As I explained in yesterday’s part 1 article covering the first half of the 1970 Topps baseball poster set, my long-time baseball card collecting passion, coupled with operations experience at the Chicago Tribune printing plant, meshes well with understanding how Topps processed a variety of trading card products in their Duryea, PA factory and other locations. 
Today, I’ll share production insights and observations about the remaining 12 posters.
13. TOMMIE AGEE, NEW YORK METS, OUTFIELD
Topps must have had a limited supply of Tommie Agee photos in their filing cabinets around 1970, or maybe they just simply fell in love with the Miracle Mets mug since it appeared on 5 different 1970-1971 products. 
The cupboard may have been bare, too, for an action shot of Agee for his 1970 Topps Poster #13. I checked multiple Agee photos on the internet, and to my knowledge he never donned a 2-toned batting helmet, was not a choker-upper and didn’t wear that particular style of striped stirrups. 
Given Topps history of using photo retreads, they technically could have used on Tommie’s 1970 poster an airbrushed action shot when he played for the Cleveland Indians (1962-1964) or Chicago White Sox (1965-1967). Better yet, a fresh picture from the New York Mets (1968-1969) leading up to his 1970 Topps poster would have been perfect. Yet, as this graphic below shows, no stirrup from those teams over that 8-year stretch matches the one featured on the poster. 
To me, the hitter looks like Baltimore Orioles superstar Frank Robinson in a road uniform, per this deeper dive:
It may not be Robinson or even an Orioles batter for that matter, but I’m pretty confident it’s not Agee.
14. ROY WHITE, NEW YORK YANKEES, OUTFIELD
At first glance, it appears Topps snagged a batting stance photo from Roy White’s 1966 Topps rookie card #234 and used it on his 1970 Topps Poster #14.
While that may be true, upon close inspection, it appears White’s uniform number on his 1966 card is something more than 6. The 6 has a number next to it, as opposed to a stand-alone 6 on his 1970 poster. Thanks once again to tcdb.com, I found an enhanced image of that batting stance on a 2005 Topps Retired Signature Gold card #109. The photo, likely taken in 1965, was shot in Fort Lauderdale Stadium, the New York Yankees spring home. 
In 1965 spring training, Clete Boyer wore number 6, not switch-hitting Roy White, who instead laid claim to number 48. 
Boyer wore number 6 from 1961 through 1966. White didn’t wear number 6 for the Bronx Bombers until 1969, as detailed by baseball-reference.com: 
When the 1965 Roy White spring training photo is placed on top of his 1966 Topps rookie card, it appears a missing sliver of his left back prevents full coverage of the rookie card image, the side that would possibly include the partially visible number. 
It makes sense that he’s wearing number 6 in the 1970 poster because that’s the number he indeed wore starting in 1969. However, something isn’t adding up, literally. 
Did White wear a double-digit jersey ending in 6, like 16, 26, 36, 46, heck maybe even 76 (which is what the number looks like to me) in 1965 temporarily in spring training until he was officially issued 48? I’m not sure, but it seems possible. In the mid-60’s, Topps could not have known that White would eventually wear number 6 starting in 1969, so his rookie card couldn’t be number 6 because Boyer owned that number. I think Topps used that 1965 double-digit photo and placed it on the 1970 poster, then airbrushed out the partial number to the left of number 6 because White then officially wore number 6 with the Yanks when the poster was created. I also think Topps digitally eliminated that same partial number on the 2005 card to once again make it look like this is Roy White when he wore number 6 for most of his Yankee career. I could be wrong, but I believe my theory is tenable.
15. LARRY DIERKER, HOUSTON ASTROS, PITCHER
As far as posed action shots go, Larry Dierker’s 1970 Topps Poster #15 picture is a 10 out of 10. 
The extended leg kick, the curled arms, the gritting teeth, the dexterous balance, heck, even the sharp star on his cap all work in harmony. This marvelous photograph was team-issued by the Houston Astros in 1965. Topps latched onto it in 1970 for good reason even though the image was a half-decade old.
