1978 Topps Mickey Mantle

Mantle played his final game in 1968 and yet here I am making a 1978 Mickey Mantle card.  From 1971 on it seem as though more and more action or candid shots made their way onto cards. In 1978 Topps seemed to feature a lot of posed head-shots.

2011 N.L. Rookie Stars - 1974 Topps Format

A week from today MLB will announce the 2011 Rookies of the Year.  Using the same 1974 Topps Rookie format, I put together 4 on the top National League rookies. I am also posting a poll in the side-bar. Let me know who you think should win the N.L. Rookie of the Year.

Danny Espinosa (2B): Washington Nationals

HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA

21 66 17 6 57 166 .236

Freddie Freeman (1B): Atlanta Braves

HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA

21 76 4 4 53 142 .282

Vance Worley (RHP): Philadelphia Phillies

W L ERA SV BB SO WHIP

11 3 3.01 0 46 119 1.230

Craig Kimbrel (RHP): Atlanta Braves

W L ERA SV BB SO WHIP

4 3 2.10 46 32 127 1.039

2011 A.L. Rookie Stars - 1974 Topps Format

Next Monday MLB will announce the Rookies of the Year for 2011. Borrowing from the 1974 Topps rookie cards, here are 4 of the top AL rookies.

Eric Hosmer

HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA

19 78 11 5 34 82 .293

Mark Trumbo

HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA

29 87 9 4 25 120 .254

Jordan Walden

W L ERA SV BB SO WHIP

5 5 2.98 32 26 67 1.243

Ivan Nova

W L ERA SV BB SO WHIP

16 4 3.70 0 57 98 1.331

I am also posting a poll in the side-bar. Let me know who you think should win the A.L. Rookie of the Year.

1976 Topps Frank Robinson

After winning the Rookie of the Year award in 1956 Robinson continued to play until 1976. Robinson appeared on the 1976 Topps Indians team card in the lower right corner as the manager but he did not have a regular player card even though he appeared in 49 games in 1975 and 36 in 1976. The Hall of Famer continued to appear in various sets as a manger until 2006.

1975 Topps 1956 Rookies of the Year

Now that the post-season is over I can return to some of my recurring themes. Here is the 1956 edition giving the Rookies of the Year the same treatment Topps gave the MVPs in 1975. 

1956 is the first year that both Rookies of the Year went on to Hall of Fame careers. While Luis Aparicio had a card in the 1956 Topps set, Frank Robinson first appeared on a Topps card in 1957. 

 The Robinson card I included here was produced by Topps and given away in VIP packages at the 2006 National Sports Card convention.  I actually have one problem with this card. In 1956 the team was officially called the Redlegs. This was the height of the McCarthy era and the Reds changed names rather than be confused with communists. As ridiculous as it was to change the name, it seems disingenuous to ignore the name change on a reissue. A few days ago I include Bob Lemke's version of  Robinson' "rookie" card. His properly identified the team as Redlegs. Check it out.