Three different views from 1979

the decade of the seventies made several strides in card photography; from the stand, squat, swing, throw or just pose from the 1970's set (note the framed Cubs team set on the top right of my blog or my card by card chronicling of the 1970's set) to the emergence of "action" shots (real game photos) in the mid-late seventies.

Here are the three different views I found from the 1979 Cubs:

the typical pose for the camera during spring training; Bobby Murcer #135

to an "action" shot of the day, as 6'6" Dave "Kong" Kingman # 370, approaches the plate ready to either strikeout or blast the ball into orbit (in 1979 Kingman led the league in both, striking out 131 times and hitting 48 HR's).
or a very interesting angle that produces a "solid blue background" of Steve Ontiveros # 299

There you go . . . three different camera views from 1979 . . . we certainly have come a long way . . .

More cards from the UK

As I promised here is my second post acknowledging the generousity of John from across the Atlantic.

Amongst the cards he sent me was a batch of 1978 Topps Chicago Cubs. That team from 1977 was as "unremarkable" a team as so many other Cubs teams from the mid seventies. A record of 81-81, one 20 game winner (Reuschel) {nobody else had more than 14}, and one player (Murcer, 27/89) who hit more than 20 HR and had more than 75 RBI's. But John did send me . . .


. . . Ivan DeJesus who led the team in stolen bases (24), triples (7), hits (166), runs scored (91) and strikeouts (90); Steve Ontiveros led the regulars in batting average with a .299 BA, and then there was Mick Kelleher and SteveSwisher - batting .230 and .190 respectively.

And Larry Biittner, yes he dotted both his i's and crossed both of his t's; did have a decent year with 12 HR's, 62 RBI's and a .298 BA but seems to be left out of the thick bushy mustache club.

A good time to say thanks again to John and to store away these easily forgettable Cubs of 1977 in my 1978 binder, alongside the likes of "unremarkable" George Mitterwald and Donnie Moore.