Topps All-Star Misses: 1970 AL Battery

From 1958-1970 Topps has been including "All-Star" cards.  But how Topps chose the players always seemed a bit off to me.  Understandably, they weren't the current year's All-Star starters because of printing deadlines, etc.  But they weren't the previous year's All-Stars either.  Often the framed it as "The Sporting News" or "Sport Magazine" All-Stars, but that still doesn't check out.  

So I set out to make All-Star Cards That Never Were for the players that could have been included.  My criteria was simple. Either they were a starter in the previous year's All Star Game or they were named to the real "Sporting News All-Star Team" for the current season.

When I started this project, I had really no idea what I was taking on.  I ended up making over 150 All-Star Cards That Never Were.  That was just from 8 years; 1958-62 and 1969-70. Remember, Topps took a break from 1963-67 then again from 1971-73.  After that (with a few exceptions) their cards mirrored the previous year's All Star Game starters.

Darold Knowles:

• Although not the starting pitcher in the 1969 ASG, he was the first lefty to come on in relief for the AL team.
• In 1970 he had 27 saves, 3rd in AL.
• In 1970 had a 2.04 ERA.

Mel Stottlemyre:

• Starter for the AL in the 1969 ASG
• 18th in MVP voting 1969
• Led AL with 24 Complete Games in 1969
• 1970 All Star reserve.  Pitched 1.2 innings, credited with a blown save.

Jim Perry:

• Named to 1970 Sporting News All Star Team
• 1970 Cy Young Award winner.
• Led AL with 24 Wins in 1970.
• 9th in 1970 MVP voting.
• 1970 All Star Game reserve. Pitched 2 innings.
• 3rd in 1969 Cy Young Award voting.
• 9th in 1969 MVP voting.

Ray Fosse:

• Named to 1970 Sporting News All Star Team,
• 1970 All Star Game reserve. 
• 1970 Gold Glove award winner.
• 23rd in MVP voting 1970.

Who probably didn't merit inclusion in the 1970 Topps All-Star set, but was in it anyway? 

Denny McLain:

Although the 1969 Cy Young award winner, he was suspended the first 3 months of the 1970 season due to bookmaking activities. He did pitch in relief in the 1969 ASG but was not on the 1970 All Star roster.