@countdouglas said:
I don't add to this set with much frequency, as I'm working on several other registry sets that currently have precedence. However, I did just pick this one up. It has always been one of my favorite photographs in the 78 set, mostly because it just raises SOOOOO many questions. I believe I've seen this card discussed before, if not in this thread, the somewhere in another.
First off, where is this game being played? It appears the Mets are the home team, but that doesn't at all look like Shea Stadium....Spring Training, you say? The Padres have always trained in Arizona, while the Mets have always trained in Florida. Len Randle's uniform has been airbrushed? That is possible, I suppose, except Randle's team the previous year, the Texas Rangers, also trained in Florida during the period of this photo, only moving to Arizona when the new complex opened in Surprise.
Secondly, what exactly is the play that is occurring here? A bunt, a tapper or slow roller, perhaps the catcher let the ball get away on a third strike? Randle is sprinting well within fair territory as he goes down the first base line, decides that diving head first is going to get him there more quickly, then, forgetting that you are allowed to go past the base, tries to maintain contact with it using his right hand, only to injure his right shoulder, and scream out on pain. Or perhaps the catcher beaned him with the throw? Maybe even in an unfortunate location, actually causing the ball to become wedged into an uncomfortable spot. Was he safe, or called out for running within the field of play, thereby causing the catcher to alter the throw?
Third, just what is the first baseman doing? Retrieving the ball? Why was he set up on the bag in such a weird location? I'm thinking that it almost had to be the result of a third strike that bounced away and near the first base dugout, causing Gene Richards to be standing in foul territory to receive the throw. Was the throw from the catcher wild?
Is Gene stumbling over Randle to go chase after it? Did Gene catch it? If he caught it, wouldn't he be stretching out to catch it, even coming off the base and out of the frame of the photo. If he felt the need to tag Randle, why not slap it down with the glove? Why remove the ball, and using the left hand, then apply the tag?
I guess some things are just not meant to be known...
Gene Richards was mainly an outfielder. His rookie year was 1977, and he only played first base in 32 games that year.
i just looked on baseball-reference.com, and he only played first base in one game against the Mets. It was July 31st at Shea Stadium. Lenny Randle had two hits in the game, and he was picked off of first base by Dave Wehrmeister, who started for the Padres, and went 2 1/3 innings.
The attendance at the game was 13,386 people, and it was a Sunday, day game.
I just looked on newspapers.com, and found almost the exact same picture (it looks like it was taken less than one second before/after the one on the card). It's in the 1 Aug 1977 New York Daily News. According to the caption, the play happened in the third inning on a pickoff throw from Dave Wehmeister. The ball got away from Gene Richards at first base, and Lenny Randle got up and ran to third base.
Nice to see this thread still alive. I have always lurked but I have never done a graded set. My set is entirely raw. I buy lots and sets and upgrade like that. It had been a while since I worked on it but lately I have been back at it. I bought about 4000 cards over the past month or so. Had a few upgrades so that made it worth it. I will likely put together a couple of nice sets to sell so I can buy a couple more.
I enjoy the quantity of cards to go through. I dont think I have any that would be low pop 10s. Maybe I should go through what I have and see if there are any worth trying to grade.
Keep it going, guys...I enjoy watching your 78 pickups!
I am probably going to start a youtube vlog putting together a signed 78 set. Of course I will never complete it because there are a couple of cards that are just much too rare. I have all but a couple of the HOFers already signed on cards so I have a good start
I am working on it in mixed raw/graded form. I have many nice raw commons, but I am not willing to pay the current prices to submit them. I am about 40% complete with the raw cards being very nice NM-MT and the graded ones mostly PSA 9.
@PaulMaul said:
I am working on it in mixed raw/graded form. I have many nice raw commons, but I am not willing to pay the current prices to submit them. I am about 40% complete with the raw cards being very nice NM-MT and the graded ones mostly PSA 9.
I am so happy where I am with my registry set but I doubt I would tackle this these days with current submission costs PLUS unopened 78 Topps is way past the affordability to break anymore. I also have a higher grade raw set. The cards I need to upgrade are in my sig! Bunch of notorious toughies in there
I’m glad you decided to hang onto your set. I think too many people are becoming obsessed with unopened and losing track of why they actually collected cards in the first place.
