What a card: This is a classic. There aren't a lot of airbrushed photos in the 1985 Topps set, but the few that exist are flat-out gems.
My observation on the front: Fred Breining wears some terrific glasses on most of his cards, but these are the most striking for me just because of the close-up photograph, the airbrushed greatness, and the terrific "I'm lost" look on Breining's face.
More opinion from me: Breining played most of his career with the Giants, so obviously he was airbrushed out of a Giants uniform in a photo that was taken in Candlestick Park. The 1985 Fleer card of Breining is to be applauded as it's the only one of Breining actually in an Expos uniform.
Something you might know: Breining played just four games for the Expos in 1984. He underwent shoulder surgery during the season, sidelining him for the rest of the year. He never returned to the major leagues.
Something you might not know: After his career, Breining landed a job tending bar at an Elks Club in downtown San Francisco.
My observation on the back: I wonder if he participated in his hobby while working at the Elks?
The blog wants to speak now: The "pop culture" tab has now been rearranged so the latest information is first. I hope to be adding updated info to all of the tabs in the next few days.
3 comments:
Maybe his hobby led to his shoulder problems?
"There aren't a lot of airbrushed photos in the 1985 Topps set."
That's because, by this time, Topps had completely given up on updating any players' teams to reflect offseason transactions. If you finished the previous season with the Yankees, you were shown with the Yankees. (If you were traded to the Cardinals a week later, well, that's what the Traded set that would be coming out later in the year was for.)
At this point, the only reason Topps needed to airbrush was if a player had only played for the team he finished the season with for a short time, and Topps hadn't been able to get a photo of him with that team. Basically, players who were acquired late in the season, or who were lost for the season due to an injury shortly after making their debut for the team.
This guy looks like he should be sitting in the stands!
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