1977 jim rice

well, we know that jim rice never changed teams during his hall of fame career, so that must mean that this is either an award variation or an autograph placement variation.  and, since he didn't make the all-star team until 1977, it must be the latter.  here is jim rice's 1977 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

i guess to be fair i should also note that the o-pee-chee photo is cropped just ever so slightly differently from the topps issue.  the noticeable variation, however, is the facsimilie signature.

in 1977, rice led the american league in home runs with 39.  three of which came in a single game - 8/29 against the a's.  it was a nice touch by topps to feature a ted williams cartoon on the back of another sox left fielder's card.

voici à vous, 1977 jim rice!