Topps All-Star Misses: 1959 NL Outfield

 In 1959 Topps got it nearly right in the NL outfield. They had Aaron and Mays who were not only the starters from the 1958 All Star Game, but also selected to The Sporting News All Star roster. In 1959 The Sporting News All Stars weren't separated AL and NL and the 3rd outfielder was the great Ted Williams. But the 1958 ASG starting left fielder Bob Skinner was left out.

Which begs the question why Covington? Topps included Wes Covington in their All Star Subset although he never made an All Star team in his career. He also was never named to The Sporting News All Star team.  He had a career year in 1958 with personal bests in batting average, homeruns and RBIs, but only his HR total broke the top ten in the NL.  He even was 16th in NL MVP voting, coincidentally just one behind Bob Skinner.  Another Topps mystery.

Topps All-Star Misses: 1960 AL Infield

 Again, no mystery players from the AL infield included in Topps' 1960 All Star subset.  Fox and Aparicio were MLB All Star starters in both 1959 games and chosen to the Sporting News All Star roster in 1960.  Moose Skowron was the starter at first base during the first 1959 ASG and was on the 1960 Sporting News All Star team.  Frank Malzone was the starter at third in the second ASG in 1959.  Nonetheless, there are still a couple of players who could have made the cut.  Harmon Killebrew was a starter at third in game one and Pete Runnels started at first in game two.

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 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).

Topps All-Star Misses: 1961 NL Battery

 Let me start by saying that Topps had no mystery players represented in the NL battery.  Their 1961 All Stars included RHP Bob Friend who was the starting pitcher of the first ASG of 1960. They had Del Crandall at catcher who started both ASGs in 1960. At LHP they had Warren Spahn who was selected to The Sporting News All-Star roster in both 1960 and 1961. That being said there are still five potential inclusions to this subset from the NL Battery alone.

LHP Mike McCormick:

• On the NL All Star roster for both games on 1960.
• Was the first lefty to come on in relief in ASG 1 in 1960.
• On the NL All Star roster for both games on 1961.
• Led NL with 2.70 ERA in 1960.

LHP Johnny Podres:

• On the NL All Star roster for both games on 1960.
• Was the first lefty to come on in relief in ASG 2 in 1960.
• Was 14th in NL MVP voting in 1961.
• Led NL in Win/Loss % in 1961.

RHP Vern Law:

• On the NL All Star roster for both games on 1960.
• Was the starting pitcher in ASG 2 in 1960.
• 1960 Cy Young award winner.
• Was 6th in NL MVP voting in 1960.
• Led NL with 18 complete games in 1960.

RHP Joey Jay:

• On the NL All Star roster for both games on 1961.
• Named to The Sporting News All Star roster in 1961.
• Led NL in Wins with 21 in 1961.
• Led NL in Shut Outs with 4 in 1961.

Catcher Smoky Burgess:

• On the NL All Star roster for both games on 1960.
• Was 20th in NL MVP voting in 1960.
• Starting catcher in both 1961 ASGs.
• Named to The Sporting News All Star roster in 1961.

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 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).

Favorite Players A-Z (Part 3 of 3)

 Part 3 of "Everybody else is doing it, why can't I?"  Here's "S" through "Z" of my favorite players.  This time there aren't any ties, but a full 50% of them are Chicago cards.  Told you I was a homer.

1976 Topps Ron Santo

1990 Donruss Frank Thomas

1976 Topps Father/Son style Bob Uecker Broadcaster

1976 Topps Rookie Pitchers - Pete Vuckovich

1987 Topps Billy Williams All Star

OK this is another cheat, but his nickname is "Double X" so...

Jimmie Foxx on a rejected Topps prototype

1982 Topps Robin Yount In Action

For my final card, I chose a real one.  Bottom line is you cannot improve on this card. From the high sign, to the six balls nailed to the bat, to the inexplicable pink undershirt. It is art, plain and simple.

1952 Topps Gus Zernial

Favorite Players A-Z (Part 2 of 3)

Part 2 of me jumping on the bandwagon.  Here's "J" through "R" of my favorite players A-Z.

I hope this isn't a recurring theme.  Again, I couldn't choose between two of my favorites.

1974 Topps Traded Fergie Jenkins

1986 Fleer Bo Jackson

1975 Topps Dave Kingman

1981 Donruss Greg Luzinski

1969 Topps Carlos May

Don Newcombe on another rejected Topps prototype

1962 Topps Buck O'Neil

1968 Topps Satchel Paige

1980 Donruss Dan Quisenberry

1973 Topps Frank Robinson

Ten more cards and this time a mere 3 Chicago cards.

Favorite Players A-Z (Part 1 of 3)

My mother (probably all mothers) used to say, "If your friends jumped off a bridge, would you do it, too?".  Maybe.  I've seen a few bloggers make an A-Z list of favorite players. So I figured that I'd jump, too.  I'm more than a bit of a homer so look for an overabundance of Cubs and White Sox players.

For the most part, I'm including cards I had previously created for this blog.  I had to make one card specifically for this post (it's the letter "L") and there is one real card which might be my favorite card in my collection.

Right off the bat, I'm torn. Two of my all time favorite players have last names starting with A. So I'm cheating already.

Hank Aaron on a rejected Topps design.

1972 Topps Dick Allen In Action

1953 Topps Ernie Banks

1984 Topps Roberto Clemente Statue

1978 Topps Larry Doby

1972 Topps All Star Pitchers (Yeah, I know I spelled Dock wrong)

1964 Topps Nellie Fox All Star

1976 Topps Father/Son style Mark Grace Broadcaster

1968 Topps Frank Howard All Star

1957 Topps Monte Irvin

First ten cards and only 5 were Chicago teams, if you don't count Grace. Not bad. (For me).

To be continued....