When I started this blog, it was really with the intention of
writing about my favorite cards, such as 1976 Johnny Bench, or 1979 Rod
Carew, which I've already written about in past posts.
Since then I've kind of gotten sidetracked with all the other
stuff, like recreating cards, pointing out funny or odd cards, or even
creating cards that for some reason were missed altogether.
As fun as that all is, today I'll go back to my original intent and
write about a card that had perhaps the biggest impact on me upon first
seeing it: 1971 #5 Thurman Munson.
While that '76 Bench card is still my favorite, the '71 Munson just
absolutely blew me away when I first saw it at a card show back around
1980 or so.
I was just getting into serious "collecting" and absorbing older
cards like a sponge, and when I saw this card I thought it was the
coolest card I ever saw. I swear I think it made me sweat because I
wanted it so badly.
It had so much: the black card design, the horizontal orientation
of that amazing action shot, and the super-cool "rookie trophy" on a
card of one of my favorite players. It was just jaw-dropping.
All these years later I still think the card holds up well, and
it's still one of my favorites. Add to the fact that to really get a
"mint" copy of it, you had to search high and low and throw some decent
cash around to get one, and it just grew in stature
as the years went by.
I could never really tell who the Oakland A's player is making the
slide at home. Maybe Joe Rudi? And check out the crowd in the
background. Yes it's a little blurry and out of focus, but you can
clearly see their transfixed stare at the play, waiting
for the outcome.
It all makes for a classic card of a great player from the 1970's.
Man, that 1971 set is fantastic all-around isn't it?
