#281 Ray Boone

Ray Boone  Milwaukee Braves

Career: Ray Boone is the patriarch of baseball's first four generation professional family*, the first family to send three generations to the All Star Game. Boone played in the majors for thirteen seasons beginning in late 1948 when he got a quick peek at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. He played primarily for the Indians and Tigers as an infielder and was a two-time All-Star with Detroit in the mid-fifties. 

Boone, a WWII vet who served nearly four years in the Navy, led the AL in RBI in 1955 and picked up MVP votes in three seasons. He was a career .275 hitter and homered off Robin Roberts in the 1954 All Star Game. After his playing days Boone was a longtime scout for the Red Sox.

In 1960: He opened the season with the Braves but was dealt to the Red Sox in May. He hit just .205 overall in 90 at-bats combined. The Sox released Boone in September and his playing days were over.

Off The Charts: Wikipedia tells us that he was a descendant of American pioneer Daniel Boone.

The Card: I'm 99.99999% sure that the photo was taken in Yankee Stadium. And I'm also 99.99999% sure that Boone is not wearing a Braves beanie in the action pic despite the best work of the Topps artist to make it look like he is.

*=Jake Boone, Ray's great-grandson, has been drafted twice by the Nats, signed with them but has yet to play in the minors due to the cancelled season.

#266 Joe Jay

Joe Jay   Milwaukee Braves

Career: Joey Jay was among the first players to sign under the 'Bonus baby' rule. That regulation forced a team who signed a youngster to a contract above a certain threshold to keep him on the major league roster for two seasons. When the Braves signed him in 1953 he spent a couple of seasons watching and waiting and has said he was ignored in the clubhouse and 'felt like the batboy'.

He was able to impress with his first start which came in the form of a shoutout in late 1953. Jay stuck with the big league club until the middle of 1955 when he was sent to the minors and he stayed there (with mixed results) until reappearing on the big league staff in 1958. He still didn't get a lot of work but he had impressive stats that year. An arm issue kept him off the World Series roster for the Braves that season. Jay's numbers regressed over the '59 and '60 seasons and he was traded to the Reds for 1961.

In Cincinnati, he found his form and won 21 games in each of his first two seasons with the Reds. He was an All-Star in 1961 and made two starts in the Series. He won Game Two with a four-hitter in Yankee Stadium that tied the Series at 1-1. He then returned in Game Five and the Yanks proved they had figured him out and Jay didn't get out of the first inning.

Jay never again approached the success he'd had in those first two seasons with the Braves. He stuck around through 1966 and even had a return engagement with the Braves when he was traded to the Atlanta version of the club midway through 1966. That was his last big league run.

He had a shot with the Phils in 1967 but he wasn't effective in a few starts with their minor league club in Clearwater and that was that. He retired to a career and a business owner (oil drilling, taxi cabs, and building cleaning and maintenance. 


In 1960: Jay went 9-8 over 32 games including 11 starts. His ERA was 3.24, better than it had been in '59, but the Braves thought they had better prospects for their rotation and he was on to the Reds that winter.

Off The Charts: Jay had nothing to do with baseball once he left. Here is a paragraph or so from his SABR bio:

Jay, a western Florida resident, adopted a life without baseball. He declined to attend card shows or fantasy camps and embraced a very low profile contrasted to his former public life. “I don’t live in the past, like most ballplayers,” he said. “I don’t wear my World Series rings, my mother has my scrapbooks, and if someone offered me a baseball job, I’d turn it down in a minute. When I made the break, it was clean and forever. It’s infantile to keep thinking about the game. It gets you nowhere. Most ex-ballplayers keep on living in some destructive fantasy world. Not me. I’m happier than ever since I left. And do me a favor. Don’t mention where I live.”

I don't recall ever hearing him referred to as 'Joe' Jay. It was always 'Joey'. Topps used the more formal version on this and (I think) all his cards. Other companies mixed and matched.

I'd always thought he was credited with being the first Little League World Series winner to play in the majors. Apparently, he was the first LL'er, period.

