2019 October Legends Closing October 19
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/20/2019
This unique and unissued, blank-backed proof piece from the 1977 Topps issue features St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Harry Rasmussen. Rasmussen legally changed his name to "Eric" in the winter of 1976, but the card originally planned for 1977 showed the athlete under the caption of his original birth name. Topps quickly complied with the change by revising his 1977 Topps card. But this full-color depiction, which exists only in proof card form, survived to illuminate the adjustment made by Topps to update its 1977 issue. Although visibly hand-cut, the offered card (which is also lacking the facsimile autograph feature employed in '77 Topps) concedes very little evidence of past handling. This is a very unusual and rare specialty piece that reflects a stage of production which is almost never made available for hobby scrutiny.