1977 don baylor

we are treated to a tighter crop and a stacked facsimile autograph on don baylor's 1977 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

i'm not altogether sure if the second airbrushed button on the topps card is cropped out of the o-pee-chee image, or if they airbrushed it out.  now the o-pee-chee back:

hank aaron makes an appearance in the 1977 set!  sort of.

and the topps back:

baylor's november 1976 signing with the angels gave topps plenty of time to get him out of his a's uniform, which sadly denied us a card of baylor in green and gold (at least until 1989).  baylor went 25/75/.281 for the halos in 1977 while playing all three outfield positions, first base, and designated hitter. he even hit lead off a couple of times, and swatted his only career lead off home run in 1977.

two years later, baylor would lead the angels to the postseason for the first time, picking up the al mvp award along the way (he also became my first favorite non-dodger player).  unfortunately, for angel fans, he wouldn't win his first (and only) world series ring until 1987 in minnesota.

voici à vous, 1977 don baylor!