#246 Lee Maye

Lee Maye  Milwaukee Braves (and The Crowns)

Career(s):  Lee Maye played pro baseball for 18 seasons, 13 in the majors with the Braves, Astros, Senators, White Sox, and Indians. He was never an All-Star, missed out on post-season play, and is relatively unknown despite a career .274 average and nearly a hundred homers.

After his minor league climb, he played for the Braves from 1959 thru early in the 1965 season. In 1964 his 44 doubles (twice his next best total) led the NL. That year his .304 average was good for 12th in the NL, just a few points outside the Top Ten.

He was traded to the Astros early in the 1965 season and later toured the AL before finishing with more minor-league duty and a 1972 retirement.

Running parallel to his baseball career was a music career that saw Maye make doo-wop records for several labels beginning in the mid-50s. He'd been singing since his days at Jefferson High in South Central L.A. The bulk of his music came from his time as lead singer for The Crowns. He signed his first professional contract at 19. Much more about his musical career can be found below.

Lee Maye died at 67 in 2002. Certainly a life well-lived.

In 1960: Maye was with the Braves to start the season but played sparingly through early May when he was sent to AAA Louisville. There he played well, was back in the bigs in July, and was handed an everyday spot in the Braves' outfield. He responded by hitting .301 in nearly a hundred at-bats.

Off The Charts (literally): This was one of the most fun posts I've had the pleasure to research. This is his 'rookie' card so I didn't get to dive down the rabbit hole of his music for my other set blogs. There are so many neat little items about his life that I think I'll just post some links here and let you explore if you wish.

Highly recommended is this page that has extensive photos, playlists of Maye's music, interview excerpts, and more.

Another extensive interview and background site is here. Bunches of photos, a complete(?) discography, and much more.

If you do Spotify, here is a Maye playlist.

Marv Goldberg's Rock and Roll Notebook is another fun site with a lot of stuff on Maye and his music.

This Astros Daily interview focuses on his baseball career and shows him to have been very outspoken in many ways. It's a good one.

The Card: The cartoon references his singing career. His '61, '63, '65, and '68 Topps cards also had cartoons that mentioned his 'side job'. This oldies/pop-oriented site has a great bio that focuses on his dual career and shows some of the cartoons.

The card itself is pretty cool. The blue/orange/red/white/black combo isn't unique but it is one of only six found in the 1960 set. And the Braves' sweet unis make it even more colorful. Add in that super cartoon and you have a great baseball card.

Here are a few music videos of The Crowns from YouTube:

#228 Ernie Johnson

Ernie Johnson   Cleveland Indians

Career: Johnson was a steady and dependable reliever for the Braves through much of the 1950s. He spent a year with the Braves' lowest minor league team after signing at 18 in 1942 and then served three years in the Marines during WWII. Returning to the game in 1946, he was a starter as he moved up the ladder. He made his big league debut in 1950.

Johnson made the Braves' staff for good in 1952 and soon became a fixture in their 'pen. He pitched very well in the '57 Series win for the Braves in 1957. In three games he allowed only two hits over 7+ innings. He took the tough-luck loss in Game Six when he allowed Hank Bauer's homer as one of only two hits he gave up in 4 1/3 innings. But he got his ring.

He had his only poor season for the Braves in 1958 and was farmed out, missing the '58 Series. He was then dealt to the Orioles for what was to be his final season as a player.

In 1960: When this card was being pulled from packs in the spring of 1960 Johnson had already finished his playing career. After being dealt to the Indians the previous winter Johnson had arm issues in training camp and retired.

Off The Charts: When he retired Johnson returned to Milwaukee and got into broadcasting. He joined the Braves' broadcasting crew and stayed with the club through 1999 as part of the TBS Superstation broadcast team. His son, Ernie Jr, followed him into the booth and is well known for his duties with TBS, TNT, and CBS doing baseball and basketball.

#205 Johnny Logan

Johnny Logan  Milwaukee Braves

Career: Logan was a four-time All-Star as the Braves' starting shortstop through the 50s. He was a spark plug on their '57/'58 NL title teams. He received MVP votes nearly every year in Milwaukee. Logan began as a pro with an extended run in the then-Boston Braves system where he showed an ability to hit and field very well. His rise thru their chain was slowed because they had Alvin Dark clogging the ladder at the top.

He didn't have much luck at the plate during the two Series he played in, but he did homer off Bobby Shantz in Game Two of the '57 Classic, a game won by Lou Burdette. Logan finished his career with a run in Pittsburgh as a bench piece, after which he played one season in Japan before retiring.

In 1960: This was his last full season with the Braves. His numbers were down across the board with his average falling nearly 50 points and his homers going from 13 to 7. It also ended up also being his last year as an everyday player.

Off The Charts: He had a radio show in Milwaukee for a brief time after baseball and then worked as a welder on the Alaska Pipeline Project. He also dabbled in Milwaukee County politics by running for sheriff a few times while jumping back and forth between the Republican and Democratic tickets.

#192 Danny O'Connell

Danny O'Connell  San Francisco Giants

Career: The Braves sent six players and $100K to the Pirates for O'Connell in 1954. They were hoping he was the piece of the puzzle they needed to jump to the top of the NL. O'Connell had been big stuff in the Brooklyn organization and played very well for the Pirates in his two big-league seasons He was third in RoY voting in '53 and garnered some MVP votes in '54. But he was never the player the Braves had hoped for (and had paid such a big price for) and he was sent on to the Giants after three seasons of diminishing returns in Milwaukee.

His production was no better in San Francisco, and he made his own deal to play for the expansion Senators where he spent his final seasons in the majors. He was a player/manager for the Nats' top farm club for a year and then spent a couple of seasons coaching with the Senators.

In 1960: Coming off a season with the Giants during which he got into only 34 games, O'Connell was not in the majors. He played for the Giants' Tacoma farm club in the PCL and hit a robust .312, paving the way for his signing in Washington.

Off The Charts: O'Connell was from the same Essex County area of New Jersey where I spent many years as a kid. He died in a truck crash caused by his heart attack in 1969. He was only 40.

#189 Don McMahon

Don McMahon  Milwaukee Braves

Career: McMahon was a Brooklyn native and after signing with the Braves in 1950, he spent five and a half years in the minors and two years in the service. He made his major league debut when called up to Milwaukee in June 1957 at age 27. He played for the Braves (1957-’62), Colt .45s (1962-’63), Indians (1964-’66), Red Sox (1966-’67), White Sox (1967-’68), Tigers (1968-’69), and Giants (1969-’74).

In 874 games (only two were starts!) Don compiled a 90-68 record (.570), with a sparkling 2.96 ERA. He made ten postseason appearances, won four pennants, pitched in three World Series (1957, ’58, ’68), and one National League Championship Series,. His numbers in those big games were impressive as well as he allowed only 10 hits in over 13 innings.

When he retired he was fourth on the list of games pitched. He is currently 35th.

In 1960: He had a very rocky year, arguably the worst of his career. After leading the league with 15 saves in 1959, he had only 10 and his ERA of 5.94 was a huge disappointment after the 2.94 he posted the previous season. 

Off The Charts: Following his playing days, he was pitching coach for the Giants (twice), Twins, and Indians; and later a scout for the Dodgers.

SABR tells us "He worked some in the offseason as a football scout for several years, helping out the Oakland Raiders even while still an active player. He and Raiders owner-coach Al Davis had both attended Erasmus Hall High in Brooklyn."

Even Further Off The Charts: My father grew up in Brooklyn not far from Erasmus High but he commuted to the Bronx High School of Science. I decided to take a look at Erasmus Hall which is now closed. The list of notable alums from Wkipedia is pretty impressive. I pulled out the more recognizable names and pasted them here:

