Card #248 in the 1952 Topps set features Frank “Spec” Shea and is the 11th addition to my in-progress set. He is posing with a smile in his Yankees uniform, his name appearing next to a bold yellow Yankees logo. Too bad he was with the Senators the entire year. The back of the card even identifies Shea as a pitcher for Washington, going as far as to say he was traded in May.
This was a multiplayer trade that involved several players appearing in ’52 Topps. What makes this one so interesting is that Topps was able to identify the trade but did not adjust the photo or logo on the front of the card. Irv Noren and Tom Upton appear as Senators on First Series cards #40 and 71. Jackie Jensen is shown as a Yankee on both sides of Second Series card #122. Archie Wilson appears in the late-season high numbers and is correctly shown in a Boston Red Sox uniform after having been traded a second time in the season.
Topps issued cards with a staggered release schedule in 1952. Series 1 went to press in February. Series 4 was issued late enough in the season to mention the May trade, but still early enough to prevent an airbrushing of Shea’s uniform in the photo and application of a new logo. Enough time had elapsed for both to be accomplished on Archie Wilson’s card.
Team sets often include Shea with the Yankees, despite not playing a game with the team that year. He is even part of PSA’s official ’52 Topps Yankees list.
As a player he had his biggest impact with the Yankees in 1947. That caught the eye of Robert Redford when he was preparing for The Natural and Shea was asked to become his pitching consultant for the film. Shea’s SABR biography notes that the Yankees scout sent to watch him received a police escort.
Bowman Beats Topps in Artistic Inspiration
Shea didn’t have a large number of cards produced during his career, mostly appearing in a handful of Topps and Bowman issues. Following his successful 1947 season he was one of the players filling out the inaugural checklist of 1948 Bowman. That card featured a plain black & white photograph composed to show Yankee Stadium seating in the background.
Bowman planned to include Shea in its 1952 set, making him one of 210 players to appear in both major card issues that year. Engaged in a suddenly fierce competition with Topps, Bowman upped it quality control game with quick edits and more up to date player information. While Topps completely missed adjusting Shea’s Yankee photo, Bowman painted Shea in full Senators regalia. Side by side comparison of the 1948 and 1952 cards show the 1948 issue’s photo served as a model for Bowman’s artist. A Washington hat is clearly visible, though Yankee pinstripes and Shea’s 1947 number “20” are readily apparent. Yankee Stadium is removed from the background and replaced with parkland greenery.
