1978 TOPPS BRUCE BOISCLAIR #277
Deadline was approaching, and I was looking for a Zen route out of a writer’s rut.
I resolved to do a Google image search on “Topps Mets cards” and write a piece on the first hit.
And the internet being the magnificent animal that it is, the initial image this search called up was a 1978 Topps Bruce Boisclair (autographed, no less).
Because really, there are few better symbols of the joy/pain sunshine/rain of being a Mets fan in the mid to late ’70s than Bruce.
I can remember him loping out of the dugout in 1976 and 1977, his narrow-set eyes focused and determined. No Gehrig he, but he wore number 4 with pride, and put up some pretty decent totals coming off the bench (44 RBI in 307 ABs in 1977).
Clearly he was a mutt, but he was ours.
While I have a warm spot in my heart reserved for Bruce, I was never a big fan of the 1978 Topps set. The photography was often less than flattering– I recall a whole bunch of grainy, washed-out photos like this one of Bo.
And nearly a quarter of the real estate on the card backs was devoted to a game called “Play Ball: Played by Two.”
I defy you to find me a child of the ’70s who actually indulged in that particular folie a deux…
The 1977 card shows his stance, although I don’t think it does it complete justice. Boisclair had a wide stance and virtually no stride, which helps explain how a guy his size had no power.
The other main memories I have of him is how when they played in Montreal the PA announcer would “French” up the pronunciation of his last name. And how he stopped hitting at age 25.
The ’78 cards suffer because they came out following a classic ’77 set. I certainly never played the game on the back but if you want kids to play that, it’s got to be stars. In 1968, Topps had an insert that was (mostly) stars that you played a game with that was much more successful.
Ther was one game — ’78 or ’79 — where Bois muffed a ball in the outfield and it ended up under his hat on the ground. The fella that hit it legged out a triple. Or something like that…