    Bob Arum, boxing promoter.
    Tony Balsamo (1931), Major League Baseball Pitcher for the Chicago Cubs
    Jeff Chandler (Ira Grossel) (1935); actor
    Hy Cohen, Major League Baseball player
    Billy Cunningham (1961); player and coach, Philadelphia '76ers basketball team.
    Al Davis (c.1947); Oakland Raiders owner, Pro Football Hall of Fame member.
    Clive Davis (1949); Grammy Award-winning record producer; founder of Arista Records[43]
    Neil Diamond, attended Erasmus from 1954–56; singer/songwriter.
    Will Downing (1981); singer
    Mort Drucker (born 1929), caricaturist and comics artist [MAD Magazine!!]
    Norm Drucker, professional basketball official.
    Dave Getz (1957); drummer Big Brother and the Holding Company
    Jonah Goldman, major league baseball player
    William Lindsay Gresham (1909–1962), novelist and non-fiction author
    Susan Hayward (Edythe Marrenner), (1935); Oscar-winning actress
    Waite Hoyt, Hall of Fame pitcher for the Yankees and long-time broadcaster for the  Reds.
    Marty Ingels, comedian; husband of Shirley Jones.
    Ned Irish (1924); organizer of first MSG basketball tournament (1934); founder of the New York Knicks; member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
    Roger Kahn (1945); sportswriter, author of several books including The Boys of Summer.
    Lainie Kazan (Lainie Levine), (1956); actress and singer
    Dorothy Kilgallen (1930); newspaper journalist, television game show panelist and talk radio personality.
    Bernie Kopell (1953); actor
    Sid Luckman (1935); football champion with the Chicago Bears; NFL quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
    Bernard Malamud (1932); author and educator; wrote baseball novel The Natural
    Don McMahon, Major League Baseball player
    Stephanie Mills, (1975); actress/singer.
    Doug Moe, (1956); long time player and coach, ABA and NBA.
    Don Most (1970); actor
    Jerry Reinsdorf (1953); part-owner of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox.
    Sam Rutigliano, former NFL head coach.
    Beverly Sills (Belle Miriam Silverman), coloratura opera singer,
    Mickey Spillane (Morrison Spillane) (1936); author of detective and mystery fiction.
    Barbara Stanwyck (c. 1922); stage and screen actress, dancer.
    Barbra Streisand (Barbara Joan Streisand) (1959); actress, singer, director, producer.
    Norma Talmadge (1911); silent film actress.
    Eli Wallach, (1932); actor
    Sonny Werblin (1910–1991), entertainment industry executive and sports impresario, owner of the New York Jets,
    Mae West (Mary Jane West) (1911); actress, comedian, playwright.

#143 Al Spangler Sport Rookie Star

Al Spangler  Milwaukee Braves

Career: After four minor league seasons and two years in the service, Al Spangler made the Braves in 1960 and spent a few years as a spare outfielder. His career got a boost with NL expansion and being drafted by the Colt .45s. His time in Houston, from 1962 through June 1965, was his only spell as an everyday player.

He spent the rest of '65 with the Angels, was farmed out for much of '66, and was released. He signed with the Cubs and played in Chicago until 1971 with a few more minor league stretches thrown in. Spangler had little power, hitting just 21 career homers in almost a thousand games, but he maintained a decent average, was fast, and was a good defensive player.

In 1960: He saw duty in over 100 games but managed only 122 at-bats. Much of his play came as a pinch-hitter, pinch-runner or defensive late-inning guy. He hit .267 but went without a homer and had six RBIs.

Off The Charts: Spangler was a graduate of Duke University where he was a baseball All-American (as the cartoon notes). He completed a degree in mathematics. After a year or two as a coach with the Cubs' organization in the 70s, Spangler became a coach and AD at Hargraves (Huffman, Tx) High School, not far up the road from me.

#170 Del Crandall

Del Crandall  Milwaukee Braves

Career: One of the top catchers of his era, Del Crandall kind of gets lost in the shadows behind Roy Campanella and Yogi Berra. But Crandall was an eight-time NL All-Star and won four Gold Gloves after finishing second in the 1949 Rookie of the Year balloting behind Don Newcombe.

Crandall played for 13 seasons with the Braves in Boston and Milwaukee, losing a couple to military service. For an eight-year stretch, from 1953 through 1960, he made seven All-Star squads and led the NL catchers in every defensive category multiple times.

While he didn't hit much in the two World Series that he played in (1957 and 1958) he did homer once in each. 

After a falling out with Braves manager Bobby Bragan Crandall was dealt to the Giants for 1964 and finished his career with single seasons in Pittsburgh and Cleveland. He later managed the Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners for a total of six years.


