Of all the photo differences between 1977 Topps and O-Pee-Chee baseball, this is one of my favorites just because of the attention to detail by the airbrush artist.
First we have the Topps George Scott. “Boomer” came up with the Red Sox but was part of a 10-player trade after the 1971 season. Scott would play with the Brewers from 1972 to 1976
In December, 1976, George Scott and Bernie Carbo were traded to the Red Sox for Cecil Cooper. I think everybody should take a moment to appreciate this impressive airbrush job.
Not only does the Red Sox logo actually look like a Red Sox logo, but the artist attempted to duplicate the glare on the helmet and – this is the part that really gets me – also the reflection of the logo on the brim of the helmet. That is the kind of detail you don’t often see on Topps airbrushings.
I should also mention that a powder-blue Brewers road jersey was converted to a white Red Sox home jersey. Despite everything going on, it doesn’t scream “AIRBRUSHING!!!!”
..and as long as I’m pointing out every little detail, the signature on the Brewers card is laid out vertically (first over last name), while the Red Sox card signature is horizontal.
Ah, the heck with it, as long as I’m at it, I may as well share the other end of this deal. Here’s Cecil Cooper with the Red Sox…
…and here he is airbrushed as a Brewer. Not as good of a job, but still nothing to be ashamed of.
This trade worked out better for the Brewers, as Cecil Cooper would play 11 years for the Brew Crew, make the All-Star team five times, win three Silver Sluggers and two Gold Gloves, and twice lead the AL in RBI.
The Shlabotnik Report 
Great observations. There is good and bad airbrushing.
Scott looks like a chunky Joe Morgan in that shot. And you’re right on the money, that’s about as good a conversion as Topps ever did.
Those airbrushes are way better than a lot of the computerized photoshop jobs we see today.
I have to get myself a bunch of ’77 OPC. I actually loaded up my shopping cart with some recently, then scrapped them all because I needed other cards. So many goals!
Oh, I can appreciate “So many goals”. I keep having to reign myself in on some things.
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