The scans don't do these cards justice, but in a different way than how that phrase is typically used. The scan doesn't show just how blurry these cards are. That is, the scan doesn't make them look bad enough, when the opposite is generally true. In any event, I marvel at these cards and set them aside whenever I rummage through a box of commons.
EXCEPT....
If that box of commons includes 1982 Fleer. Because if I set aside every blurry card I found in that set, I might as well just compile the entire set. The examples of blurry cards from Fleer's second year back in the hobby are abundant.
Take a good look at this guy, who will be traded during the 1982 season to the Phillies for Larry Bowa and a 22-year-old 3rd baseman named Ryne Sandberg:
Problem: You can't really get a good look at him, even in this close-up picture, since it's so out of focus.
And it's unfortunate, really. Another travesty is the fact that in this Carney Lansford card, we are deprived of a good look at Carney's perfect 80s mustache and awesome glasses.
Also interesting to note is that there is some blur-variation within the set, even with different copies of the same card. Here, I have two copies of the same card (yay, duplicates!), both of Glenn Hoffman (Trevor's brother. Yes, I'm serious. Look it up.) Though both copies of the card have a blur factor, the one on the left is just slightly fuzzier.
Even sadder in this case because it appears that Hoffman has both feet off the ground in this photo. Pretty cool, I would say. Or an illusion caused by the blurriness. You decide!
So how did this happen? All this blurriness. I'm not certain and researching it seems unappealing, so I made up a story in my head instead.
It all starts with a guy named Phil. Phil has been with Fleer for over 20 years now, and one thing you need to know about Phil is that he came up with the idea for the 1961 Fleer Baseball Greats series. Actually, Phil was only in charge of one picture on one card, Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown. It's a card I would love to own.
Why?
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| 1961 Fleer Baseball Greats #11, Mordecai Brown. |
Instead of a photo of Brown in his 19-aught-6 glory (1.06 ERA!), Phil dug up a photo probably taken at a Chicago Old-timers banquet. But please, give Phil some credit, since he found a card of Brown when the Cubs ace was 93 years old, when Three Finger actually died at the too young age of 71.
Fast forward to 1982. Fleer is battling with fellow little guy Donruss and behemoth Topps for a piece of the baseball card pie. They put Phil in charge of some photos. And Phil takes the bull by the horns, completing his portion of the set just two days after taking the snapping the pictures. He brings his completed work to the Fleer executives.
Fleer executive: OK, Phil. Whatcha got?
Phil: OK, so I had this great idea to expedite the whole card making process. I took the pictures of the players...
FE: Yes...
Phil: And got them developed at the Snap and Save (made up photo place).
FE: OK...
Phil: Then I rushed back to the office, made color photocopies of the pictures (no idea if that was possible in 1982), and then cut and pasted them onto the card template.
FE: Wait, wait, wait a minute. So take us through this again. How did you ---
Phil: AND THEN, I took those templates, photocopied them AGAIN, and cut them up myself into the individual cards. Took maybe a total of 90 minutes.
FE: (Stunned silence) OK Phil. (Pause) How much did you spend?
Phil: $31.83.
FE: Well... unfortunately, our budget for the whole set was $38. So we'll have to just go with it. Alright people, let's get these puppies printed!
And this concludes the story of how 1982 Fleer cards became so blurry.
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