Pre-rookie related memorabilia
 

Hello all,

One theme I love to collect is pre-rookie and rookie related photos and autographs.
I am curious to see what else is out there in these two areas as well as countless other forms of memorabilia. I just picked up this beautiful studio photo of Mr. Bob Feller long before he threw 107.9 mph. This originated from the feller estate.
Let's see what you have!

http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/a...3/feller-1.jpg

Mordecai Brown pictured in top row on left..............

Love that Feller! Here are two more recent pics Robin Roberts and Kirby Puckett in college.

That's a killer Feller photo, Ben! He was probably throwing in the high 80s at that age! :eek:

This photo was taken at the first ever (Aug. 1962) performance of the Beatles with Ringo Starr. The Boys then recorded "Love Me Do" on September 4th. In late November they recorded what would be the Beatles first number 1 record... "Please Please Me" and the rest, as they say, is history.

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Here's a high school photo of new HOF member, Ron Santo. Nice vest.

For you, Jimmy. Signed photo of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes--with their drummer Ringo--performing at Butlin's Holiday Camp.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...orystormsp.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...tormspsigs.jpg

I've posted before. But it's one of the plastic celebratory/advertising balls that would be thrown out after a touchdown by the Lake Catholic Cheerleaders, from the 1992 Div. II(maybe III, can't remember) Ohio State Championship football game..Signed by Joe Jurevicius(during his senior year) and others. I also have a single signed one.

Zach Wheat
 

Here is a young Zach Wheat when he played for the Prairie Roses. He is the player on the left on the top row.

Ken, nice photo. Where is Prairie Rose located? Have you found anything with him from Kansas as far as baseball photos?

Here's Carl Mays when he played for Price, Utah.

Wheat
 

Clint, it was a Kansas City based team, I believe from Kansas City Kansas. If I find out it was different I will post it. I have pictures of him with the Union Club which I believe was also was Kansas City based.

Ken, I know he played for the Enterprise, KS team too but have never seen such photo. Thanks.

Wheat
 

I have not seen a Enterprise Ks photo either. If I run across one I will let you know.

Thanks Ken.

Bobby Cox - in his back yard in California, on the day he signed with the Dodgers in August 1959.

Here are three photos of Lou Gehrig dating from 1923, 1924, and his Rookie year of 1925.

The first one also happens to be the first ever photograph of Gehrig in a Yankees uniform, as the companion piece newspaper clearly states.
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Doesn't get any better than these as it relates to gehrig. These are spectacular...now just need a Columbia type 1:)

OMG David!:eek: Where on Earth did you find this historic photograph? And signed by Ringo to boot. The way you pull nuggets like this out of your collection, continues to amaze me.

Man... I can't get over this one. What a really special piece. I'd love to see it go up for sale at a live auction like Sothebys, Christies, or Heritage and watch the Heavyweights trade blows.

Thanks for posting that for me, David. Made my day!:D

By best, Jimmy

BTW... Just how cool is that they wrote what instrument they play underneath their signatures!

Here's a 1914 Michigan University Baseball Program picturing George Sisler on the cover.................

Very cool phil! I must say, I am happy beckett got this one right and didn't slab it a type 1 photo. :)

Jimmy,
You just had to show the Conlon didn't you. :D

I know it isn't prewar, but it is one of Cal Ripken's co-first card.
1980 Charlotte O's Police set.
This card/set is the Holy Grail of Ripken cards. The set was not distributed in one shot like the same year version that is blue. That set was given away at the park at one game during the season. These cards were handed out by Police a few per week. Apparently, there are only a handful known.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...nCharlotte.jpg

1907 Joe Jackson
 

Joe with the Victor Mill team. He is standing at the far left.

That is a terrific piece, Dell. Wow, the shoeless one back in '07 - how sweet is that!

Here's the Bambino from his rookie campaign in 1915...

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What an exceptional photo and signature this is. Butlin Camp is of course a great footnote to Beatles history. One morning in August, 1962, Ringo was awakened by a knock on his cabin door. It was John and Paul, who had traveled some three hours to tell Ringo that they were about to fire Pete Best, and would Ringo be willing to leave Rory Storm and take his place as the Beatles' new drummer. Once Rory finally agreed to let him go, Ringo became a Beatle. I'm not sure of the exact date this took place, but I am guessing Monday, August 6, 1962. It was an off day for the band so it's a logical choice. That 50th anniversary is only a week away.

And that's the first photo I've seen of the Hurricanes in Butlin, so it offers some historical context. Really great piece.

Moose Skowron
 

Here is a sketch of Bill "Moose" Skowron from 1950 along with a souvenir book from the summer he played for the Austin Packers. Later in the summer he signed with the New York Yankees.

All true, Barry. But, there was more than one Butlin's. The photo I own was taken at Butlins Holiday Camp, Pwllheli, North Wales, in June, 1960. Here are some others from that set of gigs:

http://www.beatlesource.com/savage/1...ins-ringo.html

Notice the set of autographs at the bottom of the page, dated June 1960--the one Frank Caiazzo states is Ringo's earliest known autograph. There's a photographer's notation on the photo, "nc 167." My photo has the same notation--in the same hand--"nc 164." So my photo dates from June 1960 as well, and the Ringo signature is at least as old. Hot Damn!

That's great stuff David. I believe that after the Hurricanes finished their Butlins' gig in September, they headed for Hamburg where they shared a bill with the Beatles at the Kaiserkeller. This is where the Beatles first got to know Ringo.

awesome

Great stuff everyone, here is a 1954 Clemente-

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...ntePRPhoto.jpghttp://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...RPhotoBack.jpg

Well Mark, 1925 was Lou's Rookie Year. And besides, you own the colored one! ;)

Here are a couple of Freshman from 1936 & 1939 respectively. They may have been Rooks, but each had one of the best Rookie seasons Baseball had ever seen!


