Topps All-Star Misses: 1962 AL Infield

 In 1962 The Topps "Sporting News All-Star" cards for the AL infield most closely resembled the second ASG of 1961.  Topps had three of the four starters from game 2; Norm Cash at first, Luis Aparicio at short, and Brooks Robinson at third.  The only player in the 1962 Topps AS set that was an actual "Sporting News All-Star" in 1962 was Brooks.  Cash and Robinson were also 1961 Sporting News All Star sections.

So who could've been on these cards? At first base there could have been a card for Norm Siebern.  He was the actual Sporting News All Star selection in 1962.  Although he never was an All Star starter he was a four-time All Star from 1962-1964.  He al so received AL MVP votes three years running from 1961-1963

At second base there could have been cards for Johnny Temple who and Bobby Richardson. Temple started both All Star games in 1961.  Richardson was the Sporting News All Star selection in both 1961 and 1962.

At shortstop you can see a changing of the guard in New York. The outgoing shortstop, Tony Kubek could have been included because he was the starting shortstop in the first ASG of 1961.  He was also the Sporting News All Star selection in 1961.  The 1962 Rookie of the Year, Tom Tresh, was the Sporting New All Star selection in 1962.  This would be another case where a player could have had a rookie card and an All Star card in the same Topps set.  His rookie card appeared in the Series 1.  By Series 6 (where the All Stars appeared in 1962) Topps could have made a second card for the eventual ROY.

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

Chuck Schilling

In 1961 Schilling Tied for 3rd in Rookie of the Year voting. His teammate Don Schwall won the title. Although Schwall won the AL ROY and another 1961 Red Sox rookie, Carl Yastrzemski would enter the Hall of Fame, Schilling was given the Thomas A. Yawkey award for Most Valuable Red Sox in 1961. A wrist injury in 1962 would shorten his promising career. After being traded to the Twins in 1966, Schilling retire rather that take a demotion to the minors.  Ironically, the last ling from the back of his 1962 All Star card read: "Chuck is assured of a long major league career."

Roberto or Bob?

 In my last post I made a 1962 All Star card for Roberto Clemente.  I went back and forth on whether to use the name that Topps used for Clemente back in that era or his chosen name of Roberto.  I opted for the one that was more historically accurate. This caused some discussion in the comments.  Was this a micro-aggression? Was Topps trying to anglicize his name to appeal to a broader audience? Or was this "Just Topps being Topps"?  Perhaps a little of each? 

When he came into the league his first two Topps cards had his name as Roberto Clemente (1955, 1956).  In 1957 they changed it to Bob.  A name that he did not like.  The kept this practice through 1969, and a few insert cards of 1970.

Occasionally Topps would accidentally refer to him as Roberto in the bio on the back of the card (Topps being Topps).  This was understandable as most people in the media and otherwise, called him by his given name of Roberto. Here are the backs of a 1959 Topps card featuring Clemente, Bob Skinner, and Bill Virdon:

Here is the back of his 1962 Topps card:

Also whenever his facsimile autograph appeared on a card it was a beautifully written "Roberto Clemente". 

In an odd twist the 1967 Topps card abbreviated his facsimile signature to "Rob" Clemente.  Possibly to justify referring to him as Bob all along?

The other card makers during that time almost exclusively referred to him as Roberto.  These were mostly food issues or local team issues. The only exceptions I found was the 1961 Post cereal card.  He was referred to as Bob in 1961 but Roberto in subsequent issues. And the 1966 East Hills Shopping Center card.  Here are some food issue cards from that era; 1962 Post, 1963 Jello, 1966 Kahn's and 1969 Nabisco:

Here's a couple more oddballs from that era:  1962 Salada Tea coins and a 1968 Atlantic Oil card:

Even the 1963 Fleer set had a "Roberto" Clemente card:

Here is an interesting article on the subject. Click Here. In it the author states that he searched newspapers.com for the year 1956 looking for uses of the name "Bob Clemente".  He then searched the same for "Roberto Clemente".  "Bob" had 706 hits, "Roberto" had 5,156 hits. While it was not unheard of, Bob was used approximately 12% of the time when referring to Clemente in 1956, the year Topps changed his name to "Bob".  I have no data to back this up, but would wager that as Clemente became more famous (ie: the sixties) that 12% usage of "Bob" in the media diminished. By 1970 Topps (with the exception of a couple 1970 insert cards) finally used his given name on the front of their card.

