Description: 228 of the 244 cards are present in the original baseball card album and all cards are exclusively attached at the top so that it is very easy to see the biography underneath each card. The album is 36 pages from cover to cover and there are an average of 7 cards per page. The original purchase price of the album was $2.00 and baseball card packs were available for 10 cents each.. An original baseball card pack wrapper from this series is included.
Individual cards are 2 1/16 inches by 2.75 inches and the team cards are 4 1/8
inches by 2.75 inches. The card design in very close to 1955 Rodeo Meats
imagery (semi-colorized black & white photographs) with very similar pastel
backgrounds in bright orange, pink, purple, light yellow, powder blue, and
olive green. The numbers are in either top corner within a six-cornered
star, somewhat reminiscent of 1955 Stan Musial Glove Box Cards, only with an
extra corner on the star.
The album layout starts with the 1962 Mexican League Award Winners, then the
best native Mexicans, and followed by the finest foreign players. After this,
each of the six teams are listed in order of how they finished the season and
there is a 7th team which was not active in 1962 as well as was added in
1963. The final three pages feature the old school players who were the
Home Run Champions of the league from 1937 until 1962 and this included Hall of
Famers Monte Irvin. James Cool Papa Bell, and Joshua Gibson.
There are some absolutely fascinating cards featured in this collection
including the Rookie of #201 John VanOrnum who was the catcher for the 1959
& 1960 popular television show Home Run Derby. #58 is Listed as
Latigo Gutierrez but he is better known as former Brooklyn Dodgers’ pitcher
Rene Valdes. #63 features Santos Amaro, a Mexican League Hall of Fame
Icon who was the father of Ruben Amaro and Grand-father of Ruben Amaro, Jr,
both Major League Players.
Two of the autographed cards are also very interesting. #109 Julio Cesar
Imbert signed his Rookie Card and after a long baseball career, became an actor
and was a favorite subject for the Mexican tabloids. The #91 autographed
card of Andres Tanaka is extraordinary. Following a playing career,
Andres Tanaka was a coach for the Mexican Reds or Red Devils and is believed to
be the first baseball player of Mexican-Japanese extraction who played in the
Mexican Baseball League. Andres Tanaka and his wife were killed in a car
accident on August 26, 1974. This is almost assuredly the only known
autographed baseball card of this pioneering athlete.
Without question the most fantastic autographed card in the set is that of #140
Mauro Ruiz. In 1963 he began the season as a Mexico City Tiger and
started the game leading 3-2 when the light went out and it was
suspended. The game was replayed at the end of the season and by then, he
had been traded to the Pueblo Parrots. He entered the game and allowed
two runs to score so that he was behind 4-3. The rub is that the two base runners
who scored had already been on base when he was with the Tigers so he took the
loss as a Parrot and won the game as a Tiger. There is a great Los
Angeles Times article from April 18, 2012 written by Brian Cronin entitled,
“Was a pitcher once the winning and losing pitcher in a game?” It safe to say that this is the only 1963 baseball card which was actually signed in 1963
by Mauro Ruiz.
It is also noteworthy that this album is the only known source of
information for some players during a number of seasons. The reason
for this is because the 1985 Mexican City Earthquake was devastating and
destroyed partial or entire records for numerous years. Because the cards are
exclusively attached at the top, the full statistical biographies are 100%
intact and can easily be read. This is one time where collecting baseball cards can fill in data which was previously thought lost forever.
The scarcity of this album is such that only one other verifiable specimen in known and it
is housed on permanent display at the Salon de la Fama del Beisbol Mexicano or
the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon,
Mexico. Based upon viewing two open pages of the other album, it is
apparent that each player is available in one of three different colors. Certain
players are only bright orange, pink, or purple while other players are
exclusively light yellow, powder blue, or olive green.
