#417 Ken Harrelson AS - Boston Red Sox

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 #557
December 15, 2024 from The Philly Show (Vintage Cardboard Collectibles)

On Sunday, December 15th, Doug and I attended the latest Philly Show, spaciously spread out inside Hall A of the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania.  I wrote a full show report over at The Phillies Room, including some thoughts on attending the show with our oldest son, who first graced the Philly Show floors back in 2012.

Having spent the first half hour or so pulling 98 commons and semi-stars from the neon green binder of Uncle Dick's Cards, and adding the big purchase of the day, the Rollie Fingers (#597) rookie card, and after adding a few more star cards, the remaining cash I had was starting to burn a hole in my wallet.  I had noticed the common/semi-star boxes at the tables of Vintage Cardboard Collectibles, and I found 14 more cards for our 1969 Topps set and six cards for our not-yet-officially collecting 1959 Topps set.  This is the 12th of those 14 cards.  After the obligatory dealer discount, I handed over the last of my cash, and we exited the show for the drive home.

The Card / Red Sox Team Set / Carl Yastrzemski Puzzle

This is Ken Harrelson's fourth and final appearance in the set, after having appeared on two League Leaders cards (#3 and #5) and his base card (#240).  He's in a Senators uniform on the League Leaders cards, and a Kansas City Athletics uniform on the latter two cards.  After enjoying an All-Star season with the Red Sox in 1968, Harrelson was surprisingly dealt to the Indians on April 19, 1969, as part of a six-player deal.  Harmon Killebrew (#375) started at first base for the American League All-Stars in 1968, with Harrelson making a pinch-hitting appearance in the game's third inning.  He flew to left against Don Drysdale (#400).  Boog Powell (#15) started at first in the 1969 All-Star Game, and it's odd Topps went with Harrelson here instead of Killebrew or Powell. 

The stock photo used in the background behind Harrelson has yet to be identified, but the article linked below figured out by combining the background photos on this card and Johnny Bench's All-Star card (#430), a full action scene showing a mystery play emerges.  The backs of these All-Star cards contain a puzzle piece of either Pete Rose (#120) or Carl Yastrzemski (#130).  The back of Harrelson's card features Yaz, Harrelson's former teammate by the time this card came out.

Topps All-Star Card Appearances (1):  1969

Sources:  
Baseball Reference

Sports Collectors Daily - Mistaken Identities

#416 Willie McCovey AS - San Francisco Giants / #418 Tommy Helms AS - Cincinnati Reds