OPC IMAGE VARIATION: 1977 DON GULLETT

Good day my friends!

On the blog today, we take a gander at the image variation between OPC and Topps 1977 cards for pitcher Don Gullett:

OPC version

Topps version

Different takes on the same theme here to be honest.

Both companies worked quickly to get the ace pitcher into a New York Yankees uniform, for whom he was about to suit up for in 1977 after being an integral part of the "Big Red Machine" Cincinnati Reds, bringing home two straight World Championships in 1975 and 1976.

Though hampered by injuries, Gullet would then be a member of another back-to-back championship squad, the "Bronx Zoo" Yankees who won it all in both 1977 and 1978.

The man was a champion four straight seasons between 1975 and 1978!

Sadly, arm troubles cut his career short by the age of 27, though he ended up with an incredible .686 winning percentage, going 109-50 over nine seasons, with an ERA of 3.11 over 266 appearances, 186 of those starts, with 14 shutouts.

Of his nine MLB seasons, he was part of SIX World Series teams!

Would have been something to see him pitch into the 1980's if not for health issues...

MISSING IN ACTION "IN-ACTION" #60: DON GULLETT

The next player getting a “missing” 1972 In-Action card is Cincinnati Reds pitcher Don Gullett, who was coming into his own at this time before injuries derailed a great career:

Gullett was coming off of a 1971 season that saw him go 16-6, leading the National League with his .727 winning percentage, while also posting a very nice 2.65 earned run average over 35 games, 31 of which were starts.
This would pretty much be the norm for him, as he would go on to post excellent winning percentages, although surely aided by the fact that he played for very good teams during his shortened nine-year career.
A member of the Cincinnati “big Red Machine” champions of 1975 and 1976, he then moved on to sign with the New York Yankees, going 18-6 in his two season with the champion “Bronx Zoo” teams in 1977 and 1978 before arm injuries ended his career at the very young age of 27.
In those nine seasons Gullett was a dependable winner, finishing 109-50 for a spectacular .686 winning percentage along with a nice 3.11 ERA.
It’s amazing to think that Gullett was a member of six World Series teams in nine years before retiring.