The 1968 Topps All Star cards for the AL infield nearly reflected the 1967 AL starting infield. 1st base was Killebrew, 2nd was Carew, 3rd was Brooks Robinson. Shortstop was where they ran into trouble. Topps had Jim Fregosi at shortstop. The actual starting shortstop was Rico Petrocelli.
And then there is the issue that the cards were supposed to represent "The Sporting News 1968 All Star Selections". In that case, they missed the mark at shortstop again. Luis Aparicio was the Sporting News pick.
They missed at 1st base, too. In 1968 Boog Powell was The Sporting News All Star section.
Who probably didn't merit inclusion in the 1969 Topps All-Star set, but was in it anyway?
Jim Fregosi:
I believe the cards are supposed to represent the 1967 Sporting News All-Stars, not the 1968 Sporting News All-Stars. (How could they, when the cards are printed well before anyone is deciding who the 1968 All-Stars are?)
ReplyDeleteYou could be right. I guess the big 68 under the words "All Star selection" threw me.
DeleteThat being said, of the 20 1968 Topps All Star cards made 13 were 1967 TSN All Stars. or 65%. Although not bad for Topps, It'd be a solid "D" for anyone else.
Delete"That's just Topps being Topps!"
Deleteha!
Nice looking cards, ezpecially the Luis Aparicio.
ReplyDeleteI mean "especially".
Delete