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Monday, October 24, 2022

1990s Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Tournament

Last Winter we started a project to try and figure out what season produced the best Topps All-Star Rookie Team. That tournament was between the 10 squads that represented the 1960s. It was won by the Little Joes from 1966 led by Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, and stellar pitching by Marcelino Lopez. 

For our second Tournament we visit the 1990s. Lets take a look at the seeding for the last decade of the 20th century. 

seedYearTeamCaptain
11993Kenny's Kids 1993Kenny Lofton
21991Maple Larry's 1991Larry Walker
31992Team Pudge 1992Ivan Rodriguez
41996ChippersChipper Jones
51994Piazza Peeps 1994Mike Piazza
61998Todd's GodsTodd Helton
71998Rock and RolenScott Rolen
81990Juniors KidsKen Griffey Jr
91995Manny Being MannyManny Ramirez
101997Team CaptainsDerek Jeter

No I am not a Jeter hater, we determined seeding using a forumula. Turns out the rest of the 1997 team was pretty weak. 

Lets get to the actual games. The preliminary round is a double elimination featuring the bottom 4 teams. Two of these teams advance to the major tournament while the other two will be eliminated. 

1990s Game 1
1997Team Captains0 - 4 - 1
1998Rockin and Rolen5 - 6 - 1
W: Jason Dickson (1-0)L: Billy Wagner (0-1)
HR 1990: None
HR 1997: None
MVP: Scott Rolen (1)



1990s Game 2
1995Manny Being Manny5 - 7 - 0
1990Juniors Kids2 - 6 - 1
W: Brian Anderson (1-0)
L: Tom Gordon (0-1)
HR 1995 Ryan Klesko (1), Javy Lopez (1), Jose Oliva (1)
HR 1990: none
MVP: Ryan Klesko (1)

1990s Game 3 Avancement Game
1995Manny Being Manny3 - 10 - 2
1998Rockin and Rolen0 - 6 - 1
W: Joey Hamilton (1-0)L: Mike Holtz (0-1)
HR 1995: None
HR 1998: None
MVP: Joey Hamilton (1)


Manny Being Manny (2-0) Advance as 7 Seed

1990s Game 4 Elimination Game
1997Team Captains1 - 8 - 2
1990Juniors Kids6 - 10 - 2
W: Jim Abbott (1-0)L: Alan Benes (0-1)
HR 1997: none
HR 1990: Ken Griffey Jr (1). Gary Sheffield (1)
MVP: Ken Griffey Jr (1)
Team Captains (0-2) Eliminated Finish 10th Original Seed 10th

1990s Game 5 WTA Game
1990Juniors Kids4 - 10 - 1
1998Rockin and Rolen2 - 8 - 0
W: Tom Gordon (1-1)L: Jason Dickson (1-1)
HR 1990: GREGG JEFFERIES (1), BOB GEREN 2 (2)
HR 1998: None
MVP: GREGG JEFFERIES (1)
Juniors Kids (2-1) advance as 8 seed

The two teams that advance out of the preliminary tourney are Manny Being Manny (1995) and Junior Kids (1990) they will be the 7th and 8th seeds respectively. The Surprise is the elimination of seven seed 1998 Rockin and Rolen. 

This brings us to the opening round of the major tournament. 

1990s Game 6 - Major Bracket - Double Elimination 8 -> 4 teams Opening Round
1990Juniors Kids (2-1)3 - 10 - 1
1993Kenny's Kids (0-0)1 - 4 - 0
W: Jim Abbott (2-0)L: Cal Eldred (0-1)
HR: 1990 None
HR: 1990 None
MVP: Jim Abbott (1)

1990s Game 7
1995
Manny Being Manny (2-0)
1 - 10 - 0
1991Maple Larry's (0-0)6 - 10 - 0
W: Kevin Appier (1-0)L: Brian Anders (1-1)
HR: 1995: None
HR: 1990: None
MVP: Delino DeShields (1)

1999Todd's Gods2 - 11 - 0
1992Team Pudge 19921 - 11 - 0
W: Kerry Wood (1-0)L: Mark Leiter (0-1)
HR 1999: Mark Kotsay (1), Todd Helton (1)
HR 1992: None
MVP: Kotsay (1)

1990s Game 9
1994Piazza Peeps 19943 - 4 - 1
1996Chippers4 - 5 -1 (10)
W: Hideo Nomo (1-0)L: Greg McMichael (0-1)
HR 1994: None
HR 1996: Garrett Anderson (1)
MVP: Garrett Anderson (1)

Major Round 2 Winners Brackets
1990s Game 10 - Major Bracket - Round 2 - Pivot Round Winner Advacnes
1990Juniors Kids (3-1)3 - 5 - 0
1996Chippers (1-0)4 - 9 - 1
W: Carlos Perez (1-0)L: Tom Gordon (1-2)
HR 1990: Bob Geren (3)
HR 1996: Chipper Jones (1)
MVP: Chipper Jones (1)
Chipers (2-0) Advance as #1 Seed

1990s Game 11 - Winner Advances
1999Todd's Gods (1-0)4 - 10 - 0
1991Maple Larry's (1-0)2 - 6 - 0
W: Jesus Sanchez (1-0)
L: Scott Radinksy (0-1)
HR 1999: None
HR 1991: None
MVP: Jesus Sanchez (1)
Todd's Gods (2-0) Advance as #2 Seed



Major Round 2 Losers Bracket (elimination Games)
1990s Game 12 - Elimination Game
1995
Manny Being Manny (2-1)
5 - 6 - 0
1992Team Pudge 1992 (0-1)3 - 6 - 2
W: Joey Hamilton (2-0)L: Al Osuna (0-1)
HR 1995: none
HR 1992: none
MVP: Joey Hamilton (2)
Team Pudge 92 (0-2) Eliminated finish 8th orginal seed 1

1990s Game 13 - Elimination Game
1994Piazza Peeps (0-1)3 - 8 - 0
1993Kenny's Kids (0-1)1 - 4 - 2
W: Steve Cooke (1-0)Dave Fleming (0-1)
HR 1994: none
HR 1993: none
MVP: Steve Cooke (1)
Kenny's Kids (0-2) Eliminated Finish 7th original seed 3

Major Round 3 WTA Bracket, Winners advance, Losers Eliminated. 
1990s Game 14 - Major Bracket - Round 3 - WTA Round
1995
Manny Being Manny (3-1)
1 - 2 - 0
1991Maple Larry's (1-1)2 - 4 - 2
W: Kevin Appier (2-0)L: Brian Anderson (1-2)
HR 1995: none
HR 1991: Felix Jose (1)
MVP: Felix Jose (1)
Maple Larry's (2-1) Advance as #4 Seed


1990s Game 15- WTA Game
1994Piazza Peeps (1-1)1 - 3 - 1
1990Juniors Kids (3-2)3 - 6 - 0
W: Jim Abbott (3-0)L: Greg McMichael (0-2)
HR 1994: none
HR 1990: none
MVP: Jim Abbott (2)
Juniors's Kids (4-2) Advancd as #3 Seed



This brings us to the Final Four who will meet in a pair of best of 3 semi-finals

The 1-4 match up is:
1991Maple Larry's (2-1)
1996Chippers (2-0)

The 2-3 match up is:
1990Juniors Kids (4-2)
1999Todds Gods (2-0)

The 2-3 pairing features the surprises with 8 seeded Juniors Kids and #6 Todd's Gods both getting to the semis. #1 seed Kenny Kids had a horrible showing, losing both of their games to finish 6th in the 10 team tournament. 

Ok that is it for now, The Final four will be featured in our next post.