Topps All-Star Misses: 1961 AL Battery

In 1961 Topps had LHP Whitey Ford, RHP Jim Perry and catcher Earl Battey representing the AL battery. Only Ford was an actual Sporting News All Star in 1961. He was also the only starter in either 1960 All Star game, starting the second game. Bill Monbouquette was the starter in game 1.

Whitey For was the 1961 Sporting News All Star selection for left handed pitcher.  The right handed pitching selection was Tigers pitcher Frank Lary.

Righty Monbouquette started game one and southpaw Ford started game two.  In game one, the first lefty reliever was Bud Daley.  In game two the first right handed reliever was Ealy Wynn.

At catcher, Topps had Earl Battey, but the starter for both 1960 games was Yogi Berra. His backup from 1955-1959 was Elston Howard, who also platooned in the outfield for the Yankees.  But by 1960 he was getting the majority of starts behind the plate.  In 1961 he was named to the Sporting News All Star team at catcher. 

Who probably didn't merit inclusion in the 1961 Topps All-Star set, but was in it anyway?

Jim Perry was the runner up to Bob Allison for the AL Rookie of the year in 1959. In 1960 he led the AL with 18 wins. He was selected to the 1961 All Star team as a reserve. Earl Battey was a Gold Glove catcher for the Senators/Twins franchise in 1960 and 1961.  He was also 8th in MVP voting in 1960. That being said he wasn't an All Star in either season. Nor was he selected to The Sporting News roster.  So neither actually belong by my narrow definition.  If we only knew Topps definition...

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: 1960 AL Outfield

 In 1960 Topps had Mantle, Maris and Kaline as its AL All Star outfielders.  All three of them started one of the 1959 ASGs.  Kaline started game one,  Maris and Mantle started the second game.  That left three other 1959 ASG starters that did not have All Star cards in the 1960 set.  Minnie Minoso was the most egregious offense. He not only started all four ASGS in 1959 and 1960, but he was also a Sporting News All Star in both 1959 and 1960.

Rocky Colavito started the first All Star game in 1959 and was a reserve in the second game.  He led the AL with 42 homers in 1959 and was 4th in MVP voting.

Ted Williams would get his last All Star start in the second ASG of 1959.  By 1960 he was already under contract with Fleer and wouldn't have another Topps card until his manager cards in 1969.

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: 1961 AL Outfield

Topps 1961 All-Star AL outfield contained  Mantle, Maris and Kaline.  Mantle an Maris both started in the two 1960 All Star games and were also 1961 Sporting News All Stars.  Joining them in the outfield for the 1960 games was the "Cuban Comet" Minnie Minoso.  The 3rd 1961 Sporting News All Star outfielder was Rocky Colavito.  Therefore both Minnie and Rocky were worthy of cards in this subset.

Who probably didn't merit inclusion in the 1961 Topps All-Star set, but was in it anyway?

Al Kaline:

 Al Kaline, a future Hall of Famer played in both 1960 and both 1961 ASGs.  He even started the second 1961 ASG.  Plus he was an impressive 5 for 9 in the 4 games.  Nobody doubts "Mr. Tiger's"  bona fides. Since he was a starter in neither of the 1960 contests and he was not selected to The Sporting News All Star team in 1961 (or for that matter, not in 1960 either), his inclusion in this set is questionable.

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: 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: 1961 AL Infield

  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).

************************************************

Norm Cash:

• Named to 1961 Sporting News All Star team.
• Started both 1961 MLB All Star games.
• Led AL with .361 batting average in 1961.
• 4th in 1961 MVP voting.

Pete Runnels:

• Started both 1960 MLB All Star games.
• Led AL with .320 batting average in 1960.
• 17th in 1960 MVP voting.

Bobby Richardson:

• Named to 1961 Sporting News All Star team.
• Won Gold Glove in 1961.
• 24th in 1961 MVP voting.

Tony Kubek:

• Named to 1961 Sporting News All Star team.
• Started in 1961 MLB All Star Game 1.
• Reserve in 1961 All Star Game 2.
• 11th in 1960 MVP voting.

Ron Hansen:

• 1960 AL Rookie of the Year.
• Started both 1960 MLB All Star games.
• 5th in 1960 MVP voting.

Frank Malzone:

• Started both 1960 MLB All Star games.
• Led AL in Double-Plays turned at 3B from 1957-1961.

Who probably didn't merit inclusion in the 1961 Topps All-Star set, but was in it anyway?

