Anybody Help Me With This?

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Posted By: Brock G.

I've read posts on this board for a while but never posted until now. I bought this on ebay yesterday and wondering if anyone can help me out with some info. Seller said he got it in an antique mall in Wisconsin about 15 years ago and did not know anything about it. Measures 36" by 21", so its pretty big. Old High School or College team maybe? Just a decorative item? Anyone got a guess.
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Posted By: Mark

I wish I could help more, but have never seen this piece or even one much like it.... and I look for this stuff A LOT! Have never heard of the Red Tigers either (...anyone??)

It could be a reproduced piece, based on the bright colors and vibrant paint. There are modern reproductions like this, made for restaurants, bars, etc. The local watering hole up here has a lot of this "folk art" type sports decor throughout.

This is the kind of thing you just have to see in person. Examine the back and the under-side. You can use logic to determine what aged wood and vintage hardware should look like. Sorry I can'tbe of more help

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Posted By: CarltonHendricks

There are a lot of these types of signs around on eBay for golf, tennis etc. that are new, made to look nostalgic and this looks like one of them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ST-MATTHEW-WOODED-GOLF-SIGN_W0QQitemZ160189891782QQihZ006QQcategoryZ1514Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/BORN-TO-GOLF-FORCED-TO-WORK-WOOD-SIGN-VINTAGE-RETRO-NEW_W0QQitemZ230202221377QQihZ013QQcategoryZ43411Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/MISSOURI-TIGERS-FOOTBALL-COLLEGE-SIGN-SPORTS-FOOTBALL_W0QQitemZ290191783237QQihZ019QQcategoryZ1 514QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I think they are styled after English pub signs; obviously yours is made for the Amerian market being baseball. If it were real, it would probably be considered "folk art".

You have good taste though...you appriciated the style enough to obtain it and that is a begining to collecting and learning about real ones. If something like that "was from the period" it would be a major find, $worth$ enough to choke a reindeer. Take your sign to some local antiques dealers and ask their opinion...if they say it's a repro don't get discouraged...hang it up and enjoy it....chalk it up to experience...then get back out there a keep looking for a real one! There was a sign in the coaches office when I was in high school I'll never forget...said: "If you've never failed, maybe it's because you've never tried"

Below is a sign I have in my collection that is a little similiar, details can be seen in this link: http://sportsantiques.com/folk_art.htm

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Posted By: Brock G.

I appreciate the input. When I first saw it I thought definetely it was a new reproduction piece, but the fact that it had the "1931-1932" year on it kept me wondering. I only paid $20 so I wont be disapointed no matter what it turns out to be. Its not really the type of thing I usually go after but it definetely looks cool.