1971 Alt-Topps Requests

 Here's a few more 1971 Alt-Topps requested in the comment sections. KookKards wanted a card of The Hawk in his final year. Two interesting things here, first KoolKards is a blog by 3 brothers creating their own cards. Although they made a few of big league players, most are family oriented. They must've come across the same rejected mockups. Here is a link to the KoolKards page using one of the rejected designs for a family football game. Very nicely done..

Another interesting thing is that Harrelson had his nickname "Hawk" emblazoned on the back of his jersey when he was traded to the Indians in 1969. That  is why I used his nickname on his Alt-Topps card.

As usual "Buzz" (who's lengthy and informative comments often out-shine the posts themselves) had a handful of great request. He hit upon one of my all time favorites, Mr. Cub. Ernie Banks was also in his final season in 1971.

He was also looking for Felipe Alou. He was betting that I could "do better" than an already very good action card issued in the real 1971 set.

Despite my attempt, the real 1971 Topps Felipe Alou is still superior

Buzz also requested a card of the 48 year old knuckler, Hoyt Wilhelm.  After his longest tenure from 1963-1968 with the Chicago White Sox, he was well traveled in the twilight of his career.  He was picked up by the Royals in the 1968 expansion draft. KC dealt him to the Angels. Toward the end of the 1969 season, California traded him to the Braves. 

Again before the end of the 1970 season, Wilhelm was claimed off waivers by the Cubs. The Cubs the traded him back to Atlanta before the start of the 1971 season. He was released by the Braves mid season 1971. He signed with LA and played until mid-season 1972 when he ultimately ended his playing career 5 days before his 50th birthday.

Topps created a card for Wilhelm on the Cubs. In typical O Pee Chee fashion, the same photo was used on a Braves card with a notation "Recently Trade to Braves".

Tony Horton had never appeared on a Topps card in his short but prolific career. His career ended in tragically 1970.  He took himself out of a second game of a double header.  He then attempted suicide.  He was treated for stress likely stemming from the treatment he receive from the Cleveland fans following a salary dispute.  Thankfully, he recovered and still lives today.  Unfortunately, he never played another game.

Although Buzz only left a description, not a name in his first comment, I knew who he was writing about.  I had created 2 other Tony Horton Cards That Never Were. Here he is included on a rookie card created for the 1964 Alt-Topps a few months ago.

Here is another that I was asked to make for 1969 Topps Baseball blog. 

Deogolf requested that I once again complete the World Series subset.

One of the key plays of Game 1 was the play at the plate in which the umpire was out of position. Hendricks tagged Carbo with his mitt while the ball was in his other hand. Conversely, Carbo missed the plate. So while Ken Burkhart may have not been in the best position to make the call, he did manage to make the correct call.

Game 2 had plenty of offence. The game had 3 long balls in an eleven run game. I chose to put Boog hitting his second of the series on this card.

Game 3 saw 9 runs put up by the Orioles. This included a grand slam by the pitcher, Dave McNalley. McNalley also pitched a complete game for Baltimore.

Lee May kept Cincinnati's hopes alive by going 2 for 3 with 4 RBIs and a walk. This included what turned out to be a game winning 3-run homer in the 8th inning.

Game 5 and the "celebration" card were included in my previous post.

Buzz also wanted more information on the font used here.  It is called Playbill and it is based on the font that was used on vintage Broadway programs of the same name.

Buzz thought it looked similar to the old west "Wanted" posters. Here are a couple cards in that vein. I chose the career leaders (in 1971) of  stolen bases and shutouts.  I suppose in some alternate universe these cards could have been inserts into the 1971 Alt-Topps wax packs.

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There was one more request from Jim for A Tony Oliva card. I decided to add it here. I had actually made another in memory of Bill Buckner and didn't want to add this onto that page.

2016 World Series: Cubs vs. Indians

For the 2016 postseason I am making Cards That Never Were of Hall of Famers from each team but with a couple of twists. The first twist is that they will appear on cards that coincide with the year they were inducted into Cooperstown. The second twist is that these are not the teams they are best known for playing.

1973 Topps Monte Irvin

Monte Irvin was selected in to the Hall of Fame in 1973, not only for his performance in the Major Leagues but also for his play in the Negro Leagues. Irvin broke the color barrier for the Giants as a 30 year old rookie in 1949. By that time he had already played 9 seasons of professional ball for the Newark Eagles plus served 2 years active military duty in 1943 and 1944. In 1951 he led the league with 121 RBIs and placed 3rd in MVP voting behind Roy Campanella and Stan Musial. 

