The Kid Stays in the Picture - the 1989 Topps All-Star Rookie Team

Here they are - the Topps All-Star Rookie Team, selected "by the Youth of America" following the 1989 season and featured in the 1990 Topps set. 

I have completed the run of these up through 2018, specifically all regular issue cards that bear the All-Star Rookie Trophy.

Outfield - Greg Briley
Seattle (A.L.) 1988 - '92; Florida (N.L.) 1993

Greg Briley had a very good rookie season, hitting .266 with 13 homers and 22 doubles over 115 games. The Mariners were looking set in the outfield with Briley, Buhner, and another young outfielder we'll talk about a little later. The outfield was quite crowded in Seattle in the early 90s, however - veterans Jeffrey Leonard and Henry Cotto were siphoning at bats and innings in the field away from Briley (and Buhner). As Buhner had a breakout season in 1991, Briley struggled a bit at the plate over 139 games, hitting just .260 / .307 / .336. The slugging in particular was troubling for a corner outfielder. He did provide speed on the basepaths, stealing a career high 23 bases. In 1992, he was given a reduced role as the team went with Buhner and newly acquired slugger Kevin Mitchell in the corners. Henry Cotto was the 4th outfielder, leaving Briley without a clearly defined role. He was a free agent following the 1992 season, and found a job with the expansion Marlins. He played just one season there, as a reserve outfielder, and finished his MLB career. He stayed in organized baseball until 1997, playing in the minors, and the Mexican league, and in the Independent Northern League. 

Greg's Rookie Card is in the 1989 Topps Set, Card #781

Outfield - Ken Griffey, Jr.
Seattle (A.L.) 1989 - '99, 2009 - '10; Cincinnati (N.L.) 2000 - 2008; Chicago (A.L.) 2009.
Hall of Fame, Voted by BBWAA in 2016

Ken Griffey, Jr. was arguably the best left handed power hitter ever born in Donora, PA. When the other guy is Stan Musial, that's saying something. "The Kid" was the #1 Overall pick in 1987 by the Mariners, and made quick work of the minor leagues, hitting .320 in Bellingham, .338 in San Bernardino, and was in the Major Leagues the following season. He was the everyday Centerfielder from day one with the Mariners, and was a sensation in the Pacific Northwest. He stole 16 bases and hit 16 homers with a .264 average as a rookie, finishing 3rd in the Rookie of the Year voting. He'd get better.

Over a 22 year career, Griffey would rewrite the Mariners' history books, obliterating pretty much all of their franchise hitting records. He would win an MVP in 1997, lead the league in homers 4 times, go to 13 All-Star Games, win 10 Gold Gloves, and 7 Silver Slugger awards. He would return to Cincinnati (his home in his High School days) for 9 seasons, where he would hit over 200 homers. His 630 career homers ranks 7th All-Time, and unlike some of his contemporaries, his reputation was clean throughout his career. Some hard luck injuries cost him hundreds of games in the early 2000s, leading many to wonder how his career totals might have been different had he been healthy throughout his career. As it was, he would retire as one of the All-Time Greats, and was elected to the Hall of Fame with 99.3% of the vote, the highest percentage to date (Mariano Rivera would later become the first unanimous selection). While he never played in the World Series, he was still a Superstar of the highest order and a fan favorite virtually every ballpark he visited.

Griffey's rookie card is 1989 Upper Deck #1. 

Second Base - Gregg Jefferies
New York (N.L.) 1987 - '91; Kansas City (A.L.) 1992; St. Louis (N.L.) 1993 - '94; Philadelphia (N.L.) 1995 - '98; Anaheim (A.L.) 1998; Detroit (A.L.) 1999 - '00

Gregg Jefferies was probably the biggest can't miss prospect of the late 1980s. He was a 2 time Minor League Player of the Year, MVP of all three minor league seasons, hit .333 in the NLCS in 1988 before his first full MLB season. He showed so much promise that he was 6th in the ROY voting in 1988 when he only played in 29 games! In 1989, he was still eligible for the award, and came in 3rd place. He racked up 131 hits, scored 72 runs, and hit 12 homers as a rookie. 
Based on his minor league success, he was pegged to be a perennial MVP candidate for years to come. Because that didn't happen exactly as scripted, there were calls of "BUST," but the fact of the matter is that Jefferies was a very good MLB player over 14 seasons. The fact that he dominated the minor leagues just showed that he belonged in an MLB uniform. He was a 2 time All-Star, had over 1,500 career hits, almost 200 steals, and 761 runs scored. His two seasons in St. Louis were tremendous, he hit .335 with 315 hits, 51 doubles, 28 homers and scored 141 runs. 