In 1960: He had a standout season, hitting .294 and driving in a career-best 77 runs while winning his fourth and final Gold Glove. He also had a homer in the first of the season's two All-Star games.

Off The Charts: Crandall is one of a handful of catchers to be behind the plate for consecutive one-hitters by the same pitcher. He backstopped Sam McDowell's April 25 (vs KC) and May 1 (vs Chicago) one-hit shutouts in 1966. As an added point of interest, longtime AL umpire Bill Haller was behind Crandall for both games.

Before signing with the Braves he was being pursued heavily by the Dodgers. According to his SABR bio "Del rejected their $20,000 signing bonus (about 20 times the family’s income in 1946) because of the “bonus baby” stipulation requiring him to remain on the big-league roster for two years and lose invaluable minor-league experience." It also mentions that his father urged him not to sign with the Dodgers, Yankees or Cardinals because their farm systems were already so stocked with talent.

The Card: That's Wrigley in the background and a Jack Davis cartoon. Crandall's batting helmet has a blue brim and I'm thinking the Braves' helmets usually matched their caps and had a red brim. I need to look closer. Not that anyone else cares. LOL

#129 Bob Hartman Sport Rookie Star

Bob Hartman  Milwaukee Braves

Career: Hartman had spent five seasons climbing thru the Braves minor league chain, winning 20 games at the AA level in 1958. In '59 he had a taste of the majors with three scattered appearances while spending the bulk of it in AAA. Those were his only innings with the Braves but he had eight appearances for Cleveland in 1962 after they picked up his contract. He finished with a loss as his only decision but overall he pitched decently in the few innings the Indians gave him. He left baseball after a few games in the minors in 1963.

In 1960: Hartman spent the season in Louisville with the Braves AAA club. He was 10-11 with a nice statistical showing overall. That didn't stop the Braves from trading him to the Athletics after the season. He was returned to the Braves in April of 1961.

Off The Charts: After he retired, Hartman worked as a sports director for a Christian school.

The Card: Hartman looked so clean-cut the cartoonist showed him signing while wearing a Boy Scout uni.

He had a Rookie Star card in the '59 set as well.

#107 Carl Willey

 Note: I am going to resume posting these great cards. I will likely make some adjustments to what I include with each entry.

Carl Willey   Milwaukee Braves

Career: He pitched five full seasons with the Braves after about that many in their system and a military stint. he was generally their #4 starter during his time there. He appeared in one game in the 1958 World Series. He pitched for the Mets from 1963 to 1965 spending a season as a starter and then finishing his career in the bullpen.

In 1960: He went 6-7 with an ERA over 4.30 in 21 starts.

Off The Charts: In 1958 he was second in the Sporting News Top Prospect poll and pitched four shutouts which led the NL.

#90 Bobby Avila

Bobby Avila  Milwaukee Braves

Career: He played 11 seasons with the Indians and in their pennant-winning year of 1954 he won the AL batting title and finished third in the MVP voting. He struggled at the plate in the series against the Giants with just two hits in 15 at bats. He was a three-time All-Star. He played his final big league season with three clubs, the Orioles, Red Soxm and Braves. He finished with a .281 average for his career.

In 1960: Avila was farmed out in the spring of 1960 and wound up playing one final season, with the Mexico City Tigers. He helped that club with the pennant with a .333 average and he set a record for runs scored. After the season he began the next phase of his life by abecoming the president of Mexico's Vera Cruz League. 

Off The Charts: He's a member of Mexico's baseball Hall of Fame, has had two stadiums named for him, and served in Mexico's Congress and as the mayor of Vera Cruz.

The Card: This is a terrific card. Beautiful Braves classic uni with Connie Mack Stadium as the backdrop.

#70 Lou Burdette

Lou Burdette  Milwaukee Braves

Career: Burdette won over 200 games pitching for 18 seasons with six different clubs. But he was best known as Warren Spahn's mound mate with the Braves in the 50s. He helped them to a couple of World Series appearances and the '57 title. His three WS wins that year (all complete games, two shutouts!) earned him Series MVP honors.

In 1960: He went 18-13 with a 3.36 ERA and he lad the NL with 18 complete games.

