1956 Topps Elston Howard question

[swarmee]

Reference picture

[Georj]

Thanks John for posting the picture of the card but I am really looking for the actual photo that they used to make the card

[commishbob]

The angle is switched up but it's Billy Hoeft. Likely this game on August 6, 1955. Hoeft scored on a Harvey Kuenn double in the sixth.

edit..lemme try again

Here's a link to the pic on Getty

[Bigdaddy]

Good job Bob. The truth is out there.

[Georj]

That's a very interesting photo. Who is the Detroit Tiger with his hand in the
air and why is he so close to the plate almost screening the umpire? If Billy Hoeft, the runner, scored on a double, the batter should not be standing in the batters box should he?

[savedfrommyspokes]

Originally Posted by Georj

That's a very interesting photo. Who is the Detroit Tiger with his hand in the
air and why is he so close to the plate almost screening the umpire? If Billy Hoeft, the runner, scored on a double, the batter should not be standing in the batters box should he?

On deck hitter standing there?

[commishbob]

Originally Posted by savedfrommyspokes

On deck hitter standing there?

Bill Tuttle hit behind Kuenn that day and that certainly looks like him.

[Volod]

Well, he's actually standing just behind the batters box and to the side of the plate ump while giving the runner (Hoeft) the arms up signal that he can score standing and does not have to slide. In those days, any teammate at the plate or in the on-deck circle was expected to provide that help and might be chastised if it was not given. In the modern era, that basic team rule is routinely ignored in many cases. It appears that the wirephoto was taken a second or two after the photo image used on the card because the ump is completely out of the card shot. Seems strange that he would have been intentionally edited out and even stranger that he could move that fast in just a second or two.