1962 Back-O'-The-Card: Rube Walker (Amarillo Gold Sox)

"Rube was brought up through the Cubs' farm system and played for them three years before being traded to the Dodgers in 1951. His best year in the minors was '46 with Davenport, where he led the Three-Eye League in hitting with a .354 mark. After batting .331 for Nashville the next season, the Cubs signed him up for major league duty.

Walker proved a valuable substitute for Roy Campanella in the Dodgers' '51 stretch drive, banging a homer in the second playoff game."

-1952 Topps No. 319

"Called one of the finest catching prospects in the game by Frankie Frisch, Rube was with the Cubs from 1948 to '51 when the Dodgers got him. He played his first pro game with Erwin in '44, went to Portsmouth in '45, and for Davenport in '46 led the Three-Eye League in hitting with a .354 average. The Cubs called Rube up after he posted a .331 average with 105 RBI's for Nashville of the Southern Association in '47."

-1953 Topps No. 134

"Although Rube hasn't seen too much action with the Dodgers since joining the club in 1951, he shares two major league records. On May 21, 1952, he banged out two hits and scored twice in one inning.

Starting with Erwin in '44, he led the I.I.I. League in '46 with a .354 mark. Rube hit .331 for Nashville in '47 and was brought up by the Cubs in '48.

In the '51 Giant-Dodger playoffs, Roy Campanella was hurt. Rube went behind the plate in the injured catcher's place. He blasted three hits, including two homers, to pace the Dodgers to victory!"

-1954 Topps No. 153

"A valuable man in the Dodgers' second line of defense, Rube is one of the most dependable catchers in baseball. He has a strong, accurate arm and loves to mow down runners trying to steal.

Breaking in with Erwin in 1944, Rube led his league at Davenport in '46 with .354 and was tops in fielding. In '48 he advanced to the Cubs, hitting .275, and joined the Brooks in '51."

-1955 Topps No. 108

"Rube tied two National League records by getting two hits and scoring twice in one inning. He led the Three-Eye League in hitting in 1947 and joined the Cubs in '48.

Rube's great arm is poison to would-be base stealers."

-1956 Topps No. 333

"Dependable Al is Brooklyn's second line of defense behind he plate. He's as smart as a backstop as you'll find in baseball and handles pitchers expertly.

Al's been in baseball since 1944 and in '46 caught the eye of scouts by leading the Indiana-Illinois-Iowa League in batting with a .354 mark. With Brooklyn in '52, he set National League records with two hits and two runs in one inning."

-1957 Topps No. 147

"As Roy Campanella's understudy for the past seven seasons, Rube has been one of the Dodgers' most valuable and dependable performers. He's a first-rate pinch hitter and is considered one of the cleverest handlers of pitchers.

Lead-foot Rube stole two surprise bases in 1957. His big thrill was hitting a double, triple, homer and six RBI's in a 1956 game."

-1958 Topps No. 203

"Roy Campanella's unfortunate accident will put an extra heavy load on Rube's capable shoulders. He is a veteran of 10 years' service in the National League. Rube broke into the big leagues in 1948, being traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951.

A steady, effective receiver, Al hits a long ball on occasion and has fair power. If he could raise his batting average some forty or fifty points, he would fill the Dodgers' catching assignment very nicely.

In 1946, when Rube caught for Davenport in the Three-I League, he copped the batting title with a .354 mark."

-1958 Hires No. 74

1962 Back-O'-The-Card: Tom Umphlett (Richmond Virginians)

"Tom was voted the Boston Red Sox' outstanding rookie of 1953. However, he was traded to the Washington Senators after the season and is expected to be a big help in the Senators' pennant fight in '54.

He played 153 games for the 1953 Red Sox, hitting .283. He had 140 hits, good for 186 bases. These hits included 27 doubles, five triples and three home runs. Tom batted in 59 runs and scored 53.

-1954 Bowman No. 88

"Thomas Mullen Umphlett was signed by the Boston Red Sox following his graduation from high school in 1950. He played for the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League in '54 and '57 and the past three seasons for Minneapolis.

On June 18, 1953, Tom tied the major league record for reaching base safely three times in one inning. He played three outfield positions for the Washington Senators in '55. He suffered a broken leg in July of '56. Tom led American Association outfielders in fielding (.997) in '58. Last season his batting average was .304 with Minneapolis.

Tom was a high school all-state basketball and baseball star in Ohoshkie, North Carolina, and also played football. He is of French descent and his hobbies are hunting and fishing. During the off-season Tom works as an electrician."

-1961 Union Oil Company Seattle Rainiers

1962 Back-O'-The-Card: Bob Turley

"The Yankees are happy that Bob is back in winning form this year. The one-time ace suffered from a sore arm in '61 and had to undergo surgery during the winter.

Bob was obtained from Baltimore after the '54 season. He led the American League with 21 wins in 1958."

-1962 Topps No. 589

1962 Back-O'-The-Card: Tom Tresh (1962 rookie card)

"With Tony Kubek back in the Army, Tom will be bidding for the job left open at shortstop this season. The young rookie has the potential to develop into a top-flight major leaguer, and Manager Houk will be watching Tom closely this spring.

Tom finished fourth in hitting in the International League last year."

-1962 Topps No. 31

1962 Back-O'-The-Card: Ralph Terry

"Ralph moved into the No. 2 slot on the Yankees' staff last season, as the young right-hander finally realized his potential.

The tall (6-3) ace started with Binghamton in 1954, winning 11 games as an 18-year-old. Before last season Ralph's biggest season was 1958, with Kansas City. He started with the Yankees, was traded to Kansas City and returned to New York."

-1962 Topps No. 48

1962 Back-O'-The-Card: Hal Stowe (1962 rookie card)

"Hal is one of the finest pitching prospects to join the Yankees since Whitey Ford came along over a decade ago. The crafty moundsman signed with the Yankees after he came out of Clemson where he pitched his club to the collegiate title two years in a row. Hal won 12 consecutive games in the Texas League last year."

-1962 Topps No. 291

1962 Back-O'-The-Card: Bill Stafford

"Bill was brought up to the Yankees in 1960 and helped the club during their pennant drive. Last season the right-hander beat the sophomore jinx as he finished second in the American League in ERA.

Bill is a deputy sheriff in his hometown of Athens, New York."

-1962 Topps No. 570