Tuesday, May 9, 2023

OPC IMAGE VARIATIONS: 1977 DOCK ELLIS

Good day everyone!

Up on the blog today, we take a look at the images variation between Dock Ellis' Topps and OPC cards from 1977:

OPC version

Topps version

Nothing really too earth-shattering here, with the Topps image much nice in my humble opinion, showing the iconic starter posed at the Stadium rather than some Spring Training shot.
Ellis has one full season with the New York Yankees, posting a very fine season in 1976 and helping them make the World Series for the first time in 12 years before losing to the "Big Red Machine" Cincinnati Reds.
He posted a record of 17-8 over 32 starts with a 3.19 ERA, tossing 211.2 innings while completing five and throwing one shutout.
By the time he left the game after the 1979 season, Ellis would post a final record of 138-119 over 345 games, 317 of them as a starter, tossing 14 shutouts and striking out 1136, while famously throwing a no-hitter in 1970 allegedly while tripping on LSD, and also starting the 1971 All-Star game, giving up the towering home run to Reggie Jackson that struck a light tower at Tigers' Stadium.
Eventful career to say the least!