Here's the next "missing" all-star card from the 1970 Topps set: Sal Bando, the starting American League third baseman.
Now, I don't know why Brooks Robinson wasn't the starter, as it
seems he wasn't injured or anything, but Sal Bando joined fellow
teammate Reggie Jackson in the starting line-up, and were giving
everyone a look at the budding dynasty the Oakland A's were
about to become.
Bando put together a very solid 16-year career that saw him take
home three championships, participate in four all-star games, and finish
in the top-10 in MVP voting three times.
His five 20-homer and two 100+ RBI seasons were a nice compliment
to Reggie's offensive exploits, and with Joe Rudi, Gene Tenace and Bert
Campaneris thrown in you can see why those A's teams were so strong.
Then again, with starting pitching like Vida Blue, Catfish Hunter,
Ken Holtzman, Rollie Fingers et al, yeah, they were going to kick-ass no
matter what…
