Boom!

Topps has done a dangerous, dangerous thing. It has put its vast catalog of cards in image form on its Million Card Giveaway site.

I often insist on using only the scans from my collection for this blog, unless a post absolutely requires the image of a card that I don't have. But with Topps' MCG site, I almost never have to scan in a vintage card again.

That would be very lazy of me. So I'm going to try very hard not to use the MCG site as a crutch. But because I don't have some of these George Scott cards for this "Best of the '70s" post, and because it's still freakin' March, the most kick-my-ass month on God's green earth, all of these scans were filched.

For the record, the 1970s Topps Scott cards that I do have are from 1971, '73, '74, '75, '76, '78 and '79. I will gladly accept your 1970, 1972 and 1977 Scotts.

All right, you know the format: I show the 1970s cards from one of the decade's more notable players. You pick the one you like in the best in the poll on the sidebar at right. After a week, we have the "Official Best '70s Card of George Scott," preserved forever and ever.

Here we go ...

Behold: It's Boomer!

1970 Topps: What a great card. This sums up Boomer very well. I like a lot of these cards, but this could be my favorite.

1971 Topps: Another favorite. I first saw this card when I was a teenager and instantly wanted it for my collection. But I didn't obtain it until many years later.

1972 Topps: Ugh. Not a nice card of the just-traded Mr. Scott. Very disappointing for one of my favorite sets.

1973 Topps: This card was featured sideways on the Million Card site. As I mentioned once before, Scott and Bert Campaneris appear to have been cut out of some other photo and placed in another stadium. That is almost as bad as that Manny Ramirez card from Stadium Club a couple of years ago.

1974 Topps: Scott either just hit a titanic home run or skied one to second base.

1975 Topps: The first appearance of Scott's puka shell necklace, or whatever it was. Scott solidified his selection for the I'm Badass and You're Not Club by claiming it was strung with second basemen's teeth.

1976 Topps: A classic card. The first card of Scott I ever saw. This is the '76 set done right.

1977 Topps: An up-close shot of the shells and Scott's helmet, which he wore while batting and fielding. For a variation on the helmet, see this card.

1978 Topps: You'll be happy to know that on the Million Card site, Scott's card is listed with the name of Paul Moskau, a pitcher for the Reds. If you look up Scott's card, the card picture is of Moskau.

This is another one of my favorites from when I was a kid. Scott was enormously popular at that time, so it was a great card to have.

1979 Topps: Scott's final appearance as a Red Sox player and the penultimate card of his career. Not a great card to end the decade.

OK, time to vote. Remember, you have a better chance of having your favorite George Scott card selected than winning your NCAA tournament pool.

Oh, and aren't you glad I didn't use "Great Scott" for the post title?