#418 Tommy Helms AS - Cincinnati Reds

All-Star cards returned to Topps sets in 1968 under The Sporting News banner for a three-year run between 1968 and 1970.  Topps included 20 All-Star cards in its 1969 set, featuring 10 All-Stars from each league and one player from each position, including both a right-handed and left-handed pitcher.  

Building the Set / Card #378
December 3, 2023 from The Philly Show (Uncle Dick's Cards)

Doug and I returned to The Philly Show in early December, once again held inside the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania.  eBay has taken over sponsorship of the show, with the quaint, bubble-lettered Philly Show logo that had been in place since the 1980s replaced with a more modern logo, keeping with the times.  I wrote about the show in a post over at The Phillies Room.

Similar to my strategy from March, I wanted to focus on accumulating commons and having found success with Uncle Dick's Cards before, I didn't mess around and headed right for the neon green binders.  I pulled 145 cards from the binder containing cards 301 to the end of the set, stopping when I reached 500.  This card was the 86th of 145 cards purchased for our set, and after the dealer discount due to my bulk purchase, it cost me less than $2.

The Card / Reds Team Set / Carl Yastrzemski Puzzle

The starting second baseman at the actual 1969 All-Star Game was the Braves' Felix Millan (#210), but Tommy Helms (#70) had received the starting nod in 1968.  Helms was a two-time All-Star, first earning a roster spot in 1967.  In the two games, he was 1 for 4 with a double off Luis Tiant (#560) in the second inning of the 1968 contest.

The stock photo used in the background behind Helms has yet to be identified, but it's highly likely neither of the players shown are actually Helms.  The backs of these All-Star cards contain a puzzle piece of either Pete Rose (#120) or Carl Yastrzemski (#130).  The back of Helms' card contains a piece of Yaz's jersey.

Topps All-Star Card Appearances (1):  1969

Sources:  
Baseball Reference

Sports Collectors Daily - Mistaken Identities

#417 Ken Harrelson AS - Boston Red Sox / #419 Rod Carew AS - Minnesota Twins