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Jimmy,
This rookie Ruth photo is really one of my all-time favorites. The way that it captures Ruth, the Stadium behind him in black and white is truly spectacular. Every time you have shown it my jaw drops. Congrats again on owning this in your personal collection. A true centerpiece!

Very nice Clemente!!

Early Pete Rose/Reds Pic
 

I believe this pic to be taken at the dawn of Pete's big league career. Most likely taken in spring training in 1963 or possibly 62. As you can see, Pete's hat doesn't even fit his head and was probably borrowed...

Here are a few pre-rookie photos of Mickey. The first was taken on Sept.14, 1950 in his Joplin uniform and used by the press as he was about to start a 2 week travel run with the Yankees which began on Sept 20. On the back of this Type 1 photo , in addition to the photographer's name, written in pencil "to the Yankees".

The second is an enlargement of a rare 1950 Joplin Team premium photo with his facsimile auto - note the Mick's attempt at a Ruthian epsilon 'e" in Mickey which is also present on a Type 1 Joplin Team photo I have signed by all of the players.

The third is a "one of a kind" 1950 Type 1 taken by Orrick Sparlin in the parking yard of the Eagle Pitcher Mining Co., in its original frame which hung in their office for years.

Although not pre-rookie, the Mick still looks pretty young in these Type 1's from his rookie season. The first was taken by Don Wingfield and used by General Mills for the "Wheaties Test Issue". The second is from June 1951, shortly before Mickey was sent to Kansas City, and shows quite vividly the pressure he felt at this point in his rookie season. And the third is from April 26, 1951 as he arrived in Boston for a series against the Red Sox. The backdrop is the lobby of the Kenmore Hotel in Boston a venue that would gain later fame based on Mickey and Billy's late night exploits! I just love that mile long, ear to ear grin. And what a fashion plate the Oklahoma farm boy is - look at that shirt! The other interesting thing depicted in this image is that the muscle man almost looks normal in this outfit but, as many of his team mates would point out, Mickey was the only person they had ever seen that actually got bigger the more clothes he took off. Opps - that didn't sound right but you know what I mean.

Lou Boudreau playing college basketball.

Theodore
http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/a...no23/teddy.jpg

Little Mickey
http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/a...le_horse_1.jpg

Maras
 

Anyone else have any pre-rookie sigs?

The postcard Below was signed by Maris while playing on the Fargo/Moorhead team in 1953 under his given name of Maras.

http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/a...maraswater.jpg

Magic Johnson
 

Lansing Everett Yearbook Supplement
http://my.voyager.net/~nbaron/buildp...esTeam0173.jpg
http://my.voyager.net/~nbaron/buildp...chives0172.jpg

That's impressive!

I just love this Cox snapshot! Can you imagine the excitement, as he just signed a pro contract in his folks living room, donned his new Dodger uniform, and out to the backyard to have this picture taken by his Pop! Well, that's how I imagined it unfolded! :D

And this Magic & Team yearbook insert is really cool. Check out everyone's stats. The number two scorer averaged 11.3 to Magic's 28.8 and he also had more than twice as many rebounds as the runner up! So within four short years, Magic lead his teammates to State, NCAA, and NBA Championships! :eek:

Here's the Bambino and a few of the other Sox pitchers from 1915. TYPE 1 photo.

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Cal Ripken Jr. 3rd Grade Class Photo (center of photo)

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...pken/1Elem.jpg

I'll keep the Cal Ripken theme going -- here is his game bat from 1978 while playing for Bluefield.

Greg

Bob Feller
 

1934 - 1936 Iowa State Amateur Baseball Tournament scorebook. Playing against much older seasoned ballplayers was a 16 year old high schooler named Bob Feller. This was the tournament at which Feller was "found" by superscout Cy Slapnicka. He was signed shortly thereafter. The scorebook was the official scorers book kept by the Iowa Amateur Athletic Association's State Chairman Joe Campbell. Feller's team of farm boys ended up winning the tournament against many of the well sponsored city boys. Feller was probably 8 - 10 years younger than most of the participants.

In the tournament, Feller pitched 27 1/3 innings, had 49 strikeouts and gave up 14 hits, 10 walks, 4 runs (1 earned run). The only earned run was on a home run.

Rob M.

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Bob Feller
 

Rob,
That's an awesome pickup! Very cool- congrats!

Thank you David.. I just had to have this as it is in my backyard. It is oneof my favorite pieces. I am glad someone else appreciates a little Maras too.

That photo would go great displayed with my Feller pre-rookie item - the mitt his Dad used to catch him prior to his going pro, age 13-16 according to Feller:

Pre Rookie Ken Hubbs Little League WS & GPC
 

The LL WS program comes from the Ken Hubbs estate and is autographed by most of the oficials and support staff. Some personalizations to his Dad and some to Ken. John "Boog" Powell is pictured in the Lakeland Florida team photo. The GPC was written while Ken played for Morristown.

Wow.. what a great piece! Not sure how I missed this.

Below is my pre-rookie letter(38 ted williams) with baseball content.

“Hit a homer the first day in KC but yesterday I didn’t even hit a loud foul. Today I’m going to try to hit another one out. I’ve got 11 already” “Sure is hot here it was 83 the first day here. Next time we hit town it will probably be 100”.

Casey Stengel, barnstorming the summer after his senior year in high school.

Zach Wheat when he played for the Kansas City Union club.