I recently saw a 1966 Clemente card on twitter drawn by Gummy Arts (@gummyarts).  In his own inimitable style he recreated the card accurately but instead used Clemente's given name.  I loved it, and told him so.  There is no real need for card creators to be historically accurate at the cost of simple dignity.   He was fiercely proud of his heritage and preferred to be called Roberto. 

Even Topps in their Project 70 series of cards reimagined the 1969 card with Clemente's given name:

Does that make me part of the "woke" politically correct crowd?  I honestly don't care.  Those type of labels mean nothing to me personally.  I think we should treat all people with dignity and respect.  If they are offended by something you say, do your best not to offend them.  Especially something small like a name.  Whether we're talking about "Bob" Clemente, "Richie" Allen, the Washington Redskins or the Cleveland Indians.  Most times it costs you nothing.  Other times it could be a marketing bonanza.  Just think how many new jerseys, t-shirts, hats, etc. the Guardians will sell this year. 

I have been collecting cards since 1974.  By then Clemente was gone, but I had never heard him referred to as "Bob".  It was odd when I found older cards that had that name.  By 1970 even Topps was calling him Roberto.  For me to refer to him as "Bob" in an effort to be historically accurate to what Topps would have done, is counter to what I put at the very top of this blog.  "What cards would look like if I had my way".  So with my apologies to Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker, here is the card I should have made:

I think it looks just as good as my previous "Bob" Clemente card. And it cost me nothing to show simple respect.

Topps All-Star Misses: 1962 NL Outfield

 The 1962 Topps All Star NL outfield is a bit of mixed bag.  They had Aaron, Mays and Frank Robinson.  The actual outfield in both 1961 games was Mays, Clemente and Cepeda.  Now, Topps did have an All Star card of Cepeda at 1st base.  In 1962 he did move back to 1st and was the starter at 1st in both '62 games.  He was also a 1962 Sporting News All Star selection at 1st base in 1962.  So that checks out.  Frank Robinson was also a Sporting News All Star in 1961 and 1962. Still good so far. But Where is Clemente? He started all 4 ASGs in 1961 and 1962.  He was also a 1961 Sporting News All Star.  The other missing Star was Tommy Davis.  He was a starter in both 1962 games and was a 1962 Sporting News All Star.

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

Hank Aaron:

This almost feels blasphemous, but the Hammer probably didn't belong.  He was a reserve for all 4 ASGs in 1961 and 1962, but not a starter.  He wasn't a Sporting News All Star selection either year. 

Topps All-Star Misses: 1962 AL Battery

Again with two mid season classics, there were several players that could have qualified for a Topps All Star card in 1962.  As a reminder, my criteria is that the player be a starter in the previous season's MLB All Star Game (In the case of pitchers the first righty and first lefty to appear in the game), or they be named to the current (in this case, 1962) Sporting News All Star roster. That is different than Topps criteria, which is, pretty much, a mystery. 

In 1962 Topps had All Star cards of Whitey Ford (LHP) who started the 1st All Star game in 1961. They also had a card of Frank Lary who was the first RHP to appear in relief in game one. At catcher they had Elston Howard who had a great year in 1961 and was named to the the 1961 Sporting News All Star roster.  However he started in neither 1961 ASGs nor was he a 1962 TSN All Star.

Here are 5 players who could've had cards in 1962:

Jim Bunning:

Bunning was the starter of the second All Star Game in 1961, he also pitched 2 innings in relief in the first 1961 ASG. He then went on to start the first ASG in 1962.  He was listed as reserve in game two but never left the bullpen.  

Dick Donovan and Ralph Terry were both named to the 1962 Sporting news All Star roster. Terry had a 23 win season in 1962 and was rostered for both '62 ASGs but never saw action. Donovan was similarly a reserve in both 1962 ASGs but unlike Terry, he pitched 2 innings in the first game of 1962. It mirrored his 1961 experience of being reserve for both games and pitching 2 innings of the first game.

