1967 O-Pee-Chee Ed Spiezio #128 St. Louis Cardinals

Description

1967 O-Pee-Chee Ed Spiezio #128 St. Louis Cardinals This 1967 O-Pee-Chee Ed Spiezio card is the genuine Canadian-market parallel to the Topps issue, using the same front design and photography but marked "PRINTED IN CANADA" on the back, the detail that confirms O-Pee-Chee rather than the more common U. S. print. O-Pee-Chee cards from this era were produced in far smaller numbers and sold only in Canada, which makes them a real target for set builders and variation collectors, not just a footnote to the Topps set. On top of that scarcity, Spiezio's card itself is a fun one: he was a two-time college All-American before turning pro, and the back highlights that background along with a lighthearted note about his hobby of hunting. The write-up also covers his eye-popping .515 spring training average in 1965, before injuries slowed his push for an everyday job. Spiezio went on to be a key bench piece for the Cardinals' 1967 and 1968 pennant-winning teams, and baseball fans may also recognize the family name from his son Scott, who later starred for the Angels and Cardinals himself. the front shows Spiezio mid-swing in his classic batting pose with vibrant blue cap color and good gloss retention. Corners show light-to-moderate rounding typical of the era, with faint edge wear along the bottom border, but no creases or surface scuffing are visible. Centering is solid and well balanced within the border. The back is bright and clean with crisp statistical charts and only minor corner softness matching the front. This card presents as an honest mid-grade O-Pee-Chee example with strong eye appeal, a nice addition to a Cardinals team set, a scarcer O-Pee-Chee run, or a 1967 variation collection. Grade Estimate: VG-EX 4.5