Why is Steve Carlton Looking Over His Left Shoulder?

graygator · April 23, 2015 5:15AM

So I've been looking at my Steve Carlton rookie, which I got this month, and something kept seeming off about it. I think I figured it out. He's in the classic pose of a pitcher peering in for the sign, one shoulder dipped below the other, but he's looking over his left shoulder, when he should be looking over his right shoulder. Why is one of the best and most famous of left-handed pitchers, nicknamed "Lefty," posed as if he's a righty looking at the catcher? Seems unlikely he would have just posed that way. Is it a well-recognized reversed negative and I've just never known it? I'm sure someone else must have noticed this before but I couldn't find anything with a few searches. The hat is right, and what looks like might be the tip of a cardinal on the jersey is visible on his left chest, and the higher cardinal on the jersey is on the left, so that seems correct. Or is it airbrushing the hat and part of a cardinal over a reversed negative? I don't know the ins and outs of airbrushing, would airbrushing over a reversed negative be likely? Could be intentional for purposes of composition of the card, I suppose, but why not just have him on the left. Anybody have any information or guesses?

Towuz911 · April 23, 2015 5:19AM

Don't know but that is a sweeeeeet card. (By the by: I am doing my card pix that way now, as well.)

effe · April 23, 2015 5:22AM

He's having a hard time looking at Fritz's unibrow without laughing?

graygator · April 23, 2015 5:24AM

<< He's having a hard time looking at Fritz's unibrow without laughing? >>

Ha! This is definitely the most likely explanation, and one I hadn't thought of.

jeffcbay · April 23, 2015 5:26AM

I'm looking at it as though he's in his follow-through after throwing a ball. Like if you were posing as if you just threw a ball. I dunno... lol

WhiteTornado · April 23, 2015 5:29AM

<< I'm looking at it as though he's in his follow-through after throwing a ball. Like if you were posing as if you just threw a ball. I dunno... lol >>

That's a real possibility.

itzagoner · April 23, 2015 5:29AM

following the trajectory of a dinger he just gave up.

graygator · April 23, 2015 5:42AM

<< I'm looking at it as though he's in his follow-through after throwing a ball. Like if you were posing as if you just threw a ball. I dunno... lol >>

Good thought, this could be it. But I would expect more turn in the shoulder toward the body. Looks to me from the shoulder like the arm is hanging at the side, not turned in toward the body like it would be after a throw. Very hard to be sure, though.

OAKESY25 · April 23, 2015 5:55AM

like this pic except taken from third base side instead of straight on

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graygator · April 23, 2015 5:57AM

I think it's the chin tucked tight against the shoulder and the angle of the shoulders that makes me think of a pitcher getting the sign. In the '69 above the shoulders are more square and the head is up. I don't think it would look the same if taken from the side. But I don't want to belabor the point because that is probably the most likely explanation and I just saw the card differently at first.

Edited to eliminate duplicate scan.

mlbfan2 · April 23, 2015 6:24AM

Yeah, I always thought he was following through, like this...

heritage · April 23, 2015 6:29AM

Not sure but I do know one thing that is one nice card, congrats on it.

ClockworkAngel · April 23, 2015 6:59AM

Fritz skipped deodorant that day and had just gone 9 innings so Carlton had to protect himself

BLUEJAYWAY · April 23, 2015 7:28AM

Looking out for the delivery truck for the return of his latest PSA sub.

seebelow · April 23, 2015 9:40AM

follow thru

skrezyna23 · April 23, 2015 10:46AM

<< I'm looking at it as though he's in his follow-through after throwing a ball. Like if you were posing as if you just threw a ball. I dunno... lol >>

+1

graygator · April 23, 2015 11:48AM

It's funny, now that everyone is saying follow through I have to admit that it makes the most sense, that it is the simplest explanation, and that you guys know everything, so a follow through must be what it is. To the point where I feel silly having even brought it up. But I still can't see it! I've been scouring Carlton pics (a risky proposition since you run into all those Jockey underwear ads) to figure it out and I can't see it. It just doesn't look like a follow through to me. It's like a duck/rabbit thing or something with my brain. I'd love to see the original photo at some point so I could wrap my head around it. Thanks for all the responses.

rcmb3220 · April 24, 2015 2:21AM

You're all wrong. He's looking over his left shoulder because the Feds are after him.

WhiteTornado · April 24, 2015 2:27AM

<< It's funny, now that everyone is saying follow through I have to admit that it makes the most sense, that it is the simplest explanation, and that you guys know everything, so a follow through must be what it is. To the point where I feel silly having even brought it up. But I still can't see it! I've been scouring Carlton pics (a risky proposition since you run into all those Jockey underwear ads) to figure it out and I can't see it. It just doesn't look like a follow through to me. It's like a duck/rabbit thing or something with my brain. I'd love to see the original photo at some point so I could wrap my head around it. Thanks for all the responses. >>

It could have been a staged pic, where the photographer had him pretend to throw instead of an actual throw. Could be why it doesn't quite look like a real follow through.

Okay, that's all I got LOL.

Why is Steve Carlton Looking Over His Left Shoulder?

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