Off The Charts: Wikipedia sez...In 1958, a reference to Burdette appeared in an episode of Leave It To Beaver. The text "Lew Burdette just hit a home run and Milwaukee leads seven to one in the series." appears briefly in a few frames showing a letter from the principal to Beaver's parents.[19] Burdette also cut a record in the 1950s entitled "Three Strikes and Then You're Out".

The Card: Three-color fronts rule! Especially yellow-black-white ones! Add in Wrigley Field, the Braves' uni, and Burdette's smirk and we have a winner.

#66 Bob Trowbridge

Bob Trowbridge  Kansas City Athletics

Career: Beginning in 1951 he had an outstanding minor league career which bracketed a 3-year military stint. He finally reached the Braves in 1956. He mostly pitched out of the bullpen for all or part of the next four seasons in Milwaukee and for one year in KC. He was 13-13 with a 3.95 ERA in 116 games. He made 25 starts along the way. He pitched one (very rocky) inning in Game Three of the 1957 Series against the Yankees.

In 1960: After being purchased by the A's the previous October, Trowbridge pitched with limited success thru July in KC before he was farmed out. He finished the 1960 season in the minors and spent 1961 there as well and then retired. 

Off The Charts: After he retired Trowbridge returned to his native Hudson, N.Y. and worked in the prison facility there.

The Card: This is the second in a string of capless card subjects. Unlike the previous Elston Howard card, this one shows a player who changed teams prior to the 1960 season. Love the colors and the old A's logo is fun.

#59 Juan Pizarro

Juan Pizarro  Milwaukee Braves

Career: He pitched for eight clubs over a span of 18 seasons and had a career that is often overlooked. His stats (131 wins, a sub 3.80 ERA and a good WHIP land him in the 'Hall of the Above Average' His best seasons came in 1963 and '64 with the White Sox and he made the All-Star teams in those two years. He won a ring with the '57 Braves and appeared in the '58 Series with them as well. 

In 1960: In his final season of four with the Braves he saw his stats (and workload) decline. He appeared in 21 games (17 starts) with a 4.55 ERA. He was dealt to the AL champion White Sox in a three-team deal after the season. The trade brought Roy McMillan to the Braves from the Reds.

Off The Charts: As a professional Pizarro won nearly 400 games including the majors (131), minors (66), the Mexican league (38) and the Puerto Rican Winter League (157). 

The Card: Another Seals Stadium shot with a nice color combo and the colorful Braves cap. I'm partial to Pizarro cards and have a nice PC of him.

#37 Bill Bruton

Bill Bruton  Milwaukee Braves

Career: Bruton led the NL in steals his first three seasons in the league. He went on to play centerfield for twelve years, eight with the Braves and the last four with the Tigers. He was a member of two NL championship Braves squads but missed the '57 World Series due to a knee injury. He hit .412 with a homer in the '58 Series. 

In 1960: This was his last season in Milwaukee but he made it a good one as he led the league in runs and triples.

Off The Charts: From his SABR bio: "...Bruton’s development as a player benefited directly from the professional baseball help and advice he received from his father-in-law, Hall of Famer William Julius “Judy” Johnson. Johnson spent 18 years in the Negro Leagues playing third base primarily with the Hilldale Club of Philadelphia and the Pittsburgh Crawfords."

The Card: Wonderful card that ticks off all the boxes for this set...nice color combo, "action" (posed) shot, great Braves uni, Wrigley Field background, cream cardboard, Season's Highlights bullet list on the back. Damn near perfect!

#19 Felix Mantilla

Felix Mantilla   Milwaukee Braves

Career: SABR says the key word in describing Felix Mantilla is versatility. In 11 seasons, 6 with the Braves, he played everywhere except pitcher and catcher. He was a member of the '57-'58 Braves and won a ring. He was also a member of the 'Original Mets' club in 1962 and so in the course of four years, he saw the sublime and the ridiculous in the game. He finished his career with the Red Sox and Astros. He made his only All-Star squad with Boston in 1965 as the starting second baseman.

In 1960: Mantilla hit .257, his best in a full season with the Braves, while playing in 63 games. He split time in those between second and short with some outfield time as well.

