Monday, March 25, 2024

OPC IMAGE VARIATION: 1977 BILL GRIEF

Good day all.
On the blog today, we take a closer look at another image variation between OPC and Topps, this one of pitcher Bill Grief and his 1977 cards:

OPC VERSION

TOPPS VERSION

While Topps had their airbrushed beauty out there for kids to rip, OPC put out a nice up to date portrait shot.
Turns out he would be released by Montreal just before the 1977 season started after getting traded there in a multi-player deal in November of the previous year.
For his career, Greif started off with seven games with the Houston Astros in 1971, going 1-1 before moving on the to team he’d play most of his Big League tenure for, the San Diego Padres.
Beginning in 1972, Greif would put in just over four season with San Diego, starting the first three before being moved to the bullpen in 1975.
His best year would be 1973 when he would go 10-17 on a hard-luck Padre team, pitching to a nice 3.21 earned run average over 36 appearances, 31 of them starts, tossing three shutouts while striking out 120 batters.
By the time he was done, he finished his career with a record of 31-67 over 231 appearances, with a 4.41 ERA in 715.2 innings, with five shutouts and 19 saves between 1971 and 1976.