Topps All-Star Misses: 1962 NL Infield

 While the Topps 1962 "Sporting News National League All-Star" infield didn't quite match the 1961 MLB All Stars, it was very similar to the actual "Sporting News" All Star selections with one glaring omission.  TSN had Cepeda at 1st, Mazeroski at 2nd, Ken Boyer at 3rd and Maury Wills at short.  Topps had Cepeda, Maz, Boyer and Roy McMillan?? McMillan was last selected to the All Star team in 1957 when Reds fans stuffed the ballot boxes.  The four below represent the actual NL infield in both 1961 ASGs.  Around the horn we have Bill White at 1st, Frank Bolling at 2nd, Wills at short and Eddie Mathews at 3rd.

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

Roy McMillan:

McMillan was undoubtably included due to Topps not having Wills under contract. And I suspect it was a big reason for the gap from 1963-1967 when Topps had no All Star cards at all.

Topps All-Star Misses: 1968 AL Battery

 In 1968, Topps had Gary Peters, Joel Horlen and Bill Freehan as the "68 Sporting News All Star Selections" for the American League LH pitcher, RH pitcher and catcher respectively.  Of these only Freehan was the actual '68 selection.  He was also the starter of the 1967 MLB All Star game. Let's see who Topps could've used used instead.

Dave McNally:

• 
  1968 Sporting News All Star Selection
• 5th in MVP voting 1968

Denny McLain:

• 
  1968 Sporting News All Star Selection
• 1968 Cy Young Award winner
• 1968 AL MVP
• 1968 MLB All Star game reserve

Dean Chance:

• 13th in 1967 MVP voting
• 1967 MLB All Star game starter

Who probably didn't merit inclusion in the 1968 Topps All-Star set, but was in it anyway?

Joe Horlen:

Joe Horlen had a great 1967 season.  He had a career high 19 wins. He led the league in ERA, shutouts and WHIP.  He was also an All Star reserve in 1967 but never left the bullpen. He wasn't selected to the MLB All Star team in 1968. He was neither a 1967 or 1968 Sporting News All Star.  As much as it pains me, another White Sox player just doesn't belong here.

Topps All-Star Misses: 1969 NL Outfield

 The 1969 Topps All Star outfield for the National League has some glaring omissions.  Notably Hank Aaron, whose card I had already used on this blog after his passing earlier this year.  I had also included that card in my second "pack" of physical cards.  Based on the simple criteria that the players either be starting All Star from the previous year (1968) or the current year (1969) Sporting News All Star selections, here are four players that could've been included in this subset.

Hank Aaron:

• 1968 MLB All Star game starter.
• 1969 MLB All Star game starter.
• 1969 Sporting News All Star selection.
• 12th in NL MVP voting 1968.
• 3rd in NL MVP voting 1969.
• Led NL in slugging and on-base percentage in 1969.
  

Willie Mays:

• 1968 MLB All Star game starter.
• Gold Glove Outfielder in 1968
• 13th in NL MVP voting 1968.

Cleon Jones:

• 1969 MLB All Star game starter.
• 1969 Sporting News All Star selection.
• 7th in NL MVP voting 1969.

Matty Alou:

• 1968 MLB All Star game reserve.
• 1969 MLB All Star game starter.
• 1969 Sporting News All Star selection.
• 11th in NL MVP voting 1968.
• 23rd in NL MVP voting 1969.

Who probably didn't merit inclusion in the 1970 Topps All-Star set, but was in it anyway?

Lou Brock:

Brock was not even an All Star reserve in 1968 or 1969.  He wasn't on the Sporting News All Star team either year. He was 6th in NL MVP voting in 1968, leading the NL in doubles, triples and of course stolen bases. In '69 he was the stolen base king again.  Without a doubt, he was a popular player and a future Hall of Famer.  But I still wonder why he got a cards while others didn't.

Honorable Mention, Pete Rose:

Another player who wasn't a 1968 Starter nor on the 1969 Sporting News All Star team. At least Rose was a reserve in the 1968 and '69 ASGs.  He was also on the Sporting News AS team in 1968.  His inclusion doesn't quite meet the criteria, but makes a bit more sense.  Nonetheless I have other issues with his card. First is that even him in the background? His head is obscured by the brim of his cap.  There are no discernable markings on his uniform. And is that guy in the stands behind him wearing a half black/half white suit?

