OPC IMAGE VARIATIONS: 1977 PHIL GARNER

Today on the blog we take a look at Phil garner, aka "Scrap Iron", and the image variation between his 1977 Topps and OPC cards, with some hilarious results:

OPC version

Topps version

After coming up with the Oakland A's in 1973 and playing for them for four years, Garner was part of a blockbuster trade that saw him go to the Pittsburgh Pirates along with Tommy Helms and Chris Batton for Tony Armas, Doug Bair, Dave Giusti, Rick Langford, Doc Medich and Mitchell Page.

To say that the Oakland A's made out like BANDITS on this deal would be an understatement!

Anyway, while Topps didn't catch the trade in time and used a nice shot of Garner in action, OPC did and created this absolutely fantastic airbrushed job in all it's mustard glory! Wow!

Nevertheless, Garner would go on to a very nice 16-year career as a player, along with another eight as a manager during the 1990’s and 2000’s, even guiding the Houston Astros to a National League Pennant in 2005 when they eventually lost to the Chicago White Sox in the World Series.
As a player, he was a part of the 1979 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates team, as well as a member of the 1973 and 1974 World Champ Oakland A’s, though not a cog or even a regular by any means.
By the time he retired as a player after the 1988 season, the three-time All-Star finished with a career .260 average, with 1594 hits over 6136 at-bats and 1860 games.

Not a bad Big League resume!

NOT REALLY MISSING IN ACTION- 1974 PHIL GARNER

Let’s go and give “Scrap Iron” Phil Garner a “not so missing” 1974 card based on his MLB debut of nine games during the 1973 season:

Garner got his first taste of the Big Leagues with nine games, getting five plate appearances without a hit along with three strikeouts.
Nevertheless, he would go on to a very nice 16-year career as a player, along with another eight as a manager during the 1990’s and 2000’s, even guiding the Houston Astros to a National League Pennant in 2005 when they eventually lost to the Chicago White Sox in the World Series.
As a player, he was a part of the 1979 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates team, as well as a member of the 1973 and 1974 World Champ Oakland A’s, though not a cog or even a regular by any means.
By the time he retired after the 1988 season, the three-time All-Star finished with a career .260 average, with 1594 hits over 6136 at-bats and 1860 games.

NICKNAMES OF THE 1970S: 1979 "SCRAP IRON" PHIL GARNER

Here’s a great nickname from the 1970’s, “Scrap Iron” for former second baseman Phil Garner, who really made his bones with the “We are Family” 1979 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates:

Originally up with the Oakland A’s in 1973, Garner found himself traded to the Pirates before the 1977 season as part of a massive nine-player deal that also involved Tony Armas, Tommy Helms and Mitchell Page among others.
Just two years later he was a World Champ, giving the team a solid infielder who’d hit a career-high .293 with 76 runs scored and 51 extra base hits over 151 games.
He’d end up putting in 16-seasons in the Big Leagues, finishing up with a career average of .260 with 1594 hits and 780 runs over 1860 games.
After his playing career was over he’d turn to coaching and managing, the latter of which he did for 15 seasons: the Milwaukee Brewers from 1992 to 1999, the Detroit Tigers 2000-2002 and the Houston Astros from 2004 to 2007, including the 2005 National League champion squad that had the “Killer B’s” of Bagwell, Biggio and Berkman, as well as Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte.
Not a bad “baseball life”!