NonSports Forum

Net54baseball.com
Welcome to Net54baseball.com. These forums are devoted to both Pre- and Post- war baseball cards and vintage memorabilia, as well as other sports. There is a separate section for Buying, Selling and Trading - the B/S/T area!! If you write anything concerning a person or company your full name needs to be in your post or obtainable from it. . Contact the moderator at leon@net54baseball.com should you have any questions or concerns. When you click on links to eBay on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. Enjoy!
Net54baseball.com
Net54baseball.com
T206s on eBay
Babe Ruth Cards on eBay
t206 Ty Cobb on eBay
Ty Cobb Cards on eBay
Lou Gehrig Cards on eBay
Baseball T201-T217 on eBay
Baseball E90-E107 on eBay
T205 Cards on eBay
Baseball Postcards on eBay
Goudey Cards on eBay
Baseball Memorabilia on eBay
Baseball Exhibit Cards on eBay
Baseball Strip Cards on eBay
Baseball Baking Cards on eBay
Sporting News Cards on eBay
Play Ball Cards on eBay
Joe DiMaggio Cards on eBay
Mickey Mantle Cards on eBay
Bowman 1951-1955 on eBay
Football Cards on eBay

Go Back   Net54baseball.com Forums > Net54baseball Main Forum - WWII & Older Baseball Cards > Net54baseball Sports (Primarily) Vintage Memorabilia Forum incl. Game Used

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-07-2012, 12:39 PM
Bob Lemke's Avatar
Bob Lemke Bob Lemke is offline
Bob Lemke
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Iola, Wis.
Posts: 646
Default Aaron's first collectible?

This is going up on my blog on Thursday

Eau Claire Bears_1952.jpg

I don’t know if this is actually the first time Henry Aaron was mentioned in a national sports publication, but the earliest such mention that I can recall seeing was this item in the June 18, 1952, issue of The Sporting News.

Under the headline “Clowns Sell kid Shortstop flash to Boston Braves,” Chicago baseball writer Russ J. Cowens, who frequently covered Negro Leagues goings-on for TSN, wrote, “The pace-setting Indianapolis Clowns lost a promising young infielder last week, but came up with two recruits who loom as potential stars.

“The Clowns, who added to their lead in the Negro American League by splitting four games while the Kansas City Monarchs were dropping three, sold Henry Aaron, 17-year-old rookie shortstop, to the Boston Braves, who are to assign him to a farm club. Aaron was slugging the ball at a .427 pace, led the league in doubles with seven, and in homers with eight. He also was the top man for runs batted in with 26.”

The two “potential stars” that the Clowns signed to replace Aaron were Tom Cooper, “a former student at West Virginia State College, and Herbert Benson, a first baseman.”

On the morning of June 9 that season, the Clowns had played to a 17-8 record to lead the NAL.

This early mention of Henry Aaron reminded me that I have squirreled away in my “archives” what I now realize may be the first collectible item ever issued of Aaron.

aaron inset.jpg
It is an 8” x 10” black-and-white team-issued glossy photo of the 1952 Eau Claire Bears.
Aaron is shown seated at the left end of middle row. The Bears were a Boston Braves farm team and Aaron’s first club in Organized Baseball.

Three other future Major Leaguers are shown in the team photo – two of them managers. Aaron’s future outfield teammate Wes Covington is pictured in the back row, third from right. Also in the photo are Bears manager Bill Adair, who had a 10-game stint as manager of the Chicago White Sox, and Johnny Goryl, who played for the Cubs 1957-59 and the Twins 1962-64, managing the Twins in 1980-81.

The 1952 Eau Claire Bears finished third in the Class C Northern League in 1952. Aaron led the team (and was third in the league) with a .336 batting average. His nine home runs in 87 games were only fourth best on the team (Covington led with 24).

