1977 jim mason

jim mason received an actual photograph of himself in blue jays gear, along with a relocated facsimile autograph on his 1977 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

i guess topps was pretty confident that mason wouldn't make it back to the world series with toronto when they wrote the copy for the back of his card.  and, they were right, although he didn't spend the entire 1977 season with the blue jays.  after appearing in 22 games (mostly as their regular shortstop) and hitting an anemic .165, mason was dealt to the rangers along with steve hargan and cash for roy howell.

mason was the first pinch hitter in blue jays' history, coming to bat for hector torres in the fourth inning of their inaugural game.  he drew the first walk in team history in that at bat, and later in the game, he laid down toronto's first sacrifice.

voici à vous, 1977 jim mason!