The 1961 Topps "Sporting News" All Star cards were pretty close to accurate as far as reflecting what the cards purported to represent. Topps had Aaron, Mays and Frank Robinson. Three solid choices and future first-ballot Hall of Famers, all. Two of the three were actually The Sporting News All Star selections for 1961 (Mays and Robinson). Topps was also two for three when it came to starters in the the 1960 All Star Games. Mays and Aaron started both games in 1960. That being said these two Pirates could have been in that set just as easily. Bob Skinner started in left field in both 1960 ASGs. Roberto Clemente was selected to The Sporting News All Star team in 1961.
Cards That Never Were
What cards would look like if I had my way.
Sunday, March 6, 2022
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Topps All-Star Misses: 1962 AL Infield
In 1962 The Topps "Sporting News All-Star" cards for the AL infield most closely resembled the second ASG of 1961. Topps had three of the four starters from game 2; Norm Cash at first, Luis Aparicio at short, and Brooks Robinson at third. The only player in the 1962 Topps AS set that was an actual "Sporting News All-Star" in 1962 was Brooks. Cash and Robinson were also 1961 Sporting News All Star sections.
Chuck Schilling
Sunday, February 6, 2022
Topps All-Star Misses: 1968 NL Battery
The National League All Star battery according to Topps in 1968 was Ken Holtzman (LHP), Bob Gibson (RHP) and Tim McCarvey (catcher). The actual Sporting News All Star selections for 1968 were Bob Gibson and Juan Marichal (both starting pitchers, both right-handed. I don't get this either). At catcher TSN had the rookie, Johnny Bench.
Juan Marichal, being one of the Sporting News All Star selections for 1968, plus being the starter in the 1967 All Star Game certainly deserved a card in the 1968 All Star subset.Ken Holtzman
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Topps All-Star Misses: 1969 AL Outfield
Who probably didn't merit inclusion in the 1969 Topps All-Star set, but was in it anyway?
Tony Oliva