Some people claim that Aaron is pictured in an earlier program of the Indianapolis Clowns. I have seen a picture, but I don’t believe it to be Aaron.
__________________
My (usually) vintage baseball/football card blog: http://boblemke.blogspot.com

Link to my custom cards gallery:
http://tinyurl.com/customcards
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-07-2012, 12:44 PM
Aquifer Aquifer is offline
Eric Nelson
member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Castro Valley, CA
Posts: 53
Default

That's a fun piece. Thx
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-07-2012, 07:52 PM
bcbgcbrcb bcbgcbrcb is online now
Phil Garry
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 6,817
Default

Very cool item, Bob but I believe that this one pre-dates yours. It is a 1952 Indianapolis Clowns postcard (I do not own it).
Attached Images
File Type: jpg HAaron.jpg (16.3 KB, 430 views)

Last edited by bcbgcbrcb; 08-07-2012 at 07:53 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-08-2012, 07:54 AM
Bob Lemke's Avatar
Bob Lemke Bob Lemke is offline
Bob Lemke
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Iola, Wis.
Posts: 646
Default

That's the image I've seen, I don't think it is Aaron.
__________________
My (usually) vintage baseball/football card blog: http://boblemke.blogspot.com

Link to my custom cards gallery:
http://tinyurl.com/customcards
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-08-2012, 08:10 AM
jschris jschris is offline
Jason C.
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Osseo, WI
Posts: 231
Default

More major league ties in this picture:

Back row, far left is Charles "Chet" Morgan Jr., son of Chet Morgan Sr., an outfielder briefly with the Tigers in the 1930s.

And in the second row, third from the left, is Chuck Doehler, who just passed away a month or so ago. Though he never made it far professionally (he was a late-season fill in for the injured "John" Covington in 1952) as a player, Doehler has one of the most unique baseball connections you could ever imagine. Chuck was one of the last to see the earthly remains of Babe Ruth (long story, but Claire had the casket re-opened so that Chuck and his late-arriving teammates could place a ball with Babe), and one of the first to welcome the new HR King, Henry Aaron.

Several years ago, I purchased an original Bears team photo, complete with the mailing envelope. Alas, it's from 1951.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-08-2012, 10:46 AM
drc drc is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,621
Default

An off topic tidbit is the U of Wisconsin Eau Claire supposedly is the coldest winter campus in the U.S.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-08-2012, 11:10 AM
jschris jschris is offline
Jason C.
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Osseo, WI
Posts: 231
Default

Anyone who claims that has definitely crossed the foot bridge in the wintertime, and anyone who questions it definitely hasn't.

I've never been to UW-Superior, though.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 08-08-2012, 11:12 AM
ElCabron's Avatar
ElCabron ElCabron is offline
Ryan Christoff
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 449
Default

Are you joking that it's not Aaron on the Clowns postcard, or being serious? It's funny, when you guys have an item with random white guys on some town team, suddenly they're all Joe Jackson. If they're black guys, they're all Josh Gibson. But then if another item with an easily identifiable player (say, Hank Aaron, for example) would make it so your "earliest collectible" of that player turn out not to be the earliest, suddenly you're skeptical.

The Hank Aaron postcard is absolutely 100% Hank Aaron. Not 99%. 100%. Sorry to ruin this big discovery, i.e. jackpot.

The wishful thinking of people on this board is way more annoying than any of the childish bickering or silly arguments. Mainly because it's always about greed. It's strange that no one makes great discoveries by identifying the "earliest collectible" of a player on an item they don't themselves own.

And for the record, I don't own the Aaron postcard. I did at one time. Because it's Aaron and it's awesome.

The Eau Claire premium is also super cool, btw. It's just not a postcard of Hank Aaron in the Negro Leagues.

-Ryan
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 08-08-2012, 12:47 PM
Bob Lemke's Avatar
Bob Lemke Bob Lemke is offline
Bob Lemke
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Iola, Wis.
Posts: 646
Default

Sorry, Ryan, I just don't see Aaron in that face.

