Topps' Gaffe Gives Halladay Carlton's Retired Number
Trading card company gives Phils' new ace old ace's No. 32
Topps, Getty Images
Take a look at the numbers on these jerseys -- notice something?
Maybe Topps was forward thinking (or was it just ignorant?) when they put a No. 32 on Roy Halladay’s back on his first Phillies baseball card.
Best pitcher in baseball or not -- there was no way Halladay would be wearing his old number in Philly. Any good Phillies fan knows that No. 32 hangs out on Ashburn Alley -- the retired number of legendary lefty Steve Carlton.
Just look at the card. Thanks to Meech over at The Fightins for digging up this “doozy.”
With his old jersey number unavailable in Philly Halladay opted for Kevin Millwood’s old No. 34 instead. Yet, the trading card company put his old No. 32 on Doc’s back.
“When Halladay’s card was created, he had yet to be assigned a new number, so we used the number he wore with the Blue Jays,” explained Topps spokesman Clay Luraschi.
That's all fine and dandy but if Topps researcher did a little research they would have known that No. 32 wasn't available.
And, the blunder went further than just the number.
Topps must have rushed to get Halladay in Phillies red in time for their Opening Day card series. The shade of that red could also be questioned. They must have rushed on the Photoshop job as is evident by the 80s-esque maroon (another ode to Lefty?) used on Halladay's jersey and hat.
Topps will us new photography on future cards, they said. Who knows, maybe they could release an updated Halladay card and make the No. 32 gem into a collectors item like the profane Billy Ripken Fleer card.
Now let’s hope that Doc pitches in red pinstripes like Lefty did and that Sarge Matthews can yet again call every fifth day “win day.”
Posted Tuesday, Mar 16, 2010 - 11:55 AM EST
