bdj610's End of Year MLB All-Star Teams: 1987 Edition

So here I am, more than a year after I first said that I would do it, ready to show off the All-Star teams that I first created out of childhood fantasy, and turned it into something that I continue to do into my mid 30's. I'll be honest, when I was much younger, I didn't really know to research the best players as I do now. Back when I was 12 and 13, I just combined the players who made the All-Star Teams (both NL and AL), and then added players as needed to fill in the positions (which, if you didn't know by now, currently include 3 each for 1b, 2b, 3b, ss, c, 9 outfielders, 6 starters, 4 closers, 1 middle reliever, and 1 designated hitter).

The team I am presenting now was not the first team I created (that was for 1988). The only reason why I ever even decided to do one for 1987 was because I finally completed my 1988 Topps set, and thought that since I had an All-Star team using cards from 1989 Topps (for my 1988 All-Stars), it seemed like a good idea at the time. It was now 1990 (or was it 1991, I'm not sure), and back then there was no internet, so I couldn't just "look up stuff" online. To create the teams you will see below, I used the following information:

• The rosters for the 1987 All-Star Game
• The checklist for the 1988 Topps Sticker Backs

I just figured that combining these two lists would give me a good enough talent pool to create my 1987 rosters. Looking back now, I know I could have done much better. But I am not about to revise anything now, especially since I still have my notes from when I first wrote them down.

So without further ado, for the first time online, I am proud to introduce my 1987 End of Year MLB All-Star Teams (in alphabetical order by position):

(Lots of space here when I added the table. Don't know why...)

American League First Basemen Don Mattingly, Yankees Larry Parrish, Rangers Pat Tabler, Indians Second Basemen Willie Randolph, Yankees Harold Reynolds, Mariners Lou Whitaker, Tigers Third Basemen Wade Boggs, Red Sox Mark McGwire, Athletics Kevin Seitzer, Royals Shortstops Tony Fernandez, Blue Jays Cal Ripken, Orioles Alan Trammell, Tigers Outfielders Harold Baines, White Sox Jesse Barfield, Blue Jays George Bell, Blue Jays Jose Canseco, Athletics Joe Carter, Indians Dwight Evans, Red Sox Rickey Henderson, Yankees Kirby Puckett, Twins Dave Winfield, Yankees Catchers Carlton Fisk, White Sox Terry Kennedy, Orioles Matt Nokes, Tigers Pitchers Roger Clemens, Red Sox Tom Henke, Blue Jays Jay Howell, Athletics Bruce Hurst, Red Sox Mark Langston, Mariners Jack Morris, Tigers Dan Plesac, Brewers Dave Righetti, Yankees Bret Saberhagen, Royals Mike Witt, Angels Manager: Sparky Anderson Tigers The Starters: 1B: Mattingly 2B: Randolph 3B: Boggs SS: Ripken OF: Bell OF: Henderson OF: Winfield C: Kennedy P: Saberhagen

National League First Basemen Jack Clark, Cardinals Andres Galarraga, Expos Keith Hernandez, Mets Second Basemen Tom Herr, Cardinals Juan Samuel, Phillies Ryne Sandberg, Cubs Third Basemen Terry Pendleton, Cardinals Mike Schmidt, Phillies Tim Wallach, Expos Shortstops Hubie Brooks, Expos Shawon Dunston, Cubs Ozzie Smith, Cardinals Outfielders Eric Davis, Reds Andre Dawson, Cubs Pedro Guerrero, Dodgers Tony Gwynn, Padres Jeffrey Leonard, Giants Willie McGee, Cardinals Dale Murphy, Braves Tim Raines, Expos Darryl Strawberry, Mets Catchers Gary Carter, Mets Bo Diaz, Reds Ozzie Virgil, Braves Pitchers Steve Bedrosian, Phillies Mike Dunne, Pirates Sid Fernandez, Mets John Franco, Reds Dwight Gooden, Mets Orel Hershiser, Dodgers Mike Scott, Astros Lee Smith, Cubs Rick Sutcliffe, Cubs Fernando Valenzuela, Dodgers Manager: Bob Rodgers, Expos The Starters: 1B: Clark 2B: Sandberg 3B: Schmidt SS: Smith OF: Davis OF: Dawson OF: Strawberry C: Carter P: Sutcliffe

Allow me to defend some of my picks. The Pirates representative at the All-Star Game was Rick Reuschel. However, he was traded before the end of the year to the Giants. And since all the other spots were open, I could only fit in a pitcher. So I picked Mike Dunne. Why? He had the shiny looking trophy on his 1988 Topps card. Putting Dunne in the pitching staff gave me seven starters and three closers. A good pitching staff for an 80's All-Star team, but looking back, was not what I would have had in mind. I could have put in the Pirates closer, but to pick between Jim Gott and Don Robinson would have been stomach churning.

You will also notice that I have Mark McGwire listed as a third baseman. That's because with Larry Parrish of the Rangers was on the AL All-Star team. Primarily a DH, he was also a first baseman by trade. Fortunately, I was able to add McGwire and his 49 home runs because he was also listed on his 1988 Topps card as third baseman.

My previously mentioned Chicago bias played a role in getting Fisk on the American League team. Dunston is there because he was included in the 1988 Topps Sticker backs set. I would have included Jody Davis, but Diaz and Virgil actually made the All-Star team in 1987.

One thing you'll notice is that I also have managers on each roster. Now picking the managers has been a mainstay since the beginning. However, I've made it a rule that although players can get on to as many teams as they deserve, the managers get only one shot at being recognized. I still can't figure out why I've done it this way, probably so I could learn who manages the teams. But you will see as I go along that the managers I choose will only appear once, even though he may have had better seasons later on in his managerial career. This has forced me to pick newer managers later on, but it's part of the selection process. I'm not changing that either.

One-person teams on my 1987 rosters include the Angels (Witt), Brewers (Plesac), Rangers (Parrish), Astros (Scott), Giants (Leonard), Padres (Gwynn), and Pirates (Dunne). The Yankees, Cardinals, Cubs, and Mets each have five representatives on the rosters, and the Cardinals have all four of their starting infielders on the NL squad.

Now, regarding the simulated games. I am going to use SBS as I stated previously. However, I am still trying to figure out the best way to play the games. I just learned how to create a series DAT file and was able to apply it a number of times on test runs. However, I can't figure out how to switch lineups after every game. My starters (as you see above) wound up starting every game. That was not what I had in mind. Bryan, can you give me some tips??? I also was able to copy and paste the above rosters onto a team DAT file. Bryan Bollman, who was one of the people contributing to SBS, was wondering if I was going to put the files online. I'd like to, but don't know how. If somebody can show me, I'd be more than happy to do it. I will post the official game simulation results before the end of the week. Afterwards, I hope to be able put everything on one post.

That should do it for a start. Every Tuesday in the off-season, I'll introduce a new team. New players, new analysis, and you'll see, as time progresses, that I get better at picking these rosters.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama