Anyone collect matchbooks or covers?

[Bumpus Jones]

Just wondering if anyone collects these. This one came from the Short Stop Inn in Cincinnati. It was located adjacent to Crosley Field. I've included a link to the original sign that sold through Lelands a while back. I no longer own the Bubbles Hargrave...


http://www.lelands.com/auction/Aucti...inal-Neon-Sign

[Jay Wolt]

That neon that LeLands auctioned is awesome
I have a small pile of matchbooks from the baseball/football/actors from the 1930's to bar & grills like Lefty O'Douls to some schedule ones.

I bought some that were slabbed since the price was low enough & I like how they display.

[thecatspajamas]

Jay, out of curiosity, what does the other side look like I'm the slab? Any of the slabbed ones still have the matches in them? (Or is that too big of a fire hazard for the slabbing process?

[1880nonsports]

unless they are of the figural kind - collectors go sans matches. Of course as long as one pays the fee - I assume anything can be slabbed - although they did once refuse to encapsulate my Lee Goldfarb bowling ball and shoes..........

[pbspelly]

Diamond matchbook of my grandpa

[Scott Garner]

I have two to share.
The first is a circa 1950's issue of WaJo.

The second one is an interesting one related to my no-hit collection.
These are "famous for being famous" Bo Belinsky's matches from the mid-1960's.
Note that all the matches are torn from the left side of the matchbook. This makes sense since the flaky Belinsky was a lefty hurler.
In this space, Bo applied his signature, perhaps to give to a "broadie" that he picked up at Le Cognac Lounge at the City Line Motor Inn in Philly during the mid-1960 (during his brief time with the Phillies).

Belinsky gained fame for throwing the first no-hitter for the Angels organization (and first no-hitter at Dodger Stadium) on May 15th, 1962. He parlayed this one game into more "fame" than anyone that played the game.
Belinsky lived in LA and was the "it guy" on the scene dating hot starlets of the day such as Mamie Van Doren and Tina Louise (of Gilligan's Island fame).

These matches and a love letter addressed to Bo in West LA (forwarded to him in PA) were found in the back seat of a rental car by the people that rented the car following Belinsky.

Oddball for sure. It needed to be in my collection...

[Bumpus Jones]

Thanks for everyone's contributions.

[ooo-ribay]

here's a few for the Giants. Most have a schedule on the reverse...

[Bumpus Jones]

Very Nice Rob!

[Exhibitman]

Definitely. Some of my favorites:

[Bumpus Jones]

Great stuff Rob!

[Jay Wolt]

Originally Posted by thecatspajamas

Jay, out of curiosity, what does the other side look like I'm the slab? Any of the slabbed ones still have the matches in them? (Or is that too big of a fire hazard for the slabbing process?

Lance, just noticed your question.
All slabbed matchbooks are w/o matches, here is the reverse of the McGraw I posted

[thecatspajamas]

Cool, thanks for satisfying my curiosity.