Monday, May 10, 2021

Topps All-Star Misses: 1962 NL Battery

 My latest project is making All Star Cards That Never Year for the years 1958-62 and 1968-70.  During those years Topps decision making on these cards was haphazard and a mystery to everybody but Topps. They were NOT based on the current season's "Sporting News All Stars" nor the previous season's ASG starters.  So I've made additional cards based on this criteria.   

What started as an idea for a small project, ballooned to over 150 cards so I'll be posting these in small doses.  I'll be breaking it down by year, league (NL or AL), and positions (battery, infield and outfield).

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With the 1962 set there were a lot of All Stars to choose from.  In 1961 MLB was still running 2 All Star Games each season. Game 2 actually ended on a tie. It was the first tie game in All Star history and it was due to rain.  The only other tie was Bud Selig's 2002 fiasco.

Sandy Koufax:

  • Although not a starter in either 1961 ASGs, he was the first lefty to come in relief in game 2.
  • All Star reserve in 1961 and 1961. 
  • 18th in 1961 MVP voting.
  • 24th in 1962 MVP voting.
  • Led NL with 269 Ks in 1961.





Bob Purkey:

  • Starting pitcher in 1961 AS Game 2.
  • All Star reserve in 1961 ASG 1.
  • All Star reserve in both 1962 ASGs.
  • 1962 Sporting News All Star RHP.
  • 3rd in Cy Young voting 1962.
  • 8th in 1962 NL MVP voting 1962.








Smoky Burgess:

  • Staring Catcher in both 1961 ASGs
  • 1961 Sporting News All Star









Del Crandall:

  • 1962 Sporting News All Star.
  • Missed most of 1961 due to shoulder injury.
  • Starting Catcher in bot 1962 ASGs.
  • 1962 Gold Glove.


Who probably didn't merit inclusion in the 1962 Topps All-Star set, but was in it anyway?

Johnny Roseboro

Roseboro was a Gold Glove in 1961 and was 19th in MVP voting in 1961. He was a back-up catcher in both 1961 and both 1962 ASGs.  But because he was not selected to the Sporting News All Star team in 1961 or 1962 nor was he a starter in either of those seasons, his inclusion is questionable.


2 comments:

  1. Great looking cards. Really like the Burgess card. I have all those 1962 All-Star cards and like you, I don't know where some of the selections came from.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice to see a card of Crandall, who passed away on Wednesday.

    ReplyDelete