Deja Vu Tuesday: Bob Murray

1981-82_Topps_Bob_MurrayFor 25 years, I was positive that Bob Murray’s cards from 1980-81 and 1981-82 used the same photo. I was almost right.

Take a good look. They are slightly different, though you can tell the photos were taken a few seconds apart.

1980-81_Topps_Bob_Murray 1981-82_Topps_Bob_Murray

On the 1980-81 card, the Blackhawks’ defenseman is leaning forward, peering over his shoulder at the viewer. He’s doing the same thing on his 1981-82 card, too. Unless comparing them side by side, most would just assume that it was the same lackluster photo on both cards.

Why would Topps use almost the same picture for two years in a row? Was there a two-for-one sale on uninteresting photos of stay-at-home defensemen that year? What the heck transpired when Topps was buying photographs in 1980?

TOPPS OFFICE, NEW YORK, 1980

Topps Executive: We need a photo of Bob Murray. What do you have?

Freelance Photographer: Well, um…not much I do have this picture of him sitting on the bench. (Hands photo to Topps Executive).

Topps Executive: Great! We’ll take it! What other photos do you have of him?

Freelance Photographer: Uh…another photo of him sitting on the bench.

Topps Executive: SOLD!

Freelance Photographer: But it’s pretty much the same shot, and–

Topps Executive: What else can you sell me? Got any photos of players during stoppages of play or goaltenders skating around maskless during warmup?

Fortunately, Murray’s cards over the next few years would actually show him skating.

Bob_Trio

mm

Author: Sal Barry

Sal Barry is the editor and webmaster of Puck Junk. He is a freelance hockey writer, college professor and terrible hockey player. Follow him on Twitter @puckjunk

2 thoughts on “Deja Vu Tuesday: Bob Murray”

  1. It does look like they were taken moments apart. The smudges in the background behind him are identical.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *