Thursday, April 29, 2021

Topps All-Star Misses: 1969 NL Infield

My latest project is making All Star Cards That Never Year for the years 1958-62 and 1968-70.  Diring 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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It's only my second post in this series and I have to admit that Topps was pretty much on point in regards to the 1969 NL infield.  The 1969 Topps All Stars had McCovey, Helms, Kessinger and Santo who also just happened to be the actual 1968 ASG starting infield. McCovey, Kessinger and Santo were also named to the 1969 "Sporting News" All Star team.  

That only leaves Glenn Beckert who was named "The Sporting News" All Star 2nd baseman in 1969. So here is a 1969 All Star card that could have been.

  • 1969 NL ASG Starter
  • 1969 Sporting News All Star
  • 1968 Gold Glove
  • 9th in MVP voting 1968
  • Led MLB with 22.6 At-Bats per Strikeout


 

5 comments:

  1. Excellent card. What a great infield the Cubs had back then! I can find the actual starting All-Stars on the baseball reference website, but not The Sporting News All-Stars. Where do you find TSN All-Stars?

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    1. I stumbled across it years ago. I went looking recently and could not find the full list anywhere. I had downloaded it on an old computer and thought I lost it. But I found it again attached to an unrelated file. I can't find it on the interwebs anywhere, but I should share it. Where do you think a good place to post it would be?

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  2. I had the same experience a few years back, but thought it would always be there, so I didn't save it. I am not on any of the social media platforms, so I would prefer that you post here on your blog if possible.

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    1. I don't know how. Lol. I'll email it to you.

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    2. I wouldn't know how either. I'm tech challenged. I'll watch for your email. Thanks for your trouble.

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