WikiFacts: Even decades after his days with the Braves, Mantilla is doing good things for young people in the Milwaukee community and in his native Puerto Rico.

The Card: While I prefer the backs that have 'Seasons Highlights' there is nothing much I don't like about this one. It features one of the better color combos and Mantilla looks happy. Why shouldn't he be wearing the wonderful Braves' cap and uni?

#3 Joe Adcock

Joe Adcock  Milwaukee Braves

Career: He played 17 seasons beginning in 1950 with the Reds and ending in 1966 with a few AL campaigns with the Angels. He played the bulk of his career with the Braves teams of the 50s including the two World Series clubs of '57/'58/ He got a ring outta that! His power caused folks to overlook his excellent glove work at first base. Finished with 335 homers.

In 1960: Another solid season. Adcock slashed 25/91/.298/.354 and made his only NL All Star team. He went 3 for 5 in the two ASGs played that year.

WikiFacts: On July 31, 1954, Adcock accomplished the rare feat of homering four times in a single game, against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. He also hit a double off the top of the wall to set a record for most total bases in a game (18) that stood for 48 years, until broken by Shawn Green in 2002. -WikiPedia

The Card: I'm always partial to the Braves' of this era if for no other reason than my 'crush' on their unis. I like this cards color combo and the portrait shot of Adcock near the cage. And of course the back is damn near perfect. Huzzah!!

#293 Gene Conley

Gene Conley  Philadelphia Phillies

Career: A native of Muskogee, Oklahoma Conley won 91 games over the course of 11 seasons with the Braves, Phils and Red Sox. His baseball career was highlighted by winning a ring with the '57 Braves. Paralleling his diamond work Conley played pro hoops with the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks.

In 1960: Coming off an All Star selection in '59 Conley's numbers went in the wrong direction in 1960. He slipped to 8-14 but a lot of that could be traced to the anemic Phils offense. They finished last in the NL in nearly every batting category.

WikiFacts: From Wikipedia....

He is best known for being one of only two people (the other being Otto Graham–1946 NBL and AAFC Championship, plus three more AAFC and three NFL championships) to win championships in two of the four major American sports, one with the Milwaukee Braves in the 1957 World Series and three Boston Celtics championships from 1959–61.

In the beginning of the 1952 season, Conley, along with fellow rookies George Crowe and Eddie Mathews, was invited to spring training with a chance of making the roster. Around that time, the United States Army was drafting for the Korean War. Many major and minor league players were selected to fight in the war, depleting team rosters. Conley was deferred because of his height (6'8'), which was above the Army maximum height for a soldier.

The Card: The main photo doesn't look retouched but the b/w one is obviously Conley in Milwaukee gear. The always fun Season's Highlights section gives plenty of evidence of his All Star 1959 season.

#478 Frank Torre

Frank Torre, Milwaukee Braves

Career: Frank Torre spent seven seasons in the majors with the Braves and Phils, primarily as a platoon first baseman. He was eight years older than brother Joe who made the Hall of Fame and still works for MLB. Frank was good with the glove and led the NL in several defensive categories in 1957 and 1958, his two most productive seasons. He hit .309 with six homers and 55 RBI in ;58 which showed he could handle a bat pretty well, too.

He spent two years with the Phils after the Braves sold his contract to them in December of 1961.

In 1960: This was his last season with Milwaukee and he spent most of it and all of 1961 back in the minors after his numbers dropped off the previous season.

WikiFacts: From his (highly entertaining) SABR bio:

After his playing career ended, Frank entered the sporting-goods business. Initially he and Joe operated a sporting-goods store. Frank then joined Adirondack Bats and became manager of the company’s professional division. Part of that job consisted of visiting all the major-league spring-training facilities in a trailer that served as a portable bat factory (Yes, the trailer was referred to as a “bat-mobile”) that provided custom-made bats to major leaguers. Inside the trailer were Adirondack craftsmen, as well as a special lathe and other equipment that produced a custom bat in 30 minutes that even included the player’s own signature.

The Card: That's Memorial Coliseum behind Torre. that background, the Braves classic uni and the color combo all add up to make this one of the nicer cards in the set.