Background Noise - 1987 Topps Steve Carltons

It’s the little things that catch my eye when looking at a baseball card.  Whether it’s facial expressions, hand gestures, dated apparel, scenery, etc., there is almost always something special pictured on a card.  Nearly every card tells a story if you are willing to read it.

While thumbing through my 1987 Topps Traded set for the last Joy of Sets post, I noticed the Steve Carlton card.  Originally, I thought it may have been an airbrush because the scenery is so similar to the base release.  Here is a side by side comparison.

Both cards feature Lefty warming up on the sidelines prior to the game.  Both cards appear to be photographed at Tiger Stadium.  Both cards have fans in the background, and both backgrounds tell a different story.  

In the White Sox version, the background is drab, dreary and lifeless.  The card shows what can be assumed as the father leaning on the railing, looking off into the distance.  Behind him is his presumed son, wearing a jean jacket, shoulders slouched, and looking blankly at Steve Carlton.  In brief, this card breathes angst.

Conversely, the Indians version is vibrant and alive.  The colors are sharp, and what’s happening in the crowd is priceless.  LOOK AT HOW THAT YOUNG BOY IS GRIPPING THE RAILING AND ABSORBED IN STEVE CARLTON.  This card does not reek of the dysfunction of a father/teenage son relationship.  In fact, the father is immediately behind his son, and they are both engrossed in watching Lefty warm up.  What could quite possibly be the icing on this cake, but impossible to prove, is that I think the older gentleman in the newsboy cap is the grandfather. If so, I hope the boy has this card as a keepsake.

Three generations caught in the background of a baseball card, intently watching an all time great warm up.  That may not be the case, but it’s my story.

The Joy of Sets - 1987 Topps Traded

This series shines a spotlight on each set that I have completed throughout the years…
What: 1987 Topps Traded
Size: 132 cards
HOFer Content: 3% (and rising)
Subsets: None
Errors/Variations: None
Completed: Fall 2001

Like most young collectors at the time, the 1987 Topps Traded Set was a rarity.  Actually, all traded sets to me were mythical.  For all you young pups, back in my day, traded or update sets were not sold in pack form in some mega retail outlet.  They weren’t even sold in pharmacies, little league diamond snack shacks, or even liquor stores (I bet some of you couldn’t fathom buying cards at a liquor store…).

No, the only way you could get your hands on a traded set was to go to your local card store and hope they were an official dealer with Topps.  Also, notice I said “set.”  You couldn’t buy packs.  You could only purchase the entire set, which came housed in special packaging and was printed on bleached cardstock, which I guess was either to distinguish the traded set from the main set or to imply fanciness.  It's kind of hard to make basement wood paneling look fancy.

Also, those sets were usually outrageously priced because they contained such potential superstars like Kevin Mitchell, Ellis Burks, David Cone, Matt Nokes and Kevin Seitzer.  So, in lieu of wasting good money better served playing Mortal Kombat or Galaga at the local pizza parlor, I passed.  Well, my patience paid off because eventually most (not all) of those sets fell back to earth and flooded the secondary market.

Case in point, I purchased the 1987 Topps Traded set in the fall of 2001 off of eBay for $4.50 including shipping.  Not a bad deal.  Anyways, as the dust settled, none of the aforementioned prospects really panned out except for some card showing a gangly kid on the mound with greasy hair and a wispy mustache.  You know, Garry Maddox’s younger brother from another mother (and father), Greg Maddux.

Traded sets were also known for one other great distinguishing feature, airbrushing.  Some of these cards look like either Crayola was an official sponsor of Topps, or the Topps’ art department heavily invested in Mario Paint.  Check out these two nuggets.  Greg Minton looks like he’s trying to stare down the mess on top of his hat, and Gene Nelson looks downright pissed with his artistic treatment.

Besides the prospects and Color By Number cards, traded sets were also a great place to see superstars giving their last hurrah or showing off their new duds after they’d cleared free agency.  Here are the HOFer examples…

I must say that I do enjoy traded sets, but I’m glad I waited 20+ years to complete them.  In fact, I’m working on the 1989 and 1990 Topps Traded sets right now!

Score: 6/10