Baseball Backgrounds : 1981's Weird Year and 1982 Reggie's Reflection Redux

Last time, I looked deep into Reggie Jackson's glasses on 1982 Topps #300, searching for that man within.

That other guy wore a light uniform and chatted at the batting cage, where Reggie himself sported a Yankees warmup pullover.

Ferreting out that figure felt a lot like identifying background photos in 1956 Topps, where you use on-field context and historical box scores to work out who made a specific play at a particular time and proved worthy of a photo. (In this case, I think Puddin' Head's sliding safe into home on August 17, 1949.)

1956 Topps Puddin' Head Jones (detail)

Two comments on my 1982 Topps Reggie post called out new-to-me info that merits more investigation, just like my second look at 1956 Topps #171 Jim Wilson, whose card shows not Jim Wilson or even #91 Gail Harris, two cards that share the same background action.

and the runner's Richie Ashburn...or is it a recolored Pee Wee?

New context to consider for Reggie

• Look at 1981 All-Star Game in Cleveland instead of Yankee Stadium, per POISON75
• Yankee Stadium lacked bunting for their mid-Sept 1981 series hosting Boston, by Bo

Let us remember 1981, a weird year

Baseball endured a work stoppage that canceled the middle of 1981's season. I own this complete Seattle Mariners ticket because games ended the day before. MLB kicked off 1981's "second half" with a rescheduled All-Star Game on August 9 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.

First and second half division leaders reached the playoffs, including the Yankees, yet neither of the NL's best overall divisional records (CIN and STL) "won" a playoff berth. The 1981 Cincinnati Reds won more games than any other MLB team and did not qualify for the playoffs, leading to this memorable photo and custom card.

That short season also influenced player award voting. Brewers reliever Rollie Fingers turned high-leverage, late-inning success into an AL MVP, cementing his impact on the closer's role in our modern game. Topps featured Milwaukee's voluminous pitching jackets on his 1982 card.

Reggie at Cleveland's All-Star Game

1981 All-Star team photos do indeed show Reggie in a black pullover, seated adjacent to Yankee teammates Bucky Dent and Goose Gossage. So far, so good.

The National League photo contains a shocking amount of powder blue, courtesy of the Phillies, Expos, Cubs, and Braves.

1981 All-Star game highlights show Reggie changed to full sleeves that also feature the black armband worn that year for Elston Howard.

from YouTube game highlights (18:50)

That's Bob Hope sitting first row above Cleveland's stadium bunting and their pairing reminds me of George Bush's cameo on a future Derek Jeter card.

If Topps did indeed take Reggie's 1982 card photos at this game, they limited those to his #300 (base) and #551 (All-Star) cards, as their red-bordered sticker shows a shortsleeve undershirt.

Back to our man in the mirror

Now that we see Cleveland pregame warmups for Reggie, consider All-Star Game participants that resemble that reflected image.

My eyes see a white jersey with horizontal team, no number on front, a lighter complexion, and bare arms. Would you believe just one gent from 1981's team photos checks all four boxes? Don Zimmer.

Rangers coach Zimmer oversaw third base that day and first appeared on the broadcast applauding Ken Singleton's second inning homer off Tom Seaver.

As a baseball lifer, I assume Zim knew enough to talk with anyone about anything, anytime. A veteran like Reggie could keep things going for a good while and they intersected more often in future years at Yankee legend events.

Looks like Zim's our real man in the mirror on Reggie's 1982 Topps card. Sorry, Joe Rudi!

For fans of glasses reflections, the Getty archive also provides this easier-to-identify version of these longtime legends.

"Remember that 1981 All-Star Game? Bob Hope had this joke..."

Thanks to attentive readers for helping nail this down!

Baseball Backgrounds : Reggie Jackson's Glasses on 1982 Topps #300

Last week, I got into a Bluesky chat over the reflection in Reggie's glasses on 1982 Topps card #300. New York often wore these pregame warmup tops, so it's common enough to see them in photos of that era. Few guys wore glasses like Reggie, so interesting reflections prove harder to come by.

Zoom closer to spot a guy in a lighter uniform talking to Reggie at the batting cage.

Topps also gave Reggie an All-Star card (#511) taken from the same photo series, which shows scalloped second deck bunting around Yankee Stadium above his helmet.

Most years, bunting alone says little. It's used for patriotic holidays and special events as well as postseason games. That year's work stoppage, however, split the 1981 season into two halves, narrowing things down. No games took place in Yankee Stadium during Memorial Day week or near Independence Day, but New York did reach the playoffs as its "first half champs." (More on that year's Jeckyll & Hyde results.) 

Given context, I speculate this red/white/blue bunting anticipates New York's upcoming playoff series, making it best suited for display during late-season home games. Boton came to town for a September 11-13 series and wore these light-colored uniforms.

1981 Boston Red Sox uniforms

Boston's 1981 roster included one Joe Rudi, who got card #388. The team relegated him to pinch-hitting duties by late season, so it made sense to find Joe at the batting cage before games.

Joe Rudi and Reggie Jackson shared the glory of Oakland's 1972-74 World Series titles side-by-side in the A's outfield and continue to appear together today when those champs get recognition.

Joe Rudi, Sal Bando, Reggie Jackson, Mike Epstein at Oakland Coliseum, 1972

There's a decent chance Topps caught Joe and Reggie chewing the fat during warmups before a mid-September NYY/BOS game at Yankee Stadium, giving Joe a reflected cameo in Reggie's glasses.

What do you think, do the details match up? Have someone you like as Reggie's reflection even better

Update: Readers pointed me to Cleveland's All-Star Game for Reggie's card photos and I found an even better pick than Joe Rudi for part II of this investigation. Thanks!