Torre came up to the big leagues with Atlanta at the end of the 1960 season and hit a pinch single off Harvey Haddix in his first at-bat. It was the last season that his older brother Frank was on the Braves. Joe finished second in 1961 NL Rookie of the Year voting. Becoming an everyday player in 1963 by playing both catcher and first base, he hit .293 with 14 HR and made the All-Star team that year and the next four seasons. He upped his performance in 1964 (.321, 20 HR, 109 RBI), finishing fifth in MVP voting and leading NL catchers in fielding. In 1965 he hit 27 HR and won the catcher's Gold Glove. When the Braves moved to Atlanta in 1966, he hit a career-high 36 HR while batting .315 with 101 RBI. In 1969, the Braves traded Torre to the Cardinals straight-up for former MVP Orlando Cepeda, whom Torre replaced at first base.