Topps All-Star Misses: 1968 NL Battery

 The National League All Star battery according to Topps in 1968 was Ken Holtzman (LHP), Bob Gibson (RHP) and Tim McCarvey (catcher).  The actual Sporting News All Star selections for 1968 were Bob Gibson and Juan Marichal (both starting pitchers, both right-handed. I don't get this either). At catcher TSN had the rookie, Johnny Bench.

Juan Marichal, being one of the Sporting News All Star selections for 1968, plus being the starter in the 1967 All Star Game certainly deserved a card in the 1968 All Star subset.

Chris Short (who much like Maury Wills, was ignored by Topps from 1959-1966 for unknown reasons) was the first left handed pitcher to make an appearance in the 1967 ASG. TSN made no All Star selection for LHP in the NL. The only lefties to leave the bullpen in the 1968 ASG were Short and Mike Cuellar.  Since Short was the first to appear (9th and 10th inning, Cuellar pitched the 11th and 12th), he gets an All Star Card That Never Was.  At least in my alternative reality... 

The starting catcher in the 1967 ASG was Joe Torre. Topps had McCarver who was a reserve in 1967. McCarver outperformed Torre going 2 for 2. Torre went 0 for 2.

Here is another cool possibility.  Johnny Bench's first Topps card was a Reds Rookie Stars card in 1968, shared with pitcher, Ron Tompkins.  He was also the actual Sporting News All Star Selection in 1968. Wouldn't it have been great if his first solo card was an All Star card from the same season?

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

Ken Holtzman

Ken Holtzman had a 9-0 record and 2.53 ERA in 1967.  Due to military service he only pitched 12 games.  Billed as "the next Sandy Koufax" the young Jewish lefty had a great 1967 season despite not pitching enough inning to qualify for any league leader categories.  He would not play in an ASG until 1972 after he was traded to Oakland.  He didn't get named to The Sporting News All Star roster until 1973.

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?

The Hammer

 1934-2021

Today marks another passing of a legend.  Sometimes an over-used term, but not in this case.  Hank Aaron was a hero of my youth.  Unlike some other heroes, I never later learned of a dark side.  My opinion was not tainted over the years.  He was as great off the field as on.

I happen to be tinkering with another project, and had he makings of this card ready.  My project is how Topps got their All-Star cards wrong.  We've all noticed how Topps All-Stars didn't match the actual All-Stars or even The Sporting News All-Stars. So I'm working on correcting that.  In 1969, Hank Aaron was named a Sporting News All-Star, and was a starting outfielder in the 1969 All Star Game.  But Topps left him out of the subset.

I wanted to include this actual card here as well.  I started collecting in 1974 and this card contained two if my favorite players.  Great pictures, too.  It is a shame that they both recently passed.  

I've made countless Cards That Never Were of Hank Aaron.  Here are as many as I can remember at this time.  I'm sure that I'm leaving out a few.

More 1973 Alt-Topps

Traded, Rookies and Managers

Filling out the set, here are some rookie cards, traded cards and manager/coaches cards.

On November 27, 1972 the Mets dealt Tommie Agee to the Astros for two minor leaguers.  The Mets GM didn't sugar-coat it, telling the press, "We were dissatisfied with Agee's playing."  Agee looks a little dissatisfied himself.  One day later, Frank Robinson was involved in a seven-player deal that sent him 30 miles Southeast from Chavez Ravine to the big "A" in Aneheim. 

The 1973 NL Rookie of the Year was Gary Matthews Sr. He batted an even .300 and had 58 RBIs.  A couple other notable debuts in 1973 were made by Dave Winfield and Dave Parker.  With the benefit of 20-20 hindsight, I included them on this card.

In the AL it was Al Bumbry or as Topps called him on his rookie card, "Alonza".  I also included Jerry Hairston whose father, brother and two sons also played in the MLB. Rounding out the trio is Gorman Thomas who was a first round pick of the Seattle Pilots but didn't make the majors until 1973.

In the early years (through 1956) Topps included both managers and coaches in the regular set.  There have been a few exceptions since, notably Yogi Berra listed as catcher/coach in 1965 and the Cubs failed experiment with the "College of Coaches" in the early 1960s. Bob Kennedy was listed as "Head Coach" of the Cubs in 1964 & 1965. With a wealth of MLB retired stars coaching, I wouldn't mind seeing cards of them included.

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Just as I've done in previous Alt-Topps posts, I'll make as many request as I can. Hopefully, I'll post them in a few weeks. Just post your requests (or even ideas for other subsets, etc) in the comment section.  Thanks.

MLB Dream Bracket Alt-Topps Cards Part 7

Reds v Nationals

Braves v Marlins

Dodgers v Padres

Seems to be a theme in the first round to pit teams with long histories with newer teams. This is no exception. The Nationals were born as the Montreal Expos in the 1969 expansion. That same expansion brought the Padres (who almost moved to Washington in 1974).  The Marlins were part of the 1993 expansion along with the Rockies.

In the Reds - Nationals game we have Jim Maloney, Ted Kluszewski, Pete Rose and Joey Votto going for the Reds. The Expos/Nationals have Stephen Strasburg, Gary Carter, Tim Raines and Bryce Harper. If you want to see the results of this series click here for the story and video.

In the Braves - Marlins match up, Warren Spahn is pitching with Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron and Dale Murphy in the field. The Marlins have Dontrelle Willis, Gary Sheffield, Derek Lee and Giancarlo Stanton.  If you want to see the results of this series click here for the story.

The Dodgers -Padres series has Don Newcombe, Cody Bellinger, Jackie Robinson and Steve Garvey for the Dodgers, all of them are former NL MVPs. The Padres have reliever Trevor Hoffman, Nate Colbert, Dave Winfield and Tony Gwynn.  If you want to see the results of this series click here for the story.

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These cards are base on the MLB Dream Bracket.  Not sure who picked the "all-time players". It is a product of Twitch, Out of the Park and Draft Kings.  I take no responsibility for their choices, good or bad.  The cards themselves are based on a rejected Topps design from the late sixties.

To check the status of the bracket click here.