Thursday, January 18, 2018

ANOTHER AIRBRUSHED PHOTO SPOTLIGHT: 1976 KEN BRETT TRADED CARD

Time to take a closer look at another airbrushed photo Topps used for their 1976 traded set, the Ken Brett image showing him as a member of the New York Yankees, albeit a mere two-game stop in his 14-year Major League career:


Seems this original image was a dream for the re-toucher since they didn't have to deal with a cap. logos, etc. Just some fake pinstripes, which were well done, and voila!

As for Brett, he came to the Bronx as a part of the HUGE deal that included Dock Ellis and Willie Randolph, for pitcher Doc Medich.
Needless to say the Yanks made out like bandits on this one, as Ellis had a great season for the Bronx Bombers, going 17-8 with a 3.19 earned run average, while Randolph...well, no need to see what was the KEY acquisition here!
As for Brett? He made it to May of 1976 before getting traded to the Chicago White Sox along with Rich Coggins for slugging first baseman Carlos Lee.
He’d end up pitching for 14 years, retiring after the 1981 season after getting to play with younger brother George in 1980 and 1981.
On a personal note: I always wanted to know where in Brooklyn the Bretts were originally from, seeing that Ken was born there before they moved out West.
I knew a couple of Brett families in Bay Ridge, which was the next neighborhood over from me, though both told me they weren’t related to the baseball family.
Nevertheless, it always stuck with me.