#31 Jim Brewer of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Next in the set is. Dodger bullpen pitcher. Jim Brewer. Brewer jumped fron the hapless Cubs to a World Series contender and he went on to appear in three of them for the Dodgers. He saw the most action in the '65 fall classic. He wasn't overly successful but the Dodgers did win the series. He went on to pitch an inning in relief in '66 and a 3rd of an inning in the '74 series.

Brewer also was a mainstay on the LA roster from '64 to '75 when he was traded to the Dodger American League counterpart organization, the Angels. Players that stick with franchises that long tend to be fan favorites and Brewer's low ERA and career as a LA closer, also the heir apparent to the role when Ron Perranoski left for Minnesota leads me to believe this is the case. This is pure speculation on my part because finding information about Jim Brewer's career and how he was seen in the eyes of LA fans is a mystery.

As for the card, I don't like it. Dodger cards from this set have their appeal. The red is on purpose. It grabs your attention and the players from the defending NL champs were something collectors would seek out.

The signature is nice and legible but the picture used is just head and shoulders and because Brewer isn't exactly a player that comes to mind easily, his card is lost in the shuffle.

Another issue I have with Topps cards from this era is bad airbrushing jobs. This Brewer card doesn't have it but at first, I was certain Brewer's hat was actually a Cubs hat and the Red and white bordered C was blued out and replaced with the interlocking Dodger LA logo. I prefer the hatless pictures to the airbrushing jobs they would go on to do regularly for decades Below is a 1987 Topps example of airbrushing on their Mike Laga Cardinals card.

Not too good but it's
better than what
they tried to do in the
70's. like this '76
 Lolich card on the right.