Although Topps had Elston Howard on their 1962 All Star card, the actual 1962 Sporting News All Star selection at catcher was Earl Battey.  The starting catcher for both 1961 MLB All Star games was Johnny Romano.

Normally this is where I'd point out who didn't merit an All Star card.  I would lean toward Howard but seeing as though he was the Sporting News pick in 1961, I'll give Topps a pass.

Contest Winners

 

Congrats to all that left comments.  If you left a comment on my contest post, you won.  "Defgav", "Old Cards", "Deogolf" and "Tookie". That was easy.  Now just send an email to ctnwblog@gmail.com along with your mailing address and I'll get this 1962 Buck O'Neil card in the mail.  

If you also bought a Series 3 pack and have this card already, let me know and I'll substitute one of my previous contest winner cards.  Choose from 1968 Gibson, 1968 Seaver or 1982 Sandberg/Boggs.

The Series 3 packs have been going quickly with more than half of them selling in the first week. But there are still several left. Hit the PayPal link here to order.  I also have individual cards from all 3 series available on eBay.  My seller's name there is "ctnwblog_8".

Quantity

One Pack $10.00 USD Two Packs $19.50 USD Three Packs $28.50 USD

Congratulations to the winners and thanks again for all your support.

Another Pack, Another Give-Away

 

Series 3 is ready to go. Another 12 Cards That Never Were that were previously posted on this blog.  Additionally, there is a 1969 Topps Deckle style insert.  This time it features a 1969 expansion team, the Seattle Pilots and one of their best known players, Jim Bouton.

Now for the give away.  Just post a comment down below and next week (August 11th) I'll randomly pick 5 people to send my version of a 1962 Topps Buck O'Neil card.

Buck is well known as a Negro League legend and the star of Ken Burns' "Baseball".  But he also became the first black MLB coach in 1962.  So this is what his card would've looked like had Topps given him one back in '62.  This is one of the 13 cards that will be included in the 3rd series packs.  

If you want to buy a Series 3 Pack, the PayPal link is below.  If you happen to buy a pack and are chosen as one of the give-away winners, I will let you substitute one one of my earlier give away cards in case you don't want 2 of the same card.  (Earlier give-aways were 1982 Fleer Sandberg/Boggs Rookie card, 1968 Topps left-handed Bob Gibson or 1968 Topps left-handed Tom Seaver).

Quantity

One Pack $10.00 USD Two Packs $19.50 USD Three Packs $28.50 USD

As usual, the packs are $10.00 plus $4.50 s/h.  I also will have individual cards from Series 3, along with some from Series 2  and even a few from Series 1 available on eBay.  My seller name is "ctnwblog_8".

Just leave a comment below to be entered to win this card. 5 winners will be chosen at random August 14, 2021.

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: 1962 AL Outfield

 The 1962 Topps All Star in the American League outfield reflected the actual MLB starting outfielders from the second ASG in 1961.  Kaline, Mantle and Colavito.  Kaline and Mantle were also named to the 1962 Sporting News All Star roster.  But there are two others that merit inclusion.  Roger Maris started in right field for the first All Star Game of 1961.  And Leon Wagner was also named to the 1962 Sporting News All Star roster.

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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).

TBT - Minnesota Twins Edition

Throwback Thursday

Ok this will be a quick and dirty post I will try to actually publish every Thursday. I will make a retro card of a current player from the era of the throwback uni he is wearing. I will also post an actual card from that era as a comparison point.

This week I am making a card of Joe Mauer wearing the Twins home alternate uniform. This is basically the same threads they wore from 1961-1971.

 I realize that in this picture the colors are more bluish than on the 1971Topps Leo Cardenas card I am using for a comparison. I think that may have more to to with lighting conditions, or exposure.  Personally, I think they look much better than their everyday uniforms.

As a bonus TBT feature, I created these two 1962 cards at the request of a couple of anonymous comments.  Although, Rich Rollins and Bernie Allen both appeared on the same 1962 Rookie Parade card. This particular Twins fan wanted to see them on their own 1962 cards.

This seemed like the appropriate place to put them. As a side note, I also featured that 1962 Rookie Parade card about a year ago on my other blog, Rating The Rookies. They shared that card with Phil Linz and Joe Pepitone.