2016 ALDS: Indians vs. Red Sox

For the 2016 postseason I am making Cards That Never Were of Hall of Famers from each team but with a couple of twists. The first twist is that they will appear on cards that coincide with the year they were inducted into Cooperstown. The second twist is that these are not the teams they are best known for playing.

1994 Topps Steve Carlton

Steve Carlton had been in a three way battle with Nolan Ryan and Gaylord Perry for all-time strikeout leader until the injury plagued 1985 season. He pitched just 92 innings and went 1 and 8. After starting the 1986 season with a 4-8 record and a 6.11 ERA he was released by the Phillies. He spent the rest of his career trying to get his mojo back. He played with the Giants, White Sox, Indians and Twins from July of 1986 until April of 1988. With the Cardinals and Phillies Carlton won 318 games and had a 3.10 ERA. With his final four teams he had a combined record of 10-21 with a 5.58 ERA. Nonetheless he was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 1994 with 95.8% of the vote.

1983 Topps Juan Marichal

Juan Marichal pitched for the Giants from 1960-1973. In 1974 he was purchased by the Boston Red Sox. Although he missed nearly three months in the middle of the '74 season due to shoulder surgery, he ended up with a 5-1 record in just 9 starts. He retired after the season only to be approached by the Dodgers in the spring of 1975. In his first game he pitched three scoreless innings only to be lit up for 5 runs in the fourth. In his second outing he pitched two scoreless only to get crushed in the third. When Walter Alston came out to the mound, Marichal's mind was made up. He told Alston that he was retiring for good. In 1983 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

1994 Topps Mickey Mantle

For those who actually read this blog, you know that I've been filling in the missing Mantles from 1971 -1995. Topps has created quite a few Mantle Cards That Never Were. Including cards that had no real reason to exist, specifically the cards of Mickey Mantle that were issued well after he retired. In 2006, more than 10 years after The Mick passed on, Topps began issuing a Mantle card in every set, number 7. Since then they have also issued cards that they missed including a 1970 Walmart only, mini cards from 1975 and 1987 plus the years 1996-2005. 

This year, no Mickey Mantle card. No number 7 card. What gives? Do they need to renegotiate with his estate? Did they decide that this was a silly endeavor suited more for a time-wasting blogger than a multi-billion dollar industry? I don't know, but I will tell you this: If it doesn't materialize by the series 2 release date (Last estimate June 11th), look for it here.