@PaulMaul said:
I’m glad you decided to hang onto your set. I think too many people are becoming obsessed with unopened and losing track of why they actually collected cards in the first place.
Thanks, selling my registry set has never really been a thought of mine even when went into a decade plus hibernation. But I'll never say never. On unopened, I'm a huge fan now. But I have no regrets ripping all those '78 wax boxes and a rack case back in the day.
I have literally about 2500 raw and unsearched 78s that I am dying to get into. On average, about 100 of each AS card from that year and tons of Yankees (e.g., Nettles, Guidry, Hunter). I just don't have the time right now but I will get to them. Great year of memories for me.
Comments
Gene Richards was mainly an outfielder. His rookie year was 1977, and he only played first base in 32 games that year.
i just looked on baseball-reference.com, and he only played first base in one game against the Mets. It was July 31st at Shea Stadium. Lenny Randle had two hits in the game, and he was picked off of first base by Dave Wehrmeister, who started for the Padres, and went 2 1/3 innings.
The attendance at the game was 13,386 people, and it was a Sunday, day game.
Steve
I just looked on newspapers.com, and found almost the exact same picture (it looks like it was taken less than one second before/after the one on the card). It's in the 1 Aug 1977 New York Daily News. According to the caption, the play happened in the third inning on a pickoff throw from Dave Wehmeister. The ball got away from Gene Richards at first base, and Lenny Randle got up and ran to third base.
Steve
Nice to see this thread still alive. I have always lurked but I have never done a graded set. My set is entirely raw. I buy lots and sets and upgrade like that. It had been a while since I worked on it but lately I have been back at it. I bought about 4000 cards over the past month or so. Had a few upgrades so that made it worth it. I will likely put together a couple of nice sets to sell so I can buy a couple more.
I enjoy the quantity of cards to go through. I dont think I have any that would be low pop 10s. Maybe I should go through what I have and see if there are any worth trying to grade.
Keep it going, guys...I enjoy watching your 78 pickups!
I’m half way through a NM raw set! It’s taking me forever. I’m going to need 150 to 175 cards at the rate I’m going.
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
I will surely be able to help you out. Most of what I have picked up is NM or better.
I am probably going to start a youtube vlog putting together a signed 78 set. Of course I will never complete it because there are a couple of cards that are just much too rare. I have all but a couple of the HOFers already signed on cards so I have a good start
On the PSAFacts page, the write up says that there is a variation of 520 Larry Hisle with stitching on the ball. Has anyone ever seen this variation?
Anyone have any extra PSA 9s for sale? I have about 80% of the set graded...
Erik
If anyone has any NM raw 78s for sale let me know. I am very close to finishing my set. Any help to complete it would be great,
PSA HOF Baseball Postwar Rookies Set Registry- (Currently 80.51% Complete)
PSA Pro Football HOF Rookie Players Set Registry- (Currently 19.80% Complete)
PSA Basketball HOF Players Rookies Set Registry- (Currently 6.02% Complete)
Once I get Dan taken care of, I can surely help you out
dooes anyone have 1978 hand cut checklists for sale ?
like these but for 1978
https://www.ebay.com/itm/133156997280
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Baseball_players_from_Panama
Anyone working on this legendary set?
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
I am working on it in mixed raw/graded form. I have many nice raw commons, but I am not willing to pay the current prices to submit them. I am about 40% complete with the raw cards being very nice NM-MT and the graded ones mostly PSA 9.
I am so happy where I am with my registry set but I doubt I would tackle this these days with current submission costs PLUS unopened 78 Topps is way past the affordability to break anymore. I also have a higher grade raw set. The cards I need to upgrade are in my sig! Bunch of notorious toughies in there
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
I’m glad you decided to hang onto your set. I think too many people are becoming obsessed with unopened and losing track of why they actually collected cards in the first place.
Thanks, selling my registry set has never really been a thought of mine even when went into a decade plus hibernation. But I'll never say never. On unopened, I'm a huge fan now. But I have no regrets ripping all those '78 wax boxes and a rack case back in the day.
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
I have literally about 2500 raw and unsearched 78s that I am dying to get into. On average, about 100 of each AS card from that year and tons of Yankees (e.g., Nettles, Guidry, Hunter). I just don't have the time right now but I will get to them. Great year of memories for me.
I see there is a dozen plus actively updating their '78 Topps registry. Such a great set!
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
.
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240