Topps All-Star Misses: 1969 AL Battery

Taking a look at the American League All Star battery represented on cardboard in 1969 and it's legit.  Topps had "Sudden" Sam McDowell as the left-handed pitcher.  Although he did not start in the 1968 All Star Game, he was the first lefty to come on in relief. For RHP they had Denny McLain who was chosen to the 1969 Sporting News All Star Roster. Finally, they had Bill Freehan who was the 1968 ASG starting catcher AND selected to The Sporting News All Star Roster.

Even still, there could be arguments made for two more pitchers.  Luis Tiant who was the starting pitcher in the 1968 ASG and Mike Cueller who was named The Sporting News All Star LHP.

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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).