October pickups
 

I recently picked up a few unique new items to add to my advanced Johnny Vander Meer collection.

The first two are items that I have wanted to add for a few years since I first learned of their possible existence:

1) An extremely rare 1938 promotional booklet entitled "Souvenir of John Vander Meer's Two No-Hit Games". This booklet was produced by a Cincinnati printing company hoping to ride the popularity of Vandy's unparalleled feat of pitching back-to-back no-hitters in 1938. The booklet includes information about other pitchers that had been previously successful at throwing two no-hitters. Additionally there is play by play coverage and box scores for both no-hitters. I know of only two of these in existence that survived the 77 years since it was first printed. Dimensions are 4" x 6" for anyone that cares.

2) Johnny Vander Meer Schlitz Brewing Co. business card. After spending 30 years in professional baseball (player, coach, manager) Vandy was approached by the Schlitz Brewing Company to act as their representative calling on US military bases throughout the US. I had previously picked up two Schlitz promotional photos of Vander Meer. I thought it would be neat to find one of his business cards as a complimentary piece and I finally found one on eBay. I have included pictures of both of these Schlitz promo photos.

3) Original photo of Vander Meer receiving his plaque when he was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds HOF in 1958.

Great stuff as usual Scott -- I absolutely love the shot of Johnny throwing a slider with that Schlitz can!

I'm guessing that you may have the best (or at least the coolest) single player collection in existence.

Greg

Could you please PM me what that card is in the last photo/scan? Thanks!

That is a 1939 Reds Team Issue.

Tom C

The promotional booklet has an odd error regarding the other pitchers who had thrown at least two major-league no-hitters in their career. It states that two pitchers had thrown three, including Frank Smith; one of Smith's listed no-hitters is indicated as having been pitched for Cleveland of the NL on September 18, 1897.

Smith was not yet in the major leagues in 1897; it was Cy Young who pitched a no-hitter for Cleveland on that date, and Young (not Smith) who had three no-hitters during his career.

Bravo Scott, I look forward to your pick up posts. I don't know what impresses me more, your collection or ability to maintain your focus.

Greg Bird 6th career homerun baseball.

You are correct. To be honest, I did not notice the error when I first looked at it. Thanks for pointing this out.

Thanks Greg, Mike, Gary and Ken.
Greg and Gary, I love the Vandy Schlitz can pitching photo as well. It's a classic! :)

Focusing on the themes that I really love to collect is easier than you think.
Like mostly every collector I'm sure, I attempted to collect too many things, then realized that specializing ends up being more fun...

That photo of Vandy throwing the Schlitz can is perfect - but man I'd hate to have been the camera guy!

Awesome program, Scott!

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Pic 2

http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/q...psmlmbbttd.jpg

http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/q...psgppdsk1g.jpg

Mickey Mantle
 

This thing is huge! Approx 34" x 25" I have no idea where I am going to hang it, it is as large or larger than any piece I currently own. I added a baseball to give it scale

Joey and Bob gr8 pickups October is off to a great start judging by today's posts

Thanks buddy

Joey,
Love the Jackie photo! I don't recall ever seeing it, but it's a beauty.

Hi Nate,

Adrian Beltre, HOF or no HOF?
Every time I watch him, I can't help but think that he's getting pretty close to being a HOF player.
Beltre is a winner, no doubt. He's been an impact player and great teammate everywhere he's played....

Great stuff guys! I sure hope October isn't another zero pickup month for me but I won't be shocked if it is. :(

Johnny VanderMeer
 

Scott, The fun in collecting without a check list is the surprise of the find !!! Wish more collectors could enjoy the feeling. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and passion All the best Steve

Oh yeah, I absolutely do think he is.

I have the privilege of watching him everyday for the past 5 yrs and the guy is clutch. Plays hurt all the time. In 2011-2012 he was basically playing on one leg. This year he's been swinging without a thumb, and now the use of an index finger, yet he refuses to sit. Even on his days off he talks the manager into starting him.

Everyone thinks Chipper Jones is a HoF'er(me too), and Beltre has more hits than Chipper does right now, and will have more HR's when it's all said and done. Beltre was a better defender than Chipper as well. Only thing with Beltre is he hasnt won an MVP. He came in 2nd behind Bonds in 2004.

