Denis Menke, 1962 Topps

Denis Menke, 1962 Topps #597

The only Rookie Parade without a star on it. This made it a little less expensive than the others.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Menke

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/menkede01.shtml?redir

Joe Pepitone, 1962 Topps

Joe Pepitone, 1962 Topps #596

Another tough Rookie Parade. Pepitone was a good hitter for several years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Pepitone

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pepitjo01.shtml

Bob Uecker, 1962 Topps

Bob Uecker, 1962 Topps #594

Another difficult Rookie Parade. It was on the list for a long time. Uecker is one of the best people in baseball- hillarious and a good guy. "Juuuust a bit outside" is the best line ever.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Uecker

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/ueckebo01.shtml?redir

http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/frick/uecker_bob.jsp

http://www.bobuecker.com/

Jim Bouton, 1962 Topps

Jim Bouton, 1962 Topps #592

The Rookie Parade set was one of the most difficult and expensive to acquire. The entire set is an extreme short print and all but the Menke card features a significant player. I bought the four cards together at a KC show.

Bouton is best known for his book "Ball Four" He was subsequently blackballed from the game of baseball. Bouton was actually a really good pitcher.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Bouton

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/boutoji01.shtml?redir

http://www.jimbouton.com/

Bob Johnson, 1962 Topps

Bob Johnson, 1962 Topps #519

Took a while. Not as difficult as the Rookie Parades. I like the simple name, although he looks like he's wearing a bib.

As an added bonus, he was born in Omaha!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Johnson_(infielder)

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnsbo02.shtml

Wayne Causey, 1962 Topps

Wayne Causey, 1962 Topps #496

A rare easy find from '62.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Causey

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/causewa01.shtml?redir

Bob Tillman, 1962 Topps

Bob Tillman, 1962 Topps #368

One of the few easy finds from the set.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Tillman

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tillmbo01.shtml?redir

Al Downing, 1962 Topps

Al Downing, 1962 Topps #219

A difficult find. Picked it up in KC. He's most famous for giving up Hank Aaron's 715th home run, but was also a broadcaster for the Braves for a few years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Downing_(baseball_player)

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/downial01.shtml?redir

Joe Torre, 1962 Topps

Joe Torre, 1962 Topps #218

this is one of my favorite cards from the set. It took a long time and a decent investment to acquire. It's a beautiful picture and a nice layout. Torre still seems to look the same.

Two Braves related things that most forget is that a) Torre was one of the best hitters in the game for several years, and b) he managed the Braves (with far less success than the Yankees later) in the early '80's.

Classic card.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Torre

http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/torrejo01.shtml

http://www.joetorre.org

Gaylord Perry, 1962 Topps

Gaylord Perry, 1962 Topps #199

Due to this being a tougher set and Perry's Hall of Fame status, this was a difficult find. I believe I got it at a KC megashow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaylord_Perry

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/perryga01.shtml

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/detail.jsp?playerId=120438

Mack Jones, 1962 Topps

Mack Jones, 1962 Topps #186

One of the few easy cards from '62. The Braves do love the Jones!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mack_Jones

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jonesma01.shtml?redir

Tony Cloninger, 1962 Topps

Tony Cloninger, 1962 Topps #63

'62 was a fairly ifficult set to compile and this card took me a while. Cloninger was a very solid major league pitcher.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Cloninger

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/clonito01.shtml?redir

Don Schwall, 1962 Topps

Don Schwall, 1962 Topps #35

Had this for a while. '62 is an attractive set. He has his own website. You can book him to sign autographs!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Schwall

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/schwado01.shtml?redir

http://www.donschwall.com/

Lee Thomas, 1961 Topps

Lee Thomas, 1961 Topps #464

I believe this was the hardest find from '61.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Thomas_(baseball)

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thomale03.shtml?redir

Ty Cline, 1961 Topps

Ty Cline, 1961 Topps

Had this one for a while. 1961 seems to be the first year that wasn't too ahrd to find. The card features the 1961 Rookie Star!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ty_Cline

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/clinety01.shtml?redir

Mike De La Hoz, 1961 Topps

Mike De La Hoz, 1961 Topps #191

Had this one for a while. I like the name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_de_la_Hoz

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dela_mi01.shtml?redir

Dave Nicholson, 1961 Topps

Dave Nicholson, 1961 Topps #182

An early find. Holds the lovely distinction of having the highest strikeout rate in major league history by a batter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Nicholson

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nichoda01.shtml?redir

Chris Canizzaro, 1961 Topps

Chris Canizzaro, 1961 Topps #118

An early find.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Cannizzaro

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cannich01.shtml?redir

Zorro Versalles, 1961 Topps

Zorro Versalles, 1961 Topps #21

One of the earliest cards I had from the period. Cool name, but is the first player I haven't found a wikipedia entry for.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/versazo01.shtml?redir

Ed Rakow, 1960 Topps

Ed Rakow, 1960 Topps #551

This was an early pick.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Rakow

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rakowed01.shtml?redir

Bob Aspromonte, 1960 Topps

Bob Aspromonte, 1960 Topps #547

This one took some time. For some reason Topps decided to alternate colors in the names for the high numbers... not sure why. Looks kinda funky.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Aspromonte

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/asprobo01.shtml?redir

Tony Gonzalez, 1960 Topps

Tony Gonzalez, 1960 Topps #518

Not sure where I got this one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Gonz%C3%A1lez_(baseball)