Gregg's rookie card is 1988 Donruss #657 

First Base - Carlos Martinez
Chicago (A.L.) 1988 - '90; Cleveland (A.L.) 1991 - '93; California (A.L.) 1995

Carlos Martinez came to the White Sox in the Ron Kittle trade. He remained in the minors for a couple years, but definitely looked the part of a slugger. 6'5" but just barely 200 pounds, he never quite filled out. He was decidedly NOT a power hitter, but was still a decent contact hitter. In 1988, he was a Southern League All-Star, and was the MVP of the Venezuelan winter league, winning the batting title. His MLB career high in homers was 5, which he reached in his 1989 rookie season, but also matched in 3 other seasons. As a Rookie, Martinez hit .300, with 22 doubles and drove in 32 runs. With the arrival of Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura, there wasn't room for a corner infielder like Martinez on the Sox roster, so he was allowed to seek free agency, and spent three seasons with Cleveland, mostly in a reserve role. Passed by Baerga, Thome, and others on the depth chart, he would be on the move again to the Angels, where he would play his final MLB season in 1995.   

Carlos' Rookie Card is in the 1989 Score Traded set, Card # 103T

Outfield - Jerome Walton
Chicago (N.L.) 1989 - '92; California (A.L.) 1993; Cincinnati (N.L.) 1994 - '95; Atlanta (N.L.) 1996; Baltimore (A.L.) 1997, Tampa Bay (A.L.) 1998

Jerome Walton was the 1989 N.L. Rookie of the Year, hitting .293 with 139 hits in 116 games. He stole 24 bases and scored 64 runs. He at one point had a 30 game hitting streak that season, and his ROY award was the first by a Chicago Cub since Ken Hubbs in 1962. These were all career high totals for Walton, who didn't find a groove in the Cubs long term plans. The Cubs had a tremendous season in '89, and Walton contributed throughout, including a .364 average in the post season. The team would fall to the Giants in the NLCS, and the Cubs would have to go back to the drawing board again. Walton had clashed with the team's execs over contract details, and lost his starting job in 1992 to Sammy Sosa. He would bounce around the league until 1998, playing his final season for the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Jerome's Rookie Card is in the 1989 Topps Traded Set, Card #123T

Third Base - Craig Worthington
Baltimore (A.L.) 1988 - '91; Cleveland (A.L.) 1992; Cincinnati (N.L.) 1995, Texas (A.L.) 1995 - '96

In 1988, Worthington was the MVP of the AAA International League, playing 3rd base for the Rochester Red Wings. He'd be called up for September in Baltimore, and would be the regular 3rd baseman for Frank Robinson's Orioles in 1989. The team made a great run going from last place in '88 to vying for the division crown into the final weekend of '89. Worthington had 23 doubles and 15 homers for the O's that season, placing 4th in the AL Rookie of the Year chase. The Sporting News did name him the AL Rookie of the Year in their end of season awards. His stint in Baltimore ended following the 1991 season. In 1992, he was poised to be the everyday third baseman in San Diego, but he was released in Spring Training after the Padres made a trade to acquire Gary Sheffield (more on Sheffield later). Cleveland would sign him to a minor league deal, and he spent the majority of the next 5 years working his way back to a regular MLB roster spot. In 1996, following his final MLB game, he played the last half of the season in Japan with the Hanshin Tigers. He spent 1997 playing for Monterrey in the Mexican league and for a team in Taiwan, then played three seasons for Newark in the Independent Atlantic League. 

Craig's Rookie Card is in the 1988 Fleer Update set Card #U-4

Catcher - Bob Geren
New York (A.L.) 1988 - '91; San Diego (N.L.) 1992 

Bob Geren was a first round pick by the San Diego Padres all the way back in 1979. After the 1980 season he was the PTBNL in a deal sending Terry Kennedy to San Diego and Rollie Fingers and Gene Tenace to the Cardinals. Fingers would be traded two days later to Milwaukee, never playing a game for the Cardinals. Geren was in the Cardinals' system until 1985, and was made a free agent. The Yankees picked him up, and he worked his way up the organizational ladder before making his MLB debut in 1988. Geren was the primary catcher for the Yankees in 1990, catching in a career high 110 games. To earn that role and a spot on the 1989 Topps All-Star Rookie squad, he hit .288 with 9 homers in a backup role to Don Slaught. Geren would find himself looking for a new gig again following the 1991 season, and spend 1992 as Boston's AAA starter. He'd return to the team that drafted him over a decade earlier in 1993, finishing his MLB career with the Padres. After his playing days, he transitioned into coaching and became a minor league manager. His ascent to the big leagues took about as long, working as a bench coach in Oakland starting in 2003, then becoming the team's manager from 2007 to 2011. He's currently a bench coach with Dave Roberts' LA Dodgers.

Bob's Rookie Card is in the 1989 Topps Traded Set, Card # 37T (even though he's not pictured - the card instead shows Mike Fennell, the bullpen catcher!)

