I was looking at the stats on the back of '71 Topps WS cards....

jrboles

It's "B. ROBINSON COMMITS ROBBERY!" (psa 7 to keep this relevant) and it shows Cincy and Oriole lineups and the following six statistics:

AB
R
H
PO
A
E

Belanger and Helms each had 4 Assists and Boog Powell led the game with 9 Putouts.

I do not recall ever seeing even distribution of offensive and defensive stats in any game line let alone a baseball card. The fact that they show Assists and not home runs is astonishing in today's world.

Any recollection as to the prominence of defensive stats in the 60s and 70s? I was around for half of 1971 and do not have much of a recollection.

tkd7

I think it goes back to the origin of the game when offense and defense were reported on equal footing. The evolution of the box score shows the history of the game and what was valued at the time.

Topps and Bowman cards of the 50's show defensive stats for the players as well as offensive ones.

bbuckner22

I always thought it looked like Brooks was making that play on a beach somewhere

itzagoner

the card celebrates Brooksie making a great defensive play. there you go.

i doubt many folks now would be intrigued by a picture of an infielder falling down, but they may want to know his BA w/RISP, less than 2 out on the road in a dome vs. lefties while ahead in the count.

in an interleague game.

Dboneesq

<< <i>i doubt many folks now would be intrigued by a picture of an infielder falling down, but they may want to know his BA w/RISP, less than 2 out on the road in a dome vs. lefties while ahead in the count. in an interleague game. >>


Only care about that if it was in a day game.

itzagoner

<< <i>

<< <i>i doubt many folks now would be intrigued by a picture of an infielder falling down, but they may want to know his BA w/RISP, less than 2 out on the road in a dome vs. lefties while ahead in the count. in an interleague game. >>


Only care about that if it was in a day game. >>


ah. of course. another column for retractable vs. non-retractable roof usage. now i need to redo the whole friggin set.

jrboles

<< <i>I always thought it looked like Brooks was making that play on a beach somewhere >>



In all seriousness, it is a tragically sad looking card. There was a Marlon Brando movie where he and Karl Malden robbed a bank and were holed up with the posse in pursuit. Malden made a run back to town for fresh horses and in the end left Brando in the lurch and ultimately in a Mexican prison. This card reminds me of that. Especially the caption.

There's a new topic. "Which cards evoke the saddest memories not due to the player, team, or position depicted?"

PSASAP

Great movie, the title is "One-Eyed Jacks". Stanley Kubrick was the original director, but he dropped out, leaving Brando to finish it.