

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DeliciousBacon

Well-known member
Apr 23, 2011
3,444
94
Warwick, RI
There's a lot of complaints about Topps reusing pictures for certain players. Well, it could be worse:

7fdf5de9-0ed4-4015-9b2f-b3459b468874.jpg


Dick Ellsworth's 1966 Topps card actually shows Ken Hubbs...who died more than two years before this card came out.
 

Austin

Well-known member
Aug 7, 2008
5,706
41
Dallas, Texas
Gary Pettis tricked the Topps photographer and had his teenage brother pretend he was Gary for his '85 Topps card.

1985.jpg
 

mchenrycards

Featured Contributor, Vintage Corner, Senior Membe
The first one is the 1969 Topps Aurelio Rodriquez card that actually shows the Angels bat boy.

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The next one is known as "Lefty" Lou Burdette. Everyone knew Burdette was a righty as he was the second half of the left/right combination Milwaukee had in Burdette and Spahn......everyone but the people at Topps apparently. The word was he used Spahn's glove for this photo to put one over on the photographer.

burdette_zpsa4dfcf34.jpg
 

BBCgalaxee

Well-known member
Sep 9, 2011
6,475
59
One of the very very few times a company has actually corrected a non intentional error card over the last 15 years.

Both are Matt Pender cards.
One obviously pictures granderson, the other shows pender.

What makes it interesting and rare is that the correct version was never in packs.

You had to send upper deck an error version and they would send you a correct card. Very few did.

The correct card, for some reason, has Refractor like foil.
 

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One of the very very few times a company has actually corrected a non intentional error card over the last 15 years.

Both are Matt Pender cards.
One obviously pictures granderson, the other shows pender.

What makes it interesting and rare is that the correct version was never in packs.

You had to send upper deck an error version and they would send you a correct card. Very few did.

The correct card, for some reason, has Refractor like foil.

How the hell do you screw up a card that badly??? I mean, Granderson in black and the other guy is....not
 

Mighty Bombjack

Active member
Aug 7, 2008
6,115
12
I got high a lot when I worked at Topps and was responsible for the 2003 Bong/Puffer card.

There, I said it. Fun times those.
 

gracecollector

Well-known member
Aug 7, 2008
6,559
215
Lake in the Hills, IL
Topps used the same photo for the Dodgers team card for six straight years from 1960-1965, picturing 1959 Dodgers team. Don Zimmer, who is pictured in the photo, didn't play with the Dodgers in 1960, and in fact played with four different teams (Cubs, Mets, Reds and Senators) during those years.

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mchenrycards

Featured Contributor, Vintage Corner, Senior Membe
I never realized Topps used that same Dodgers team photo all those years.

I do remember that both Topps and Fleer bought the same photo from the same photographer for their 1982 set for Rod Carew. I always thought when you sell a photo to Topps it was for exclusive or use or use for a period of time but I guess that wasnt the case then.

1982-Topps-501-Rod-Carew-In-Action-A_zps8e08521b.jpg

1982-Fleer-455-Rod-Carew-A_zps2d29a3c6.jpg
 

gracecollector

Well-known member
Aug 7, 2008
6,559
215
Lake in the Hills, IL
The 2012 Panini Cooperstown card of HOFer Albert Spalding actually pictures his nephew (also named Al Spalding), who was a world famous violinist in the 1900's-10's. First time a violinist was mistaken for a ballplayer, I'd guess.

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$_57.JPG


411px-Albert_Spalding_%28August_15%2C_1888_%E2%80%93_May_26%2C_1953%29_in_1915.jpg


at least they got it right on back.

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mchenrycards

Featured Contributor, Vintage Corner, Senior Membe
I am surprised nobody brought this one up yet as it is one of the more famous Topps screw ups.

The 1957 Topps card of Henry Aaron made him a left hander in this reverse negative photo. I guess it was an easy mistake to make as the "M" on the cap did not give it away that the photo was flipped but you would think one of the premier right handed sluggers of that time would have set some alarms in the Topps photo editors minds when Aaron was shown as a lefty. Even his uniform, though not as pronounced gives it away as a flipped nagative.

Lot544a_med_zps029a785e.jpg
 

Mighty Bombjack

Active member
Aug 7, 2008
6,115
12
This 2001 Topps Tribute card does not depict the Earl Averill whose jersey number is retired for the Indians, as it was intended to do. Rather, this is his son, Earl Averill Jr. I wish whoever had filed this photo at Topps would've added the "Jr." to the folder, as I wouldn't have made the error.

averilljpg_zps51e27354.png
 

MrMet

Well-known member
Apr 6, 2010
13,556
612
The Poconos
I remember some story about a guy who wore an ugly green shirt under his uni for every card shoot... I don't really remember the whole story tho...

And as I was trying to look it up and failing... I found another gem, from Dave Bennett on the back of the 1964 Phillies Rookie stars card ImageUploadedByFreedom Card Board1397241323.635116.jpg
 

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