Original Photos Used On Baseball Cards

[GasHouseGang]

I posted a photo of Roberto Clemente used on his 1956 Topps card in a different thread and that generated several PMs asking about the photo. While I sadly don't actually own the photo, I thought it might be a fun thread to post your photos used to make baseball cards. I'll start off with a couple used on the 1956 Topps cards. The first is the photo used on the Roberto Clemente card and the second is the action photo used on the 1956 Mickey Mantle.

[GasHouseGang]

I'll add another example. Here is the photo and card for the 1954 Bowman Roy Campanella.

[nwobhm]

1956 Gene Stephens

[nwobhm]

Hires Gene Stephens

[ALR-bishop]

Close anyway

[Frankish]

Very cool photos everyone!

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Close anyway

Was the picture from his 3000th hit? Or just one that resembles the card?

[bobw]

[Exhibitman]

1950 Bowman, but I don't have the card.

[metroac]

The Duke.

[Kevvyg1026]

Can someone post a scan of the original photo that was used for the 1971 Munson card?

[GasHouseGang]

Here's another photo used on a baseball card. This Mantle photo was used on the 1952 Bowman.

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

Here's another photo used on a baseball card. This Mantle photo was used on the 1952 Bowman.

That is a beauty!

[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.

[Frankish]

Those Mantles are amazing.

Let me see, I have a lot of these card image type 1 photos somewhere. Here are two, a Williams Play Ball image and a Berra 1951 Type 1 used for the 56T card....

[Frankish]

Ugh. Attachments.

[Frankish]

1950 Barney Stein photo used for the 1950 and 1951 Bowman cards and an original Tom Landry photo used for the 1955 Bowman card.

[bgar3]

A couple Ashburn’s used on multiple early cards, including his rookie, and the image used for his Hall of Fame plaque, by Wingfield.

[cgjackson222]

David, thank you for starting this thread. I love seeing the original photography behind these cards.

Here is one of my favorite images.

[Dewey]

Great photo, Charles!

In case folks don't get to the memorabilia side much, here's a link to one of my favorite threads on this subject.

https://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=141145

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by Dewey

Great photo, Charles!

In case folks don't get to the memorabilia side much, here's a link to one of my favorite threads on this subject.

https://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=141145

Good to know. Hadn't seen that. Some great photos on there too

[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.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by cgjackson222

David, thank you for starting this thread. I love seeing the original photography behind these cards.

Here is one of my favorite images.

The question has to be asked. Who in high heck is that guy in the green seats???? They eliminated everyone in the stands and prominently put that single bloke in the background? Was he some high-up at Bowman's son-in-law????? Who is that guy???????????

[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

The question has to be asked. Who in high heck is that guy in the green seats???? They eliminated everyone in the stands and prominently put that single bloke in the background? Was he some high-up at Bowman's son-in-law????? Who is that guy???????????

I wonder if they put that guy there as a joke. Maybe one of the artists for the cards?

[Dewey]

Great question. Perhaps Bowman's own Alfred Hitchcock.