This may or may not become a regular feature. It seems more suited to Twitter, which is where I first featured these cartoons, but you never know when you need something quick to throw on the blog.
This cartoon that I found yesterday made me laugh instantly. It's off of the back of Freddie Patek's 1977 Topps card, and I was first attracted to it because the first few words were "baseball card collectors."
Then I panned down to the actual drawing, which is where the comedy gold lies.
First, we have the two gentlemen handling cards in the most cavalier fashion possible. With the exception of discount boxes, I don't think I've ever seen cards in stacks that weren't in top loaders and under glass at a card convention. And that one guy balancing a large stack of cards on his forearm is just asking for pain.
But the part that made me laugh is the guy at left. I think he's the dealer in this cartoon. I've seen lots of card dealers in my day and if they're wearing a shirt with a collar they are considered a sharp-dressed man. I am often a little concerned for some of the dealers based on the way they dress. It looks like they just woke up out of their cardboard box on the street.
I have never seen a dealer in a suit and a tie. And if I did, I think I'd avoid the table because I'd get ripped off for sure.
Let's see a few other cartoons:
Following the tradition of Wile E. Coyote, Tom & Jerry and just about every TV cartoon from the 20th century, getting pelted in the side of the head with a 90-mile an hour fastball was just good, clean fun. Well worth the laughs. That crazy, Dave. Getting nailed in the temple again. Just dust yourself off and try again.
John might need to actually use that degree to earn a living if the manager sees that graffiti on the outfield wall.
I can imagine Steve in the dugout. Lecturing about the dangers of chewing tobacco. Whittling broken bats into toothpicks. I'd be sitting on the opposite end.
(*Ponders the firestorm unleashed if this were to appear on the back of a card today.*)
In the '60s, saying, "I'm going to play shirtless paddle ball" meant exactly this. I'm sure it means something entirely different now.
Juan Marichal, "the Dominican Dandy," was so amazing that he fathered four blond-haired girls.
And, finally, if this is the way people actually played night games in the 19th century -- well, the dead-ball era would be a lot more entertaining. Singed mustaches everywhere. And a few stadiums burned to the ground.
Anyway, that's a look at a few baseball card cartoons on a cold, windy, wet, dreary night.
I could go for one of those alternate worlds right now.
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