Left Handed Pitcher - Jim Abbott
California (A.L.) 1989 - '92, 1995 -'96; New York (A.L.) 1993 - '94; Chicago (A.L.) 1995 , 1998; Milwaukee (N.L.) 1999

Abbott jumped directly to the big leagues after being drafted in the first round in the 1988 draft. He was on the 1988 Olympic Baseball Team, which won a Gold Medal in the Summer Olympics (Baseball was a demonstration sport in 1988, rather than an official event). He was named the Big Ten Conferences' Athlete of the Year in 1988 as well, pitching for Michigan State. He broke a record in 1989, winning the most games of any pitcher to debut in the Majors without a minor league appearance. He went 12-12 in his rookie season with a 3.92 ERA. Over his 10 year career, he was very stingy about allowing homers, with a 0.8 HR/9 innings rate over his career. In 1991 he was 18-11 and finished 3rd in the Cy Young voting. His following season was nearly identical in terms of ERA, FIP, walks allowed - and he even improved on hits allowed, tossed 2 more complete games, and had his third straight season with 200 innings pitched. However, his W-L record was an unsightly 7-15. He'd have another season with more Losses than wins in 1993, moving to the New York Yankees in a trade that sent J.T. Snow to the Angels. Abbott's ERA would balloon in '93, but he did have a memorable start on September 4th - pitching a no-hitter against Cleveland. In 1994, the player's strike ended the season while the Yankees were in 1st place, it was the closest he would come to the post season in his career. He'd return to California for the end of the 1995 season and in 1996. His 1996 season did not go well. He started 23 games, and led all of baseball with 18 losses. Unlike the hard luck losses he suffered in 1992, this time his ERA was also north of 7.00 for the season. He would opt to retire instead of playing in AAA for the Angels in 1997, with teammate Chuck Finley accurately predicting that he would benefit from the perspective of some time away and come back strong. In 1998, Abbott would make a comeback, pitching for the White Sox late in the season, and won all 5 of his starts. In 1999, he'd spend a full season with Milwaukee, playing in the National League for the first time. Not accustomed to hitting, Abbott went 2-21 at the plate with 3 RBI and 3 Sacrifice Bunts. On the mound, he'd have another rough season, going 2-8 with an ERA over 6.50. 

And oh, by the way, he did it all one handed. 

Jim's rookie card was in the 1988 Topps Traded Set, Card #1T

Shortstop - Gary Sheffield
Milwaukee (A.L.) 1988 - '91; San Diego (N.L.) 1992 - '93; Florida (N.L.) 1993 - '98; Los Angeles (N.L.) 1998 - '01; Atlanta (N.L.) 2002 - '03; New York (A.L.) 2004 - '06; Detroit (A.L.) 2007 - '08; New York (N.L.) 2009.

Some things that Ken Griffey, Jr did not do... Gary Sheffield won the 1992 N.L. Batting Title, beating out his teammate Tony Gwynn. He was a World Series champion in 1997, as a member of the Florida Marlins. He stole more bases, drew more walks, and struck out less than "the Kid". Both played 22 Major league seasons. Sheffield also had the reputation for getting under skin of coaches. There was no denying his talent on the field, and teammates would not hesitate to sing his praises as a fearsome middle of the order bat. Sheffield didn't start out guns blazing - his first full season in 1989 resulted in a .247 average and 5 homers. He'd finish his career with a .292 career average and 530 homers. But his seemingly low totals weren't for lack of effort, despite what his coaches may have believed. He was demoted to AAA due to a 1-21 slump, during which he told team doctors about pain in his foot. The doctors told the coaching staff that they thought he was faking the injury, so they sent him down. It was revealed in X-Rays he had a broken bone. Following that, it would not take much for him to be distrustful of the front office, and in stops in Milwaukee, Los Angeles and with the Yankees, there were highly publicized fallings out with the team and Sheffield. Despite the controversy swirling around him, he always played with an unmatched ferocity at the plate. For a player known for how hard he swung, it was remarkable that he never struck out 100 times in a season. He had extremely precise bat control and lightning quick reflexes. The 9 time All-Star has over 2600 hits and 1600 RBI. The lack of interest in his Hall Of Fame case is perplexing to say the least, and I sincerely hope that the BBWAA gives him a little more attention in the coming years as the logjam of players clears. 

Gary's Rookie Card is in the 1989 Topps Set Card # 343

Right Handed Pitcher - Tom Gordon
Kansas City (A.L.) 1988 - '95; Boston (A.L.) 1996 - '99; Chicago (N.L.) 2001 - '02; Houston (N.L.) 2002; Chicago (A.L.) 2003; New York (A.L.) 2004 -'05; Philadelphia (N.L.) 2006 - '08; Arizona (N.L.) 2009

Tom Gordon debuted in 1988 for Kansas City, and pitched his final MLB game in 2009 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Over 21 MLB seasons, Gordon pitched to a 3.96 ERA and struck out 1,928 batters in 2,108 innings. He was used as a Starter, as a middle reliever, as a Closer, and everything in between. As a Rookie, he was both starter and reliever. He won 17 games, had a complete game Shutout, and a save. Gordon was 2nd in the AL Rookie of the Year balloting behind Gregg Olson, who was the Orioles' closer. Tom would get the chance to close games regularly a decade later with Boston. Converting to the pen in 1998 after starting in 1997, Gordon led the AL with 46 Saves and made his first of 3 All-Star games. He would be a set up man for Mariano Rivera in New York, and close out games in Philadelphia at the end of his career. Gordon is now the proud father of Major Leaguer Dee Gordon, and top Twins' prospect Nick Gordon. He now works with Perfect Game, a group that specializes in youth baseball development.

Tom's Rookie Card is in the 1989 Topps Traded Set, Card #38T