Conformity

Ask anyone who followed baseball in the 1970s about Oscar Gamble, and surely the first thing they’ll reference is his hair. During an era where large afros were in style, he had the biggest.

I’m sure that he thought he would be remembered for hit hitting prowess. After all, he did play in the Major Leagues for 17 years and hit over 200 home runs. Certainly his baseball skills took more effort and attention than his hair-styling. I think.

I believe baseball cards are to blame. A card can’t show him adjusting to a curve ball, but it can show the expanse of his mane (if the photographer wasn’t too close.) Thus it was with some sadness that I came across this baseball card, from the 1985 set:

                                      

It is terrible; it is like a shorn Sampson. His hair was his thing.  I wonder how many of us are missing the thing that makes us unique, straining to conform, straining to become something else. Just a thought.