Magazine Cover Derby Round 2.16 "The Movin' Mets" vs. "Armed Force"

[Benjamin Grimm]

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/magazines/MCD.png>



Vote for the cover that you like the best. Voting will run for seven days.



The Movin' Mets

Sports Illustrated, May 5, 1968.

Winner of http://thecranepool.net/phpBB32/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28088Round 1.03

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/magazines/19680505_SI.jpg>





Armed Force

Sports Illustrated, August 25, 1986.

Winner of http://thecranepool.net/phpBB32/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28286Round 1.26

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/magazines/19860825_SI.jpg>

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Like both these.



Movin Mets great headline on a completely still figure, but it's still an action shot.



Armed Force really got me in the gut emotionally. All pumped up and wanna buy a pair of Roos.

[Edgy MD]

Lots in common:

• The blurred background allowing the subject to stand as a singular figure despite being in a crowd of thousands.


• The seeming gaplessness of the crowds.


• The intense focus of men in the moment.


• Ron's half-Hawaiian-ness shining through, and Swoboda looking part Native American (though I have little reason to think he actually was).


• The elevation of the importance of secondary figures in the narrative about the team.


• Both are despicably handsome. Both were clearly found by scouts looking for the good face.


• Both covers respect the shot enough to remain lovingly uncluttered.

Swoboda's feels like a night game because of all the blue saturated in the background, though I'm not sure it is. Darling's is saturated with orange and is clearly a day game. I'm going with Rocky because his road grays beat Ron's home whites with the piping, and his half sideburn flatters him more than Ron's mullet.



Also, the tighter crop and the lesser action on Swoboda somehow conveys more information. An even better parallel would be a shot of Ron coming to a stop and looking in to his catcher before a pitch, also cropped at the chest. Something like this, only tighter and sharper:



https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L2rG14zLcDE/Va_aMzZOA8I/AAAAAAAA43k/YzxRl75VffU/s400/darling.jpg>

[G-Fafif]

Swoboda famously had a Chinese grandfather.

[Edgy MD]

That's what I'm seeing. I did not know that.



I've probably mentioned this before, but I get a Kent McCord vibe off of him. Or maybe Kyle Chandler.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Every time I see Swoboda, I'm reminded of Edward G. Robinson. Because of their chinese anceztry.

[Centerfield]

I went with emotion on this one. The Swoboda cover is about as perfect as you can get. Those old-time SI covers are real art.



But that Darling cover from my childhood, in the middle of the stretch drive in '86. When I was all "OMG WE'RE GONNA BE CHAMPS". You just never forget that.

[MFS62]

Every time I see Swoboda, I'm reminded of Edward G. Robinson. Because of their chinese anceztry.

Uh, nope on Edward G.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_G._Robinsonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_G._Robinson

I dated his niece when we were in college, and she never mentioned anything about that.



But Ron did have a Chinese grandfather, actually a step- grandfather (If there is such a thing). When he played for the Mets, there was a newspaper story that said that when his grandmother was a widow she took a job in a Chinese restaurant where she met, and later married, the owner.



Later

[batmagadanleadoff]

Every time I see Swoboda, I'm reminded of Edward G. Robinson. Because of their chinese anceztry. Uh, nope on Edward G. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_G._Robinsonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_G._Robinson I dated his niece when we were in college, and she never mentioned anything about that. But Ron did have a Chinese grandfather, actually a step- grandfather (If there is such a thing). When he played for the Mets, there was a newspaper story that said that when his grandmother was a widow she took a job in a Chinese restaurant where she met, and later married, the owner. Later

I'm certain that EGR had chinese blood. I think I saw it in a documentary. My Google searches to prove this, though, are coming up empty. But I did, just now learn, in the search, that EGR and Marilyn Monroe were lovers.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I read Edward G.'s autobiography a few months ago and he didn't mention anything about Marilyn Monroe being Chinese.

[G-Fafif]

Based on the schedule, Swoboda's cover was shot either at Dodger Stadium, where the Mets played one of two games at night, or the Astrodome, where time of day was no longer a factor once the roof tiles were painted. Pretty sure Darling was photographed in the opener of a twi-nighter in mid-August, accounting for the sense of slightly fading daylight.



Like em both a lot. Went with Rocky for the milestone of the Mets getting cover treatment for getting better rather than simply having Casey.

[kcmets]

Went with Swoboda and admit I have a prejudice towards Met 60's SI covers.

[kcmets]

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=12835 time=1560440440 user_id=68]But I did, just now learn, in the search, that EGR and Marilyn Monroe were lovers.

[Edgy MD]

=kcmets post_id=12848 time=1560447573 user_id=53]=batmagadanleadoff post_id=12835 time=1560440440 user_id=68]But I did, just now learn, in the search, that EGR and Marilyn Monroe were lovers.

[kcmets]

Who is Bela Lugosi? (I really have no idea, I just looked at Celluloid Heroes lyrics)

[Edgy MD]

I'm sorry, no.



-$400



While we wait for another contestant to buzz in, I'd just like to comment that, hey, while that may seem like a crazy guess, after hearing about Edward G. Robinson, all bets are off.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Wanna know how Eddie G. ended up scoring his cameo 'out of the window" scene on the Batman TV show? He was on the set of 20th Century Fox for a screen test for the role of Dr. Zaius on the upcoming Planet of the Apes movie. He turned down the role but while he was there, was asked if he would do a scene for Batman.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Robinson was considered for the role of Vito Corleone in The Godfather.



I wish I could visit the alternative reality in which that actually happened in order to see what the movie would have been like.

[Edgy MD]

FFC: "Marlon, Edward G., I've narrowed it down to one of the two of you for the role of Vito."



EGR: "I just want you to know, before you make your decision, that I've been with Marilyn Monroe."



MB: "Yeah, so? I have too."



EGR: "So, we're even."



MB: "Even? I've had James Dean, too. Top that."



EGR: "Um. You know what? You take the role. You'll be great."

[ashie62]

Movin Mets. Never underestimate nostalgia

[Edgy MD]

Edgy MD wrote: But I did, just now learn, in the search, that EGR and Marilyn Monroe were lovers. I'll take 'Famous Men Who Boinked Marilyn' for $400, Alex... [TABLE][TR][/TR][/TABLE] [TD][bIGPURPLE]$400[/bIGPURPLE] Rumored to have had an affair with Marilyn while co-starring in a 1950 Oscar-winning film, this famously sophisticated actor was swinging enough to appear in both a Batman episode and a Kinks song.[/TD]

I'm sorry. What the judges were looking for was "Who is George Sanders?" Nobody gets the points and kcmets still controls the board. Make your pick, Kase!

[Benjamin Grimm]

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/magazines/2_16w.jpg>



In a close vote, the cover featuring a Mets player named Ron with a Chinese grandfather defeated the cover featuring a Mets player named Ron with a Chinese grandfather. The cover featuring a Mets player named Ron with a Chinese grandfather will now advance to the third round, and the cover featuring a Mets player named Ron with a Chinese grandfather has been eliminated.



Congratulations to the cover featuring a Mets player named Ron with a Chinese grandfather, and condolences to the cover featuring a Mets player named Ron with a Chinese grandfather.