Alex Grammas, 1954 Topps

Alex Grammas, 1954 Topps #151

Not sure where I go this one. 1954 Topps is a beautiful set.

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

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grammal01.shtml

Ernie Johnson, 1954 Bowman

Ernie Johnson, 1954 Bowman #144

I beleive this is from a Kansas City megashow. An absolutely beautiful card of a Braves legend. A solid major league pitcher who was an excellent broadcaster, member of the Braves Hall of Fame, and former Marine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernie_Johnson_(baseball_pitcher)

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnser02.shtml?redir

Vern Benson, 1953 Topps

Vern Benson, 1953 Topps #205

I've had this one for a while. The artwork is great.

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

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bensove01.shtml?redir

Ron Kline, 1953 Topps

Ron Kline, 1953 Topps #175

Not sure where this is from. '53 Topps is a beautiful set.

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

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/klinero01.shtml?redir

Stu Miller, 1951 Bowman B&W, Topps

Stu Miller, 1951 Bowman B&W #16
Stu Miller, 1951 Topps #183

I believe they came from a Westroads show. One of the few pre-'80's players to have multiple rookies. The Bowman Black and White is one of the few bland sets of the time while the Topps card is strikingly attractive.

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

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/millest01.shtml?redir

Jim Busby, 1951 Bowman

Jim Busby, 1951 Bowman #302

Not sure where I got this one. It's a nice looking card.

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

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/busbyji01.shtml?redir

Clyde King, 1951 Bowman

Clyde King, 1951 Bowman #299

A SportsFest pick.

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

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kingcl01.shtml?redir

Bob Kennedy, 1951 Bowman

Bob Kennedy, 1951 Bowman #296

Not sure where I got this one. You get a partial look at the yellow faced racist Indians mascot of years ago.

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

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kennebo01.shtml?redir

Roy Hartsfield, 1951 Bowman

Roy Hartsfield, 1951 Bowman #277

This was the first '51 card I had. Nice to see the Braves logo on the card.

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

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hartsro01.shtml

Harry Dorish, 1951 Bowman

Harry Dorish, 1951 Bowman #266

Ive had this one for a while. Dorish has a creepy grin.

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

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dorisha01.shtml?redir

Ken Silvestri, 1951 Bowman

Ken Silvestri, 1951 Bowman #256

SportsFest. I remember this card being on the lsit for quite some time.

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

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/silveke01.shtml?redir

Cloyd Boyer, 1951 Bowman

Cloyd Boyer, 1951 Bowman #228

Not sure where this one came from. SportsFest, I'd guess. Has a little bit of a stain on the back. Not nearly as famous as his younger brothers Ken and Clete.

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

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/boyercl01.shtml?redir

Connie Ryan, 1951 Bowman

Connie Ryan, 1951 Bowman #219

SportsFest, I think. He kind of looks constipated in the picture.

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

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ryanco01.shtml?redir

Billy Hitchcock, 1951 Bowman

Billy Hitchcock, 1951 Bowman #191

SportsFest again. This card was the first listed on my checklist for quite some time.

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

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hitchbi01.shtml?redir

Eddie Robinson, 1950 Bowman

Eddie Robinson, 1950 Bowman #18

Another SportsFest pick, I believe. While he shares a name with a famous Alabama football coach (and a less famous NU football coach), Robinson was one of Atlanta's first general managers. It's a nice card.

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

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/robined01.shtml?redir

Johnny Sain, 1948 Bowman

Johnny Sain, 1948 Bowman #12

This is another one from SportsFest in Chicago last summer. Most of my old vintage stuff was purchased there. The card seems really basic- '48 Bowman is the first "modern" set.

Sain is a legend- "Spahn and Sain then pray for rain" is a classic. He was one of the greatest pitching coaches and a great pitcher to boot. When he died a few years ago the Braves wore a patch for him on their sleeves.

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

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sainjo01.shtml?redir

Jo Jo White, 1934-1936 Diamond Stars

Jo Jo White, 1934-1936 Diamond Stars #45

I got this card at SportsFest in Chicago last summer. It's a really attractive card. It's crazy to think this card is 50 years older than me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo-Jo_White

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/whitejo01.shtml?redir

Back

It's been about 11 weeks since I came up with the idea for this blog, and a world of events has happened, but I've decided to get down to the brass tax and make this thing happen. The first step will be the acquisition of a scanner to upload the cards. That will hopefully happen within the next day or two. From there on it should be smooth sailin'.

