Topps All-Star Misses: 1970 AL Infield

After a bit of a diversion, I'm ready for another round of All Star misses by Topps.  As we've established, Topps basis for the players that appeared on "All Star" cards, often didn't reflect the actual starting MLB All Stars.  Many of these cards were labeled as "Sporting News All Star Selections".  Unfortunately, that often wasn't accurate either. So I've made cards that could've been included in these Topps All Star sub-sets from 1958-62 and 1968-70.

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The 1970 Topps "Sporting News" All Stars featured three AL infielders that started the 1969 All Star game; Boog Powell, Rod Carew and Rico Petrocelli.  It also had three from the 1969 Sporting News All Star team; Powell, Carew and Brooks Robinson.  Here are some players that could've been included based on either starting the 1969 ASG or being selected to the 1970 Sporting News All Star team:

 Davey Johnson:

• 1970 Sporting News All Star selection.
• 1969 MLB All Star reserve.
• 1970 MLB All Star starter.
• Gold Glove second baseman 1969 and 1970.

Sal Bando:

• 1969 MLB All Star starter.
• 16th in AL MVP voting 1969.
• 27th in AL MVP voting 1970.

Harmon Killebrew:

• 1970 Sporting News All Star selection.
• 1969 MLB All Star reserve.
• 1970 MLB All Star starter.
• 1969 AL MVP.
• 3rd in AL MVP voting 1970.

Luis Aparicio:

• 1969 and 1970 Sporting News All Star selection.
• 1970 MLB All Star starter.
• Gold Glove shortstop in 1970.
• 12th in AL MVP voting 1970.

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

Brooks Robinson:

A strong case could be made for the "Human Vacuum" based on his 1969 Sporting News All Star selection, and based on his appearance as a reserve in both 1969 and 1970 ASGs.  That being said, he didn't start either year, nor was he the 1970 selection by The Sporting News.

 

TBT - Baltimore Orioles Edition

On the Friday before the All Star break, the Orioles celebrated the 50th anniversary of their 1966 World Series championship. The team sported the same unis as their 1966 counterparts. Their opponents, the L.A. Angels didn't play along and just wore their everyday 2016 away uniforms.

The differences in the 1966 and 2016 uniforms are not dramatic. The main differences being the Orioles script on the '66 uni is slightly different and not underscored and the 2016 caps have a white field behind the cartoon bird. I chose to compare a picture of 2016 shortstop Jonathan Schoop turning a double-play with 1966 second baseman Davey Johnson doing the same. While looking for a Topps card that showed the Orioles home uniforms of this era, I came up short. Perhaps I should say Topps came up short. Although the Orioles uniforms changed in 1966 most cards from 1966-1970 showed home uniforms from 1965 or older or showed the away uniform. 

Rather than use a card from the early seventies to compare the uniforms, I made two Card That Never Were for this post. Davey Johnson was an obvious choice. Topps had included him on a "Rookie Stars" card in the 1965 set, the year in which he made his MLB debut. In 1966 Johnson had earned a starting role as second baseman for the World Series Champs and even a Rookie of the Year nomination. But he didn't earn his own Topps card. Instead he was put on a second, late series "Rookie Stars" card in 1966. So here is a second year card of Davey Johnson that would never have appeared in a 1966 Topps set. It is an action shot of him actually wearing a current uniform.

1971 Topps All Star Cards : American League Infield

1971 Topps Boog Powell All-Star

Boog Powell was 2nd in MVP voting in 1969 and was the AL MVP in 1970. His dominance didn't cross over into the 1970 All Star game, though. He went 0 for 3 batting clean-up for the AL.

1971 Topps Davey Johnson All-Star

The Orioles' Gold Glove 2nd baseman, Davey Johnson was selected to his 3rd All Star game and his 1st as a starter in 1970. I always remember him being referred to as "Davey" yet Topps always listed him as Dave well past his playing days and into his managerial years.

1971 Topps Luis Aparicio All-Star

Luis Aparicio hit a career high .313 in 1970. He also won his 9th and final Gold Glove that year. He was traded to the Red Sox after the 1970 season. The White Sox retired his number in 1984, the year he was voted into the Hall of Fame.

1971 Topps Harmon Killebrew All-Star

Killebrew was one of only 3 AL starters to get a hit in the 1970 All Star game. The Killer had an impressive .308 batting average in his 13 All Star game appearances.