Front Cover: Gran Coleccion de jugadores de Beisbol de la Liga Meixcana
(Great Collection of Mexican League Baseball Players) with original artistic
renderings of 10 players (Daniel Rios, Angel Castro, Leo Rodriguez, Lazaro
Salazar, Vinicio Garcia, Mala Torres, Felipe Montemayor, Becerril Ferenandez,
Al Pinkstron, and Beto Avila). Also, there is a $2.00 price tag which was a lot
back in 1963. There is a direct reference in the lower right hand corner
to the four sections in a white starburst.
Inside Front Cover: Acknowledgements, production details and printing
information, including the fact that it was made in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon,
Mexico—the exact location where the other known album is at the Mexican
Baseball Hall of Fame.
Page 1: Los Mejores Jugadores de la temporada 1962 (The Best Players of
the 1962 season):
#1 Al PInkston Campeon Bateador (Batting Champion)
#2 Ronaldo Ronnie Camacho Campeon Jonronero (Home Run Hitting Champion)
#3 Hector Espino & Alonso Perry Carreras Producidas (Runs or Run Producers)
#4 Juan Delis Mas Dobles (Most Doubles) & Vinicio Garcia 172 Hits
#5 Oscar Rodriguez .374 de Pt Je. (Batting Average) & Angel Cuco Toledo 17
Triples
#6 Ramon Arano Pitcher Campeon (Champion Pitcher)
#7 Miguel A. Mike Cuellar 134 Ponches (Strikeouts) Orange Baltimore Orioles
Color
#8 Arturo Cacheau & Francisco Panchillo Ramirez Mas Juegos Ganados (Most
Games Won)
Pages 2-3: El Equipo Ideal De Todos Lot Tiempos Mexicanos (The Best
Mexican Team Of All-Time) 1937-1962:
#9 Jaime Corella Catcher
#10 Leo Rodriguez Third Base
#11 Angel Castro First Base
#12 Daniel Rios Pitcher
#13 Epitacio Mala Torres Right Field
#14 Roberto Beto Bobby Avila Second Base
#15 Huevito Alvarez Short Stop
#16 Felipe Montemayor Left Field
#17 Guillermo Memo Garibay Manager
#18 Cochihuila Valenzuela Pitcher
#19 Jesus Chanquilon Diaz Center Field
#20 Becerril Fernandez Utility Player
Pages 4-5: El Equipo Ideal De Todos Los Tempos (The Best Foreign Team Of
All-Time) 1937-1962:
#21 Joshua Gibson Catcher (missing card)
#22 Hector Rodriguez Third Base
#23 Rene Gonzalez First Base
#24 Ramon Bragana Pitcher
#25 Al PInkstron Right Field
#26 Barney Grillo Serrel Second Base
#27 Mamerto Ray Dandridge Short Stop
#28 Roberto Ortiz Left Fielder
#31 James Cool Papa Bell Center Field
#32 Lazaro Salazar Manager
#33 Lino Donoso Pitcher
#32 Martin DiHigo Pitcher
Pages 6-9: Sultanes De Monterrey (Sultans of Monterrey; First Place 1962 Mexican League):
#33 Team Card
#34 Clemente Sungo Carreras [sic, Carrera] Manager (missing card) but
autographed across the bottom of the border of the outline of the biography
where the card was to be placed; deceased 1989]
#35 Virgilio Rocky Contreras Coach
#36 Luis Sansirena Coach
#37 Jamie Corella Catcher
#38 Alfonso Gallina Pena Catcher
#39 Vinicio Gracia Second Base
#40 Alonso Perry First Base
#41 Enrique Garcia Short Stop
#42 Alfredo Yaqui Rios Third Base
#43 Alejandrino Cuevas Short Stop & Third Base
