The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

[jchcollins]

Your “bad” is actually a ‘66 Topps - one of my favorite cards. 😬

[OsFan]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Your “bad” is actually a ‘66 Topps - one of my favorite cards. 😬

Truth be told I'm a fan of the '66 as well. Like I said it's near impossible to find a bad Koufax card. With the exception of the no cap '60 Topps.

[cesarcap]

Good thread. Here’s my contributions on Johnny Bench, w/o pix as I’m traveling.

The Good: 69 Topps. As others have said, this card is nicer than his true RC. He’s alone, looking spry and ready to play. The trophy and background makes me want to grab a hot dog, beer and cracker jacks and settle into my seat.

The Bad: 73 Topps. A lousy attempt at an In Action card. It had potential. I actually like the graininess of the photograph as it fits into the era. But if he was just looking a bit more towards the photographer...

The Ugly: 78 Topps. Couldn’t the photographer ask him to just face the camera a bit? Or use a flash to brighten up his face? He looks more like a 3rd base coach w/o a bat resting on his shoulder.

[Bigdaddy]

Here's my Johnny Bench choices:

The Good: 1976 Topps - one of my favorite baseball cards of all time. Classic photo; looks like something that would fit right in a Clint Eastwood movie.

The Bad: 1977 Topps - could the photographer have cropped it any closer? I can see the pores in his skin.

The Ugly: 1983 Fleer - really Fleer - is that the best photo you have of the greatest catcher of all time? Johnny looks like he's annoyed at something.

[KCRfan1]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

Here's my Johnny Bench choices:

The Good: 1976 Topps - one of my favorite baseball cards of all time. Classic photo; looks like something that would fit right in a Clint Eastwood movie.

The Bad: 1977 Topps - could the photographer have cropped it any closer? I can see the pores in his skin.

The Ugly: 1983 Fleer - really Fleer - is that the best photo you have of the greatest catcher of all time? Johnny looks like he's annoyed at something.

Tom,

It was hard for me to take Fleer and Donruss seriously when they showed up in the 80's due to a lot of their poor photo choices. Some are just goofy.

Bench is just winding up to nail the Fleer photographer......

[JollyElm]

How about B-Robby:

GOOD 1976 - Some people don't appreciate this card, but I friggin' love it. Granted, the blinding glare of the sun is off-putting, but it is surely a unique, playful shot that shows the nice guy we know him to be.

BAD 1958 - For the love of criminy, it looks like Brooksie's about to sneeze!!!!!! We know he's quick with the glove...sure hope he's quick with the Kleenex. Come On, Topps!!!!!!!!!!!!

UGLY 1975 - Can someone say mini brim? What in high heck is going on with that ultra short helmet bill?? (No offense, of course, to anyone who fancies helmets with truncated brims.)

brobinsongoodbadugly.jpg

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

How about B-Robby:

GOOD 1976 - Some people don't appreciate this card, but I friggin' love it. Granted, the blinding glare of the sun is off-putting, but it is surely a unique, playful shot that shows the nice guy we know him to be.

BAD 1958 - For the love of criminy, it looks like Brooksie's about to sneeze!!!!!! We know he's quick with the glove...sure hope he's quick with the Kleenex. Come On, Topps!!!!!!!!!!!!

UGLY 1975 - Can someone say mini brim? What in high heck is going on with that ultra short helmet bill?? (No offense, of course, to anyone who fancies helmets with truncated brims.)

Darren,

Of course you should already know that there are “almost” no bad or ugly Brooksie cards (well...I may possibly, begrudgingly, give you the ‘58). All of his cards are the BEST. The 1975 card is one of my favorites. How can you not LOVE the shot they used and the overall coolness of the ‘75 style. Gotta love the short, mini brim.

What’s kinda funny is someone asked the question about his helmet not long ago and this was my reply:

In the early ’70s, the Commissioner’s Office made it mandatory for anyone entering into MLB to wear an ear flap on your helmet. Exsisting players had a choice, but Brooks stated he liked the safety aspect, since he had been beaned in the head several times over the years, and chose to wear the ear flap. Brooks stated, “When I got the helmet with the flap and put it on, it seemed like the bill was a little longer than my normal hat. The flap was a little longer and consequently when I went up to hit I could see the brim and part of the flap. It made me lose my concentration. I took care of it by taking a hacksaw blade and cut off about 1 ½ inches off the brim and about ½ off the flap. That’s how I got my short brim."

See, possibly ugly to an untrained eye, but COOL at the same time.