Rookie Parade Pitchers - Dan Pfister/Bo Belinsky/Joe Bonikowski/Jim Bouton/Dave Stenhouse

Robert "Bo" Belinsky (December 7, 1936 – November 23, 2001) was left-handed pitcher with the Los Angeles Angels whose charismatic personality and early success made him an instant celebrity as a rookie in 1962. Belinsky started his career with a 4-0 record, his fourth victory being a no-hitter that he threw against the Baltimore Orioles. While his success peaked with that no hitter (his record for the season was 10-11), the celebrity status lasted longer, and Belinsky was linked with several Hollywood actresses for years to come. Belinsky spent three years pitching for the Angels before bouncing around with the Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds. His career ended in 1970, with a 28-51 record and 4.10 ERA.

James Alan “Jim” Bouton (March 8, 1939 - July 10, 2019) played ten years in the Major Leagues with four different teams in the 1960s and 1970s, but is more widely known for his controversial book Ball Four which chronicled Bouton’s perspective as a player with the Seattle Pilots in 1969. The New York Yankees signed Jim in 1959 and he came up in 1962, going 7-7 as the Bronx Bombers marched to the American League pennant and World Series that season, though he did not appear in the playoffs. Nonetheless, he earned a spot as the third starter behind Hall of Famer Whitey Ford and All-Star Ralph Terry. Bouton’s best year came in his second full year in Yankee pinstripes (1963) when he went 21-7, finishing second in wins behind teammate Ford he posted a 24-7 mark, and was named to his one and only All-Star Game. Bouton played ten years for the Yankees (1962-1968), the Seattle Pilots (1969), the Houston Astros (1969-1970) and the Atlanta Braves (1978). He appeared in two World Series (1963, 1964) and went 2-1 with 11 Ks and a 1.48 ERA in three starts. Unfortunately, he was never on the winning end of the season ending title match. In 1969, he shook up the baseball world when he published Ball Four, a tell-all book about his time with the Yankees and the shocking exploits of some of the game’s greats at the time, which included Mickey Mantle, Billy Martin and others. The book not only alienated Bouton amongst his peers, but Commissioner Bowie Kuhn considered it a “detriment to baseball.” Bouton originally retired following the 1970 season with Houston, but made a brief comeback in 1978, with the help of a knuckleball he had dabbled with throughout his career. He went 1-3 in five starts for the Braves. Jim Bouton finished his career with a 62-63 record, 720 strikeouts, 34 complete games, 11 shutouts, six saves and a 3.57 ERA in 304 appearances and 144 starts.