MLB Dream Bracket Alt-Topps Cards Part 1

By now you might have seen the MLB Dream Bracket games. If not click here.  To fill the sportsless void, MLB has teamed up with Out of The Park (a baseball online sim game) and Twitch.  Twitch is apparently a network app of sorts that allows people to watch other people play video games.  (OK how many boomers have I lost so far?)  Anyway, I thought the concept was cool.  Now let's see if the execution is worth the hype.

Those of you that have been following this blog lately know that I have been making sets based on some discarded Topps prototypes. I thought I'd make some companion cards to this project using one of the discarded designs.

I will try to make 4 cards for each team using the design. One pitcher and three position players. The first game is scheduled for Monday April 20 at 10 am Eastern.  It will be the All-Time Twins versus the Blue Jays. I've made cards of Walter Johnson, Harmon Killebrew, Kirby Puckett and Joe Mauer for the Tins/Senators.  For the Jays it's Dave Stieb, the late great Tony Fernandez, Roberto Alomar and Josh Donaldson.

These were based on this discarded card:

Although the card says Jim Weaver but it is actually Carl Warwick.

 

2016 ALCS: Indians vs. Blue Jays

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.

This post looks like it is coming in just under the wire. The Indians are up three games to one in the ALCS with a game this afternoon. Here are two Hall of Fame pitchers who landed on unfamiliar teams late in their careers

1992 Topps Hal Newhouser

Hal Newhouser played for the Detroit Tigers from 1939-1953. He was a six time All-Star and the American League MVP in 1944 and 1945. In 1945 he was the starting pitcher in games 1, 5 and 7 of the 1945 World Series. He lost game 1 getting shelled for 7 runs in just 2.2 innings but came back with complete game victories in game 5 and game 7, The Tigers beat the Chicago in the Cubs last World Series appearance 71 years ago. 

After the Tigers released him in 1953, he signed with the Indians and made a brief appearance in the 1954 World Series. He came into Game 4 with the Giants up 3 games to none. The Giants were also winning the game 3-0 when Newhouser relieved Bob Lemon in the 5th inning. He gave up a bases-loaded walk to Hank Thompson then a two-run single to Monte Irvin. In 1955 he pitched just 2.1 innings in relief for the Indians before being released in May. 

Newhouser's career may have been devalued by Hall of Fame voters because his best seasons were when the league's talent was somewhat diminished due to the war effort. But in 1992 the veteran's committee inducted him into the Hall.

1997 Topps Phil Niekro

Perhaps the greatest knuckleballer of all time, Phil Niekro spent 21 of his 24 MLB seasons with the Braves. He pitched for the Yankees and the Indians late in his career as well. But in 1987 he pitched three games for the Toronto Blue Jays. He went 0-2 and was released. Atlanta picked him up for the month of September and he was able to retire as a Brave.  With 318 career wins he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997. 

2016 ALDS: Rangers vs. Blue Jays

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.

1966 Topps Ted Williams

Ted Williams was the manager of the Texas Rangers in their first year. Williams was voted Manager of the Year by the Associated Press in 1969. In his first year as manager he improved the Senators record from  65-96 in 1968 to 86-76 in 1969.  The 1972 Rangers had a miserable 54-100 record under Williams. He was replaced by future Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog. He was dismissed in September of '73 when Billy Martin was fired by Detroit. 

This card is an unusual mash-up. Williams was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966. The Rangers first year was 1972. Even so, it makes a for nice looking card. 

2009 Topps Rickey Henderson 

Just before the 1993 trade deadline, the Blue Jays picked up Rickey Henderson from the A's for Steve Karsay and a player to be named later (Jose Herrera). Henderson only played 44 regular season games with the Jays. But he played in all 12 post season games and earn himself another World Series ring.  

