1969 Topps Jack Kemp

Jack Kemp was a 6 time AFL All Star for the Chargers and the Bills. In a preseason scrimmage in 1968 Kemp injured his knee and was out for the entire season. Despite his return in 1969 along with the addition of Heisman Trophy winner, OJ Simpson, the Bills managed only 4 wins. Kemp was named to the AFL All Star team for the 7th time.

In 1970 Kemp ran for Congress and began his long career in politics. Although Topps did not see fit to make a regular 1969 card of Kemp he was included in their 4 in 1 mini stamps which were inserted into 1969 packs.

Video Checklist - Series 14

Here are cards 326-350 from Series 14. The music is Guns n Roses "14 Years" with a rare lead vocals by Izzy Stradlin and Axl singing the chorus.

1973 Topps Checklist - Cards That Never Were - 14th Series

Once again a large chunk of the 25 cards in this series are of the All Star variety. 12 of the 25 included Hall of Famers, Willie Mays was featured on 4 different cards in this series, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks and Maury Wills each appeared twice.

1966 Topps All Star Cards : The Managers

For the 1st time since the original All Star Game in 1933, neither manager went to the World Series the previous year. In 1964 the Yankees were managed by Yogi Berra who lost to the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals. The Cards were managed by Johnny Keane. The Yankees fired Berra who became a player-coach for the cross-town Mets. The Yankees then hired Keane. 

1966 Topps Gene Mauch All-Star

Gene Mauch managed the Phillies in 1964. On September 21st the Phillies were in 1st place with a 6.5 game lead. They then went on to lose 10 straight games dropping to 3rd place. They ended the season in a 2nd place tie with the Reds. The Reds were managed by Fred Hutchinson who was battling lung cancer. He continued to manage until July 27th when 1st base coach Dick Sisler took over. Hutchinson died November 12, 1964.

1966 Topps Al Lopez All-Star

From 1949-1964 only 2 A.L. teams other than New York Yankees went to the World Series. Both were managed by Al Lopez. The 1954 Indians and the 1959 White Sox. When the pennant winning Yankees fired Berra, the manager of the 2nd place White Sox was the logical choice.

1966 Topps All Star Cards : American League Battery

1966 Topps Milt Pappas All Star

To put it as gently as I can: Pappas had a rough start. He gave up a walk and 4 hits including 2 homers in the first inning. Despite spotting the N.L. a 3-0 lead, the loss would go to Sam McDowell. The A.L. tied the game at 5 in the 5th on a Harmon Killebrew homer. The Nationals overtook the A.L. in the 7th on a Ron Santo RBI single off McDowell.

1966 Topps Earl Battey All Star

In his 4th and final All Star start, Earl Battey ground out twice including a double play. In the 6th inning Bill Freehan came in to replace Battey. Freehan then went on to start every All Star game behind the plate from 1966-1972.