More 1979 Alt-Topps

Team Cards, Rookies and Traded

For the team cards, I mirrored the 1979 set format of incorporating the managers into the team cards. I chose the Mets and he White Sox because of their use of player/managers.  

Don Kessinger began the 1979 season as the White Sox player/manager. Torre was named player/manager of the Mets in May of 1977. But he felt he couldn't play and perform his managerial duties and retired from playing 18 days later.

The 1979 Awards had ties in for NL MVP and for AL Rookies of the Year. John Castino was the Twins third baseman. I added Dave Edwards to his Rookie Stars card.

Tying Castino for ROY honors was Alfredo Griffin. In the 1979 Topps set he is depicted on an Indians Prospects card. This despite being dealt to the Blue Jays in early December 1978. Here I paired him with two-sport star, Danny Ainge.

On the senior circuit the sole Rookie of the Year was Dodgers pitcher Rick Sutcliffe. He shares his Rookie Stars card with future All-Star Pedro Guerrero.

There were a couple big-name transactions in the 1978-1979 off season. First the Red Sox sent the Spaceman, Bill Lee to the Expos. He had a well publicized rift with manager Don Zimmer. In exchange they got utility infielder Stan Papi who could barely hit his own weight, and I believe a case of pine tar. Papi was dealt the following year as "the player to be named later".

Another big-name transaction was the free agent signing of Pete Rose. The Phillies signed him to a four year $3.2 contract making him the highest player in the game, at that time.

1979 Topps Dave Parker All Star MVP

Going Horizontal

The 1979 All Star Game MVP was chosen not for his offensive contribution. Even though Dave Parker went 1 for 3 with an RBI sacrifice fly and an intentional walk. It was his arm that earned him the MVP. He threw out Jim Rice trying to stretch a double with the AL leading 6-5 in the bottom of the 7th. An inning later he preserved the 6-6 tie by throwing out Brian Downing at the plate. Downing was trying to score from 2nd on a Graig Nettles single with 2 outs in the 8th.

This is my second horizontal version for the 1979 set. as you can see, I took a few more liberties this time deviating a bit from the original design. The main reason is that I thought adding a second bar similar to this 1979 Rod Carew All Star would take up too much space for the picture if used horizontally. 

Below is a horizontal card I had previously posted for John Castino's Rookie of the Year season. For this one I used a more traditional 1979 Topps look.

1979 Topps John Castino

In 1979 John Castino was co-ROY with Alfredo Griffin of the Toronto Blue Jays. Castino did not have a card in the 1979 Topps set. Also the 1979 Topps set did not include horizontal cards. When I came across this picture, I knew I had to make a horizontal card to accommodate it. 

Castino put up solid numbers during his career and was named as one of the "50 Greatest Twin Players" by the Minnesota Twins as part of their 50th anniversary celebration in 2010. His career was cut short by chronic back pain. In 1984 at the age of 29 his playing days were over.