Series 3 Packs On Sale Now - SOLD OUT

 Here is the third pack of physical cards from this blog.  As usual, I am selling these through this site for $10.99 per pack plus $4.50 shipping. Please use the link:

SOLD OUT

Due to several requests, I added a drop down menu for multiple orders (up to three).

I was hoping to have these done by the end of July, but I'm about a week late. This is a pretty random group of cards spanning from 1957 to 1983.  If you don't want all 13 cards, you can buy them individually on eBay. My seller's name there is ctnwblog_8.

So, what's in each pack?

12 Cards That Never Were plus a special insert.

This time the insert card is a 1969 Jim Bouton Deckle.

All cards are professionally printed.

Front and Back.

The backs are formatted in a style consistent with their year.

The front of the cards are high gloss UV coated.

The backs are not.

The backs a full color matte finish.

These are similar in look and feel to the Topps Archives cards.

The have all been previously featured on this blog.

I'm running out of things to say.

They're high quality 18 Pt. card stock.

By far the best deal is to buy a pack of all 13 cards from the link on this page.

Due to eBay's cost structure and wanting to mail a quality product complete with penny sleeve and a top loader, individual cards a more expensive. $3.99 including shipping on eBay.

Thanks for all the support over the years.  My next post will be another give-away.

Favorite Players A-Z (Part 2 of 3)

Part 2 of me jumping on the bandwagon.  Here's "J" through "R" of my favorite players A-Z.

I hope this isn't a recurring theme.  Again, I couldn't choose between two of my favorites.

1974 Topps Traded Fergie Jenkins

1986 Fleer Bo Jackson

1975 Topps Dave Kingman

1981 Donruss Greg Luzinski

1969 Topps Carlos May

Don Newcombe on another rejected Topps prototype

1962 Topps Buck O'Neil

1968 Topps Satchel Paige

1980 Donruss Dan Quisenberry

1973 Topps Frank Robinson

Ten more cards and this time a mere 3 Chicago cards.

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).

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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.

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 3

A's v Rays and Orioles v Astros

These "games" have already been played, you can check the results here. I got a chance to watch a bit of these yesterday.  I was disappointed.  The graphics were almost non existent.  I was hoping for something more like the White Sox are doing with NBCSN and "MLB The Show". 

The "greatest" player selection was made by "Twitch" or "Out of the Park" or "Draft Kings" or whoever.  I can't say I totally agree. Also there were no players "disqualified". That mean they included "Shoeless"  Joe Jackson, Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, etc.  In fact, there seems to be a plethora of steroids-era players.

These games are going on right now. As I type many American Leagues have already been eliminated. So I'm doubling up today. Just want to get as many cards out while they are still relevant. I'm still making 4 for each team, 1 pitcher and 3 position players. Once again, the card design is based on a rejected Topps design from the late sixties.

For the A's, I made cards of Eddie Plank, Jimmie Foxx, Bert Campaneris, and Rickey Henderson.  On the Rays there is David Price, Fred McGriff, Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria,

In the Orioles-Astros match up, we have Jim Palmer, Frank Robinson, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken. For the Astros it's JR Richard, Cesar Cedeno, Brad Ausmus and Carlos Correa.