Topps All-Star Misses: 1968 AL Outfield

 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).

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Ken Harrelson

• 
  1968 "Sporting News" All Star
• 1968 MLB ASG reserve
• Led AL in RBIs 1968
• 3rd in AL MVP voting 1968

Frank Howard

• 
  1968 "Sporting News" All Star
• 1968 MLB ASG starter
• Led AL in HRs, Slugging and Total Bases 1968
• 8th in AL MVP voting 1968

Willie Horton

• 
  1968 "Sporting News" All Star
• 1968 MLB ASG starter
• 4th in AL MVP voting 1968
• Had career highs in HRs and Slugging % in 1968

Tony Conigliaro

• 1967 MLB ASG starter
• Did not play 1968 season because of injuries

Who probably didn't merit inclusion in the 1968 Topps All-Star set, but was in it anyway?

Frank Robinson:

Although a reserve All Star in 1967, injuries in late 1967 and 1968 caused him to have career lows in most batting categories in 1968.  He was neither a 1967 ASG starter nor named to the 1968 Sporting News All Star team.  Fortunately the Hall of Famer returned to form in 1969.

More 1964 Alt-Topps

Managers, Team Cards and Rookies

What set would be complete without the basic staples? Managers, team cards and rookie cards.

The manager cards in the actual 1964 Topps set were pretty much the same as the base cards.  In my "Bizzaro Universe" set, too. 

For the team cards I kept the basic card design continuity along with the full color team logo.

 In the real 1964 Topps set, the picture for the A's showed a team still in the 1961 uniforms. In the early 60's the A's changes uniforms more than most teams changed underwear. The uniforms shown on this card were introduced in 1964. 

The other strange difference in these cards is the sheer volume of players. The Braves must've taken the picture at the beginning of spring training. The A's looked like they waited until they were down to a 25 man roster.

For the rookie cards I went 3 across and broke it down to position and league. This is something that I don't think Topps ever did. I've seen them break it down by league, team, or position. To my best recollection, I don't remember Topps going in this direction. They only had multiplayer rookie cards since 1962. In 62 they were broken down by position. In 1963 they were simply labeled "Rookie Stars", not broken down by league, team nor position. So it's not too far fetched that this would be the format they could've opted for,

Of course with 20/20 hindsight, I stacked the deck with the Rookies of the Year for 1964, Dick Allen and Tony Oliva.  I also doubled up on rookie Hortons in the AL. In the NL included Don Kessinger and HOFer Tony Perez.

1966 Topps All Star Cards : American League Outfield

While the 1963 N.L. All Star outfield was all Hall of Famers, there wasn't a single Hall member in the A.L. outfield.That is what I find so cool about All Star cards and for that matter, League Leader cards. Although these guys might not be household names, they were certainly regional favorites.

1966 Topps Willie Horton All Star

 

 Willie Horton was a promising player as a September call-up in 1963. He sputtered a bit in 1964 and spent most of the season proving himself again in the Minors. In 1965 he made his mark in the Majors, hitting 28 homers with 104 RBIs in his first full MLB season.

1966 Topps Vic Davalillo All Star

Vic Davalillo began playing pro ball for the Reds "D" League team in 1958. He was 21 years old. He played his last Major League game in 1980 at the age of 44 for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was a Gold Glove center fielder in 1964.  In 1965 he made his only All Star appearance. He got a single in his first All Star at bat. He was the only player to reach first base on Juan Marichal.

1966 Topps Rocky Colavito All Star

After Marichal's near-perfect first 3 innings, The A.L.'s bats woke up. Rocky Colavito got the first RBI in the bottom of the 4th with a single off Jim Maloney. This was Rocky's 8th All Star game but his first as an Indian. He had previously represented Kansas City and Detroit in All Star games.