1977 garry templeton

garry templeton was a member of topps' all-star rookie team for the 1976 season, but you wouldn't know it by his 1977 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front with the rookie cup nestled in nicely against templeton's knee and the autograph pushed slightly to the right:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

notice that o-pee-chee didn't strike the text on the back referring to the honor bestowed upon templeton.  i also enjoy the ray kroc cartoon, especially with the hindsight that templeton would later be acquired by kroc's padres for ozzie smith.

templeton had a big year in 1977 - 200 hits and a league-leading 18 triples.  he also made the all-star team, but dave concepcion was the starter for the nl so templeton's 1978 o-pee-chee (and topps) card was also unadorned.

voici à vous, 1977 garry templeton!