#44 Jose Bimbo Villegas Catcher
#45 Genaro Puente 2nd Base
#46 Saul Villegas Outfield
#38 Juan Delis Outfield
#49 Artie Burnett Utility Player
#50 Miguel A. Guierrez Outfield
#51 Jose Pepe Rodriguez Outfield
#52 Edward Eddie Moore Outfield
#53 Raul Galata Outfield
#54 Antonio Tony Dicochea Pitcher
#55 Pedro Gonzalez Pitcher Autographed Rookie Card
#56 Francisco Panchillo Ramirez Pitcher
#57 Juan Piedra Pitcher
#58 Latigo Gurierrez aka Rene Valdes Pitcher
#59 J. Ramon Lopez Pitcher
#60 Evelio Hernandez Pitcher
#61 Rodolfo Alvarado Pitcher
Pages 10-13: Aguila de Veracruz (Veracruz Eagles; 2nd
Place 1962 Mexican League):
#62 Team (missing card)
#63 Santos Amaro Manager
#64 Rafael Sungo Pedrozo Coach
#65 Miguel Pilo Gaspar Coach
#66 Abril Danny McDillon Catcher (missing card)
#67 Julio Becquer First Base
#68 William Berzunza First Base
#69 Jose Pepe Ruiz Short Stop
#70 Benjamin Papelero Valenzuela Third Base
#71 Antonio Tony Alomar Short Stop
#72 Ronaldo Camarero Second Base
#73 Witermundo Witty Quintana Second Base
#74 Mario Ariosa Utility
#75 Lorenzo Carbonero Lopez Outfield
#76 Asrubal Baro Outfield
#77 Jaime Fabela Outfield
#78 Alfred Al Pinkston Outfield
#79 Alberto Osorio Pitcher
#80 Marcelino Solis Pitcher
#81 Pablo Monte De Oca Pitcher
#82 William De Jesus Pitcher
#83 Fidel Vega Pitcher
#84 Silvio Castellanos Pitcher
#85 Roberto Milo Pitcher
#86 Danny Hayling Pitcher
#87 Maximo Max Garcia Pitcher
#88 Luis Malpica Pitcher
Pages 14-17: Diablos Rojos de Mexico (Mexico City Red Devils or Mexico
City Reds; 3rd Place 1962 Mexican League):
#89 Team Card (missing card)
#90 Tomas Tommy Herrera Manager Autographed Card (deceased 1997)
#91 Andres Tanaka Coach Autographed Card (deceased 1974)
#92 Alberto Beto Palafox Catcher
#93 Humberto Ayala Catcher (missing card but autographed at bottom of
biography)
#94 Hilario Jungla Salina Catcher & Outfield
#95 Leonardo Leo Rodriguez Third Base
#96 Juan Manuel Salinas Short Stop Autographed Rookie Card
#97 Ossie Alvarez Second Base Autographed Card (deceased 2008)
#98 Harry Simpson First Base
#99 Ramiro Caballero First Base
#100 Hilario Pena Second Base
#101 Hector Rodriguez Third Base & Short Stop Autographed Card (deceased
2003)
#102 Gonzalo Chico Villalobos Short Stop Autographed Rookie Card
#103 Juan Manuarl Senties Outfield
#104 Diablo Ramon Montoya Outfield Autographed Rookie Card (deceased 2018)
#105 Jesus Lechler Outfield Autographed Card
#106 Miguel Becerril Fernandez Outfield
#107 Andres Avestruz Rivera Outfield
#108 Mario Toche Pelaez Pitcher Autographed Rookie Card (deceased 2015)
#109 Julio Cesar Imbert Pitcher Autographed Rookie Card
#110 Ramon Arano Pitcher
#111 Alberto Joachin Pitcher Autographed Rookie Card
#112 Rafael Febela Pitcher
#113 Aaron Flores Pitcher
#114 Julius Grant Pitcher
#115 Eusebio Silverio Perez Pitcher
#116 Alfredo Ortiz Pitcher Autographed Rookie Card
#117 Eusebio Elizalde Pitcher
#118 Wenceslao Gonzalez Pitcher
Pages 18-21: Pericos de Puebla (Puebla Parrots were the 1963 Mexican
League Champions; The team was a composition of exactly these 24 players and there
are 17 different autographs on these four pages)
#119 Team Card
#120 Antonio Tony Castano Manager Autographed Card (deceased 1989)
#121 Nazario Chayo Moreno Coach (missing card)
#122 Rodolfo Rudy Sandoval Catcher Biography Area under card is autographed
#123 Guadalupe Lupe Cancino {sic, Cansino] Catcher Autographed to the left of
the card
#124 Jose Zacatillo Guerrero Third Base Area under card is autographed
(deceased 2009)
#125 Moises Moy Camacho Autographed Card
#126 Jorge Fitch Short Stop Autographed Under The Card
#127 Ronaldo Ronnie Camacho Autographed Card
#128 Victor Asuna Short Stop Autographed Card
#129 Oscar Rodriguez Area under card is autographed (deceased 2000)
#130 Angel Cuco Toldeo Outfield Autographed Card
#131 Alejandro El Canitas Moreno Outfield Area under card is autographed
(deceased 2010)
#132 Pedro Cardenal Outfield (missing card)
#133 Antonio Tony Diaz Pitcher
#134 Daniel Dan Bankhead Pitcher (missing card) Biographical Section is Perfectly
Autographed (deceased 1976)
#135 Juan Suby aka Brazo de Acero aka Juan Hernandez Camacho Pitcher Area under
card is autographed (deceased 1995)
#136 Florentino Rivera Pitcher Autographed Card
#137 Julio Jiqui Moreno Pitcher
#138 Carlos J. Medez Pitcher
#139 Miguel Sotelo Pitcher Autographed Card (deceased 2007)
#140 Mauro Ruiz Pitcher Autographed Card (the only pitcher in any professional
league which both won and lost the same game, deceased 2007)
#141 Hector Olguin Pitcher
#142 Alfredo Mariscal Pitcher
#143 Jorge Figueroa Pitcher
#144 Ernest Ernie Williams Pitcher
Pages 22-25: Tigres de Mexico (Mexico City Tigers)
#145 Team Card
#146 Guillermo Memo Garibay Manager
#147Jesus Pulga Robles Coach
#148 Elroy Gutierrez Catcher
#149 Gregorio Luque Catcher
#150 Dionisio Acosta Catcher
#151 Ruben Esquivias First Base
#152 Armando Murillo Third Base
#153 Rernando Remes Short Stop
#154 Pompeyo Yo-Yo Davilillo Second Base (at 5’3”, the shortest person to ever
play a fielding position in Major League Baseball and the first runner-up to
only the legendary Eddie Gaedel as the shortest ever play in the MLB)
#155 Arnoldo Kiko Castro Short Stop Third Base
#156 Pastor Romero Third Base (missing card)
#157 Ricardo Garza Outfield
#158 Ultus Alvarez Outfield
#159 Manuel Ponce Outfield
#160 Joe Taylor Outfield
#161 Francisco Pancho Garcia Outfield
#162 Blas Arredondo Pitcher
#163 Jose Leyva Pitcher
#164 Jose Grandote Pena Pitcher (missing card)
#165 Arturo Cacheux Pitcher
#166 Enrique Castillo Pitcher
#167 Jesus Robles Pitcher
#168 Vicente Romo Pitcher
#169 Domingo Hernandez Pitcher
Pages 26-29: Petroleros de Poza Rica (Poza Rica Oil Tankers)
#170 Team Card
#171 Manuar Arroyo Manager
#172 Alberto Calvillo Coach
#173 Manuel Diaz Catcher
#174 Juan De Dios Villarreal Catcher
#175 Jose “Pasitos” Echeverria First Base
