Sports Media Report
The Topps® MLB All-Star Rookie Team continues its decades-long tradition by honoring Major League Baseball’s top rookies.
Eleven MLB players were named to the Topps All-Star Rookie Team led by three Los Angeles Dodgers: Corey Seager (short stop), who was named National League Rookie of the Year, Kenta Maeda (right-handed pitcher), and Julio Urias (left-handed pitcher). They are joined by New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez, who excited baseball fans with his power by hitting 20 home runs in just 53 games.
For the first time in Topps history, collectors can get a card of members of the Topps All-Star Rookie Team immediately though the on-demand TOPPS NOW™ program. The Topps® MLB All-Star Rookie Team set will be available exclusively for one week on Topps.com.
Also joining them on the Topps All-Star Rookie Team are two young stars from Texas in Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, the second overall draft pick in 2015, and Texas Rangers outfielder Nomar Mazara, who hit a home run in his first MLB game.
Rounding out the Topps All-Star Rookie Team include Philadelphia’s Tommy Joseph (first baseman), San Diego’s Ryan Schimpf (second base), Washington’s Trea Turner (outfield), Cleveland’s Tyler Naquin (outfield), and St. Louis’ Seung-hwan Oh (relief pitcher).
The Topps All-Star Rookie Team began in 1959. The winners also receive a gold “cup” on their official Topps baseball card in the 2017 set, which has been a tradition for many years.
Past honorees of the Topps MLB All-Star Rookie Team have included former MVPs such as Buster Posey, Ichiro, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan and Cal Ripken Jr. In addition, 20 former Topps MLB All-Star Rookie Team members have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame including Ken Griffey Jr., and Mike Piazza. Last year’s Topps MLB All-Rookie team included three current Chicago Cubs in Addison Russell, Kris Bryant, and Kyle Schwarber.
The Topps MLB All-Star Rookie Team – nicknamed the Topps Rookie Cup – is awarded to one player for each position, a right-hander starter, a left-handed starter, and a relief pitcher.
Here is the full list of the 2016 Topps MLB All-Star Rookie Team:
C – Gary Sanchez NYY
1B – Tommy Joseph PHI
2B – Ryan Schimpf SDP
3B – Alex Bregman HOU
SS – Corey Seager LAD
OF – Trea Turner WAS
OF – Nomar Mazara TEX
OF – Tyler Naquin CLE
LHP – Julio Urias LAD
RHP – Kenta Maeda LAD
RP – Seung Hwan Oh STL
