What was your best memorabilia addition to your collection in 2014?
 

This has always been one of my favorite posts of the year. It's an opportunity to reflect on finds we made as well as experiences during the year.
Post your favorite acquisitions from the categories you collect, which for me includes figural pieces, dishes, pennants, and pinbacks.

Without question this exceedingly tough Ralph Kiner represents my favorite pinback addition and is also the greatest bargain ($19.95) I've found on ebay :D
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps51855cc8.jpg

My favorite figural is actually a pair (hey we can make up the rules as we go right?) of Stanford Pottery Tigers
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps610bd2d7.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps9bd649f1.jpg

My favorite dishes are this pair of late 19th century plates
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...pse81c2b04.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps4fc3ade3.jpg

My favorite pennant is without question was this gift from my wife. Ok...this was my Christmas gift last year, but I received it AFTER we did our Best Of post for 2013 so I'm placing it here...LOL.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps10a5b731.jpg

Best memorabilia pickups in 2014
 

Mike, I always like this thread too, because it's truly amazing to see some of the things that people come up with.

I was fortunate to have a great year for pickups, mostly due to my friends.
Having a terrific network of collector friends nets some great additions to a collection, and I am eternally grateful to all of those that continue to help me build my collection.

Here are some of my favorites in 2014:

Original Cy Young Day ticket stub from 8/13/08. The only one known to exist in the hobby. Many thanks to my close friend of 25 years Ted Sternemann for helping me find this in Milwaukee. It originated from the collection of long-time hobby good guy Mike Rodell's collection. Unfortunately, Mike just passed away in November after a long fight with cancer. RIP Mike!

1938 Johnny Vander Meer Day medal from his hometown of Midland Park, NJ. Many thanks to net54's Chris Gamble for allowing me to scratch this one off my list of wants. Chris is one of the nicest guys in the hobby and Cincinnati Reds collector extraordinaire.

Scored original program/scorebook from Johnny Vander Meer's historic 2nd consecutive no-hitter in 1938. Many thanks to David Maus for locating this for me, also a top want on my want list.

Several other personal items that became available in 2014 from the family estate of Johnny Vander Meer. Amongst them were his Birth Certificate, Notification of Separation from the Navy at the end of WWII, and a great photo of him pitching in the Army Navy Pan Pacific World Series in 1944.

Finally, on the Nolan Ryan collecting front, the original dugout lineup card from Nolan's final career win # 324 at Cleveland on 8/15/93.
Many thanks to net54's Randall Hahn for tipping me off about it's availability on eBay.
Yup, it's been a pretty terrific year!! :D

Scott,
Not sure if you saw. But in the next heritage premium auction they have a game used baseball from one of Vander meer no hitters.

I am still holding out hope that the best is yet to come for 2014....I'll post on 12:01 on 1/1/15. ;)

Tough choice, but I'd say this circa 1915 original Cracker Jack trolley sign.

http://photos.imageevent.com/ltsgall...rolleysign.jpg

Now framed.

http://photos.imageevent.com/ltsgall...e/DSC04093.JPG

Zach Wheat wire photo and notebook.

Brock,
I knew that Heritage had it, but did not know what auction it was going to be in. Thanks for the heads up!

Additions to my federal league collection.

Atta boy Joe:D

Every time I post something like this, which is of no interest to more than 2% of the forum, I think it would be great to have it broken down to something like pre/post wwii or similar.

Picked this up in February and it's probably my favorite item in my collection, primarily because my girlfriend and I attended the game and remember several of the plays it was used in, including this Baldwin 69-yd kick-off return.

In the vintage arena, this 1900-ish glove was easily my favorite pick-up:

Faves
 

Here are my favorites for 2014 and the Gehrig photo isactually brand new to my collection

It pales in comparison to Bob's pickups, but this oversized advertising pinback may be my favorite of the year.

Greg

Best of 2014
 

All three 'bests' from this year were additions to the 19th Century part of my collection...

1. Circa 1850's / 1860's Belted Style Ball
2. Circa 1880's "Eagle Prize Bat" awarded to the "Brooklyn Writers Nine"
3. Circa 1860's tiger maple baseball bat...36" and pristine

Sure have enjoyed seeing the top items from everyone else!

Jonathan
www.dugouttreasures.com

Crosley Field Highlights for 2014
 

For the most part, I dismantled my Reds collection in the early 2000s as we were buying our first home. Over the years I have been acquiring uniforms from all teams to support my research. This year I decided it was time to devote some effort in rebuilding my Reds collection, on this time with a much more narrow focus on the Crosley Field years of 1934-1970. Here are some of this years highlights...

Dave Grob
DaveGrob1@aol.com

Bob, nice Tris Speaker piece! How big is it? I've never seen one before, have you? Great item.

bc

Speaker
 

No, this is the first I or anyone that I have talked to has seen. I am considering placing it into an auction early next year actually. The size is about 20" high and 12" wide. It is in pristine condition and the easel has never been deployed. Thanks

Bob, that is a beautiful piece! Exceptional quality! Never seen one of these before. Congrats!

Wow. Some great stuff so far.
Personally, 2014 has been a banner year. I have acquired over 50 Gehrig original(Type 1) photos of all sizes including snapshots. I want to thank everyone who I did business with this year, both as a buyer and seller. Because of both of you, I was able to add to my collection and I really appreciate it.

It is really hard to pick just one overall favorite, so I have broken it down into categories.

