OPC IMAGE VARIATION: 1977 TOMMY SMITH

On the blog today, we look at another OPC image variation from its Topps counterpart, this time the 1977 card for Tommy Smith of the new Seattle Mariners franchise:

OPC Version

Topps Version

 

This situation is uncommon, as both the OPC and Topps cards are airbrushed, leaving us to wonder why OPC even bothered altering another image of the outfielder since it was already done for the Topps set issued earlier in the year.

As a matter of fact the Topps airbrush job is much better, with the collar of the jersey even painted unlike the OPC version which clearly shows signs of the Indians jersey Smith was wearing in the original image.

In November of 1976 Smith would be drafted by the new Seattle Mariners organization as part of the expansion draft, where he would go on to play the last games of his career, 21 to be exact, where he hit .259 with seven hits in 27 at-bats.

In 1976 he’d see the most playing time of his five Major League seasons, appearing in 55 games for the Cleveland Indians, while hitting .256 with 42 hits in 164 at-bats, driving in 12 runs and scoring 17 himself.

All told, Smith played in 121 games in five seasons, hitting .232 with 63 hits, driving in 21 while scoring 28 over 271 at-bats between Cleveland and Seattle.

 

EXPANSION DO-OVER: TOMMY SMITH

Up on the blog today we have an expansion do-over for Tommy Smith and his 1977 card, originally showing him in an airbrushed Seattle Mariners uni in expectation of the upcoming inaugural season for the new franchise:

Understandably up against the wall, Topps had to scramble for both the Mariners and Toronto Blue Jay players in advance of their first seasons as member of the Major Leagues, which led to some classics as we all know.

Smiths wasn't one of the worst by far, but for those who don't remember the original, here you go:

In November of 1976 he would be drafted by the new Seattle Mariners organization as part of the expansion draft, where he would go on to play the last games of his career, 21 to be exact, where he hit .259 with seven hits in 27 at-bats.

In 1976 he’d see the most playing time of his five Major League seasons, appearing in 55 games for the Cleveland Indians, while hitting .256 with 42 hits in 164 at-bats, driving in 12 runs and scoring 17 himself.

All told, Smith played in 121 games in five seasons, hitting .232 with 63 hits, driving in 21 while scoring 28 over 271 at-bats between Cleveland and Seattle.

 

 

NOT REALLY MISSING IN ACTION- 1974 TOMMY SMITH

Today’s blog post has a “not so missing” 1974 card for five-year Major league outfielder Tommy Smith, who made his Big League debut in 1973 with the Cleveland Indians:

Smith appeared in only 14 games for the Tribe, hitting .244 with 10 hits in 41 at-bats, including two homers and three runs batted in while playing all three outfield positions.
He’d play in 23 games the next season, though hitting only .097 with three hits in 31 at-bats, with a double and four runs scored thrown in.
He only appeared in eight games for the Indians in 1975, collecting one hit over eight at-bats yet driving in two runs.
In 1976 he’d see the most playing time of his five Major League seasons, appearing in 55 games while hitting .256 with 42 hits in 164 at-bats, driving in 12 runs and scoring 17 himself.
In November of 1976 he would be drafted by the new Seattle Mariners organization as part of the expansion draft, where he would go on to play the last games of his career, 21 to be exact, where he hit .259 with seven hits in 27 at-bats.
All told, Smith played in 121 games in five seasons, hitting .232 with 63 hits, driving in 21 while scoring 28 over 271 at-bats.

NOT REALLY MISSING IN ACTION- 1976 TOMMY SMITH

I always love any chance to add to my favorite set of all-time, 1976 Topps, so today we have a “not so missing” card for former outfielder Tommy Smith taking up another spot:

Smith only appeared in eight games for the Cleveland Indians in 1975, collecting one hit over eight at-bats yet driving in two runs.
In 1976 he’d see the most playing time of his five Major League seasons, appearing in 55 games while hitting .256 with 42 hits in 164 at-bats, driving in 12 runs and scoring 17 himself.
In November of 1976 he would be drafted by the new Seattle Mariners organization as part of the expansion draft, where he would go on to play the last games of his career, 21 to be exact, where he hit .259 with seven hits in 27 at-bats.
All told, Smith played in 121 games in five seasons, hitting .232 with 63 hits, driving in 21 while scoring 28 over 271 at-bats.