1973 Alt-Topps

Time for some more rejected Topps prototypes.  Despite the name on this one, there is no mistaking the great Yogi Berra.  Given the uniform, I decided to make this into a 1973 Alt-Topps set.  To the right is my best attempt at cleaning up this mockup card. The fonts aren't an exact match but capture the intent. The style is somewhat reminiscent of the 1972 Topps football set (albeit a more pedestrian version). It seems pretty basic especially by today's standards but still adaptable to many different uses.

In case you are wondering "Who is Len Brown?" He was a long-time Topps employee credited with writing the bios on the backs of cards among many other duties. There is a terrific article about him here.

As usual, I've made cards of the eventual MVPs and Cy Young award winners.

The AL MVP was Mr. October.  But in 1973 he had yet to live up to that name. Although the A's won the 1972 World Series, Reggie did not play.  He was injured on a double-steal.  He collided with Bill Freehan in Game 5 of the ALCS.

In The NL it was Charlie Hustle. In 1973 Rose led the league with a .338 batting average and a career high 230 hits. 

Jim Palmer won his first of 3 career Cy Young awards in 1973. He won 22 games and led the AL with a 2.40 ERA. He also came in second in MVP voting to Reggie Jackson.













Tom Seaver was also the recipient of three career Cy Young awards.  In 1973 he won his second. He won 19 games, and led the league in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP and complete games. I went with a horizontal version and this psychedelic picture from his 1972 Sports Illustrated photo shoot.

To be continued...

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Just as I've done in previous Alt-Topps posts, this post contains the base cards, I'll make a couple more posts with various subsets. And, of course, I'll make as many request as I can an hopefully post them in a few weeks. Just post your requests (or even ideas for other subsets, etc) in the comment section.  Thanks.

MLB Dream Bracket Alt-Topps Cards Part 3

A's v Rays and Orioles v Astros

These "games" have already been played, you can check the results here. I got a chance to watch a bit of these yesterday.  I was disappointed.  The graphics were almost non existent.  I was hoping for something more like the White Sox are doing with NBCSN and "MLB The Show". 

The "greatest" player selection was made by "Twitch" or "Out of the Park" or "Draft Kings" or whoever.  I can't say I totally agree. Also there were no players "disqualified". That mean they included "Shoeless"  Joe Jackson, Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, etc.  In fact, there seems to be a plethora of steroids-era players.

These games are going on right now. As I type many American Leagues have already been eliminated. So I'm doubling up today. Just want to get as many cards out while they are still relevant. I'm still making 4 for each team, 1 pitcher and 3 position players. Once again, the card design is based on a rejected Topps design from the late sixties.

For the A's, I made cards of Eddie Plank, Jimmie Foxx, Bert Campaneris, and Rickey Henderson.  On the Rays there is David Price, Fred McGriff, Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria,

In the Orioles-Astros match up, we have Jim Palmer, Frank Robinson, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken. For the Astros it's JR Richard, Cesar Cedeno, Brad Ausmus and Carlos Correa.

1975 Alt-Topps

Once again, I am working from a black and white print. This one looks about 1975 vintage due to the Toy Cannon in Dodgers blue.  There was a lot going on here that I could not duplicate exactly.  I tried to find a glove shape that would allow enough space for a decent photo. The font was just impossible to duplicate but I think mine captures enough of the original gist. 

In typical fashion, I made some base card mockups using the Cy Young Award winners for the 1975 season. Jim Palmer won his second of 3 Cy Young Awards in 1975. He had career highs in victories (23), complete games (25) and shutouts (10). The NL also had a 3-time winner. Tom Terrific won his 3rd and final Cy Young. He led the NL in strikeouts (243) and wins (22).

The AL MVP, Fred Lynn, was also the Rookie of the Year.  I decided to substitute Lynn (and save him for later) with the runner-up MVP in the AL, John Mayberry.  Mayberry had career highs in home runs (34), RBIs (106), slugging (.547) and hits (162). He also led the league with 119 bases on  balls.  In the NL was Joe Morgan who won his first of two consecutive MVPs for the Big Red Machine.

Another departure on this set is the color selection.  In 1975 the Topps set was all over the place with many color combinations for teams.  For the Alt-Topps set I tried to match the team colors.

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Just a quick note to the usual suspects that have been following my blog these past years:

I've been trying to stay active on this blog but haven't been very successful lately.  You can probably tell by the post season cards I posted.  I missed the Wildcard games.  Somehow I managed to post for the Divisional Series but again missed the Championship Series and World Series.  So, I've got a bunch of half-finished projects that I may post at a later date.

Sometimes the real world comes crashing into the hobbies that were meant to take your mind off the real world.  Having said that, I managed to finish this 1975 Alt-Topps project and will try to create a few requests, as usual.  Just leave comments and I will do my best.

1976 Alt-Topps

Still creating whole sets based on rejected Topps designs. This time all I had to work with is a rough black and white copy. It seems to have some elements of the 1971 Topps Football, 1975 and 1981 Topps Baseball.

And here is my cleaned up version with an action shot of Wayne Garrett striking pose similar to the mock-up.  After cleaning it up and creating more base cards, the final product looked less like a mainstream Topps product and more like a giveaway found in a loaf of Wonder Bread.

As usual, I also made base cards of the MVPs and Cy Young award winners from both leagues.  I went with a horizontal version for Randy Jones. 

For Munson I include a cameo of one of the most famous 'fros in baseball.

Speaking of hair, I used this cap-less shot of Palmer to show off his disco era locks.

I also tried to stay true to the team colors Topps used in 1976.  These colors worked for the Padres and the Mets.  They were passable for the Yankees. But the Reds and Orioles? Ugh.  

1984 Topps Stadium Statues: Orioles vs. Tigers

A.L.D.S. Edition

Camden Yards is home to a who's who of Oriole greats: Ripken, Murray, Palmer, Weaver, Brooks and Frank Robinson. It is also home to a statue of a young Babe Ruth who was born and raised in Baltimore and played for the 1914 Minor League Baltimore Orioles. I like the statue of Jim Palmer for not only the signature leg kick but also that great '70s hair.

Comerica Park in Detroit has statues of Tigers greats above their retired numbers along the left-center field wall; Gehringer #2, Greenberg #5, Kaline #6, Newhouser #16, and Horton #23.  There is also a statue of Ty Cobb who played before the Tigers had numbers on their uniforms. Missing is a statue of Sparky Anderson whose #11 was retire in 2011. 

I am a fan of Greenberg for more than just his Hall of Fame career. First he was part owner and Vice President of the 1959 pennant winning White Sox. Another reason to admire the man was his contribution in World War II.  In 1940 Greenberg was the AL MVP.  When he was initially drafted by the Army  he was listed as "4F" he requested to be re-examined and was deemed fit. He missed mist of the 1941 season then was discharged 2 days before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He immediately voluntarily re-enlisted. He served nearly 4 years at the peak of his playing career. He returned to baseball in 1945 and hit .304 with 2 homers and 7 RBIs in the World Series helping the Tigers defeat the Cubs in what is still the Cubs' most recent Series appearance. 

1991 Fleer Jim Palmer

Baltimore Orioles CTNW Favorites #3

Nearly seven years after his forced retirement and just months after his enshrinement in Cooperstown, Jim Palmer reported to spring training for the Baltimore Orioles. At 45 years of age he was attempting a comeback. Palmer pitched 2 innings of an intersquad game, surrendering 5 hits including a home run, and 2 walks. On March 11, 1991 he faced off against the Red Sox. Pitching the first 2 innings, Palmer gave up 2 runs on 5 hits and a walk. Palmer clearly was not his old self. His fastball hovered around 80 mph and he struggled with control. 38 preseason pitches into his comeback, Jim Palmer hung up his cleats for good.

1973 Topps All Star Cards : American League Battery

In his 2nd All Star start, Jim Palmer gave up 1 hit and 1 walk in 3 innings. He also helped at the plate advancing battery-mate Freehan on a bunt. Freehan scored on a Rod Carew single.

Bill Freehan had been the starting catcher for the American League All Stars since 1966. But with the 1970 Rookie of the Year, Thurman Munson and the 1972 Rookie of the year, Carlton Fisk coming up behind him, 1972 would be his last start behind the plate.

1971 Topps All Star Cards : American League Battery

1971 Topps Jim Palmer All-Star

1970 was Jim Palmer's 1st All Star game. He would pitch in 6 All Star games over his career starting in 4 of them. In 1970, both he and NL starter Seaver began the game with 3 scoreless innings. Palmer gave up a walk and a single in the 2nd but stranded the runners then mowed down Rusty Staub, Willie Mays and Dick Allen in order in the 3rd.

1971 Topps Bill Freehan All-Star

Bill Freehan was selected to the All Star team 11 times in his 15 year career. He was the starting All Star catcher 7 consecutive seasons from 1966-1972. He lined out to center in his only at bat in 1970. In the bottom of the 5th he was replaced by Ray Fosse. 

The Many, Many Rookie Cards of Lou Piniella

Sweet Lou made his cardboard debut as a Senator after batting .310 with 16 homers for their single A ball club. He made his Big League debut in September of 1964 but by that time he was dealt to the Orioles as the "player to be named later" to complete an earlier trade. Although he played in 4 games he would have only one plate appearance. He pinch hit for Hall of Famer Robin Roberts. He grounded out to second base.

He next appeared on a card in 1968. This time as an Indian. 1968 would also be the next year he would play in the Majors. Again he was a September call-up. He did manage to score a run as a pinch runner, and get an RBI on a sac-fly but his first big league hit still eluded him.

In 1969 Topps would recycle his 1968 photo and put him on a Rookie Stars card for the 3rd time. This time as a Pilot. Of course Lou would be traded before the start of the season to the Royals and eventually be named A.L. Rookie of the Year.

If Topps saw fit to include him on a Rookie Stars card in 1964, 1968 and 1969, why not 1965 or 1966 or 1967?  Since the name of this blog is Cards That Never Were, it is my duty to fill in the missing years.

In 1965 Piniella was in the Orioles Farm system. After his single at bat in 1964, Baltimore placed him in AA where he hit a mediocre .249. Topps had plenty of other Oriole prospects to choose from in 1965 other than Piniella. There was the eventual 1965 R.O.Y. Curt Blefary as well as future All-Stars, Paul Blair, Davey Johnson and Darold Knowles. Apparently there wasn't room for Lou. So I made a 1965 Rookie Stars card for him along with another guy who made his MLB debut as an Oriole in 1965.

In March of 1966 Piniella was dealt to the Indians. Topps opted to put first baseman Bill Davis and pitcher Tom Kelley on the Indians Rookie Stars card. I teamed Lou up with a seldom used utility infielder Vern Fuller for this version of the 1966 Rookie Stars card. In 1966 Piniella was promoted to AAA ball and his batting average improved to .289

In 1967 Topps would again put first baseman Bill Davis on its Rookie Stars card. This time along with utility infielder Gus Gil. I chose the Indians 4th string catcher from 1966, Buddy Booker to keep Piniella company on this version of the 1967 Rookie Stars card. Although Piniella remained at the AAA level in 1967, his hitting improved again. This time topping the .300 mark at .308. He would spend most of the next season in triple A as well. Finally getting called up in September of 1968.