Here he is on a 2009 Topps Card That Never Was, the year he entered the Hall.  He is wearing the unfamiliar number 14. He wore this only a few games while negotiating a deal with Turner Ward for his trademark number 24. When he joined the Yankees it was rumored that he gave catcher Ron Hassey golf clubs and stereo equipment. Ward got an alleged $25,000.

2016 A.L. Wildcard Game: Orioles vs. Blue Jays

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.

Tonight is the first wildcard game with the Orioles taking on the Blue Jays. For this match up I have chosen a couple of former teammates and two players who are often mentioned when it comes to which hat should be worn on your HOF plaque.

1993 Topps Reggie Jackson

First representing the Orioles is Reggie Jackson. Jackson spent the 1976 season in Baltimore. In all Jackson played 21 seasons and in 2820 games. Only 134 of them in an Orioles uniform. And despite the fact that he played more games for the Kansas City/Oakland A's (1346) and the California Angels (687), he chose a Yankees cap for his HOF plaque. He played 653 games in New York and was inducted wearing a Yankees cap in 1993.

2001 Topps Dave Winfield

Dave Winfield, who played with Jackson onthe Yankees in 1981, is here representing the Toronto Blue Jays. His only season with the Jays was in 1992 and also got him his only World Series ring. Winfield played 153 of his 2973 career regular season games in a Blue Jays uniform. When he was enshrined in 2001 he chose to wear a Padres cap. He had played 9 season and 1172 games for the Yankees and 8 seasons and 1117 games in San Diego. A much closer divide than Reggie's but it still caused outrage in New York. Those poor Yankees, always ignored by the mainstream media.

1980 Topps A.L. Future Stars: Damaso Garcia, Rick Peters, Doug Corbett

There were 16 different players receiving Rookie of the year votes in 1980 and not a single one of them was included in the 1980 Topps set. So I am continuing my flood of 1980 rookie cards. Here are 3 A.L. players. None of these players are household names but both Doug Corbett and Damaso Garcia were All Stars during the '80s.

Damaso Garcia: Garcia saw limited action with the Yankees in both 1978 and 1979. He was part of a 6 player trade in which the principle players were Rick Cerone and Chris Chambliss. Garcia would play in 2 All Star games and win the Silver Slugger award while on the Blue Jays. He was 4th in R.O.Y. voting in 1980.

Rick Peters: The switch hitting center fielder hit .291 as a rookie in 1980. His production fell in 1981 and he missed the entire 1982 season on the D.L. with an elbow injury.From 1983-1986 he was with the A's organization splitting time between the Major League club and their AAA club in Tacoma. He was 6th in R.O.Y.  voting with a 2% share.

Doug Corbett: With 8 wins and 23 saves in 1980 Doug Courbet was 3rd in R.O.Y. voting. In the strike shortened 1981 season he led the league in appearances and games finished. He was also the sole representative of the Minnesota Twins in the 1981 All Star Game. Unfortunately, he never saw action.

1979 Topps Alfredo Griffin

In 1979 Alfredo Griffin was the AL co-Rookie of the Year along with John Castino of the Minnesota Twins. Griffin was the only one of the 3 ROYs in 1979 to have a card in the Topps set. Unfortunately the card he appeared on was a Cleveland Indians Prospects card. Griffin had made breif appearances for the Indians in 1976, 77 and 78 before they traded him to the Blue Jays for pitcher Victor Cruz. Victor Cruz was featured on the Blue Jays Prospect card.

1983 Topps Super Veterans: Braves Vs. Dodgers

N.L. Divisional Series Edition

Another inauspicious beginning. Reed Johnson made his MLB debut on April 17, 2003 as a pinch runner. In the bottom of the 9th, losing 4-0, the 26 year old Blue Jay rookie took over on the base-path for Josh Phelps. Reed was forced out at 2nd.

Down 11-3 in the bottom of the 9th, Juan Uribe got his first at bat versus the Padres on April 8, 2001.  He grounded out to 2nd as the Rockies went down in order.