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gonzato01.shtml

Steve Barber, 1960 Topps

Steve Barber, 1960 Topps #514

Had this for a while.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Barber

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/barbest01.shtml?redir

Bobby Bragan, 1960 Topps

Bobby Bragan, 1960 Topps #463

I looked for this card for quite some time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Bragan

http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/bragabo01.shtml

Lum Hartis, 1960 Topps

Lum Hartis, 1960 Topps #455

This was a SportsFest pick. In 1960 Topps included a set featuring coaching staffs. This subset provides the only cards for several of the Braves coaches in the 60's and early 70's. I added coaching staffs to the checklists a few years ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lum_Harris

http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/harrilu01.shtml

Roy Sadecki, 1960 Topps

Roy Sadecki, 1960 Topps #327

Not sure where I found this one. Love Mr. Sadecki's specks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Sadecki

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sadecra01.shtml

Julio Navarro, 1960 Topps

Julio Navarro, 1960 Topps #140

Believe I got this at a Westroads show. The '60 rookie set looks attractive. There's apparently also a famous astrophysicist by the same name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julio_Navarro

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/navarju01.shtml?redir

Ken Johnson, 1960 Topps

Ken Johnson, 1960 Topps #135

Had this for a while.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Johnson_(right-handed_pitcher)

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnske02.shtml?redir

Bob Bruce, 1960 Topps

Bob Bruce, 1960 Topps #118

Had this one for a while.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Bruce

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brucebo01.shtml?redir

Eddie Haas, 1959 Topps

Eddie Haas, 1959 Topps #126

Had this for a while.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Haas

http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/haased01.shtml

Ed Sadowski, 1959 Topps

Ed Sadowski, 1959 Topps #139

Had this one for a while.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Sadowski

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sadowed01.shtml?redir

Gene Oliver, 1959 Topps

Gene Oliver, 1959 Topps #135

Not sure where I found this one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Oliver

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/olivege01.shtml?redir

Deron Johnson, 1959 Topps

Deron Johnson, 1959 Topps #131

Not sure where this one is from. Topps had the innovative idea of putting all the rookies together. the Sporting News subset is nice looking.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deron_Johnson

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnsde01.shtml

Felipe Alou, 1959 Topps

Felipe Alou, 1959 Topps

KC find. An attractive card of a great manager that was a solid outfielder. Back in the day all three Alou brothers were the outfield for the Giants.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felipe_Alou

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/aloufe01.shtml?redir

Gary Geiger, 1958 Topps

Gary Geiger, 1958 Topps #462

Got it at a KC show. This one took quite some time, as it is a short print.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Geiger

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/geigega01.shtml?redir

Milt Pappas, 1958 Topps

Milt Pappas, 1958 Topps #457

This was one of my earlier finds. Pappas is most famous for being the guy traded for Frank Robinson, but he was actually a pretty good pitcher.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milt_Pappas

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pappami01.shtml?redir

Charlie Lau, 1958 Topps

Charlie Lau, 1958 Topps #448

This one took a while. The '58 Topps set is a nice looking one. Simple backgound and nice head shots. Lau apparently started a hitting school once he retired- lauhitting.com.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Lau

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lauch01.shtml?redir

Joe Pignatano, 1958 Topps

Joe Pignatano, 1958 Topps #373

This one took a while to get. Interesting fact- Pignatano grounded in to a triple play in his final at bat. I knew there was a reason I included the Wikipedia link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Pignatano

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pignajo01.shtml?redir

Marty Keough, 1958 Topps

Marty Keough, 1958 Topps #371

Had this one for a while.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marty_Keough

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/keougma01.shtml?redir

Orlando Cepeda, 1958 Topps

Orlando Cepeda, 1958 Topps #343

This card was on the lsit for a while. Cepeda is a Hall of Famer and the card was higher in price than most. Picked it up at a KC show. It's a nice looking card.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlando_Cepeda

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cepedor01.shtml?redir

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/detail.jsp?playerId=112157

Russ Nixon, 1958 Topps

Russ Nixon, 1958 Topps #133

Had it for a while. Best known as the manager before Bobby. The Braves teams he managed were pretty awful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ_Nixon

http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/nixonru01.shtml

Don Cardwell, 1957 Topps

Don Cardwell, 1957 Topps #374

One of the first '50's cards I got.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Cardwell

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cardwdo01.shtml?redir

Ted Abernathy, 1957 Topps

Ted Abernathy, 1957 Topps #293

I've had this one for a while.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Abernathy

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/abernte02.shtml

Tito Francona, 1957 Topps

Tito Francona, 1957 Topps #184

I've had this one for a while. His son is far more famous.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tito_Francona

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/francti01.shtml?redir

Clete Boyer, 1957 Topps

Clete Boyer, 1957 Topps #121

This was on the list for a while. '56 Topps is the least attractive Topps set of the era. Boyer was a solid major leaguer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clete_Boyer

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/boyercl02.shtml?redir

Chuck Tanner, 1955 Topps

Chuck Tanner, 1955 Topps #161

This card took me a while to get. I'll bet it's a short print. I believe I got it at a KC show. It's a beautiful card from a beautiful set.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Tanner

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tannech01.shtml?redir

Bob Skinner, 1955 Topps

Bob Skinner, 1955 Topps #88

One of the earlier '50's cards I had.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Skinner

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/skinnbo01.shtml?redir

Billy O'Dell, 1955 Topps

Billy O'Dell, 1955 Topps #57

Had this one for a while. Beautiful set.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_O'Dell

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/o'delbi01.shtml?redir

Frank Bolling, 1955 Bowman

Frank Bolling, 1955 Bowman #204

Not sure where I got this one. It's an attractive card- the tv set design is ingenious. The back of the card has a "My Advice To Youngsters" written by Frank. Nice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Bolling

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bollifr01.shtml?redir

Joe Jay, 1954 Topps

Joe Jay, 1954 Topps #141

I've had this one for a while. I always considered this to be one of the most beautiful cards in the set.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joey_Jay

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jayjo01.shtml?redir