I'd apologize to my loyal readers, but I'm pretty sure there are none. Hopefully that will change. Enjoy the ride!

Why?

While I know that truly completing the Every Braves Rookie is not overly feasible, it is an incredible challenge that has provided me much joy. Hopefully this blog will bring a smile to your face and let you take a trip down memory lane.

Many of these cards are from beautiful sets, feature great heroes, and will bring back fond memories. Others are from dismal sets, feature loathsome goats, and will conjure up painful recollections of chances gone awry. More however, are somewhere in between.

Why am I creating this blog, you may ask? I don’t have a solid reason. For many years I have wanted to have some sort of lasting showcase of my collection that would endure beyond the pile of cards in my room. I tinkered with many different ideas, but I think a blog where others can share their memories and collections is the best idea I can come up with. I’d also like some way for future generations to share my passion.

Some inspiration is due to Scott Mortimer and his blog 83f.blogspot.com I think it’s an ingenious collection and a unique way to showcase it. I’m using a similar blogger template in homage to him.

I hope this blog will appeal to many demographics beyond Braves card junkies. The three groups I hope to appeal to:

1- Braves fans- cards capture the essence of baseball. Going through the set, I’m sure Braves fans will feel many memories rushing back- Seeing Pascual Matos’ rookie and remembering the game in ’99 he had an improbable winning RBI, recalling how scrawny Andruw was circa 1995, and countless other reminiscences
2- Card collectors- looking through some of the unforgettable/forgettable sets and cards of all time can be fun. Every collector can relate to searching and searching for that one final card you HAVE to have.
3- Everyone else- I believe it’s a natural human condition to collect, in one way or another, and to want that one desirable item, be it a nutcracker, baseball card, the perfect outfit, whatever. Each one of us can relate to scouring the globe for that one thing you have to have- and the joy of finding it

I hope you all enjoy reading about my voyage. I hope you all can relate to my passion and zeal!

Genesis

I started collecting in the early 90’s. I don’t know when or where it happened, but I was like any little kid collecting- I bought the cheapest stuff possible and paid no attention to condition. It was fun to open a pack.

The first card I ever remember “wanting” was a 1995 card of Marquis Grissom wearing a Braves uniform- he had just been acquired from Montreal. It was a ubiquitous beginning, but would lead to much greater depths.



For the next few years I would dabble in collecting. Occasionally picking up a pack of football cards, but almost universally sticking to low end baseball products- Score and Collector’s Choice were my poison.

The first true collecting I did was compiling the 1997 Score set. I had gotten a paper route and for the first time ever, had a decent income source. While the ’97 Score set will never be confused with a mediocre set, it was my passion. Once I got the Mike Grace #292 card to complete the set, life was good. I would pick up a few more sets over the next few years.



For years I weaved in and out of Chipper Jones collections. But as time went by, and cards became more scarce and expensive, compiling a widespread Chipper collection grew improbable. So many cards were very scarce and very valuable.

The genesis of Every Braves Rookie came about in the early 2000’s when I decided to collect every rookie card of the 1999 Atlanta Braves team. The ’99 team had always been my favorite. It was a scrappy bunch that overcame losing its cleanup hitter and closer to win over 100 games and make it to the World Series. Also it was the year Chipper won the MVP.

It took me a while, but with the 1998 Pacific Online Kevin Millwood, I had my set. Rather then rest on my laurels, I dove in to a new challenge- the 1995 team set, the year we won the World Series.

When this set became attainable, I moved on to a much broader goal- every player that had been a part of the Braves run of consecutive division titles. At the time I started this collection the streak was at 13 years- It would end a ear later, in 2005, at 14. For the first time there were players that I didn’t really know (Dan Petry and Rico Rossy, to name a few)- I didn’t start actively following the Braves until 1994 or so.

A few years passed, and it reached the point where I had every rookie from the set that I could reasonably acquire. I decided to move on to a much broader and intimidating set- Every rookie card of every player ever to play for the Atlanta Braves. Because the Braves started playing in Atlanta 20 years before I was born, and the first cards from this set were produced more than 50 years before I was born, and many cards hail from some of the most prestigious/rare sets ever created, completing the set would be a gargantuan test.

I decided to take on the challenge

An added bonus about collecting Every Braves Rookie is the fact that the checklist never stops growing. As soon as the Braves sign a player, complete a trade, or call a minor leaguer up, the checklist grows.

It’s a big task…hopefully you’ll enjoy my journey