Up on the blog today, we take a closer look at image variations between Topps and OPC on pitcher Pete Falcone's 1977 cards:
 |
| OPC Version |
 |
| Topps version |
In
a rare case where the Topps images was better than the OPC one, Falcone
appears in a non-airbrushed photo, whereas on the OPC card we have the
beauty you see before you.
It's strange that the OPC card is
an airbrushed image considering Falcone put in a full year with St.
Louis in 1976, appearing in 34 games and tossing 212 innings, going
12-16 with a nice 3.23 ERA.
Nevertheless, Falcone, who went to
the same High School as Sandy Koufax (Lafayette) in my old neighborhood
of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, would go on to put in 10 years in the Major
Leagues, compiling a record of 70-90 playing for the San Francisco
Giants, Cardinals, New York Mets and Atlanta Braves, appearing in 325
games and finishing up with a 4.07 ERA in 1435 innings of work.