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."

Topps All-Star Misses: 1959 AL Outfield

In 1959 Topps' AL All Star outfield consisted of Mickey Mantle, Al Kaline and Roy Sievers. Of the three, only Mantle started in the 1958 ASG. Al Kaline was 9th inning defensive substitute for Ted Williams. The other two starting All Star outfielders were Bob Cerv of the Athletics and Jackie Jensen of the Red Sox.

In 1958 for Topps credited the All Star Selections to "Sport Magazine".  (They would repeat this in 1960.)  In 1959 the All Atar selections were supposedly from The Sporting News. This wasn't accurate either as Ted Williams was the only Sporting News All Star in 1958 to represent the American League outfield.  In 1959 the only AL outfielder selected was Minnie Minoso, who at that time was playing for the Cleveland Indians.

Who probably didn't merit inclusion in the 1959 Topps All-Star set, but was in it anyway?

Roy Sievers

He was not an All Star in 1958, but he finished 6th in MVP voting playing left field for the Senators. Sievers was primarily a first baseman in 1959. He was named a reserve in both All Star games that year, he only saw action in the first game as a pinch hitter. 

Topps All-Star Misses: 1958 AL Infield

 The Topps All Star American League infield was the same in 1958, 59 and 60. Moose Skowron was at first, Nellie Fox at second, Luis Aparicio at short and Frank Malzone at third.  Unfortunately, the only year when that was the actual MLB starting All Star infield was in 1958.  For that reason, I'm give Topps a pass here, even though the only 1957 MLB starter was Nellie Fox. He was also the lone Sporting News All Star selection for 1958. The remaining 1957 starting All Stars were Vic Wertz at first, George Kell at third and Harvey Kuenn at short.  So here are their 1958 All Star Cards That Never Were:

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.

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.

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).

Topps All-Star Misses: 1970 AL Battery

From 1958-1970 Topps has been including "All-Star" cards.  But how Topps chose the players always seemed a bit off to me.  Understandably, they weren't the current year's All-Star starters because of printing deadlines, etc.  But they weren't the previous year's All-Stars either.  Often the framed it as "The Sporting News" or "Sport Magazine" All-Stars, but that still doesn't check out.  

So I set out to make All-Star Cards That Never Were for the players that could have been included.  My criteria was simple. Either they were a starter in the previous year's All Star Game or they were named to the real "Sporting News All-Star Team" for the current season.

When I started this project, I had really no idea what I was taking on.  I ended up making over 150 All-Star Cards That Never Were.  That was just from 8 years; 1958-62 and 1969-70. Remember, Topps took a break from 1963-67 then again from 1971-73.  After that (with a few exceptions) their cards mirrored the previous year's All Star Game starters.

Darold Knowles:

• Although not the starting pitcher in the 1969 ASG, he was the first lefty to come on in relief for the AL team.
• In 1970 he had 27 saves, 3rd in AL.
• In 1970 had a 2.04 ERA.

Mel Stottlemyre:

• Starter for the AL in the 1969 ASG
• 18th in MVP voting 1969
• Led AL with 24 Complete Games in 1969
• 1970 All Star reserve.  Pitched 1.2 innings, credited with a blown save.

Jim Perry:

• Named to 1970 Sporting News All Star Team
• 1970 Cy Young Award winner.
• Led AL with 24 Wins in 1970.
• 9th in 1970 MVP voting.
• 1970 All Star Game reserve. Pitched 2 innings.
• 3rd in 1969 Cy Young Award voting.
• 9th in 1969 MVP voting.

Ray Fosse:

• Named to 1970 Sporting News All Star Team,
• 1970 All Star Game reserve. 
• 1970 Gold Glove award winner.
• 23rd in MVP voting 1970.

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

Denny McLain:

Although the 1969 Cy Young award winner, he was suspended the first 3 months of the 1970 season due to bookmaking activities. He did pitch in relief in the 1969 ASG but was not on the 1970 All Star roster.