Anybody else care to chime in?
__________________
My (usually) vintage baseball/football card blog: http://boblemke.blogspot.com

Link to my custom cards gallery:
http://tinyurl.com/customcards
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 08-08-2012, 02:21 PM
ElCabron's Avatar
ElCabron ElCabron is offline
Ryan Christoff
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 449
Default

I know, Bob. Maybe you should buy it and it will become crystal clear.

-Ryan
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 08-08-2012, 02:24 PM
ElCabron's Avatar
ElCabron ElCabron is offline
Ryan Christoff
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 449
Default

Here's a better scan. You can see they did some touch-up outlining to the original picture, as was common. Maybe that's what's making it look not quite right to you. Still not seeing it?

-Ryan
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 1952 Aaron pc.jpg (63.0 KB, 305 views)
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 08-08-2012, 02:41 PM
travrosty travrosty is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,223
Default

here it lists it in print, not just handwritten in.

http://www.mearsonlineauctions.com/L...spx?lotid=3053
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 08-08-2012, 03:39 PM
Bob Lemke's Avatar
Bob Lemke Bob Lemke is offline
Bob Lemke
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Iola, Wis.
Posts: 646
Default

That Mears piece seems to nail it down. The touched-up postcard by itself, with the hand notation of "HANK AARON" was too much of a stretch.

Thanks for posting the larger image, Ryan. It was those touch-ups that made it look like the batter was not Aaron. I can envision without those, it would be a very recognizable image.

I'll edit my blog post accordingly.
__________________
My (usually) vintage baseball/football card blog: http://boblemke.blogspot.com

Link to my custom cards gallery:
http://tinyurl.com/customcards
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 08-08-2012, 03:40 PM
steve B steve B is offline
Steve Birmingham
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: eastern Mass.
Posts: 8,086
Default

Similar looking guy, but the chin is different, and the lips are much farther below the nose.
Plus, Aaron batted cross handed till sometime during the 52 season while playing for the Bears. The player shown is batting with his hands in the correct position.

It wouldn't be the first time a company got the wrong name on the wrong picture.

Steve B
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 08-08-2012, 04:16 PM
slidekellyslide's Avatar
slidekellyslide slidekellyslide is offline
Dan Bretta
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 6,122
Default

That is definitely Hank Aaron on that Clowns postcard.
__________________
Looking for Nebraska Indians memorabilia, photos and postcards
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 08-08-2012, 04:44 PM
bcbgcbrcb bcbgcbrcb is online now
Phil Garry
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 6,817
Default

It is Aaron
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 08-08-2012, 06:30 PM
steve B steve B is offline
Steve Birmingham
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: eastern Mass.
Posts: 8,086
Default

If it is, then it's not Aaron in the team photo. They're just different.

And why would they show a cross handed batter batting normally?

I just don't see it.

Steve B
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 08-08-2012, 09:08 PM
E93's Avatar
E93 E93 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 2,202
Default

They both look like Aaron to me.
JimB
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 08-09-2012, 04:39 AM
buymycards's Avatar
buymycards buymycards is offline
Rick McQuillan
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 3,178
Default Bob

Anyway, that is a great photo. I love the old Eau Claire Bears and Braves stuff. Thank you for showing it, Bob.

Anyone who is interested in the Eau Claire Bears should pick up a copy of Jason's book that covers Eau Claire baseball.

Rick
__________________
Rick McQuillan


T213-2 139 down 46 to go.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 08-09-2012, 09:57 PM
ElCabron's Avatar
ElCabron ElCabron is offline
Ryan Christoff
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 449
Default

Steve,

I know you're stuck on the cross-handed batting thing, but did you take a minute to think about this? We've all heard the legend of Aaron who learned to bat with his hands crossed, thereby giving him superhuman power in his wrists, enabling him to later on change his grip but retain the bionic wrist strength and hit all kinds of home runs. I believe he did learn to hit this way, and did so well into his teenage years. But do you honestly believe a cross-handed batter was successful in the Negro Leagues or minor leagues? Also, did you really need the Eau Claire photo to compare the Clowns postcard to? You don't know what Hank Aaron looks like from memory?

