Topps All-Star Misses: 1962 NL Infield

 While the Topps 1962 "Sporting News National League All-Star" infield didn't quite match the 1961 MLB All Stars, it was very similar to the actual "Sporting News" All Star selections with one glaring omission.  TSN had Cepeda at 1st, Mazeroski at 2nd, Ken Boyer at 3rd and Maury Wills at short.  Topps had Cepeda, Maz, Boyer and Roy McMillan?? McMillan was last selected to the All Star team in 1957 when Reds fans stuffed the ballot boxes.  The four below represent the actual NL infield in both 1961 ASGs.  Around the horn we have Bill White at 1st, Frank Bolling at 2nd, Wills at short and Eddie Mathews at 3rd.

Who probably didn't merit inclusion in the 1962 Topps All-Star set, but was in it anyway?

Roy McMillan:

McMillan was undoubtably included due to Topps not having Wills under contract. And I suspect it was a big reason for the gap from 1963-1967 when Topps had no All Star cards at all.

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.

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

 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).