Help Choose the All-Time Topps Rookie Team!!!

If you've ever hung out on Topps' website, one of the new promotions (okay, it's been out since the season started) is the opportunity to vote for the Topps Golden Anniversary All-Time Rookie Team. You have to register with the website to do be able to vote, and if you are a member of the message boards, you may have to register again as the message boards are seperate from the main website.

As you know, every year since 1959, Topps has honored those players, voted by the MLB managers, to be named as members of that year's All-Star Rookie Team. As of 2007, 494 players have been named to this team. The reason for the extras:

• Four ties in position voting (1967, 1985, 1986, and 2003)


• Cal Ripken was voted onto the team twice in 1981 AND 1982


• Eddie Murray received enough votes to be named to the ASRT, but the votes were split between two positions, first base and the outfield. Because he didn't have enough votes to win either position outright, Topps named him as their DH in 1977.

Now in it's 50th year, Topps is allowing us, the fans, the opportunity to vote on the players who will be named to the Golden Anniversary All-Time Rookie Team.

Here are the nominees (and years each player was named to the team)

First baseman:

• Eddie Murray (1977, remember he was the "designated hitter.")


• Jeff Bagwell (1991)


• Kent Hrbek (1982)


• Mark Grace (1988)


• Mark McGwire (1987)


• Prince Fielder (2006)


• Todd Helton (1998)


• Tony Perez (1965)


• Willie McCovey (1959)


• Wally Joyner (1986)

Second Baseman:

• Alfonso Soriano (2001)


• Dave Lopes (1973)


• Jeff Kent (1992)


• Joe Morgan (1965)


• Juan Samuel (1984)


• Paul Molitor (1978)


• Pete Rose (1963)


• Rod Carew (1967)


• Steve Sax (1982)


• Willie Randolph (1976)

Third Baseman:

• Albert Pujols (2001)


• Bill Madlock (1974)


• Chipper Jones (1995)


• Chris Sabo (1988)


• Rickie Allen (1964)


• Robin Ventura (1990)


• Ron Santo (1960)


• Ryan Braun (2007)


• Ryne Sandberg (1982)


• Scott Rolen (1998)

Shortstop:

• Cal Ripken (1981, 1982)


• Derek Jeter (1996)


• Gary Sheffield (1989)


• Hanley Ramirez (2006)


• Jimmy Rollins (2001)


• Julio Franco (1983)


• Nomar Garciaparra (1997)


• Ozzie Smith (1978)


• Ozzie Guillen (1985)


• Troy Tulowitzki (2007)

Outfielders:

• Andre Dawson (1977)


• Andruw Jones (1997)


• Billy Williams (1961)


• Bobby Bonds (1968)


• Boog Powell (1962)


• Buddy Bell (1972)


• Cory Snyder (1986)


• Darryl Strawberry (1983)


• Dave Justice (1990)


• Don Baylor (1972)


• Ellis Burks (1987)


• Fred Lynn (1975)


• Ichiro Suzuki (2001)


• Jim Rice (1975)


• Joe Charboneau (1980)


• José Canseco (1986)


• Ken Griffey, Jr. (1989)


• Larry Walker (1990)


• Magglio Ordoñez (1998)


• Manny Ramirez (1994)


• Matt Holliday (2004)


• Moises Alou (1992)


• Pete Incaviglia (1986)


• Reggie Smith (1967)


• Ron Kittle (1983)


• Tim Raines (1981)


• Tony Conigliaro (1964)


• Tony Oliva (1984)


• Willie McGee (1982)


• Vince Coleman (1985)

Catcher:

• Bob Boone (1973)


• Carlton Fisk (1972)


• Charles Johnson (1995)


• Gary Carter (1975)


• Ivan Rodriguez (1991)


• Johnny Bench (1968)


• Kirby Puckett (1984, this is totally wrong. He was voted in as an outfielder. Why is he in with the catchers??!)


• Mike Piazza (1993)


• Sandy Alomar (1990)


• Thurman Munson (1970)

Left-Handed Pitcher:

• Billy Wagner (1996)


• C. C. Sabathia (2001)


• Dontrelle Willis (2003)


• Fernando Valenzuela (1981)


• Frank Tanana (1974)


• Jerry Koosman (1968)


• Jim Abbott (1989)


• Mark Langston (1984)

Right-Handed Pitcher:

• Brandon Webb (2003)


• Dwight Gooden (1984)


• Hideo Nomo (1995)


• John Montefusco (1975)


• Justin Verlander (2006)


• Kerry Wood (1998)


• Mark Fidrych (1976)


• Roger McDowell (1985)


• Roy Oswalt (2001)


• Todd Worrell (1986)


• Tom Gordon (1989)


• Tom Seaver (1967)

So there you are. Barring the mistakes (Puckett a catcher???), it's a good lineup with stars from the past five decades. I question why they put Rose on the ballot though. Topps can't even put him on a card. A nitpicky complaint would be the fact that they did not seperate the pitchers (you could easily vote for two righties or two lefties instead of one of each).

I voted a long time ago (Grace, Soriano, Sandberg, Ripken, Dawson, Ichiro, Strawberry, Fisk, Nomo, and Abbott...I think). Now is your chance to do the same. Voting will end when the season does. And there may be an insert set next year to commemorate those who win the voting.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

(If you would like to see a complete list of all 494 players as of 2007 to be named to Topps' All-Star Rookie Team, please click here. Take a look and see who wrote it. Name ring a bell?)