#176 George Bertrand Bobby Prescott Outfield (1-hit wonder with the Kansas City
A’s)
#177 Luis Camaleon Garcia Third Base
#178 David Garcia Short Stop
#179 Ernesto Natas Garcia Second Base
#180 Elias Osorio First Base & Outfield
#181 David Medina Second Base & Short Stop
#182 Jesus Bronco Rosales Outfield
#183 Angel Scull Outfield
#184 Luis Canena Marquez Outfield
#185 Ramses Chena Outfield
#186 Emilio Sosa Outfield
#187 Jose Soto Pitcher
#189 Roman Ramos Pitcher
#190 Eliseo Garza Pitcher
#191 Emilio Ferrer Pitcher
#192 Fidel Alvarez Pitcher
#193 Cesar Gutierrez Pitcher
#194 Winston Brown Pitcher
#195 Vicente Lopez Pitcher
#196 Alejandro Murietta Pitcher
#197 Marcelino Sanchez Pitcher
Pages 30-33: Broncos de Reynosa (Reynosa Broncos, an expansion franchise
for the 1963 Mexican League Season)
#198 Team Card
#199 Raymundo Ray Garza Gomez Manager
#200 Francisco Kiki Martinez Coach
#201 John Van Ornum aka VanOrnum Catcher
#202 Jesus Contreras Catcher
#203 Jorge Luna Short Stop
#204 Jesus Rin Martinez Third Base
#205 Federico Bojorquz Short Stop & Third Base
#206 Domingo Carrasquel Short Stop & Second Base
#207 Humberto Pajarito Guerrero Utility Player
#208 Celso Oviedo Outfield
#209 Fernando Graham Outfield & Third Base
#210 Felipe Montemayor Outfield
#211 Luis Zayas Outfield
#212 Herminio Cortes Outfield
#213 Hector Urbano Pitcher
#214 Ramon Hernandez Pitcher
#215 Raymond Ray Loya Pitcher
#216 Lazaro Uzcanga Pitcher
#217 Ignacio Martinez Pitcher (missing card)
#218 Romeo Cadena Pitcher
#219 Richard Cronk Pitcher
#220 Gabriel Acosta Pitcher
#221 Dagoberto Cueto Pitcher
#222 Hugo Rios Pitcher
#223 Francisco Cruz Pitcher
#224 Julius Franch Pitcher
Pages 24-26: Campeones Jonroneros de todos los anos (Home Run Champions
of all years 1937 to 1962)
#225 Carlos Galino 1937
#226 Angel Castro 1928-1939-1951
#227 James Bell 1940 (missing card)
#228 Joshua Josh Gibson 1941
#229 Monte Irvin 1942
#230 Bill Wright 1943
#231 Salvador Chico Herhandez 1944
#232 Roberto Ortiz 1945-1946-1947-1948
#233 Jesus Chanquilon Diaz 1949
#234 Jesus Chanquilon Diaz & Angel Castro 1950
#235 Rene Gonzalez 1952-1954
#236 Hector Lara 1953
#237 Mario Ariosa 1955
#238 Alonso Perry 1956
#239 Earl Taborn 1957
#240 Edward Eddie Moore 1958
#241 Marvin Williams & Also Salvent 1959
#242 Aldo Salvent 1960 (missing card)
#243 Witermundo Witty Quintana 1961
#244 Ronaldo Ronnie Camacho 1962
228 out of 244 cards plus 32 Autographs missing only the following 16 cards as
noted above:
#21 Joshua Gibson
#34 Clemente Sungo Carrera
#47 Hector Espino
#62 Aguila De Veracruz (Team Card)
#66 Abril Danny McDillon
#89 Diablos Rojos De Mexico (Team Card)
#93 Humberto Ayala (but autographed below the biography)
#121 Nazario Chayo Moreno
#132 Pedro Cardenal
#134 Dan Bankhead (but autographed on the biography)
#156 Pastor Romero
#164 Jose Grandote Pena
#188 Alberto Posada
#217 Ignacio Martinez
#227 James Bell
#242 Aldo Salvent
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