Another Pack - Another Contest: Part 4

 This time I'm doing it a bit differently.  Due to the crazy amount of spam comments lately, I've had to moderate my comments and only allow non spam through.  Additionally, I am making this a Twitter-Only contest.  If you click on the image below of my contest tweet, it will take you right to the tweet.

Once on Twitter, simply "Like" and "Retweet". You are entered. I will draw 1 random winner of the entire pack and 5 winners of the Frank Thomas insert seen below:

I'm sorry I couldn't run a parallel contest on this blog, but there is a genuine problem with spam here.

Again, I thank the regular followers of this blog.

Favorite Players A-Z (Part 3 of 3)

 Part 3 of "Everybody else is doing it, why can't I?"  Here's "S" through "Z" of my favorite players.  This time there aren't any ties, but a full 50% of them are Chicago cards.  Told you I was a homer.

1976 Topps Ron Santo

1990 Donruss Frank Thomas

1976 Topps Father/Son style Bob Uecker Broadcaster

1976 Topps Rookie Pitchers - Pete Vuckovich

1987 Topps Billy Williams All Star

OK this is another cheat, but his nickname is "Double X" so...

Jimmie Foxx on a rejected Topps prototype

1982 Topps Robin Yount In Action

For my final card, I chose a real one.  Bottom line is you cannot improve on this card. From the high sign, to the six balls nailed to the bat, to the inexplicable pink undershirt. It is art, plain and simple.

1952 Topps Gus Zernial

Topps All-Star Misses: 1958 NL Infield

Topps choices for the 1958 All Star cards are a bit murky. This is for two reasons, the first being Topps attributing the player selection to the editors of "Sport" magazine, not the actual starters of the 1957 or 1958 All Star games.  Instead they attribute them as "Sport" magazine All Star selections.  

The other issue was ballot box stuffing involving Cincinnati in 1957.  Seven of their position players made the starting roster.  The only non-Redlegs position player chosen by the fans was Stan Musial.  The commissioner stepped in and replaced Cincinnati outfielders Gus Bell and Wally Post with Aaron and Mays. Infielders Don Hoak and Roy McMillan started but were replaced by the NL manager after just one at bat. Eddie Mathews and Ernie Banks replaced them respectively.

So who actually deserves a 1958 Topps All Star card and who doesn't?  Hoak and McMillan, were technically the 1957 starters, so arguments can be made for them.  

The 1958 Sporting News selection for 3rd base was Frank Thomas.  An argument can be made for him as well. This despite Topps clearly labeling these as "Sport" magazine All Star selections.

Eddie Mathews has a card but maybe shouldn't.  I only say this (hesitantly) because he technically wasn't the 1957 starter, nor was he a 1958 "Sporting News" All Star selection.  But since he replaced Hoak after just one at bat in '57, he has a solid claim.  Therefore I am posting his card with some reservation.

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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).

1964 Alt-Topps Requests

Just a few more for the 1964 Alt-Topps set by request. A couple were Anonymous. Including a reminder to make a Mickey Mantle card similar to those that were somewhat of a starter for this blog.  Most request were again from Buzz (the other anonymous poster). Jeremy requested a checklist which I used in my last post.

Here are the ones for The first anonymous poster:

A young Lou Brock before the infamous trade.

Buzz really likes to throw out a challenge.  First was Joe Adcock, who was traded to the L.A. Angels in late 1963. In 1965 the Angels became the California Angels with new logos on their caps. So it was a small window in which to find a suitable photo.

Next, he wanted Rocky Colavito who was spent just a single season with the A's in 1964. Once again a photo in the proper uniform (that preferably didn't appear on any other cards) was a tough find.

Next was the first Frank Thomas. Thomas was dealt to Philadelphia in late 1964 so this would have to have been a late series card in the Alt-Universe.  He was on the down-slide of his career and was on the Phillies just long enough to make an enemy of 1964 Rookie of the Year, Dick Allen.

The final request from buzz is more historical than baseball related.  He wanted to see a tribute to the recently (in the 1964 Alt-Universe) deceased President. 

1990 Donruss Frank Thomas

Chicago White Sox CTNW Fan Favorites #4

**********UPDATE*********

I've added an easter egg of sorts to tie into my 4th pack of physical cards.  This time it's all football cards. I've decided to make an insert reminiscent of the 1970 Topps Glossy cards. Since it is another Frank Thomas card, rather than make a new post, I'll just put it here.

Due to printing constraints, The dimensions aren't exact, but I still think it was a good insert.  I also had a give away on Twitter @CardsThatNever and if you found this update to a nearly 10 year old post, it means you scanned the QR Code on the back of this card.  You are definitely in the minority.  But I thank you for either buying a pack with this insert, buying this card on its own, or entering (and winning!) my Twitter contest.

 

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I'm putting together 5 "Cards That Never Were" fan favorites from each team. These are not necessarily the 5 best players from the franchise. So as David Letterman used to say before Stupid Pet Tricks, "This is only an exhibition. This is not a competition. Please, no wagering."

Frank Thomas played his career in the junk box era so it's hard to find a "Card That Never Was". In his rookie year alone he had cards by Topps, Bowman, Fleer, Score and Leaf.  Somehow Donruss missed the boat. I'm here to right that wrong by featuring a young Frank Thomas on one of the ugliest cards ever produced.

Thomas was called up in August of 1990 and hit .330 with 7 homers. In his first full season he would hit .318 with 32 homers finishing 3rd in MVP voting. Unfortunately he had too many at-bats in 1990 to qualify for Rookie of the Year in 1991. He would go on to be a 2 time MVP, a 5 time All Star and a 4 time Silver Slugger.