Today on the blog, another image/card variation between Topps and
OPC, this time the 1977 cards for inaugural Toronto Blue Jays manager
Roy Hartsfield:
 |
| OPC version |
 |
| Topps version |
While I do like what Topps did
with their card, giving the new franchise skipper a horizontal layout
with the coaches listed as well (like earlier in the decade for manager
cards), I definitely prefer what OPC did, just giving the field manager a
card of his own.
Funny enough, OPC did NOT do the same for
the other new franchise manager, Darrell Johnson of the Seattle
Mariners, instead giving the same honor to the Montreal Expos skipper,
Dick Williams, the other Canada-based leader.
As for
Hartsfield, he certainly did not have an easy task taking over a new
team, as the Blue Jays struggled (as any new franchise would), going a
combined 166 and 318 record over his three-year tenure.
His
Blue Jay teams would lose 107, 102 and 109 games respectively in those
three seasons, finishing last each time in the tough American League
East.
As a player, Hartsfield played three years in the Big
Leagues, 1950 through 1952, all for the Boston Braves, hitting .273 over
that time while playing second base.
