Today I start yet another thread idea: a sub-set that would have
been nice to have included in Topps' 1970 set that celebrated an
all-decade team of all-stars of the previous decade, the 1960's.
Wouldn't that be cool if they did such a thing at the beginning of every decade?
Anyway, I picked the players I thought would have been chosen for
such a "team" in 1970, (obviously open for all kinds of interpretation)
and then designed a ten card set (all eight fielding positions and both
a left-handed and right-handed starting pitcher card)
in the 1970 Topps design style.
I didn't bother picking relievers or managers, and to be honest I don't know why. But it seemed useless. Maybe I'll add to it later...
Today we'll take a look at the first-basemen for both the American
and National team: Harmon Killebrew of the Twins and Willie McCovey of
the Giants.
Take a look at my design:
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| 1094 home runs between the two! |
First off, I will state right now that I do realize that both these
picks didn't play solely first base throughout the decade of the
1960's.
Killebrew also had periods where he played in the outfield and
third base regularly. But I felt that of the guys who DID play solely
first base in 1960's, Killebrew STILL had a better run during his stint
at first base.
What a monster he was during the '60's! In the 10-years from 1960
and 1969, he posted eight seasons of 30+ home runs, with SIX of those
years over 40!
He capped off the decade with an M.V.P. in 1969, with another four seasons where he finished in the top-5 in voting.
All told, he was an all-star eight out of ten years in the 1960's,
and lead the American League in homers five times, runs batted in twice,
and walks three times.
For the National League, we have Willie McCovey, who did also see a
significant amount of time over in the outfield between 1962 and 1964.
However, the rest of his playing time through the 1960's was at first,
and all he did was lay down the foundation
for a future Hall of Fame induction, leading the league in homers three
times, runs batted in twice, slugging three twice, and also capping off
the decade with an M.V.P. award in 1969.
He also so feared at the plate, that even in a line-up that
featured other hitters like Willie Mays and Bobby Bonds, he was
intentionally walked 45 times in 1969, setting the Major League record
at the time (later obliterated by Barry Bonds decades later).
So there you have the first basemen of my "all-decade" team sub-set
in the 1970 Topps set. Stay tuned for the next installment, second
basemen, coming soon.