Trying like mad to catch up on these "Worst Card" posts after slacking just about the whole year. So, either you'll see a whole mess of these in the next month, or I'll just give up and ignore the thing -- which actually sounds like the more probable option right now.
But I can't wrap up the Worst Card segment without addressing dear Topps Update/Traded & Highlights. It always has some clunkers in it.
This is a classic example. It's not even the only one in the set. There are several of these "dudes just standing around" cards. And Topps has been doing it in Topps Update/Traded & Pick a Name and Stay With It for a few years now.
It's a big reason why I don't collect this set (well, besides the "no money" reason). Why would I go out of my way to collect cards that look like they were taken by some fan in the stands? Even if the fan showed me the photo that they took -- if it looked like this -- I'd say, "it looks like two dudes just standing around."
I can go to any golf course anywhere and take a photo that looks like this. The golfers will even have more normal clothing than Vladdy and Miggy.
I also like the painful reaching that was performed to come up with a title for this card. "NL East Origins." I wonder how long it took for some copy writer to unearth that?
Boss: We've got another one of those "two dudes standing around photos."
Copy Writer: Good god, another one? Nobody's going to want that crap.
Boss: I don't care. It needs a title.
Copy Writer: I quit.
Boss: You can't quit until I get a title.
Copy Writer: OK, fine. Um ... "NL East Origins." There you go. I'm out of here.
I realize all this card is is a checklist. Someone could say, "at least they put a photo out there. They could have done what they used to do and just made it a checklist, front and back."
You know what? I'd like that better. I like the old checklist. It didn't try to hide behind two dudes and pretend it was something it wasn't. It was proud. "I'm a Checklist, dammit. Write on me!"
No chance of being a "Worst Card" candidate if you're a checklist and you're proud. But there is no pride in this card.
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