Player trades and offseason free-agent signings have always been troublesome for the major card companies, especially Topps, which releases its flagship set in February. In their haste to have the new team represented on their cards, manufacturers have often resorted to modifying the uniforms and logos on stock player photographs – with varying levels of success. Improvements in editing tools has improved the look of these "photoshop specials" in recent years, but their problems are far from over.
While the Phillies were not the only victim of these types of edits, they have definitely had their share of bad ones. Here are few of the worst…
Pete Rose, 1979 Topps / Burger King #13
Comments: After signing a free-agent deal in December 1978, this was Charlie Hustle's first Phillies card. The similarity in team colors and uniform design made the change from Rose as a Red, to Rose as a Phillie fairly easy…but, that old-style "P" always gave editors trouble.
John Denny, 1983 Topps #211
Comments: As far as bad airbrushings go, this is one of the worst. 1983 was a historic year for both the Phillies, and Denny, who won the Cy Young Award for the NL Champions. Clearly it was difficult to cover up that Cleveland Indians uniform and hat…
Roger McDowell, 1989 Topps Traded #79T and
John Kruk, 1989 Topps Traded #63T
Comments: The old-style "P" strikes again! Somehow Topps was unable to get a picture of either player with the Phillies after his June trade to Philadelphia.
Roy Halladay, 2010 Topps Opening Day #89
Comments – Topps updated an old Roy Halladay picture for their Opening Day set in 2010. The editing job on the uniform actually looks pretty good…everything but the fact that the #32 he is wearing had been retired 20 years earlier.
Follow me on Twitter, or check out my personal blog for more Phillies collectibles talk
