Reusing photos

When determining which photograph to use on a baseball card, I would believe that the best picture available depicting the player would be selected.  At times, the same photograph has been used on more than one card.

Deron Johnson

Previous blogs have mentioned that Topps use of the same photograph on three different Deron Johnson rookie cards, in their 1959, 1960, and 1961 sets.

1959 Topps Deron Johnson Card #131

 

1960 Topps Deron Johnson Card #134

 1961 Topps Deron Johnson Card #68

Deron Johnson played 16 seasons in the Major Leagues as an infielder, outfielder, and designated hitter for the Yankees, Kansas City & Oakland Athletics, Phillies, Red Sox, Reds, White Sox, Braves, and Brewers.  He finished his career with a .244 batting average (1447 hits in 5941 at bats) and 245 home runs and 923 RBI.  In 1965, as a member of the Reds, Johnson topped the National League with 130 RBI.

Earl Wilson

Topps used the same photo for Earl Wilson's 1968, 1969, and 1970 cards.

1968 Topps Earl Wilson Card #305

 

1969 Topps Earl Wilson Card #160

 

1970 Topps Earl Wilson Card #95

Earl Wilson was a right-handed pitcher who played eleven seasons in the Major Leagues with the Red Sox, Tigers, and Padres.  On June 26, 1962, Wilson no hit the Los Angeles Angels, winning the game 2-0. He helped his own cause with a home run off Angel starting pitcher, Bo Belinsky.  Wilson finished his career with 121 wins and 109 losses and a 3.69 ERA with 1,452 strikeouts.  In 1967, while pitching for the Tigers, Wilson lead the American League with 22 victories.

Stan Musial 

The same photography that Topps used on Stan Musial's 1962 card was used as an insert photo on his 1963 card.  It also appears that Topps reused that same picture on their 1999 Hall of Fame Collection Insert card and their 2001 Topps Stars card.

1962 Topps Stan Musial Card #50

1963 Topps Stan Musial Card #250

 

1999 Topps Hall of Fame Collection Stan Musial Card #HOF3

2001 Topps Star Stan Musial Card #142

Stan Musial, nicknamed "Stan the Man", spent 22 seasons as an outfielder and first baseman for the Cardinals. He played from 1941 to 1944 and 1946 to 1963. He was a three-time National League Most Valuable Player and was named to 24 All-Star teams.  Widely considered as one of the games greatest hitters, Musial was inducted in to the Hall of Fame in 1969.

 

For his career, Musial batted .331 and when he retired he set National League records for career hits (3,630), RBI (1,951), games played (3,026), at bats (10,972), run scored (1,949) and doubles (725).  Most of these records where later broken by Pete Rose.  At his retirement, Musial's 475 home runs ranked second in National League history behind Mel Ott's 511.

Cole Hamels

This year, it appears that Topps has used the same photograph on Cole Hamels regular issued card and his Topps Finest card.

2016 Topps Cole Hamels Card #588

 

2016 Topps Finest Cole Hamels Card #23

 

You've gotta believe that today, Topps has many different photos to choose from when issuing cards.  I am kinda surprised to see that they reused what appears to be the same Hamels photograph.

 

Cole Hamels, a left-handed pitcher, is currently a member of the Texas Rangers.  He is in his 11th Major League season and a four-time All Star.  He previously pitched for the Phillies and as a member of the Phillies, they won the 2008 World Series, and Hamels was the Most Valuable Player of the series.  As of August 20, for the 2016 season, Hamels has 13 wins and four losses for the first-place Rangers. 

Cesar Geronimo

I have found where a same photograph of Cesar Geronimo was used on his Topps 1975 card and his 1976 Hostess card.  This is one time that I remember where the same picture was used by two different companies.  

 

1975 Topps Cesar Geronimo Card #41

 1976 Hostess Cesar Geronimo Card #150

Cesar Geronimo played 15 seasons in the Major Leagues for the Astros, Reds, and Royals.  While playing with the Reds in the 1970s, he was the starting centerfielder of the "Big Red Machine".  Geronimo was a four-time Gold Gloves winner (1974-1977) and was a member of two World Series Championship teams, in 1975 and 1976, while playing with the Reds. 

 

Geronimo finished his career with a .258 batting average (977 hits in 3780 at bats) with 51 home runs and 392 RBI.  In July 2008, he was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.