Series 3 Teaser

 My series three packs are nearly done.  I appreciate everyone that has bought packs and singles from my first two series.  That has allowed me to make even more physical cards from this blog.  I'm putting the finishing touches on the cards now and I'm hoping they will be ready by the end of July.

I did have to create one more card specifically for this set.  I had been including a 1969 Topps Deckle style card in each pack.  So scanning who was missing from the original set, I noticed that none of the 1969 expansion teams had cards.  There were players from each expansion team included but all were in old uniforms with logos airbrushed out.  Additionally, there was no team designation anywhere on the card.

One the most famous expansion players, not for his on-field play, but instead for his best-selling book "Ball Four" was Jim Bouton.  So by including this 1969 Topps Deckle Edge card of Bouton on this teaser post, I can technically say this is a card from my blog.  Here is also a shot of what the wrapper will look like.  In case you can't tell that is my cartoonized version Casey Stengel on the wrapper. "The Old Perfessor" always classies up the joint.

Topps All-Star Misses: 1970 AL Infield

After a bit of a diversion, I'm ready for another round of All Star misses by Topps.  As we've established, Topps basis for the players that appeared on "All Star" cards, often didn't reflect the actual starting MLB All Stars.  Many of these cards were labeled as "Sporting News All Star Selections".  Unfortunately, that often wasn't accurate either. So I've made cards that could've been included in these Topps All Star sub-sets from 1958-62 and 1968-70.

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The 1970 Topps "Sporting News" All Stars featured three AL infielders that started the 1969 All Star game; Boog Powell, Rod Carew and Rico Petrocelli.  It also had three from the 1969 Sporting News All Star team; Powell, Carew and Brooks Robinson.  Here are some players that could've been included based on either starting the 1969 ASG or being selected to the 1970 Sporting News All Star team:

 Davey Johnson:

• 1970 Sporting News All Star selection.
• 1969 MLB All Star reserve.
• 1970 MLB All Star starter.
• Gold Glove second baseman 1969 and 1970.

Sal Bando:

• 1969 MLB All Star starter.
• 16th in AL MVP voting 1969.
• 27th in AL MVP voting 1970.

Harmon Killebrew:

• 1970 Sporting News All Star selection.
• 1969 MLB All Star reserve.
• 1970 MLB All Star starter.
• 1969 AL MVP.
• 3rd in AL MVP voting 1970.

Luis Aparicio:

• 1969 and 1970 Sporting News All Star selection.
• 1970 MLB All Star starter.
• Gold Glove shortstop in 1970.
• 12th in AL MVP voting 1970.

Who probably didn't merit inclusion in the 1970 Topps All-Star set, but was in it anyway?

Brooks Robinson:

A strong case could be made for the "Human Vacuum" based on his 1969 Sporting News All Star selection, and based on his appearance as a reserve in both 1969 and 1970 ASGs.  That being said, he didn't start either year, nor was he the 1970 selection by The Sporting News.

 

1959 Topps Football Cards as Baseball Cards

 Once again we see a hint of what's to come on Topps baseball cards from their football cards.  Specifically, I'm referring to the blue and red lettering on the player's name.  That same lettering would be used on the 1960 Topps baseball cards.  Here's a side by side comparison of a 1959 card of Hall of Fame Colts receiver Raymond Berry and the 1959 AL MVP Nellie Fox on the baseball version.  Nellie is looking particularly sweaty.  Perhaps he just swallowed his trademark cheek full of tobacco.

1958 Topps Football Cards as Baseball Cards

 It's funny looking at the Topps football cards and seeing hints of what's in store for future Topps baseball cards.  These 1958 football cards hint at the 1959 baseball card design.  Here is the 1958 Topps rookie card of Eagles/Redskins Hall of Fame QB Sonny Jurgensen side by side with 1958 NL MVP "Mr. Cub", Ernie Banks.