Anyway, the Clowns postcard originates from the estate of Clowns owner, Syd Pollock. Not that there should need to be even further proof, but here's the image of Aaron as it appears in the biography of Syd Pollock, written by his son. Noteworthy is the part where it says "Prior to joining the Clowns, he had batted cross-handed:
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_7801.jpg (72.8 KB, 213 views)
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 08-09-2012, 10:00 PM
ElCabron's Avatar
ElCabron ElCabron is offline
Ryan Christoff
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 449
Default

Also, here's how they used the Aaron image in their 1956 promotional program. The would also use the image on broadsides and many other items over the years since, you know, Aaron was kind of big deal.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 1956 clowns program with aaron.jpg (29.7 KB, 255 views)
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 08-10-2012, 08:01 AM
jschris jschris is offline
Jason C.
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Osseo, WI
Posts: 231
Default

I talked with Jerry Poling, author of Summer Up North, the story of Aaron's '52 season in Eau Claire. He said he is pretty sure Aaron's cross-handed batting style was corrected by a Braves scout (Billy Southworth, perhaps) while Aaron was still with the Clowns. Jerry estimates that could have been in May--perhaps late May. Aaron debuted with Eau Claire on June 14.

Neither Jerry nor I have seen anything to indicate Aaron batted cross-handed in Eau Claire.

Hope that helps out a bit.
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 08-10-2012, 09:55 AM
steve B steve B is offline
Steve Birmingham
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: eastern Mass.
Posts: 8,086
Default

Ok, I'm convinced. Wouldn't be the first time I've been wrong.

I started paying atention to baseball late in 73, and the two erliest things I recall are the 73 series and #715 so the image stuck in my head of Aaron is more the older more filled out Aaron.
Plus, I'm not that great at faces for some reason. You'd have laughed a lot at my couple autograph hunting trips I went on with an aquaintance. He'd run off and come back with something signed and I'd be asking where was that guy? right over there? who? you're kidding?! I pretty much couldn't recognize most players without the uniform.


I think the picture shows him with an odd expression that makes him look very different. Whatever, the distance between the nose and the top of his upper lip is almost double and there's not much delineation between the lower lip and chin.
I looked at a bunch of pictures of him loking for older ones, and his look did seem somewhat variable.

The info about the cross handed thing seems unclear, although the two sources seem pretty solid. I first read about it in a 70's biography I think written with input from Aaron. I'll have to find it, I don't remember the title. That one said he got to the minors and was still hitting cross handed. It also claims the manager wanted to wait till he was settled before fixing it since he thought too many changes at once wouldn't be good.

Steve B
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 03-21-2018, 11:23 AM
Neal's Avatar
Neal Neal is offline
Ne@l K
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: US
Posts: 1,564
Default

How many of these are known to exist? Have any been graded?
Thx
__________________
Neal

Successful transactions with Peter Spaeth, Phil Garry, Don Hontz, JStottlemire, maj78, bcbgcbrcb, secondhandwatches, esehobmbre, Leon, Jetsfan, Brian Van Horn, Brian Dwyer, MGHPro, DeanH, canofcorn, Zigger Zagger, conor912, RayBShotz, Jay Wolt, AConte, Halbig Vintage and many others
Reply With Quote
Reply



Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
The cheapest 19th century baseball collectible! Archive Net54baseball Sports (Primarily) Vintage Memorabilia Forum incl. Game Used 2 01-11-2009 07:39 AM
The Premier Collectible Conference & Exhibition - Save the Date Archive Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions 0 07-22-2008 03:36 PM
Premier Collectible Conference & Exhibition Archive Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions 11 01-22-2008 01:57 PM
Collectible Classics Original Auction for Collectors Archive Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions 0 06-09-2005 02:22 PM
Collector / Collectible / Memorabilia Insurance Archive Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions 10 06-26-2002 10:39 AM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:48 AM.


ebay GSB