Nellie Fox:

As much as it pains this White Sox fan, the 1959 MVP just doesn't belong.  He was an All Star reserve in both 1960 games and both 1961 games.  However, he wasn't a Sporting News All Star either year. Nor did he start any of the 4 All Star games in 1960 or 1961.

Topps All-Star Misses: 1968 AL Outfield

 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).

************************************************

Ken Harrelson

• 
  1968 "Sporting News" All Star
• 1968 MLB ASG reserve
• Led AL in RBIs 1968
• 3rd in AL MVP voting 1968

Frank Howard

• 
  1968 "Sporting News" All Star
• 1968 MLB ASG starter
• Led AL in HRs, Slugging and Total Bases 1968
• 8th in AL MVP voting 1968

Willie Horton

• 
  1968 "Sporting News" All Star
• 1968 MLB ASG starter
• 4th in AL MVP voting 1968
• Had career highs in HRs and Slugging % in 1968

Tony Conigliaro

• 1967 MLB ASG starter
• Did not play 1968 season because of injuries

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

Frank Robinson:

Although a reserve All Star in 1967, injuries in late 1967 and 1968 caused him to have career lows in most batting categories in 1968.  He was neither a 1967 ASG starter nor named to the 1968 Sporting News All Star team.  Fortunately the Hall of Famer returned to form in 1969.

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: 1958 Ozzie Virgil - Detroit Tigers

 

Ozzie Virgil Sr. was the first Dominican to play in the majors and the first black player on the Tigers.  But the Tigers were not his first team.  He played for the NY Giants in 1956 and 57.  A true utility player, he played every position in the majors except pitcher, first base and centerfield.  In addition to the Tigers and NY Giants, he played for the KC A's, Pirates, Orioles and the SF Giants.  His son, also named Ozzie Virgil, played portions of 11 seasons as a catcher in the majors. That included 2 all star seasons, one with the Phillies and one with the Braves.

Ozzie Sr. actually had Topps cards in 1957 and had a 1958 card too.  It had him airbrushed into a SF Giants cap even though he didn't make the move out west with the Giants.  He was traded to the Tigers in January of 1958. In all Ozzie Sr. appeared on 7 Topps cards (1957, 58, 59, 61, 62, 65 & 67).  He was "Ossie" on all but the 1959, 1962 and 1967 cards where he was "Ozzie". I'm not sure why Topps switched back and forth on his name, but I decided to keep him as "Ossie" on this fake card. It was his name on the 1958 airbrushed San Francisco card.

The Tigers were the second to last team to integrate.  The ownership of Walter Briggs and Walter Briggs Jr. from 1935-1956 steadfastly refused to hire black players.  Another name that keeps coming up is Bucky Harris.  In my last post, I mentioned him as the manager of the Senators who saw a "hitch in the swing" of Carlos Paula, their first black player.  He spent most of 1954 in the minors despite receiving rave reviews in spring training.  He went on to lead their farm team in Hits, Doubles and Triples before being called up in September.  When Harris left the club in 1955 Paula was a starter. Harris resurfaced in Detroit as manager in 1955-56, after being fired by the new ownership he became assistant GM for the Red Sox, the last team to integrate.

MLB Dream Bracket Alt-Topps Cards Part 4

Red Sox v Rangers

Yankees v Mariners 

Tigers v Angels

Doubling up might not be enough to keep up, so I'm tripling up. This time we have three teams with a rich history versus three relative newcomers.  The Rangers were born as the expansion Senators in 1961. then moved to Texas in 1972. The '61 expansion also gave us the Angels. The Mariners were a 1977 expansion team. Neither the Mariners nor the Rangers have a World Series Title. The Angels have one, the Tigers have four. the Red Sox have nine, and the Yankees have twenty seven.

In the Red Sox - Rangers match up we have Cy Young, Wade Boggs, Ted Williams and David Ortiz for Boston.  For Washington/Texas we have knuckler Charlie Hough, Ivan Rodriguez, Frank Howard and Ruben Sierra.

In the Yankees - Mariners match up we have Whitey Ford, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle for the Bronx Bombers.  Jamie Moyer, Harold Reynolds, Ichiro and Kid Griff represent Seattle.

In the Tigers - Angels series Hal Newhouser, Ty Cobb, Al Kaline and Miguel Cabrera represent the Tigers.  On the Angels there is Nolan Ryan, Jim Fregosi, Rod Carew and Mike Trout.

******************************************

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.