Berra Family Calls Topps ‘Out!’ For Ill-Conceived Depiction Of Yogi In Project70
Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at 11:52PM By Barry Janoff
March 9, 2021: Topps has released what arguably might be the worst conceived card in its history — Project70 1970 Yogi Berra designed by Ron English — and is taking heat for it from the Berra Family.
The card from Topps — which creates the purposefully unsightly Garbage Pail Kids series — depicts the late Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra, a Hall of Fame catcher who won ten World Series as a member of the New York Yankees — wearing a baby-styled Yankees’ pinstriped onesie sitting on a log with a goofy grin on his face, which does not resemble Yogi and looks more like a reflection in a fun house mirror.
According to Topps, “One of the most prolific and recognizable artists alive today, New York-based painter, designer and street artist Ron English has bombarded the global landscape with unforgettable images across all categories of culture, history and art.”
According to Lindsay Berra, Yogi’s granddaughter, a freelance sports journalist who has been a guardian of Berra’s legacy, the card is far from worthy of his achievements.
“I know these Project70 cards are artist renderings, but all others are depicted as athletes in uniform while Gramp, arguably the best catcher of all-time and 10-time Yankees World Series winner, is shown like this?” she posted to social media.
“C’mon, Topps. Grampa and his incredible MLB resume deserve better.”
Veteran sports business writer Darren Rovell, formerly with ESPN and now The Action Network, offered on Twitter, “This is so weird. They shouldn’t have the rights to do this.”
Others were in agreement, posting such comments as, “Completely agree, Lindsay. This card should have been rejected by Topps.”
Among Berra’s famous Yogi-isms, “So I'm ugly. So what? I never saw anyone hit with his face.”
However, the Topps’ depiction might even make Yogi himself grimace.
The U.S. Postal Service is treating Berra much better with a Forever Stamp due out this year.
The stamp is a worthy depiction of Berra’s career.
According to USPS, “Honoring Yogi Berra (1925-2015), this stamp salutes one of the best and most celebrated baseball players of his era, winning a record ten World Series with the New York Yankees.
“The stamp art is an original digital portrait of Berra dressed in his Yankees cap, pinstripes and catcher's chest protector. Considered the best catcher in the American League in the 1950s, he was also a feared hitter, and in 1972 was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.”
USPS said Antonio Alcalá is the art director and stamp designer. Charles Chaisson the artist. The “Yogi Berra” lettering was created by Michael Doret.
Berra was born in St. Louis in 1925 and passed away Sept. 12, 2015 at the age of 90.
He played 19 seasons in MLB, 18 with the Yankees as a member of 13 World Series teams overall, winning ten; and one season with the New York Mets (1965). He also was manager for the Yankees (1964, 1984-85) and Mets (1972-75).
He was named to the All-Star Team 18 times and retired with 358 home runs and 1.430 RBIs.
The Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center and Yogi Berra Stadium is located on the campus of Montclair State University in Upper Montclair, NJ
It Ain’t Mailed 'Til It’s Stamped: Yogi Immortalized By USPS
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