Custom Shop: Mike Easler
I’ve gotten back into making some custom cards. Thanks to Mark over at Battlin’ Bucs, I’ve gotten comfortable with printing them out (and I think I may even have a solution for the backs eventually), which has given me a bit of a renewed vigor.
The main point of making my own customs has always been to provide my self with some cards to get signed for my Houston team autograph collection. Today’s entry is a Mike Easler card, which I based off the 1951 Bowman football design and increased to normal card size. I suppose given that I’ve taken my printing tutorials from a Pirates fan, it’s fitting that I feature a player most known for his Pittsburgh days.
Easler was drafted by the Astros in 1969 and only played in 26 games for the Astros from 1973-75 before getting traded to the Cardinals in June of 1975. He would go on to post a .293/.349/.454 slash line over basically 10 seasons (about 9 ½ full seasons, 14 years), including a .302/.354/.474 line in his six years with the Pirates. He was a member of the 1979 World Championship team, and made the NL All-Star team in 1981. He amassed a total of 12.9 bWAR, including 7.9 during his time with Pittsburgh.
I love the old-school batting gloves that he has on, they don’t even look like they are supposed to be used for baseball.
Let me know what you think! I’d be happy to provide a photoshop template, too.
– Bru
That photo screams 1973 or 1974 Topps to me. I would love to see it in one of those formats.
I've been meaning to do a '73 template. I have a pretty nice one I got from the old Dick Allen HOF blog that I want to touch up.
I definitely might revise these to give them more of a painted portrait look like the old Bowman cards. I just didn't have a ton of time to finish that out here.
I could probably do a "card" for you- if you send me an original. dsosidka@gmail.com