General Forum

Does anyone know why the backgrounds in so many baseball card pictures in the last many years have been fuzzed out so you can't see the details? I have alwas enjoyed looking at the backgrounds in card pictures... especially the vintage years where you can really get the feel of the era from people's dress, advertising boards, etc. Now not only can you not see these things, but the image of the player looks less real, and more cut-out appearing. 

This fuzzed out background is a photography term known as bokeh. 

I can't speak for why it has become increasingly popular in recent years. 

I would imagine liability has something to do with it.  

Maybe MARLBORO and scratching your crotch has something to do with it...(:

Ha!  Too bad it wouldn’t fix certain “face” types of bats!

It probably has more to do with the improved technology of cameras and the photographers' use of depth of perception.