Topps 'Dreadshot' Madness

[JollyElm]

Randomly ran across a 1968 card on eBay, and it got me thinking and searching.
The end result is I found another sixty percenter!!!

• Jim Bunning had a Topps card career ranging from 1957 to 1971, for a total of 15 seasons, with 9 of those years ungloriously featuring Mr. Sneaky Fastball's noggin.

A crazy 60% of the Hall of Famer's total!!

A realization: What's wild is, Banks and Koufax both had 'mandatory' 1955 and 1956 head shot cards (with Ernie also having a 'mandatory' header in 1954), but all of Bunning's cards came after those years, so he didn't benefit from forced headshotophobia.
His close-ups occurred organically.


headshots-jimbunning.jpg


(Editor's note: Although there is no actual definition of what constitutes a true 'headshot,' my general basis is the head/hat should occupy about 50% or more of the 'active area.')

[Harliduck]

Not a fan of most head shots...


There are two that really bother me...the 1961 Topps Harmon Killebrew...my favorite player, TERRIBLE looking card. I get the Senators/Twins hat issue...but that situation created some really bad cards. The other is the 1967 Topps Mickey Mantle. The close up head shot, ugly green dugout paint backdrop. Such an iconic year, a simple pose of him swinging or holding a bat...anything different...and I do believe that card would actually be worth more.

[mikemb]

Originally Posted by Harliduck

Not a fan of most head shots...


There are two that really bother me...the 1961 Topps Harmon Killebrew...my favorite player, TERRIBLE looking card. I get the Senators/Twins hat issue...but that situation created some really bad cards. The other is the 1967 Topps Mickey Mantle. The close up head shot, ugly green dugout paint backdrop. Such an iconic year, a simple pose of him swinging or holding a bat...anything different...and I do believe that card would actually be worth more.

Totally agree on the 1961 Killebrew!

Mike

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by Harliduck

Not a fan of most head shots...
...the 1961 Topps Harmon Killebrew...my favorite player, TERRIBLE looking card. I get the Senators/Twins hat issue...but that situation created some really bad cards.

But I 'fixed' that one for you. How soon they forget.

HarmonKillebrew1961cardsforprinting.jpg

[whiteymet]

Try to find a Richie Ashburn card where you see his teeth!!??

No Topps or Bowman regular issue from 1949 -1963 save for a 1959 with Mays as NL Hitting Kings. And one, the 62T where it looks like he bit into a lemon!!

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

But I 'fixed' that one for you. How soon they forget.

Attachment 666864

Ha...love it...nope, haven't forgot, I have a couple of these printed up and in my set notebooks! Thanks for posting again though, so pleasing to the eye to see what easily could have been done 64 years ago!