I would like to introduce all of you to Fernando Rodney.
Here he is on a 2006 Upper Deck card looking like, well, Fernando Rodney. He is pretty distinguishable. He is large. He wears a flat hat, cocked to the side. Oh, and he has this signature beard that makes him look like Thelonious Monk sometimes. Here he is again in 2008, on a Topps card this time.
Notice all of the characteristics that I've described thus far.
So what is wrong with this picture?
If you said "That is not Fernando Rodney" you're...half right.
Unintentional Errors happen on cards. The 2007 Topps card of "Fernando Rodney" has a picture of Roman Colon. Interestingly, there is a picture of the real Fernando Rodney on the back. Even though the Tigers were in the World Series in 2006 and Fernando Rodney was an 8th inning anchor in the bullpen, this is a forgivable mistake. Fine, Topps gets a free pass.
However, this scan that Drizz provided above highlights what is unforgivable:
1. The 2009 picture is of Roman Colon
2. Roman Colon hasn't pitched for the Tigers since 2007
3. The 2009 card featuring Roman Colon is OBVIOUSLY from the same game as the 2007 card (note the same background and angle)
4. You knew who Fernando Rodney was when you included him in the team set in 2008.
For shame Topps. This is lazy, pathetic and unfair to a key contributor to the Tigers and one of the nicest guys on the team. You might be able to get away with this in a team set (although not really, because anybody buying a team set knows what the players look like) but you better pull your stuff together and get these things cleaned up for Series 2. For all the crap he gets from Tigers fans, we still want Fernando in our Topps sets!
