Today we'll look at Joe Rudi's Topps card in the 1973 set.
It's actually not a bad looking card. Great shot of what seems to
be a couple of A's players congratulating Rudi after a home run. We also
have a great view of the crowd in the background on a bright and sunny
day in Oakland, California.
Only problem is, it's not Joe Rudi being greeted at the plate as
the card may lead you to believe, it's actually Fiore Gino Tennaci,
A.K.A. Gene Tenace.
Topps had the wrong player portrayed on card #360. Now, I
know we've all seen this before and since (Aurelio Rodriguez in 1969;
Gary Pettis in 1985, Al Leiter in 1988), but this is the only card that I
am aware of where the player photo used was
an "action" shot. All the other cards that had the wrong guy were
portrait poses.
Anyone know of another Topps card that used the wrong player on
another person's card that was an action shot? Please let me know…
I couldn't identify the two other A's players in the shot, but I
think the Indians catcher behind the A's players is Ray Fosse,
ironically an A's player by the time this card came out.
Funny, but as I continue with this blog, I'm really appreciating the 1973 set more and more. It was never one of my favorites, but I'm only now seeing how it's really one of the most fun sets Topps produced in the decade.
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| That's Gino being greeted at the plate, not Joe Rudi. |
