(LOT 261)
1962 Topps #594 Rookie Catcher's Parade - Bob Uecker's Rookie Card PSA 9 MINT - Highest Graded Example!
This magnificent PSA 9 MINT 1962 Topps #594 High-Number Rookie Catcher's Parade subject represents Bob Uecker's true rookie card, with Uecker sharing the spotlight with fellow catcher's Doc Edwards, Ken Retzer, Doc Pavletich and Doug Camilli. Of course, it is Bob Uecker's presence that truly matters, with the former catcher, actor and current Milwaukee Brewers broadcaster one of the most celebrated names in Major League Baseball.

At the time this was written, PSA had encapsulated some 1,070 examples, with a meager nine other PSA 9 specimens sharing the spotlight as the finest of its kind! The fact that not a single "10" currently exists on the PSA "Pop" Chart is not surprising at all, with the 1962 Topps wood grain borders resulting in this set being one of the foremost condition-sensitive sports card issues extant. The presented card literally defies logic, for its meticulous borders atypically do not reveal any noticeable flaking. A near-impossible feat, it is joined by superb centering that likewise is a rare occurrence on any '62 Topps subject. While Bob Uecker will never be inducted into Cooperstown on the strength of his rather weak six-year catching tenure, his immense popularity certainly merits Hall of Fame stature.

Topps issued his #594 high-number rookie subject on the strength of Uecker playing in a handful of games with the Milwaukee Braves that 1962 season. Uecker did earn a world championship in 1964 as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, and retired after the 1967 campaign. His fame stems from being a world-class radio broadcaster, comedian and actor, and he received his legendary "Mr. Baseball" nickname from Johnny Carson. His broadcasting career commenced in 1971 with the Milwaukee Brewers where he has sat in the booth for over 50 years, and he is likewise famous for his classic "get-up... get-up... get outta here!" phrase when a Brewers player goes yard.

He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2001, and received the illustrious Ford C. Frick Award in 2003, an annual ward issued by the Baseball Hall of Fame to a broadcaster for their major contributions to our National Pastime. As a final "thumbs up", his acting popularity stems from his three major roles as Cleveland Indians broadcaster Harry Doyle in the prestigious "Major League" movie trilogy. In closing, no wonder collectors seek his highly coveted '62 Topps inaugural card, with another PSA 9 MINT example fetching $22K in August 2021, substantiating its immense desirability among the most sophisticated rookie card collectors!

MIN BID $5,000