history of a fence

many people recognized and commented on cy young's 2021 topps archives card

that featured the all-time wins leader in a yard of clover with the all-american white (although somewhat dingy) picket fence behind him. i thought i was one of them, but a quick look back at my archives post doesn't mention it. well, the card stood out to me, too. 

i am sure some also mentioned that this is one of the few images of young that have graced cards in recent memory. back in 2009, young and this image appeared on a topps turkey red insert:

it looks like, based on this timeline, the fence was originally chain link, but the clover field was in place and well established back then.

that same year, young was wearing the same uniform on this 2009 topps target legends of the game gold insert card:

the chain link is gone, replaced by a yellowing picket fence. maybe it was a salvaged fence that was installed, and it looks like someone took a bunch of roundup to the yard.

here's the same image on a 2010 topps vintage legends insert:

same uniform, same dirt yard, but the fence looks pretty nice in this version of the image. maybe he's standing in aunt polly's yard? it's too bad tom sawyer and his pals don't do landscaping, because the clover came back between the time this card was issued and 2021 when we saw his archives card. shown up top at least young changed his uniform for the latest version of the card.

it's also worth noting that on these four cards young is representing at least three different teams. in 2021, it's the red sox. on the turkey red card, it's the cleveland naps. there is no clear affiliation on the legends of the game card, and on the 2010 card he's a boston american.  i can't wait to see where this image turns up next, and what the fence looks like!