OPC IMAGE VARIATIONS: 1977 DAVE LEMANCZYK

Today on the blog, we take a closer look at the image variation between former pitcher Dave Lemanczyk's 1977 OPC and Topps cards:

OPC version

Topps version

While Topps went with their usual airbrushed older photo of the righty, OPC had the time to take a proper posed photo to use on their card, giving us an up-to-date look, facial hair and all.

After parts of four seasons with the Detroit Tigers between 1073 and 1976, he found himself as one of the "original" 1977 Toronto Blue Jays, getting his first true full season under his belt, starting 34 games and going 13-16 with a 4.25 ERA, completing 11 games and totaling 252.2 innings.

That 1977 action saw him as the starter who saw the most action in the inaugural Toronto season, with Jerry Garvin and Jesse Jefferson also logging 200+ innings for the new franchise.

Over the next three years he'd see decent action, tossing over 100+ innings each season, but never the full-time totals he saw in 1977.

By the time he was done after the 1980 season, where he split the year between the Blue Jays and California Angels, he finished with a record of 37-63 over 185 games, with an ERA of 4.62, completing 30 games with three shutouts.

NOT REALLY MISSING IN ACTION: 1974 DAVE LEMANCZYK

Today on the blog, we have a "not so missing" 1974 card for former pitcher Dave Lemanczyk, who made his Big League debut in 1973 with one appearance:

Lemanczyk was hit hard in his first game, giving up three runs in 2.1 innings on four hits, for a bloated earned run average of 11.57 for the Detroit Tigers.

The Syracuse native would be back in 1973, appearing in 22 games, all but three of those out of the bullpen, going 2-1 with a 4.00 ERA over 78.2 innings, striking out 52 batters while walking 44.

He'd stay with Detroit until the 1977, where he found himself one of the "original" 1977 Toronto Blue Jays, getting his first true full season under his belt, starting 34 games and going 13-16 with a 4.25 ERA, completing 11 games and totaling 252.2 innings.

Over the next three years he'd see decent action, tossing over 100+ innings each season, but never the full-time totals he saw in 1977.

By the time he was done after the 1980 season, where he split the year between the Blue Jays and California Angels, he finished with a record of 37-63 over 185 games, with an ERA of 4.62, completing 30 games with three shutouts.