Best of the No Stars from 'my era'

 

There was an interesting post on Diamond Jesters a week or so ago in which an all-star squad was assembled from junk-wax era players using junk-wax era cards.

This all-star team was unique in one distinct way: none of the players ever played in an All-Star Game.

 

I was intrigued yet repelled at the same time. I don't need to see those junk wax cards ever again! Social media has been celebrating the junk wax era for as long as I have been blogging and, well, I didn't grow up during that time either.

 

I wanted to do this sort of team from my childhood collecting era, which is approximately 1975-85. This era does not have a catchy title like "junk wax era." I guess I should be grateful for that, but I'm not sure what to call this team -- "Post-Vintage No Stars"? "Some-Vintage-And-Some-Not No Stars"?

 

I'll just call it "my era" because it's my blog. I'll know what I'm talking about anyway.

 

'My Era' No Stars Team

 

Catcher: Joe Ferguson

 

The weak spot of the team already. Joe Ferguson hit his peak in 1973 and 1974, when he shined in the World Series but before I was a fan. He enjoyed a comeback in 1979 when he hit 20 home runs as a platoon guy. 

First Base: Dan Driessen

Still not too inspiring. The Reds thought enough of Dan Driessen to trade Tony Perez to the Expos. Driessen did well enough for a few years but I can see why he was never named an All-Star.

Second Base: Rennie Stennett

Rennie Stennett had some electric years for the Pirates in the mid-1970s, nearly reaching 200 hits in 1975 and hitting above .300 for a full season a couple of times. Then there was that 7-for-7 game. But no star -- until Willie Stargell started handing them out.

 

 

Shortstop: Tim Foli

I could be overestimating Foli based on his season for the Pirates in 1979 and his '75 card being one of the first I pulled.

 

Third Base - Richie Hebner

A timely card after Roberto Clemente Day in MLB yesterday. I've always liked this card. Hebner had solid seasons for the Pirates and Phillies.

OK, the outfield is a little more impressive.

Left Field - Bill North

Bill North was a center fielder, thanks to his speed, but that position is booked. North also stole a whole bunch of bases when that was the thing to do. He edges out Mookie Wilson for the final outfield spot, although I could have gone either way.

Center field - Garry Maddox

"The Secretary Of Defense" also made Diamond Jesters' Junk Wax team, but I do not think of Maddox as a junk-wax era player. He was a regular part of the late-1970s Phillies NLCS teams and I was pulling his card out of a pack in 1975.

Right field - Kirk Gibson

Kirk Gibson was the Tigers' regular right fielder when they won the World Series in 1984. By the time he got to the Dodgers, he was mostly in left field. Gibson also made Diamond Jesters' team. Gibson's time in the Junk Wax Era was loud but, unfortunately, brief.

Starting Rotation

Dennis Leonard

 

Pete Vuckovich

 

 

 Dave Goltz

Bob Forsch

 

John Denny

Three of the five were 20-game winners and John Denny had a hell of a 19-win season and Vuckovich a hell of an 18-win season. Dennis Leonard was the winning pitcher in the first game I ever saw in person. He's pretty much forgotten but if he didn't get injured, he'd be talked about a lot more.

Other possibilities for the starting rotation are Storm Davis, John Tudor, Mike Torrez, Ed Figueroa, Rudy May, Reggie Cleveland, Mike Caldwell and Craig Swan.

Bullpen

Al Hrabosky

 

Terry Forster

Gene Garber

 

Dick Tidrow

Three of these guys have colorful nicknames, "The Mad Hungarian," "Fat Tub of Goo" and "Dirt". My first association with Gene Garber is 1978 when he helped stop Pete Rose's hitting streak. But I did pull his mini card in '75.

Designated hitter - Oscar Gamble

I wasn't going to have a DH, but I can't leave out mentioning that Oscar Gamble somehow never played in an All-Star Game!

I ran out of scanning patience so my bench is just names: Cesar Geronimo, Eric Soderholm, Ken Henderson, Earl Williams, Del Unser, Willie Crawford, Jay Johnstone, Ted Sizemore, Al Cowens, Warren Cromartie, Omar Moreno, Sixto Lezcano, Rick Manning.

Not a lot of slugging power on this team except for Gibson and Gamble. But that was the '70s and '80s. I also think that more players probably got a shot at the All-Star team because there were fewer teams when I started watching baseball.

So there you are, a lot of guys on cards but none of them from 1987-93!!!!