2003 Topps League Leaders: AL ERA
I’ve mentioned before that I understand the idea behind
league leader cards. I know that they’re an easy way to get more star cards
into a set. I also know that there’s only so much you can do with a card
showing several players. So, the unimaginative design of three players in a
line is fine. It especially works on this card since it allows two Red Sox
players to take up most of the space.
A few problems with the card, though. First, the gold foil lettering
has got to go. Why do companies insist on making me tilt the card left and
right in order to read the front? It’s getting really old.
Second, they don’t have the stats on the front of the card.
That’s annoying. I want to be able to look right at the card and see how
dominant Pedro was that year. Did he just squeak by Derek Lowe? Or, was his
number half of his nearest competitor again? I need to know.
Of course, my biggest problem is that guy on the right of
the card. Notice how he’s all the way over to the right? That’s because he
finished third in the league. But, somehow he was able to steal the Cy Young
award from Pedro. An absolute shame. (Yes, I know, the Cy Young isn’t given to
the pitcher with the best ERA. Nor should it be. But, Pedro beat him in just
about every other category too.)
Maybe when I put this card back in its binder, I should
black out the right third of the card. I can just color over it right on the
page. Pretend like it doesn’t even exist. That would have to be an improvement.
The other two thirds are pretty nice.
Just seeing this card makes me mad. Pedro was totally robbed of the Cy Young that year! I wrote a whole rant about it at the time.
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