tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6037263425226837432.post5580560230847663925..comments2022-12-31T20:03:34.406-05:00Comments on 1969 Topps Baseball: George Brunet (#645)Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6037263425226837432.post-81620469435970531172017-07-28T13:16:40.523-04:002017-07-28T13:16:40.523-04:00Your Los Angeles/California Angels reason makes se...Your Los Angeles/California Angels reason makes sense for the '65 and '66 cards, but many other Angels were shot in the new uniforms from 67-69, so maybe Brunet was just one of the stubborn veterans who refused to pose. <br /><br />That could also explain why Don Lock is capless in '67, '68, AND '69 (3 different photos!) after being traded to the Phillies prior to the '67 season, whereas Dick Hall (traded in the same off-season) is in a Phillies uniform for his '67 and '68 cards. Jim from Downingtownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6037263425226837432.post-30161362828126895502017-07-26T19:27:52.734-04:002017-07-26T19:27:52.734-04:00Here's why Topps couldn't get a shot of Ge...Here's why Topps couldn't get a shot of George with an Angels cap. In 1964, the Angels were still the Los Angeles Angels, In 1965, they became the California Angels, but that change wasn't made until September. Up to that point, they were still LA and had been photographed and printed as such. So 1966 rolls around and, not only is California trying to decide whether to continue using the caps from September or change them (my recollection, fwiw, is that the '65 September caps had just a "C"--no "CA"), but they are being sued by LA and LA fans. Topps is in a bit of a pickle. Are they LA or are they California? Not wanting to get dragged into litigation, they settle on just "Angels" and NOBODY gets a cap (the few showing caps in '66 are either airbrushed or obscured). <br /><br />Same thing happened when Monsanto, the makers of Astroturf, sued Houston over the use of the name which Monsanto had trademarked (at least that's the story as I know it). Interestingly the Astros were the Astros before Astroturf was Astroturf, but I think Houston neglected to trademark the name. <br /><br />Looking at another example similar to that one (and getting somewhat off topic), I was working radio sales in NJ when, one day, a guy woke up and decided to trademark "New Jersey Giants" and "New Jersey Jets". The teams were playing in New Jersey as New York teams. The guy made a fortune selling New Jersey Giants and Jets merchandise. The clubs threatened to sue him pretty much every day and he would laugh. They had no case. They had not trademarked New Jersey Giants or Jets to protect their brand and he had. The whole point of his exercise, he admitted, was the settlement at the end (substantial), but he also made a fortune in the interim. Needless to say, he was one of our best advertisers.<br /><br />Anyway, Topps has all black hats (or no hats) for the Astros in '68 and the beginning of '69 and the team is referred to as "Houston".<br /><br />Back to the Angels. 1967 began the fight between the new Players Association and Topps. Topps maintained they had the right to use your likeness in perpetuity with no further compensation beyond the $25 or so they paid you to pose for the pictures. Players Association thought the money was too little and the rights without additional compensation lasted too long. Between '67 and early '69, many players--especially the veterans who didn't need chump change--refused to pose for Topps. This is why you see so many repeat shots and so many capless shots in '68 and '69. The dispute was settled just before the end of Spring Training 1969.<br /><br />Topps certainly shot George with the LA cap, but probably did not get him with the California cap until 1969. By the time they shot him in '69, his capless image was already at the printers. And then, of course, he was traded to Seattle. Dexter and MLB got Brunet with the California cap, but Topps wasn't buying rights to other people's photos at the time. And the airbrushed cap in '68? Looks like that was originally a shot of George from when he was with either the Orioles or Braves.Stubbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07010142558613227433noreply@blogger.com