You don’t see it as much these days, but prior to the early 1970s, most baseball card pictures were posed in ersatz action. The players often went capless, just in case there were traded before the card was released.
Along my regular investigatory ramblings, I’ve come across a few sites that look into a card’s background (figuratively and literally). One such place is The Card Corner, a regular feature on The Hardball Times site by Bruce Markusen. His latest is about the Topps 1972 Bob Veale. It’s fascinating to see the amount of time folks will waste devote, into the search for truth. Markusen also discusses the “role” of the player in baseball pop culture and whatever personal affinity he might have toward them. Other players recently posted include George Hendrick, Ed Brinkman, and Richie Allen.
Markusen also posts frequent “baseball card mysteries.” These are often action shots in which he tries to identify the individual game, opponents, teammates, and other items in the background that could be used to solve the puzzle. This one features the Mets’ Cleon Jones and the Braves’ Bob Didier in a play at the plate. Fun stuff!
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