Someone at Topps must have specialized in taking great shots of catchers in the early '90s.
1991 Topps has a previous "Gems of Junk Wax" appearance, also picturing a catcher.
Benito Santiago (or "Benny" on this card) was a solid major league catcher during his career. He played for nine different franchises from 1986 to 2005. He'd win the Rookie of the Year in 1987. During his career, he was also elected to five All-Star games and won three Gold Gloves.
This 1991 Topps card is no doubt his finest baseball card. Something about those "over the top" action shots instantly make any card way better. (Like this one.)
Had Topps just taken this shot from ground level, it would've been the same catcher's action shot we've seen a zillion times before. But Topps added a new dimension to it by getting a photo from above field level. And it looks like they even chalked the batter's boxes specifically for this picture!
I'm starting to like 1991 Topps more and more after doing a couple of these posts.
That is, in my mind, the best "common" card of the overproduction era and perhaps of all time. I hate the term junk wax...it isn't junk to those of us that grew up then, but I digress. Santiago did have several other great cards (1992 UD among them) as well, but none were as good as this one.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm not huge on the term "junk wax" either (although I didn't grow up then), but the alliteration with "gems" just sounds better. That's why I used it, anyways.
ReplyDeleteI always loved that card. BTW, I just found your blog. Looks awesome, I'll be a regular!
ReplyDeleteGlad you like the blog! Thanks for reading!
ReplyDeleteA Sports Illustrated rerun. It was the cover of the 1989 baseball preview issue.
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