Several things strike me as I look at the front of this card. One, check out the names in the autographs: Robert Gibson, Louis Brock, Joseph Torre and Kenneth Reitz. Are these autographs or signatures? Two, the penmanship back in the 70's was quite different than today. Reggie Smith, Lou Brock, Ted Sizemore and Tommy Agee are good examples of 3rd grade cursive being put to good use with pride. Like we see with Reggie Smith's Hancock, there are both readability and flair. Most of today's autographs, although not really examples of bad ability, are attempts to give a signature way of signing without legibility. How it looks is what matters. Autographs of a generation earlier than these 70's have even more flair and craftsmanship, the pen being a sculpturing tool as well. What's in a name anyway? I like Jose Cruz's accent on the "e" and McCarver's underlining of the "c." Three, there are only 12 autographs. I think there were only 12 for the Orioles card I posted earlier in this set. I wonder why so few?
I wrote in yesterday's Cardinals team photo that this team didn't click with me as a kid. In reviewing the names on the back of this checklist, they're all very well known to me. They just have the least "teamy" feel. Must have been the astro-turf and average record for a decade.
Cartoon: None, and maybe that's a good thing.
Ballpark background: None
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