But what really captivated me as a kid was the unimaginable detail of the ball cap logos, especially Dierker’s. Back in 1970, seeing, touching or wearing professional baseball hats, or at least identical knock-offs, was as rare as catching a foul ball. There were no Lids stores or MLBShop.com. Thanks to these magnified photos, you could lay eyes on raised and separating threads on the embroidered team logos (all except the out-of-focus Oriole mentioned in part 1). 
16. ROD CAREW, MINNESOTA TWINS, 2ND BASE
Even more so than Tommie Agee’s repetitive headshot, Topps was infatuated with Rod Carew’s contemplative portrait.
In addition to landing on his 1970 Topps Poster #16, that twin likeness appeared on 6 other Topps offerings. 
Minnesota Twins home uniforms are streaked with blue pinstripes. 
Carew’s original action artwork provides insight into poster enhancements designed to highlight those uniform lines. 
In addition to accurately contouring the flying fielder to create a suspended image, the artist painted pinstripes on the leaping second baseman’s photo to ensure those beauties showed up clearly on the poster. 
Here’s the aftermath of the art department’s efforts. 
17. DON MINCHER, SEATTLE PILOTS, 1ST BASE
Topps made a fine pick including 1969 slugging Seattle Pilots All-Star rep Don Mincher on the 1970 Topps Poster #17. 
The short-lived team wasn’t around long enough for Topps to have a treasure trove of Pilots photos on file, which makes me wonder if that’s really 6’ 3”, 205 lb. lefty Mincher batting on the poster. A quick check of his socks makes me raise my eyebrows. The Pilots blue and gold stirrups have 4 thin, circular stripes. 
The hitter on the poster is dressed in stirrups with 2 thick white bands, which look just like those worn by the Boston Red Sox from that era. In fact, a photo search seems to match another lefty, a 5’ 11”, 175 lb. guy by the name of Carl Yastrzemski. I could be wrong, but I’d put good money on the claim that that’s Yaz, not Mincher, in the poster’s imaginary batter’s box. 
18. OLLIE BROWN, SAN DIEGO PADRES, OUTFIELD
Topps chose Downtown Ollie Brown from the sophomore San Diego Padres for 1970 Topps Poster #18. That portrait is also seen on his 1970 Topps Candy Lid. 
Unlike other artwork action pieces precisely outlined in the poster set, the art department may have been running low on chalky paint. Brown’s hands could have been framed more accurately to conceal the original photo’s background. At least they left the cool cloud of dust created by Brown’s 1969 slide. 
19. ED KIRKPATRICK, KANSAS CITY ROYALS, OUTFIELD
The entire 1970 Topps Poster set pops with brilliant color, like Ed Kirkpatrick’s Poster #19. Spanky’s blue eyes complement his royal blue Kansas City Royals hat. 
Progressive proofs are produced not only for stand-alone cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK), but combinations of these colors are tested together to see quality results before a live press run.
The 3 primary colors (blue, red and yellow) along with black can mix together to make a rainbow of colors. Case in point, the underside of Kirkpatrick’s bill of his cap is green. Green is made mixing cyan (blue) and yellow. The cyan/yellow proof shows that green tint coming into play.
The science behind these poster creations is more than meets the (blue) eyes.
20. REGGIE SMITH, BOSTON RED SOX, OUTFIELD
Anyone now notice the green backdrop on Reggie Smith’s 1970 Topps poster #20? 
21. BOB CLEMENTE, PITTSBURGH PIRATES, OUTFIELD
Many years have passed since Roberto Clemente’s spectacular Hall of Fame career, selfless acts and tragic, untimely death. He played during a period when baseball was heavily steeped in racial discrimination on and off the field. The Pirates superstar was not immune even when it came to baseball cards that referred to him as Bob instead of Roberto as Bruce Markusen from the National Baseball Hall of Fame covers in his linked article. Such is the case with Clemente’s 1970 Topps Poster #21 and his matching image from his 1960 Topps card #326 and 1964 Topps Giants card back #11. 
It’s never too late to right a wrong. In honor of a great ballplayer and even greater humanitarian, this poster’s for you, Roberto. 
