Topps All-Star Misses: 1969 NL Battery

The 1969 Topps NL All Star battery consisted of RHP Bob Gibson, LHP Jerry Koosman and catcher Johnny Bench.  The actual 1968 All Star Game had Drysdale as the NL Starter and Jerry Grote behind the plate.  The first lefty relief pitcher was Steve Carlton. Carlton was also The Sporting News choice for All Star left-handed pitcher in 1969. Both Drysdale and Carlton could have been in this set. 

Tom Seaver was the Sporting News selection for All Star right-handed pitcher in 1969 and his battery-mate Jerry Grote was the 1968 ASG starting catcher.  So these Mets merit inclusion, too.

 

Who probably didn't merit inclusion in the 1969 Topps All-Star set, but was in it anyway?

Although Gibson never left the bullpen in the '68 ASG, I cannot fault Topps for giving him an All Star card based on his 1968 Cy Young & MVP season. I also (kind of) can't fault Topps for Koosman.  He only face one batter in the 1968 ASG but it was the final batter.  He struck out Yaz and got the save as the NL won 1-0 in the Astrodome. Despite Grote starting the 1968 ASG, Bench was the Sporting News choice for 1969 All Star catcher. Bench was also the 1968 Rookie of the Year and the runner up was Koosman. So despite having 4 other cards that could have been included in the 1969 All Star sub-set, I have to give Topps a pass.

Contest Winners

 

Congrats to all that left comments.  If you left a comment on my contest post, you won.  "Defgav", "Old Cards", "Deogolf" and "Tookie". That was easy.  Now just send an email to ctnwblog@gmail.com along with your mailing address and I'll get this 1962 Buck O'Neil card in the mail.  

If you also bought a Series 3 pack and have this card already, let me know and I'll substitute one of my previous contest winner cards.  Choose from 1968 Gibson, 1968 Seaver or 1982 Sandberg/Boggs.

The Series 3 packs have been going quickly with more than half of them selling in the first week. But there are still several left. Hit the PayPal link here to order.  I also have individual cards from all 3 series available on eBay.  My seller's name there is "ctnwblog_8".

Quantity

One Pack $10.00 USD Two Packs $19.50 USD Three Packs $28.50 USD

Congratulations to the winners and thanks again for all your support.

Contest Winners

First of all, thank you to all that commented on my latest contest.  I decided to send all of you both cards.  I really appreciate the regular followers of this blog, even though my posting is spotty at best.  So if you were one of those who posted a comment on my contest post, email me your address (ctnwblog@gmail.com) and I'll mail them out.  Thanks again!

If you like the cards, you can support my addiction by purchasing a pack (the link is in the right margin).  I also have individual cards from both packs available on eBay.  My seller name is ctnwblog_8.   Once, I get close to my break even point, I'll make another pack.

I am also working on a project now that will mean plenty of posts to come.  I've hinted at these before.  I'm making a lot of Cards That Never Were.  Once they're done, I'll be posting a few times a
week.  

Series 2 Packs - Sold Out!!!

Here is the second pack of physical cards from this blog.  I am selling these through this site for $10.00 per pack plus $4.50 shipping. Please use the link:

Sold Out

I was hoping to have these done by opening day.  I just barely made it. This group is split between my "Barrier-Breakers" series and some of the baseball legends we lost this past year.  You can also 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.

The insert card is a 1969 Joe Morgan 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 glossy.

The backs are not.

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

This pack is made up of cards from my "Barrier-Breaker" series, featuring the first Black player on each team.

It also includes some legendary players that we lost this past year.

For those that wish to buy the cards individually,

They are currently available on eBay. 

My user name on eBay is ctnwblog_8.

Don't forget to comment on my give-away post for a chance to win a 1968 Gibson, or Seaver or BOTH!

My Second Give-Away

 I've got the cards ready for my second pack of physical cards from this blog.  For this pack I've decided to go with half cards from my "Barrier-Breakers" series and have from players we lost this past year.  

To commemorate the new set I'll be giving away two cards.  In a bit of a twist, the cards I'll be giving away are NOT my design.  If you remember from some of my old posts, Tom Seaver and Bob Gibson both tried to pull the same prank back in 1968.  Both righties posed as lefties for the 1968 Topps set. Their cards made it onto the proof sheet but not into the actual release of the set.  I cleaned the cards up a bit, made my own back, and they'll be included in my second pack.  All the other cards in the pack ARE my design, I promise.

This time I'll pick 15 winners. The first five, will get BOTH cards, the next ten will get either Seaver or Gibson.  Just leave a comment below and tell me which card you prefer and I will try to honor it. 5 will get Seaver and 5 will get Gibson and 5 will get both.  I will be running the same contest on Twitter @CardsThatNever, so there will be a total of 30 chances to win.

I'll pick the winners next week.  The packs will be ready to order soon.  As before, the packs will be available to purchase through PayPal for $10 + $4.50 postage.  Individual cards will only be available through eBay under my seller name: ctnwblog_8.  Packs will be sold there as well, but for a slightly higher cost to cover the fees.

Good luck in the contest, don't forget to include "Seaver" or "Gibson" in your comment.  I can't promise but I will try to get the winners their preferred card.

One More for Gibby

 1935-2020

It's like deja vu all over again. The last thing I want is for this blog to evolve into some sort of obituary page with baseball cards.  But I simply cannot let the passing of yet another legend go without any some recognition for what he meant to the sport and to the hobby. So here is one more card for the 1973 Alt-Topps set.

Oddly, with Tom Seaver's recent passing, I had mentioned Bob Gibson and his 1968 "Card That Never Was".  Both he and Seaver pulled the exact same stunt of posing as lefties.  Both even had their cards make it as far as the same proof sheet before being noticed by a sharp-eyed proofreader.

Here are those actual Cards That Never Were again, along with the proof sheet:

You can see Seaver 2nd over in the 2nd row.  Gibson is 7th from the left in the 4th row.

Of course this latest card of Gibson isn't the first time he'd been featured in this blog.  Here are some more cards that I had made in the past:

1984 Donruss Tom Seaver

While putting together all of my Tom Seaver creations, I was disappointed that none showed him on my favorite team.  He played on the White Sox from 1984-86.  Topps and Fleer both had Traded/Update series in 1984.  Donruss was a little slower to that game.  Seaver was still in a Mets uni in the Donruss set.  So here is the update that Donruss never had.

Tom Terrific

1944-2020

Ok, it's official. 2020 sucks.  Yesterday the baseball world lost a legend.  Tom Seaver was the ultimate opening day starter. He started in 16 opening days on the Mets, Reds and White Sox.

Since this is Cards That Never Were, I figured I'd post the greatest Tom Seaver Card That Never Was on the top of this post.  This wasn't made by me, it was a card that actually made it onto the 1968 Topps proof sheet before someone at Topps caught the sophomore pitcher's prank.  He was posing as a lefty, and he wasn't the only one.  Bob Gibson pulled the same prank on the same proof sheet.  If you look closely at the proof sheet, Seaver is second from the left in second row.  Gibson is fourth row, five from right.

Of course, I've made my share of Tom Seaver cards, too.  I even attempted to replicate his 1968 prank in my 1968 Alt-Topps series. I used a little photo manipulation to make the righty a lefty.

Here are the rest of my Tom Seaver Cards That Never Were in no particular order: