Original Photos Used On Baseball Cards

[metroac]

Similarly...

[brian1961]

Hey GasHouseGang Dave,

A very pertinent, worthwhile thread. I have nothing to show, but something to tell that you just might not know. The beautiful 1956 Topps card of Mr. Mantle was touched up a tsch to make it appear Mick robbed the batter of a sure home run. Nice as it would have been, since Mickey's vertical jump was spectacular, as with all the endearing attributes he brought to the game as a rookie in 1951, the reality was altogether different. The ball, slugged by Chicago White Sox powerhouse, Eddie Robinson, nonetheless sailed over Mr. Mantle's outstretched glove for a home run! Ironically, dear Eddie Robinson is still with us, a fine ex-player now living his 101st year of life. Way da go, Eddie! Much as I love Mickey Mantle, that was a whale of a shot. --- Brian Powell

[GasHouseGang]

I started to ask if anyone knew if Mantle made that catch, but didn't figure anyone would know. I should have had more faith in the collectors on Net54!

[GasHouseGang]

Here's an example for today. The photo of Willie Mays used on his 1952 Bowman.

[David W]

Chicago Tribune photo used in the Cool Papa Bell tribute set

[JollyElm]

The funniest part about that 1956 card (aside from changing history to show 'The Mick' making the grab) is how Topps took the column of gentlemen on the far left of the original photograph, and also slotted them into the far right of the active area. I mean, they're freakin' looking the wrong way, for cripes sake!!!!

Conventional wisdom held that the intent was to fill some empty seats to add more excitement, but that doesn't really hold water. If you examine the picture by looking at how much of the shot above Mantle's mitt is in play on the card, you can see it would end just a touch above the necktied guy sitting down at right, which would include only a negligible amount of no-show seating. A better answer is the original photograph (assuming it hasn't been cropped over there) abruptly ends on the right side, so they needed to add space for the layout to work more effectively, and that was their quick solution...

1956ToppsMantlepiccrowd.jpg


When the image of those gents was repeated, they should have flipped it horizontally to literally get their heads in the game. Come on, Topps!!! Here is just a quick copy and paste...

1956ToppsMantlepiccrowdCORRECTED.jpg

Oh well.

[GasHouseGang]

Darren, you're right. That would have looked better. Since we were talking about the 1956 Topps, here's the portrait Mantle photo used on the 1956 Mick.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

The funniest part about that 1956 card (aside from changing history to show 'The Mick' making the grab) is how Topps took the column of gentlemen on the far left of the original photograph, and also slotted them into the far right of the active area. I mean, they're freakin' looking the wrong way, for cripes sake!!!!

That is a great observation, Jolly - thanks for pointing that out. I have seen the original action picture before, but never noticed that.