He'll be a HOF'er when it's all said and done. Mark my words. And anyone who doesn't think so, I will buy your bats. :-)

Thanks Steve, I couldn't agree more! ;)

Thanks alot scott. Dont know if youve seen this one but got it at the same time

http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/q...psuiipnwco.png

Another beauty! You gotta love the photos with athletes and kids.
It's such a great combination as far a subject matter goes...

Brooklyn Dodgers Ushers Cap
 

Seems fitting that this should post after such incredible Jackie Robinson photos. I just traded for the Brooklyn Dodgers Ebbets Field ushers cap pictured in the grouping of other artifacts it now joins.

Dave Grob

Great items, Dave. So colorful and reminiscent of times gone by.....

Just got this in the mail!! Love it.

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Even as a die hard Giants fan and card carrying Dodger hater, I have to say "wow!" Great stuff, Dave!

Dave love the hat

Picked up this scrapbook/photo album at a local auction today. It was put together by Bill Davidson (or his wife). It has RPPCs of his days in Sioux City, and photos of him with a buddy both wearing Brooklyn sweaters. There is also a 1913 World Series game 2 ticket stub (one of the greatest WS games of all time).

Also snagged this 1904 issue of Burr McIntosh with all the baseball pull out photos. Got this in a box lot of old magazines for next to nothing because I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who knew it was desirable.

Incredible finds Dan. Dave, fantastic Dodgers collection. Great pickups to all.

Why can't I find these items at my local auctions?!

Great pickup! Congrats!

This scrapbook just got better...Zack Wheat RPPC. Wheat is also in a bunch of photos in his Brooklyn sweater out hunting (or just screwing around in the woods with guns) with Davidson.

Amazing find Dan!

Greg

Glove and photo found this weekend at the Anti-Expo show in Montreal.

Glove pic 2

Photo 3

Scrapbook
 

Great scrapbook find Dan. It is interesting that your book shows a player out hunting while wearing their team sweater. I have parts of an early 1920s scrapbook which shows snapshots of Benny Bengough out hunting whle wearing his big New York Yankees sweater. Those team sweaters must have been pretty warm. I could use one of those big sweaters today. :)

Brent, the glove is one made for handball not baseball

Yeah, I know Jim. Maybe it's for Fives. It has a British label. I love the look of it though.
Thanks for the heads up info.
Cheers!

Fantastic pick ups Dan, Congrats!

I spent the weekend in Lake George, NY, attending the annual "World's Largest Garage Sale" event. The nearby town of Warrensburg fills up with hundreds of vendors, in what turns out to be a large flea market. There is a lot of crap, but a fair amount of antiques and vintage too. If nothing else it makes for a nice Fall weekend in upstate NY (we rented a cabin with friends).

The amount of vintage sports was sparse, but I did pick up these 1920s Spalding smooth-face catcher shin guards. Considerable wear, but well worth the $15.

http://antiquesportscollector.com/SpaldingGuards.html

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Thanks Joe...would love to go to something called "The World's Largest Garage Sale". I bet that's a fun day.

Bought this bat that Nelson Cruz used to hit his 42nd home run of this season. The previous Seattle record for the 'Safeco Era' was 41. The bat is in the MLB database as a ground-out in the 8th, but I was able to photo-match it to his 1st-inning HR. The Mariners kept the line-up card, but I was able to acquire the one for the day before (September 14), which is the first game that I could photo-match the bat to. Pretty nice display potential.

Exact same bat, you can tell for sure by that little piece of missing paint above the batter logo. Nice score!

Yogi Berra Professional/Personal Model Mask
 

Deviating from pursuit of 19th C. baseball equipment and memorabilia for just a second, I picked up this wonderful mask from a fellow board member.

This Spalding Model #1514 mask is the very model that Yogi himself used for a period of years in the 1950's and can be seen wearing in the images below. The model #1514 mask appears in the 1957 Spalding sporting good catalog, but I am sure it was made from at least 1954.

www.dugouttreasures.com

Brent that glove is amazing. And Dan great acquisition.

Scott, your Vander Meer finds always amaze me. Just when I think there's nothing else to find, you find.

You can see why they called that old catcher's gear "the tools of ignorance." Beautiful pickup, Jonathan!