Barrier Breakers: 1951 Minnie Minoso - Chicago White Sox

 

Although Orestes "Minnie" Minoso broke the color line for the White Sox in 1951, he made his MLB debut on the Indians in April of 1949. He hit .188 in 20 plate appearances with 2 walks and 2 hit-by-pitch. He spent the rest of '49 and '50 in San Diego of the PCL hitting .297 and .339 respectively. That earned him a short-lived promotion to the Indians in 1951.  It was short-lived because he was dealt to the South-Siders in a six-player, three-team swap. Once on the Sox, he batted .324 with 10 homers and 74 RBIs.  He also led the league with 31 stolen bases and 14 triples, was 4th in MVP voting and second in Rookie of the Year voting.

Minnie is a favorite of mine and has been featured on this blog several times.  This 1951 Bowman first appeared here in August of 2011.  I also made a 1951 Topps card for him as an Indian.

I've made several cards of the Cuban Comet over the years, but wanted to find another to make for this post.  I settled on a 1965 "Career Capper".  I considered a 1963 Fleer card featuring him on the Senators because he doesn't have a card in a Washington uniform.  But decided that this post was about the White Sox.  That'll be a project for another day.

Barrier Breakers: 1947 Larry Doby - Cleveland Indians

We all know Larry's story. Second to Jackie Robinson in the MLB and the second MLB manager behind Frank Robinson.  He also played in Japan in the early sixties. He has been one of my favorite subjects in this blog. I've made a few cards of him already. Here is a '55 Bowman, a 1963 Menko, an Alt-Topps MLB Dream Bracket card and a 1978 Topps manager card.  These all made appearances on my blog going back as many as 9 years.

I had floated the idea of the 1947 Bond Bread card on Twitter. Most liked it and thought it captured the era accurately.  The only complaint was the photo I had originally used.  Someone pointed out that it was already used on a  1979 TCMA card.  It actually was used by TCMA  again in 1984 and 1986.  In all, I found over a dozen cards that used that same photo, including several from Fleer and Topps. This version uses a magazine phot from that era.  I can't tell if it was colorized or just the print quality of the magazine.  At least I haven't found it on any other cards. Yet.

MLB Dream Bracket Alt-Topps Cards Part 5

Indians v Negro League Legends

Spoiler alert:

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The biggest disappointment in the Dream Bracket so far (besides the non-existent graphics) was the early exit of the Negro League Stars.  In an apparent lack of pitching on either side, the Tribe outscored the Negro League 52-36 in a series that went all seven games. You can read the recap here or see the video here. 

I was disappointed because I wanted  them to go deep into the bracket. I wanted to see how the Negro League Legends stacked up against other teams as well. Maybe a round-robin type of series would have been better for this. Anyway, This whole thing could have been improved by better graphics like MLB The Show and/or a different form of bracket that wouldn't be a one and done situation.  

Just my thoughts on this imaginary series of games. Now lets get to the imaginary cards!

For the  Indians we have Bob Feller, Nap Lajoie, Lou Boudreau and Larry Doby.

For the Negro League Legends I could not just do 4 cards.  I decided to make four pitcher cards, the full line-up of position players including the DH and three of the reserves.  On a side note, I know that I am missing perhaps the most famous Negro League pitcher, but there are so many cards of Satchel Paige compared to his contemporaries. Also I decided to go with black and white photos rather than an amateurish attempt at colorization. Plus with 16 cards that's a ton of work. 

Here are the four pitchers: Bill Foster, Hilton Smith, Leon Day and Smokey Joe Williams.

Here are the position players: Josh Gibson C, Buck Leonard 1B, Newt Allen 2B, Ray Dandridge 3B, Pop Lloyd SS, Turkey Stearnes LF, Oscar Charlseton CF and Cool Papa Bell RF.

The designated hitter is Mule Suttles. On the bench is Martin Dihigo, Monte Irvin and Biz Mackey.

  It also goes without say that this is the All-Time great nickname team.  Mule, Turkey, Biz, Buck, Pop, Smokey and of course Cool Papa.

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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.