1957 Topps Football Cards as Baseball Cards

 In 1957 both Topps baseball and football cards became the modern standard size of 2.5" x 3.5".  The football cards featured side by side photos, one head shot and one "action" photo.  Here is George Blanda's 1957 Topps card.

And here is the 1957 NL MVP Hank Aaron on a 1957 Topps football styled card.

 

1956 Topps Football Cards as Baseball Cards

1956 marked Topps' first foray into NFL football.  Again the card sizes were a bit larger, just like the 1956 Topps at 2 5/8" by 3 5/8".  As usual, I resized it to the modern day 2.5" x3.5". Here is a side by side of the actual 1956 Topps Football card of Hall of Fame quarterback Bobby Layne and the 1956 AL MVP Mickey Mantle. The Mantle card has already made an appearance on my Twitter page.  It stemmed from an off the cuff remark from my brother.  Now I am making baseball cards of all the (vintage) Topps football cards.  You never know what will set me off, lol.

1955 Topps Football Cards as Baseball Cards

After Topps' 1951 (and their 1950 felt backs which I skipped over) venture into football cards, they took a break until 1955.  Again they were collegiate cards, not NFL cards.  The set was the 1955 Topps All-Americans, based on past All-American selections and included many all time greats of the game.  They were the same size as the 1955 Topps baseball cards, 3 5/8" by 2 5/8".  Here is Bears great Sid Luckman with the Columbia Lions.

For the baseball format, I substituted the words "All American" with "All Star" and resized it to modern standard  size of 3 1/2" by 2 1/2".  Here is the 1955 AL MVP Yogi Berra with a cameo of another famous #42.

1951 Topps Football Cards as Baseball Cards

 Before I start another round of All Star Cards That Never Were, I am going to throw in something a little different.  I was playing around with an idea of what Topps baseball cards would look like if they use Topps football format.  So for absolutely no good reason at all, the next few posts will be MVP baseball players from the '50s on Topps football card designs.

In 1951 Topps had a set called Football Magic.  The "Magic" referred to a scratch off quiz on the backs. The set also featured college players, not pros. This is Billy Wade who played quarterback for the Rams and Bears from 1954-1966.  He's shown here playing for Vanderbilt. 

I took the 1951 NL MVP Roy Campanella and put him in that card design.  The baseball version looks a little wider because the '51 football cards were 2 1/16" by 2 15/16".  I made the baseball version standard size, 2 1/ 2" by 3 1/2". Here they are side by side:

In case you're wondering, I skipped over the 1950 Topps Felt Back football cards.  They were quite ugly and would be hard to re-create.

Topps All-Star Misses: 1958 AL Battery

The first year Topps included an All Star subset was 1958.  That particular year they attributed the "selection" of players to "Sport Magazine".  I have a list of "Sporting News" All Stars, but no way of verifying the "Sport" picks.  Nevertheless, here are a few that could've been included, and one that makes you scratch your head.

Jim Bunning:

• 
  Was the 1957 All Star starting pitcher.
• 1957 Sporting News All Star Selection.
• Tied for the AL lead in 1957 with 20 wins.
• 9th in MVP voting in 1957.

Billy Pierce:

• 
  Selected to Both the 1957 and '58 All Star Teams.
• 1957 Sporting News All Star Selection.
• First lefthanded pitcher to come on in relief in 1957 ASG.
• Tied for the AL lead in 1957 with 20 wins.
• 11th in MVP voting in 1957.
• Led AL in 1957 and '58 in Complete Games.

Yogi Berra:

• 
  Was the 1957 All Star starting catcher.
• Selected to Both the 1957 and '58 All Star Teams.
• 1957 Sporting News All Star Selection.
• 14th in MVP voting in 1957.
• 18th in MVP voting in 1958.

Who probably didn't merit inclusion in the 1958 Topps All-Star set, but was in it anyway?

Herb Score:

Herb Score's story is a baseball tragedy.  After a brilliant start to his career, he was struck in the face with a ball off Gil McDougald's bat. He injured his eye and broke bones in his face, causing him to miss most of the 1957 season.  Early in 1958 he returned only to tear a tendon in his arm causing him to miss most of that season.  Both of these injuries took place early in the 57-58 seasons.  Makes you wonder why he was included as a 1958 All Star in a late series subset.