22. FRANK HOWARD, WASHINGTON SENATORS, OUTFIELD-1B
A 6’7”, 255 lbs. giant of a man benefits from a big canvas. Hence, the jumbo 8 3/4” x 9 5/8” 1970 Topps Poster #22 is the perfect fit for Frank Howard. The Capital Punisher’s poster image resurfaces on his petite 2 1/2” x 3 1/2” 1971 Topps card #620.
There’s something very cool about seeing a chipped up, game used, throwback batting helmet planted atop a sturdy, real deal, wool baseball hat. The poster provides enhanced scratch details the smaller card doesn’t fully exhibit.
23. BERT CAMPANERIS, OAKLAND A’S, SHORTSTOP
Continuing with the mean green printing scheme, a heapin’ helpin’ of mixed cyan and yellow ink are running rampant on Bert Campaneris’ Oakland A’s hat on his 1970 Topps Poster #23. 
Like the Messersmith board, the original Campy inset photo is the exact shape as the silhouette on the poster template. 
This identical sizing helped Topps avoid scaling the image to fit onto the backdrop.
24. DENNY McLAIN, DETROIT TIGERS, PITCHER
Topps used a bespectacled Denny McLain image twice over in 1970, one on Poster #24 and the other on the Detroit Tigers pitching ace’s Candy Lid.
Here’s the actual transparency shot by the Topps photographer and ultimately selected for these 2 products. 
Though somewhat difficult to see, the slide shows teammates behind McLain surrounding a batting cage. We obviously get none of this detail on the poster, and only some of it on the lid. The progressive proofs for the candy lid reveal the teammates, too, but that detail got punched off the circular lid during the die cutting process.
Though Topps referred to these inserts as All-Star Posters on the wrapper, Willie Davis, Ron Fairly, Andy Messersmith and Rick Wise had not been selected to an All-Star team until after 1970, while Ollie Brown and Ed Kirkpatrick never got a golden ticket. Either way, this front row seat down production lane provides insight into how these All-Star posters were created and gives a peek into Topps’ inner workings.
A couple time passage footprints:
Topps purchased thick illustration boards for mounting and touching up the 1970 poster set action photos from Plaza Artist Materials Inc. at 210 East 58th Street in New York City. 
Founded in 1960 by Rubin Zelenko and Hy Boss, Plaza Artists Materials Inc. promised to deliver art supplies anywhere in Manhattan within an hour, regardless of order size. The storefront was about a 40-minute drive to Topps headquarters at 254 36th Street in Brooklyn. 
I wonder if Topps sent an employee to Plaza, or if they took advantage of the freaky fast delivery service. Given the close proximity of Plaza to the Topps main office, there’s a good chance the 1970 poster set was concocted in the Brooklyn location, but there’s an outside chance it could have been created in the Duryea plant or an outsourced Topps office elsewhere instead.
Regarding the fate of both the Topps Duryea and Chicago Tribune facilities: After more than a 30-year run, Topps announced in November 1996 they were closing their Pennsylvania factory doors and shifting operations to other locations. The factory still stands at 401 York Avenue, and is now home to Pride Mobility Products. 
This July, after a 43-year run, we’ll vacate the Chicago Tribune Freedom Center, named for freedom of the press, to make room for Bally’s Chicago Casino. 
Our team is hard at work setting up operations in Schaumburg, IL in a smaller newspaper facility. You can bet we’ll also work hard at continuing to create the Daily Miracle.
If you liked this 2-part article, you might enjoy my other Topps vintage articles.
Related Stories:
1970 Topps Baseball Poster Set – Part 1: Production Tools and Tricks
Roll Call: All-Time Topps Vintage Baseball Team Cards Roster Revealed
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda: Vintage Baseball Team Photos Topps Left Out
Mistaken Identities: “The Sporting News” 1969 Topps All-Stars
Comic Sketch: Photo Matching the 1969 Topps American League Manager Cards & Cartoons
SC Daily Contributor Roy Carlson’s Work Honored by SABR
1969 Topps Baseball Team Posters – Part 1: Big, Bold & Borrowed
1969 Topps Baseball Team Posters – Part 2: Giant Size! Assembly
