Today on the blog, we take a look at the image variation between OPC and Topps for George Hendrick's 1977 cards, which include some really funny airbrushing going on for his Canadian cardboard:
 |
| OPC version |
 |
| Topps version |
Seems
this San Diego Padres job was somewhat half-assed, though you can clearly notice the cool Cleveland Indians
wind-breaker he's wearing.
After
a couple of very productive seasons with the Indians, Hendrick found
himself out West again, putting in a very nice 1977 year that saw him
hit 23 homers with 81 ribbies, hitting .311 for San Diego.
Not bad for a trade that only cost the Padres Hector Torres, Johnny Grubb and Fred Kendall.
The
following year he'd end up getting traded to the St. Louis Cardinals
however, for pitcher Eric Rasmussen, a trade the Padres most assuredly
would love to take back.
Hendrick
would go on to play through the 1988 campaign, finishing up with 267 homers, 1111
RBIs, a .278 batting average and 1980 hits in 2048 games and 7129
at-bats.
He
was an important cog in the Cardinals '80s machine that would net a
World Championship in 1982, while taking home two Silver Slugger Awards
and making two All-Star teams.
Apparently his nickname was “Silent George”, though I do not remember
that, but perhaps I need to whip up a “nickname of the 1970’s” card for
him as well!
