Oddly enough, we've got Clete Boyer, the man who replaced Carey, as the second member of this year's Left Field HOF class. Once again, we've got a shot of the left-field overhang at Yankee Stadium as the backdrop for this shot.
This card demonstrates that this background was standard operating procedure and not just reserved for guys playing for the visiting team.
Boyer was a great fielding 3B over his 16-year career but he only won a single gold glove (1969--with the Braves). His offense wasn't great (lifetime OPS+ of 86) but he's another of those guys you know who he is because he was a cog in the Yankee machines of the 1960s.
As an inductee in the Left Field HOF, this card is plain strange. A guy known for his defense...pictured with his bat. In fact, it almost looks like Boyer was superimposed onto this backdrop because the light is so weird. But why NOT get a better shot of Boyer? Topps photographers basically camped out at Yankees Stadium during this period, they had about a million chances to get it right!
Have a good one everybody and good night Pumpsie Green, wherever you are!
No comments:
Post a Comment