The original artwork for Chico Ruiz’s 1963 and 1964 Topps cards measures 3-1/4″ x 4-1/2″. But as often happened, Topps cropped it heavily.
For Ruiz’s 1963 Rookie Stars card, nearly all of the detailed painting was lost, leaving only the classic floating head look.
In 1964, Topps allowed a little more of the art to shine through, head, shoulders, and background, though most of Ruiz’s torso and glove were trimmed out.
It’s another reminder of how much artistry was sacrificed in the production process. Front and back scans of both cards below, from Fanatics Collect.
Happy collecting!
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