Things That Should Have Been Posted in 2011: Which Players Were Selected for Topps Golden Anniversary All-Time Rookie Team???

The first Topps All-Star Rookie Team was announced at the end of the 1959 season and cards of the ten players who received this honor (C Johnny Romano, 1B Willie McCovey, 2B Pumpsie Green, 3B Jim Baxes, SS Joe Koppe, OF's Bob Allison, Ron Fairly, Willie Tasby, RHP Jim Perry, LHP Jim O'Toole) were part of a ten-card subset within the 1960 Topps set.

To coincide with the anticipation of the announcement of the 50th Topps ASRT, in 2008, Topps created a 110-card insert set (split within both Series 1 and 2) to honor those players who were selected to the team over the years. Not included as part of the set, but inserted in packs was an advertisement card giving collectors the opportunity to vote for the Topps Golden Anniversary All-Time Rookie Team. There was a website (http://topps.com/rookievote - don't bother clicking the link as the site no longer exists) you had to go to so you can cast your votes from a list of selected players:

Catcher:

• Bob Boone (1973)
• Carlton Fisk (1972)
• Charles Johnson (1995)
• Gary Carter (1975)
• Ivan Rodriguez (1991)
• Johnny Bench (1968)
• Mike Piazza (1993)
• Sandy Alomar (1990)
• Thurman Munson (1970)

First baseman:

• Eddie Murray (1977 "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)
• Kirby Puckett (1984)
• 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)

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)

I voted, and I'm sure many voted as well. But was there ever an announcement regarding who actually won this election? I never saw one, and I'm sure it would have been debated to death if the results were ever posted somewhere.

Fast forward to 2011 and the highly popular Topps Lineage product. Included in the 200 card base set was a ten-card subset (is this beginning to sound familiar) featuring players with the All-Star Rookie Team trophy (the one used in throughout the 60's and early 70's). The ten players already had regular cards in the regular set, so this would be their second card within the set. Here are the players within this subset:

• 191 Johnny Bench All-RC
• 192 Willie McCovey All-RC
• 193 Joe Morgan All-RC
• 194 Cal Ripken, Jr. All-RC
• 195 Chipper Jones All-RC
• 196 Ichiro All-RC
• 197 Andre Dawson All-RC
• 198 Manny Ramirez All-RC
• 199 CC Sabathia All-RC
• 200 Tom Seaver All-RC

Now all ten of these players were on the ballot back in 2008. Could these be the players that eventually were selected for the Topps' Golden Anniversary All-Time Rookie Team? There was never an official announcement made by the Topps Company presenting the results of the balloting.

Whatever the case, I believe that the ten cards at the end of Topps Lineage gives a semblance of closure for Topps and honors the players who were selected by the collecting public three years earlier. What do you think?

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama