1890 - 1920 Baseball Pinbacks/Buttons

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Posted By: Phil Garry

Does anyone have or know of a definitive listing of baseball player/team photo pinbacks (must picture players on them) from the 1890 - 1920 era? I know there were many different ones issued by Whitehead & Hoag......

I am already familiar with the more "common" Cameo Pepsin, Sweet Caporals, Domino Discs, Buster Browns, Schwitzer's, etc.

Any help is greatly appreciated and any scans would be terrific.

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Posted By: Anonymous

I assume anyone reading this forum is aware of Hake/Steckler's 1986 "An Illustrated Price Guide to Non-Paper Sports Collectibles"

It's a good start, out-of-print, but obtainable.

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Posted By: David Keller

Phil - the Hake's book is a great place to start, but it's far from a definitive source. I am constantly amazed by some of the pins that show up in this forum that I've never seen in Hake's or Dr. Muchinsky's books. Anyway, here is one set from the time frame you're looking for. They were distributed by Jake Stenzel, a former major leaguer who had a pub across the street from the Reds ballpark.

1904 Stenzel's Rooters Buttons

Donlin, Mike
Ewing, Bob
Hahn, Noodles
Harper
Kellum, Win
Kelly, Joe
O'Neil, Peaches
Pietz, Heinie
Schlei, Admiral
Seymour, Cy
Sutthof, Jack
Woodruff, Sam

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Posted By: Mike H

Phil, There is no complete listing. I think it would require someone combining Hake's book, Muchinsky's book, SCD card guide, and all the auction catalogs over the past 20 years to come close. If anyone did so with nice pics, they could sell A LOT of books imo.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

A website for pinbacks is needed...Something like Old Cardboard's site except for pinbacks.

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Posted By: Mike H

Exceptional idea Dan. Do you believe many collectors would contribute photos and info if they could do so annonymously? I've always found it odd that some don't like to share their collections.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

If you could get the bigtime pinback collectors involved I think it would work. I don't think Hake and Steckler have any intention of updating their book...as least Roger doesn't because I asked him...Not sure about Muchinsky. I think he still sells quite a few of his books and he may not be as willing to share images. Who is the biggest pinback collector? Lifson? I think the combined knowledge of these guys and with input from smalltimers like me and other niche collectors we could really help to catalog these little celluloid gems into one comprehensive internet guide.

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Posted By: Mike H

Rob sold his collection, but his knowledge base is probably top of the heap of close.

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Posted By: Max Weder

Pins where I should have bid more.

If I recall correctly, I was outbid on this a number of years ago (oh, to go back to the early days of ebay), later to see it in REA (?).

Does anyone know if it refers to Mathewson's Won in the Ninth? I haven't found the Chicago Daily News on line to confirm.



Max

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Posted By: Al Simeone

Hi Dan,
I talk to Rob alot and he sold his pinback collection some time ago. There are some very good pin collections out there and I know of quite a few but most arenot posters here. I would say the Good Dr. M has an extensive collection but as it was put to me he never did include any of the (real pin sets) in his book because as he puts it They were done before in other reference books . There for it wasnt necessary. Sad though it would have been nice to see alot of those sets. As a big collector I dont even know if some of those sets even exist in complete form I.E. Diamond gum, buster browns, stenzels. etc. I think alot of people have pieces to the puzzle but not the whole puzzle. I would love to see some posters prove me wrong with some nice pictures!!! When I decided to sell of my cameo pepsin collection Mine was probably the largest collection put together in the country. But I knew I would never be able to finish it so instead I decided to sell it and give someone else a chance to work on it. It was getting harder to find them . But a funny story about it. No sooner do I sell mine I was contacted and told that another collection will be coming to the surface in the next 6 months. Just found and with some very nice pins!!
I wont say witch house (not my place) but it will be another nice lot!!