Monday, February 15, 2010

2001 Sunoco Dream Team #5, Jim Palmer & Frank Robinson

Lots of folks blogged up 2010 Upper Deck's weird handling of MLB logos, which they (supposedly) aren't licensed to display. They do leave off team names, but any avoidance of logos is "casual" at best.

As a well-heeled company focused on the card market, UD might set precedent where past oddball makers didn't see a battle worth fighting. A quick sift through the type collection turned up this ready example.

Card front

With the same players-only license, Sunoco wiped out hat logos and used cities instead of team names. The Orioles become "Baltimore" on the front and "Outstanding O's" on the back.

Card back

Sunoco's set honored 12 combos and doubled up on 2 classic teams, Boston and New York. Links go to any card scans I located.

  1. PIT: Willie Stargell and Bill Mazeroski
  2. PHI: Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton
  3. CIN: Tony Perez and Joe Morgan
  4. NYY: Yogi Berra and Don Mattingly
  5. BAL: Jim Palmer and Frank Robinson
  6. BOS: Carlton Fisk and Luis Tiant
  7. BOS: Fred Lynn and Jim Rice
  8. DET: Sparky Anderson and Al Kaline (a manager? wow)
  9. PHI: Richie Ashburn and Robin Roberts (with painted logos)
  10. NYM: Tug McGraw and Gary Carter
  11. CLE: Lou Boudreau and Bob Feller
  12. NYY: Catfish Hunter and Roger Maris

Palmer and Robinson rank among the best O's ever, but are they #1 and 2? Check out Frost King Baseball's "All-Time Best Orioles (Since 1955)" for a stat-friendly answer.

More Jim Palmer posts:

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