It is not readily apparent the connection between baseball cards and photography. Most collectors are accumulating baseball cards not for the photograph as one who may purchase any oil painting but because of either team loyalty, player worship, or achieving set completion. Great pictures play second fiddle to the card.
Doug McWilliams in 1948 started collecting cards and going to PCL games in the Bay Area of California. Inspired by Ozzie Sweet’s photos in Sport magazine and when Sunbeam Bread stopped producing baseball cards, McWilliams brought his camera to the ballpark, thinking he could create his own baseball cards.
Throughout high school, college, and a career he continued to collect, earning an entry in Irv Lerner’s book of Who’s who. The A’s moved to Oakland in 1969. McWilliams was there for “Picture Day”, a fan inviting event for them to take pictures of the players. McWilliams got to know a lot of players from attending so many minor league games with his camera. When one player, Jim Grant, who was traded back to the A’s, needed new PR pictures, Grant had McWilliams do the photos.
Bill Haber, a facts and figures guy for Topps, knew McWilliams as a collector. When a Vida Blue postcard reached his hands he showed it to Topps. They liked what they saw and give McWilliams an opportunity at spring training in Arizona. McWilliams shot photos with Topps for the next 23 years.
Vida Blue thought highly of McWilliams and asked him to shoot his wedding on the mound at Candlestick Park.
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