1977 gene tenace

gene tenace signed a free agent deal with the padres in december of 1976.  that was early enough for topps to airbrush the former athletic into padres attire, so all o-pee-chee could do was crop the image a little bit tighter and move the facsimile autograph.  here is tenace's 1977 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

o-pee-chee could have gone with a position variation, too, as tenace played a handful of games at third base for the padres in 1977.  he hit 15 home runs and drove in 61 runs over the course of the season, with three two-homer games to his credit, along with his seventh career grand slam.  tenace led the national league in walks in 1977 with 125, and in hit by pitch with 13.  i found this interesting because he didn't hit in the 8 spot ahead of the pitcher as i first assumed.

voici à vous, 1977 gene tenace!