New to the Shoebox - 1976 Topps Johnny Bench

Here's another recent addition to the collection:

1976 Topps - #300 - Johnny Bench

There's not much I can add here, the scan says it all. You could make an argument that it's the best Johnny Bench card Topps ever produced, at the very least the best of the 1970's run. The photo is a classic, and I've always been partial to the 1976 set (this is my 51st card).

I like the card for another reason though. I know I've said this a few times before, but one of the reasons I enjoy collecting is that my cards comprise a kind of pictoral and statistical history of the game, neatly packed away in monster boxes in my office closet. This card makes me think of Bench's 1976 season. After a sub-par season by his standards, Bench bounced back with an amazing post-season in '76. It culminated in a World Series where Johnny hit .533 with 2 HR and 6 RBI, capturing World Series MVP honors and leading his Big Red Machine to their second straight title.

The card's in great shape, off-centered top to bottom a bit but for $6 I was more than satisfied. I picked this one up on the same trip as the 1973 Topps Fisk from a couple of posts back. Two iconic 70's cards of Hall-of-Fame legends for about half the price of a blaster. At this rate I may never buy another card at Target again...