Unissued 1953 Topps

[Volod]

Hey Bob:
That is some outstanding work you did on the prospective Ashburn card. The only nitpicking I would half-heartedly venture involves the text of the bio. To wit, I don't believe the expression, "take them to the next level," would have been used in the early 1950's. It is more likely to have entered common usage during the 70's, thus, I would suggest, "help keep them in the pennant race." Perhaps, also, the use of "solidify" in the meaning of "strengthen" is anticipated by a decade or so, but that is just one guy's feeble opinion. As you might guess, I'm an old editor and wordsmith who grew up in the 50's, and now have way too much time on my hands.
Steve Gaylo

[Bob Lemke]

Thanks for the critique, Steve. In retrospect, I believe you are spot on about the usage. On some of my card creations, especially those of vintage players on career-contemporary cards, I try to channel the card companies' writers and remember that they were writing for 10-year-olds, rather than adult collectors. More than once in my "real" working days I was criticized by my editors for writing above the reader.