Night Owl Cards

I've mentioned before how much I like horizontal cards and that I wish someone would issue an all-horizontal set someday -- something like 1960 Topps , but with all action shots. I'm not sure why I find horizontal cards so pleasing. It might be because the cards are much like the effect you receive from a wide-screen TV or computer. The image just seems bigger, more life-like, more panoramic. Another reason is because during my peak collecting period, from 1975-1990, Topps didn't issue horizontal player cards. It wasn't until Upper Deck arrived and started putting out horizontal player cards that Topps came back with them in 1991. I thought I'd show some of my favorite horizontal cards, in no particular order, although I did save my favorite for last. Also, I'm breaking this post up into two parts. Since horizontal cards are so commonplace now, it's too difficult to search for my favorites from 1992 to the present. So, this part will be the old-school...

So, Phillies, we meet again. You don't remember me, but I remember you. It's been a long time. A quarter of a century to be exact. We used to see each other all the time, at right about this time. My Dodgers would play you on a regular basis in October, and I would be there, in front of the TV, forgetting that you were my Plan B team , suddenly hating you for getting in my team's way. You were my first postseason villain, although a strangely dressed one, outfitted in redish caps and powder-blue jammies. You had a wild man for a shortstop and a powerful free-swinger for a third baseman, a big boy in left field, and my favorite non-Dodger in center, Mr. Maddox. It was a great rivalry. It included my favorite player, The Penguin, Ron Cey: And another favorite, Dusty Baker. Both Baker and Cey hit grand slams against you, remember? And, of course you remember, Game 3 of the 1977 NLCS, right? Good times. Remember an older gentleman named Vic Davalillo? T...