Hank Aaron 1st Hit/Run/Home Game Program Owned By Bob Botz

[MCyganik]

Just acquired this 1954 Milwaukee Braves program from Opening Day, aka Hank Aaron's 2nd career MLB game, 1st home game in Milwaukee, 1st hit, 1st run and 1st extra base hit. After playing one game in Cincinnati (Aaron going 0-5 in his debut), the Braves hosted the Cardinals for only 1 game before the Reds came to town. The lineup pages reflect both teams' mid-April rosters before the Cardinals sold Steve Bilko and the Braves released Sibby Sisti.

Upon further examination of the names written on the front, I discovered this was also the personal copy of an 18 year old Milwaukee native named Bob Botz, who went to the game with his future wife Arlene. Bob would sign with his hometown Braves at the end of the year and bounce around the minors until getting cut by Casey Stengel during the Mets first Spring Training and appeared in 35 relief appearances for the 1962 Angels.

Not planning to sell it anytime soon but any long-time hobbyists know what kind of premium a program of this specific game could command compared to a typical game? There's two pieces of tape on the edges but they look cosmetic, otherwise the program is clean and intact beyond Botz's writing on the front.

[bnorth]

Have no idea on value, the coolness factor is off the charts awesome though.

[Dewey]

Very, very, very cool. Congrats on an important piece.

[bigfanNY]

Any chance a ticket stub is around from that game? I ask because as s long time program collector I can tell you ticket stubs have far surpassed programs in terms of market value. Especially for significant games such as this one.
When I get a program from a 3000 hit club first game I go right out and pick up a program from his final game which most times is also his final hit. Makes great display.. esp for Hammering Hank..

[MCyganik]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

Any chance a ticket stub is around from that game? I ask because as s long time program collector I can tell you ticket stubs have far surpassed programs in terms of market value. Especially for significant games such as this one.
When I get a program from a 3000 hit club first game I go right out and pick up a program from his final game which most times is also his final hit. Makes great display.. esp for Hammering Hank..

I agree that tickets in most cases are much more valuable. I would love to find a ticket to this game in a cheap enough manner to afford it. But I think that's part of the appeal I have with being a program collector. Not only are they cool from an art and history perspective, but they are usually reasonably priced compared to most other vintage memorabilia. And because many memorabilia dealers and casual sellers don't do the research on programs like cards, I have found quite a few historic game programs for very reasonable prices. Which sort of fuels the chase...

I couldn't find any tickets for this game, but one seller on eBay is offering a ticket to his first true game in Cincinnati for $1200...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1954-Ticket...QAAOSwo4pYSXKx

[pherbener]

Wow! That's a great piece!! I couldn't find any programs but a ticket stub PSA Authentic sold for $500 last year.