July Pickups

[scooter729]

Thanks guys - appreciate the comments! Can add more later, but the JFK item is neither the president not Honey Fitz, but another member of the clan with the same name. He was also a Boston politician but unfortunately died in an accident on August 20, 1913. All tickets from August 29 to the end of the season remain in the book.

This JFK was up and coming on the Boston political scene, and was tabbed by Honey Fitz to be his successor. Unfortunately that never happened.

The 35th president JFK wasn't born until 1917, so obviously this wasn't his book.

I've thought it eerie to see he went to all the games up until his death, then to see the remaining unused tickets still intact.

[bgar3]

amazing, same name, and relationship to red sox. the death and unused tickets really stand out. very interesting.

[scooter729]

Just a bit more info on the JFK ticket book, since I had a couple of PMs about it.

Included with it when I bought it were several of his personal items, including his business card and Mass card from his funeral, noting the Aug 20 date of passing. There were some copies of letters of correspondence with Mayor Honey Fitz as well.

Just a really neat item I am happy to call mine!

[sox1903wschamp]

Very nice items Scott.

[Scott Garner]

I just picked up a very interesting Special Box Holder Detroit Tigers baseball ticket from 1922.

On April 30th, 1922 unlikely rookie CWS pitcher Charlie Robertson bested the Ty Cobb led Detroit Tigers by pitching a perfect game, winning by a score of 2-0. 1922 would prove to be the 3rd, and final time, that HOF'er Cobb would hit .400 in a season (.401 in 1922). Cobb was surrounded by many other teammates that hit over .300, as the 1922 Tigers squad boasted an overall .288 team batting average.

This ticket was issued to Charles T. Fisher, who was an early automotive pioneer and one of the most famous of Detroit families (essentially Detroit royalty).
Here is a quick bio on Charles T. Fisher:

Charles Thomas Fisher was born in 1880 in Norwalk, Ohio. Around the turn of the century, Fisher moved to Detroit and began work at a carriage body manufacturer. In 1908, Fisher, along with his brother Fred and uncle Albert, founded the Fisher Body Company, making bodies for the emerging automobile industry. Charles and Fred soon brought their five younger brothers (including Alfred, Edward and William) into the business. The firm quickly prospered, producing bodies for many different manufacturers, including Cadillac, Ford, and Studebaker. By 1914 they were making 370,000 car bodies a year.

In 1919, Ford, General Motors, and Studebaker competed to buy Fisher Body. GM won out, purchasing 60% of the business to for 27 million dollars. In 1922, Fisher built a home at 670 W. Boston, where he lived until his death in 1963. In 1926, the Fishers sold their remaining shares for 208 million dollars, making Fisher Body wholly owned by GM. Charles became a vice-president of GM, leaving in 1934. The next year, the Fisher brothers began building the magnificent Fisher Building, one of the best examples of Art Deco architecture in the country, on Grand Boulevard a mile south of Boston-Edison.

Here is a picture of this ticket which I am very happy to add to my no-hit ticket collection. Early vintage and cool....

[koufax1fan]

Hi Scott:
Wow ! What a terrific find and great addition to your collection. Hope you had a nice 4th.
Phil

[Dave Grob]

Just picked this up and hope to have it in the next week or so. Have been looking for one for some time. Very interesting story behind these. I have just finished a four page article on them, but it is too large of a file (.pdf) to post here. If you'd like a copy, just drop me a line.

Dave Grob
DaveGrob1@aol.com

[btcarfagno]

Originally Posted by scooter729

Thanks guys - appreciate the comments! Can add more later, but the JFK item is neither the president not Honey Fitz, but another member of the clan with the same name. He was also a Boston politician but unfortunately died in an accident on August 20, 1913. All tickets from August 29 to the end of the season remain in the book.

This JFK was up and coming on the Boston political scene, and was tabbed by Honey Fitz to be his successor. Unfortunately that never happened.

The 35th president JFK wasn't born until 1917, so obviously this wasn't his book.

I've thought it eerie to see he went to all the games up until his death, then to see the remaining unused tickets still intact.

The smart ass in me wants to think that someone was using the dead guys' tickets from the 20th through the 29th. Unfortunately the more likely scenario is a road trip for the Sox.

Tom C

[jpop43]

Been really trying to focus solely on items from the 19th century...really pretty tough, but these are the results of the past couple of months.

Here are the bats...

1. Cicra 1860's/ 1870's, 36" bat turned from some gorgeous tiger maple wood...definitely not a re-purposed farm tool and one of the prettiest bats from this era that I've ever seen let alone owned. PA antique show pick up from a couple of weeks ago.

2. Circa 1880's McClurg's "Winner" Ring bat...got this from a board member and thanks again to him for working with me on it.

[jpop43]

Rest of the 19th Century pick ups...

1. Circa 1880's/ 1890's "LEAGUE" baseball.

2. Circa 1800's "PRACTICE" baseball.

3. Souvenir ribbon from an 1892 Base Ball and Field Day...Trinity College origins.

4. !9th Century print of H. Harwood...presumably (and hopefully) the Harrison Harwood that founded the Harwood Base Ball Mfg. Co. in 1858.

I've been trying to confirm the latter, so if anyone has any thoughts about the print or the signature on it, I'd much appreciate some feedback.

Thanks,
Jonathan
www.dugouttreasures.com

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by jpop43

Been really trying to focus solely on items from the 19th century...really pretty tough, but these are the results of the past couple of months.

Here are the bats...

1. Cicra 1860's/ 1870's, 36" bat turned from some gorgeous tiger maple wood...definitely not a re-purposed farm tool and one of the prettiest bats from this era that I've ever seen let alone owned. PA antique show pick up from a couple of weeks ago.

That first bat is amazing. I've never seen a baseball bat made of curly maple - it's beautiful, but definitely hand-made, simply because it's not made from a much stronger straight-grain wood. You see curly-maple pool cue forearms now, but the old-school cue makers would only use straight-grain, certain that it was stronger and gave a better hit. I believe most curly-maple forearms are cored with a stronger wood. Wonder if that bat is cored?

[nolemmings]

Agree on the maple bat. That is one beautiful piece of wood, and is a standout, eye-catching piece even if it had been made today. Its age and history make it even more phenomenal. Terrific acquisition.