Tuesday, September 9, 2014

no. 327 - 1970 world series, game 1


Who is the man: Just like the first game of the ALCS, Boog Powell is the man here. Powell's home run was a two-run blast in the fourth inning that kicked off the Orioles' scoring. The Reds had led 3-0 until his home run.

Can ya dig it: Full-color photos for the World Series! This was the first time Topps had used full-color photography in its World Series subsets since probably 1963 (I believe the color WS subsets in 1964 and 1965 were mostly colored-in black-and-white photos). I'm sure these were out-of-sight cool in 1971, because they're still cool now.

Right on: That's Johnny Bench behind the plate.

You see this cat Powell is a bad mother: After Powell's home run, Elrod Hendricks followed with a tying home run in the fifth, and Brooks Robinson put the Orioles ahead for good with solo home run in the seventh. The Orioles won 4-3.

Shut your mouth: Robinson was a bigger deal in the game than Powell. Not only did his home run decide the game, but he began what this World Series would become known for with his first terrific play at third base. Robinson's backhand snare of Lee May's hard grounder and throw to first came the inning before the decisive home run.

No one understands him but his woman: This was the first World Series game ever played on artificial turf. When Robinson was asked if he could play field on artificial turf, Robinson said, "I'm a major league third baseman. If you want to go play in a parking lot, I'm supposed to stop the ball."


(A word about the back): Robinson also had an error in this game. Nobody ever brings that up.

7 comments:

  1. That photo was not taken at Riverfront.

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  2. Sweet card. Just picked up an upgrade of this card

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  3. I never tire of looking at these or reading about the '70 Series!

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  4. A box score without RBI?? What the hell?!

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  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  6. It always bothered me how Topps missed the important plays of each game for this series of cards. I took a shot at redesigning them myself. Here's a link to my design for that Game 1 card if I were king of Topps:

    http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj265/RAJ717/zzz%20ws%201.jpg

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