Rounding out my 2014 All Star Break set are the Honorary Captains of the 1980 All Star game in Los Angeles.
Representing the National League was 1969 Hall of Fame inductee and Dodgers fan favorite, Roy Campanella. Campanella appeared on one of the earliest "Card That Never Were" I am aware of, when Topps put him on a 1951 card as part of the 1975 MVP subset. A three-time MVP, Topps would also have to create a 1955 card of him (as well as a 1962 Maury Wills card).
Representing the 1980 American League All Stars in was 1980 Hall of Fame inductee Al Kaline. Kaline was a first ballot Hall of Famer with over 88% of the vote. He was also the youngest player to win the batting title in 1955. Signed by the Tigers in 1953, Kaline spent all 22 MLB seasons in Detroit. He retired at the end of the 1974 season just 1 homer shy of the 400 mark.
These are great, keep them coming!
ReplyDeleteThe Campy card is amazing!
ReplyDeleteKaline finished with 399 HR's.
Yup. Got the columns mixed up on baseball-reference.com. He had 498 doubles. Thanks for catching that.
ReplyDeleteAWESOME SERIES!!! Thanks John!
ReplyDeleteLove the Campy and Kaline cards... that 1980 set is underrated if you ask me. The flag or pennant design is pretty sweet IMHO.
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