With his offensive numbers diminishing, the Giants sent him to the minor league Minor League Minneapolis Millers for the second half of the 1955 season. The Cubs shrewdly picked him up in the rule 5 draft. In 1956 he hit .271 with 15 homers in 111 games. A back injury forced him out of the game before the 1957 season at the age of 38. 

1985 Topps Hoyt Wilhelm

Hoyt Wilhelm was a well traveled Major Leaguer and a master of the knuckleball. In fact he played for both the Cubs and the Indians during his 21 year career. He was picked up via the waiver wire from the Cardinals in September of 1957 an played in Cleveland until August of 1958. He was again taken off waivers, this time by the Baltimore Orioles. 

Used primarily as a reliever, he put up a 3-7 record with 6 saves for the Indians over 32 games. In all he pitched for 9 Major League ball clubs over his Hall of Fame career. In 1985 he was the first relief pitcher to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

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Again I'm a bit behind. This time because of a technical difficulty.  But now I'm on a new computer and fortunately, I had already made these cards but never had a chance to create the post.  I'm still in the process of transferring old files from my old hard drive to this computer. This may slow my postings down from the usual snail's pace.

1952 Bowman Hoyt Wilhelm

New York Giants CTNW Favorites #4

Just 3 months shy of his 30th birthday, Hoyt Wilhelm made his major league debut. The "rookie" had already led a full life. He had played 8 years of minor league ball interrupted by a 3 year tour of duty during World War II. His MLB career would span 21 seasons and end just days before his 50th birthday.

In 1952 he finished 2nd in Rookie of the year voting to another reliever, Joe Black. Both pitcher had 15 wins. Although Black had a lower ERA with 2.15, Wilhelm was the 1952 Pitching Leader with a 2.43 ERA because Black was a few innings short of the minimum. In his first Major League at bat Wilhelm hit his one and only career home run.

1965 Topps AL Leading Firemen: Radatz, Wilhelm, Miller

Unlike this card's NL counterpart, the save leader and the Sporting News "Fireman of the Year" are one and the same. In 1964 Dick Radatz had a 16-9 record in relief along with a league leading 29 saves. He was also selected to the All Star game. Unfortunately, he had a blown save and lost the game. He surrendered a walk-off, 3 run homer to the All Star MVP Johnny Callison.

The 41 year old knuckle-baller, Hoyt Wilhelm had 12 wins and 27 saves for the White Sox. Stu Miller, who led the NL in saves in 1961 and the AL in 1963 had 7 wins and 23 saves.

1963 Topps AL Leading Firemen: Radatz, Bridges, Fox, Wilhelm, Bell

Although the save would not become an official stat until 1969, The Sporting News began awarding the Fireman of the Year to relievers based on a combined total of saves and relief wins.

In 1962 the winner was  Red Sox rookie, Dick Radatz. Radatz had 9 wins and 24 saves in 1962 and was tied for 3rd in Rookie of the Year voting.

In 1962 Marshall Bridges had 8 wins and 18 save for the Bronx Bombers. Despite playing 7 years of Major League ball on 4 different teams, Marshall never appeared on a Topps baseball card.

Rounding out the top 5 relievers for 1962 were Terry Fox, Hoyt Wilhelm and Gary Bell.

1962 Topps AL Leading Firemen: Arroyo, Wilhelm,Fornieles, Moore

1961 was a big year for Luis Arroyo. He was selected to his 2nd All Star Squad but for the 2nd time he would see no action. He earned a relief win in Game 3 of the World Series. He led the Major League in Saves with 29. his next best season would total only 7 saves.

Hoyt Wilhelm also was selected to the 1961 All Star team. He got the loss for the AL in Game 1 and never left the bull pen in Game 2.

Mike Fornieles was the AL's Leading Fireman in 1960 with 14 saves and 10 relief wins. In 1961 he had 15 saves and 9 relief wins. 

Ray Moore once again made the list of top relief pitchers in the AL. This time on the "New" Minnesota Twins. (In 1960 he made the list for the "Old" Washington Senators.) In the franchise's 1st season in the Twin Cities, Moore earned 14 saves for the 7th place Twins.