1977 willie randolph

i think this is the first of the award variations to be featured.  it's willie randolph's 1977 o-pee-chee card

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

for whatever reason, o-pee-chee left off the topps rookie cups in 1977 although they didn't remove the reference to it from the back of the card.  the loss of the rookie cup allowed o-pee-chee to also move the autograph around.

randolph was acquired by the yankees from the pirates for doc medich.  medich was one and done for the pirates (although they did trade him away in the deal that sent phil garner to pittsburgh) while randolph went to play for a team that won 3 pennants in a row.  they also won the 1977 and 1978 world series, but randolph missed the 1978 fall classic due to injury.  randolph was able to avoid the sophomore slump, improving in every offensive category in 1977.

voici à vous, 1977 willie randolph!