I'm not going to get into the debate over which card-updating philosophy was better during the '70s and '80s: the free-form airbrushing from Topps or the understated type-written phrase from O-Pee-Chee. I see the merits and drawbacks of both.
With Topps' airbrushing, you get a player in his "new uniform". Sure, it's artistic license and not a very good one at that, but as a kid, I didn't notice it much. With O-Pee-Chee, you get a formal statement and none of the messiness. The photo isn't updated, but for some of us we might not WANT the photo updated (see: Cey, Cubs).
The updating habits of both Topps and O-Pee-Chee are well-known. But I want to focus on the unsettling part of O-Pee-Chee's technique.
Since OPC kept the traded player in his old uniform, I have cards like this:
It's a little weird. Because of my team-collecting rules, this goes in my Dodgers binders, and it's rather odd seeing someone dressed in green when everyone else is dressed in blue.
But I handle it just fine because the card is a nice homage to history and to OPC.
This, however ...
... almost sets off the flight-or-fight response.
How can so much ugly Giant-ness appear on a beautiful blue Dodger card? A Giant uniform in my Dodger binder? Ewww. Ewww. Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
The dueling teams on one card is part of OPC's charm, but does it have to be these two teams?
I received this card from Angus of Dawg Day Cards. He is a Canadian resident and has access to all kinds of OPC quirkiness. Here are some more OPC Dodgers that he sent that fill collection holes:
So much beautiful Dodger blue. I can now breathe again.
I also received some straight-away Dodger cards from Angus.
This is a sample of mid-90's Leaf set that I hope was an actual thing. I've never seen it before.
An autographed Wilton Guerrero card. If he actually had to sign 5,750 of those, I can see why his career didn't reach expectations. Career killed by pen exhaustion.
And a shiny 2010 Tribute card of the Duke.
These will all go in the Dodger binders, and, yes, so will the half Giant/half Dodger Alex Trevino.
As you know, it's not the only time a Giant has appeared on a Dodger card. Both Upper Deck and Topps have had a field day the last 10 years or so pairing up players from two rival teams thinking these cards might be collectible. Of course, they're not at all, but yet I force them into the binders.
At least OPC had a reason for what they were doing, other than trolling team collectors.
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