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