Tuesday, February 1, 2011

1975 SSPC New York Yankees Baseball #5, Thurman Munson

SSPC divided this 45-card set of New York teams almost evenly between their AL and NL options, with 23 Yankees, 22 Metropolitans, but (sigh) zero Brooklyn Dodgers. Both number fives feature men with distinctive facial hair--the pictured Thurman Munson and recently-profiled Mets #5, Wayne Garrett--as well as multiple World Series appearances. (Give the title edge to Munson, who won twice in 1977 and 1978; Garrett helped the 1969 Mets be amazing.)

Card front

Already an offensive and defensive star by the early 70s, the Yankees anointed Munson their 8th captain in 1976, an honor held until his untimely death in 1979. Team rivalries being what they are, folks frequently compared Thurman to fellow star backstops Carlton Fisk and Johnny Bench. Cincy manager Sparky Anderson famously angered the Yankees by pronouncing, "Don't never embarrass nobody by comparing them to Johnny Bench," during a World Series press conference. (Oh snap! Better get off his lawn!)

Card back

SSPC card fronts closely resemble 1953 Bowman, with nothing but pictures and a white border, but its backs read more like the text-based 1950 set.

1950 Bowman #6, Bob Feller

Values: SSPC stars cost a dollar or two, but rarely more.

Fakes / reprints: Haven't seen any reprints in the marketplace.

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