Best Snapshot

Gehrig showing off the guns.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...xingmuscle.jpg

Gehrig solo photo.

It was a very close race between a few photos, but this Burke 8x10 won out due to the epic smile.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...30sBurke-1.jpg

Best group photo.

Easy choice was this 1934 Quaker Oats winners photo with Lou and Babe
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...tswithRuth.jpg

Best Non Photo item.

1929 Gehrig Foul Ball
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...igfoulball.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...gfoulball2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...gfoulball4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...gfoulball3.jpg

Great pick ups everyone.

The quantity was down this year but the quality was up.

1957 Wichita Braves Ring
1913 World Tour Ticket
Ad Brennan Postcard
Junction City, KS Cabinet
1960s Orioles Helmet

Here are my best picks this year. Zinn Beck Joe Jackson bat and Lou Gehrig LS bat all for $43.

Well as long as we can make it up as we go, and excluding cards and card-like items:

Favorite BB item: 1955 Koufax photo after his 1st big K game:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...0photo%201.jpg

Favorite FB item: 1966 Chicago Bears Dick Butkus team issue:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...ue%20photo.JPG

Favorite boxing item: 1915 Benny Leonard by Hall Studio:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...0by%20Hall.JPG

Favorite basketball item: 1960s Dolph Schayes signed premium:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...%20premium.JPG

Favorite hockey item: 1964 Terry Sawchuk photo:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...wchuk%201.jpeg

This is one of my favorites from this past year. A 1940 Larry Rosenthal White Sox game used jersey. He had a nice, but unspectacular career in the Majors. He played 6 seasons for the St. Paul Saints and was a local hero since he actually lived in St. Paul his entire life.

And this is definitely my favorite. These are Jack Dempsey's fight worn gloves from the 1918 Fred Fulton fight. Fulton was the top contender to get a title fight with Jess Willard. Dempsey wasn't an unknown at the time, but he wasn't a top contender either. Dempsey knocked out Fulton in 18 seconds and it really added his name to the discussion on who should get the shot with Willard. A year later, he had the title.

Both gloves are inscribed in Dempsey's hand and come with fantastic provenance.

Definitely this type 1 photo of Joe DiMaggio extending his historic hit streak to 56 games. Have not seen too many other type 1's:

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps3781fee4.jpg

Wow! Those are awesome! Great items everyone, but these are really drool-worthy!

1866 Unions of Morrisania trophy ball and 1867 Fulton Ny trophy ball. I'm hooked.

Wow - talk about a couple of trophy balls!!!

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1aTrKKEiz2...rassballs2.jpg

There are balls and then there are balls.

Orioles helmet
 

Clint,

Was the Orioles helmet attributed to anyone? Love the '60's O's helmets!

Chris:
Those are 2 great posts. The Dempsey Fight-worn gloves are beyond epic, and the Rosenthal SOX Jersey is one of the prettiest/most classic styles out there. Congrats on both! :cool:

Reach Baseball Signs
 

2 Reach Baseball Signs

Those ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ are wonderful display signs, and both so incredibly rare. Great stuff so far!

Keeping in mind "It ain't Over til it's Over", 2014 still has a couple weeks left. But here are my "Top 5" to date (subject to change :rolleyes: )

1. Muller Baseball Clock
2. Early Teens NY Giants Oversized Champions Pennant (thank iPhone for inverted image)
3. Red Schoendienst 1957 Milwaukee Braves Jacket
4. Willie Mays Chesterfield Easel-back Ad Sign
5. Pristine 1910 Baseball Trophy with engraved Batter

Thanks Mark! Its quite impressive what this group can snag in the course of a year! Very nice stuff :)

Mark, no it wasn't attributed to anyone. There was no evidence of any number being placed on the helmet.

burley bats
 

wow that reach burley bats sign is really something...that and Mark's Mueller clock are my favorites I've seen in the thread

Wow, some great stuff in this thread.

Wow Gary those are fantastic!

Early 1900s Minneapolis Millers game worn uniform

Wow... you had a great year! I love the variety.

Picked up this 1997 gamer and this personalized Maris photo.

My best pick up this year. 1910 managers fan with great grandpa.

Hard to pick just one.
1) NY Clipper scrapbook with over 20 baseball woodcuts
2) 1889 Boston BBC Lithograph
3) 1867 Trophy Cricket Ball

I just checked....44% of the adult population smoked in the 1950s. I'm not aware that Willie did. Does anyone know? At least Willie's testimony was "These Chesterfields are great." Some of the earlier ads claimed cigarettes were actually GOOD for you! :p

My favorite. We have a front porch....this will look good hanging there for Opening Day.

Rob,
I KNEW that would be your top pick. ;)
It's a keeper!

Completely agree with Scott....

That Giants Banner is simply gorgeous! :eek:

Fantastic stuff. Glad to see another McGwire fan out there still.

Giants
 

Man, I don't even like the Giants, but that banner is AMAZING!

Favorite pick up of 2014 was a game used ball from Phil Niekro's 300th win. The ball was autographed, inscribed and given to Phil by John Cerutti who was making his 1st Major League start that day against Phil. Unfortunately the signature and inscription has faded over time and rates about a 2-3, but covers two panels on ball. Ball is clearer in person.

1st side of ball reads:

Phil, To the man I had to face in my first ML start I was going for #1 you for #300 Oct 6, 1985

Attachment 171600