Topps All-Star Misses: 1961 NL Battery

 Let me start by saying that Topps had no mystery players represented in the NL battery.  Their 1961 All Stars included RHP Bob Friend who was the starting pitcher of the first ASG of 1960. They had Del Crandall at catcher who started both ASGs in 1960. At LHP they had Warren Spahn who was selected to The Sporting News All-Star roster in both 1960 and 1961. That being said there are still five potential inclusions to this subset from the NL Battery alone.

LHP Mike McCormick:

• On the NL All Star roster for both games on 1960.
• Was the first lefty to come on in relief in ASG 1 in 1960.
• On the NL All Star roster for both games on 1961.
• Led NL with 2.70 ERA in 1960.

LHP Johnny Podres:

• On the NL All Star roster for both games on 1960.
• Was the first lefty to come on in relief in ASG 2 in 1960.
• Was 14th in NL MVP voting in 1961.
• Led NL in Win/Loss % in 1961.

RHP Vern Law:

• On the NL All Star roster for both games on 1960.
• Was the starting pitcher in ASG 2 in 1960.
• 1960 Cy Young award winner.
• Was 6th in NL MVP voting in 1960.
• Led NL with 18 complete games in 1960.

RHP Joey Jay:

• On the NL All Star roster for both games on 1961.
• Named to The Sporting News All Star roster in 1961.
• Led NL in Wins with 21 in 1961.
• Led NL in Shut Outs with 4 in 1961.

Catcher Smoky Burgess:

• On the NL All Star roster for both games on 1960.
• Was 20th in NL MVP voting in 1960.
• Starting catcher in both 1961 ASGs.
• Named to The Sporting News All Star roster in 1961.

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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).

1963 Topps All Stars - The National League Battery

1963 Topps Don Drysdale AS

Drysdale pitched the 1st 3 innings of game one. He surrendered a single hit, a lead off triple to Luis Aparicio. He then got the next 2 batters to pop out to the infield and struck out the next. He left the game in a scoreless tie. Juan Marichal pitched hitless 4th and 5th innings and got the win.

1963 Topps Johnny Podres AS

His teammate Johnny Podres started the 2nd game. He also pitched scoreless frames. In his only at bat in 4 All Star game appearances, Podres doubled then scored on a single by Dick Groat.

1963 Topps Del Crandall AS

Del Crandall played in 11 All Star games and started in 8, from 1953-1962. Although he was hit-less in his final 2 All Star appearances, the 4-time Gold Glove backstop tagged out the go-ahead run in the top of the 3rd when Billy Moran tried to score from 1st on an error on center fielder Tommy Davis.