Everyone loves a trophy.
In 1960, Topps created an All-Rookie Team from the prior season and the baseball cards of outstanding young players had trophies added to their pictures.
There were a pair of National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees on the squad 40 years ago along with several all-stars and most valuable players.
The first member of the 1975 team to be profiled in this series is catcher Gary Carter.
After playing nine games in 1974 as a 20-year old, Carter became a fixture in the lineup for the Montreal Expos the next season. Carter was in 144 games as a right fielder, catcher and at third base for an inning. He led the Expos with 68 RBI and was second on the team with 17 home runs, while batting .270.
Carter appeared in the all-star contest in Milwaukee as a defensive replacement in left field where he caught the final out of the National League’s 6-3 win off the bat of Minnesota Twins star Rod Carew.
At the end of the season, Carter was second in the balloting for NL Rookie of the Year to John Montefusco of the San Francisco Giants.
In his 19-year career, Carter was an 11-time all-star and was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003. He was a key member of the 1986 world champion New York Mets and also played in the post-season with the Expos.
An all-star MVP in 1981 and 1984, Carter earned five Silver Sluggers and three Gold Gloves.
Next up in the series: Mike Ivie of the San Diego Padres.