Topps All-Star Misses: 1970 AL Battery

From 1958-1970 Topps has been including "All-Star" cards.  But how Topps chose the players always seemed a bit off to me.  Understandably, they weren't the current year's All-Star starters because of printing deadlines, etc.  But they weren't the previous year's All-Stars either.  Often the framed it as "The Sporting News" or "Sport Magazine" All-Stars, but that still doesn't check out.  

So I set out to make All-Star Cards That Never Were for the players that could have been included.  My criteria was simple. Either they were a starter in the previous year's All Star Game or they were named to the real "Sporting News All-Star Team" for the current season.

When I started this project, I had really no idea what I was taking on.  I ended up making over 150 All-Star Cards That Never Were.  That was just from 8 years; 1958-62 and 1969-70. Remember, Topps took a break from 1963-67 then again from 1971-73.  After that (with a few exceptions) their cards mirrored the previous year's All Star Game starters.

Darold Knowles:

• Although not the starting pitcher in the 1969 ASG, he was the first lefty to come on in relief for the AL team.
• In 1970 he had 27 saves, 3rd in AL.
• In 1970 had a 2.04 ERA.

Mel Stottlemyre:

• Starter for the AL in the 1969 ASG
• 18th in MVP voting 1969
• Led AL with 24 Complete Games in 1969
• 1970 All Star reserve.  Pitched 1.2 innings, credited with a blown save.

Jim Perry:

• Named to 1970 Sporting News All Star Team
• 1970 Cy Young Award winner.
• Led AL with 24 Wins in 1970.
• 9th in 1970 MVP voting.
• 1970 All Star Game reserve. Pitched 2 innings.
• 3rd in 1969 Cy Young Award voting.
• 9th in 1969 MVP voting.

Ray Fosse:

• Named to 1970 Sporting News All Star Team,
• 1970 All Star Game reserve. 
• 1970 Gold Glove award winner.
• 23rd in MVP voting 1970.

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

Denny McLain:

Although the 1969 Cy Young award winner, he was suspended the first 3 months of the 1970 season due to bookmaking activities. He did pitch in relief in the 1969 ASG but was not on the 1970 All Star roster.

Cards That Never Were - 43rd & 44th Series Checklists

Still playing catch-up with the checklists.  The 43rd series contained mostly 1979 Alt-Topps cards. I included a shot of Rusty Staub AKA "le Grande Orange". He actually passed away in 2018, but a card commemorating his passing was requested in the comments.  In 1979 he began the season with Detroit.  In July of 1979 he was sent North of the border for cash considerations and a player to be named later (Randall Schafer). He played until 1985 with the Expos, Rangers and Mets.

The baseball community lost Mel Stottlemyre in January 2019. He is included on this 1971 Alt-Topps checklist. He played 11 years in the Majors, all with the Yankees. He was a five-time all-star.  The 44th series consisted of 24 cards from the 1971 Alt-Topps set and one Alt-Topps football card. It was a 1968 Alt-Topps design of Bart Starr.

 As usual, you can click here to see all the cards included in these series.  You can also click on any of the checklists in the margin.  This is great for looking at all my cards without all those annoying words slowing you down.