Sunday, August 14, 2011

#620 - 1975 Rookie Catchers-Outfielders


Card fact: This is the first rookie card -- as rookie cards were known back in the '70s -- that I ever saw.

What I thought about this card then: I had the mini card, which was quite fortunate of me because it is Gary Carter's rookie card. But what I thought about the most was the fact that there were two Tigers on the bottom. That seemed unusual to me. It still does.

What I think about this card now: It's in semi-rough shape compared with most of the other cards I have from the set. I was probably trying to save cash by getting it on the cheap.

Also, Hill's cap is airbrushed.

Other stuff: Each player's first solo Topps card:

Gary Carter, Expos: 1976 Topps (with the rookie cup!)
Marc Hill, Giants: 1976 Topps
Danny Meyer, Tigers: 1976 Topps
Leon Roberts, Tigers: 1976 Topps

Most successful career: Carter is a Hall of Famer. (EDIT: He died on Feb. 16, 2012 at age 57)


Most awesome middle name: Kauffman edges out Edmund.

Other blog stuff: It's been quite awhile since I've featured the mini card next to the regular card. This is as fine a time as any to resume that practice:


C'est bon!

7 comments:

Johngy said...

II talked to Marc Hill who lamented the fact that his rookie card cost so much. He had a good laugh about it.
Actually the three "other"guys all had solid careers.

Hackenbush said...

Gary Carter must have come out of the womb smiling -- with a complete set of teeth.

Anthony Hughes said...

Johngy, I was thinking the same thing. It must be rare that a multi-player rookie card, a 4-player card at that, ended where all guys on the card had a decent careers. Usually it's one guy you heard of and 2-3 other guys where you're like, who is that guy?

Play at the Plate said...

It's always great to see the mini next to the regular card. Weren't there enough rookie catchers to warrant an all-rookie catcher card?

MCT said...

I never really understood why these multi-player cards were so sought after as a player's rookie card. They have a tiny photo of the player, a brief blurb of biographical info, and no stats at all. They were O.K., it wasn't that I disliked them, but they didn't seem worth shelling out big bucks for. I always thought of a player's first solo card as his "true" rookie card.

Neal Ford said...

Gary Carter lived a couple of blocks away from me during his tenure with the Expos.
His address was "8" McConnell Court.

Charlie said...

I guess two rookies from the same team on the same card is a bit odd. Boy, could you imagine Topps would have put Rice and Lynn on the same card? It would be exponentially harder to find today.