Safe at third
 

Day 49 (February 18, 2020 – 049)

Ok, I’ve posted a few half way decent items, but you have to admit this picture today is COOL (Go ahead and admit it…). The photo is a large format, around 11”x10”, and pictures Brooks sliding, safely by the way, into third as Max Alvis of the Indians tries to apply the tag. The umpire at third making the call is Bill Haller. Really like the block letter ORIOLES home jersey as well as the “B” helmet, the dirt flying and of course the needed tongue out of the mouth look for added effect. The photo was taken by photographer Paul Hutchins of The Sunpapers.

Back in the day they didn’t have the camera technology like today and it’s a rarity, at least for me, to find nice, clear, up close picture of in-action game shots; this picture is an exception.

1963 Photo of Brooks sliding into 3rd base


Attachment 385860

1970 Spring Training Programs
 

Just got back from watching the Orioles working out at Ed Smith Stadium. I have to say, I'm enjoying winters in Florida much more than the snow in Maine.

50 years ago, the Orioles began their run to the World Series championship in Miami. Here are some programs from that spring so long ago. Lets hope history can repeat itself.

Miami

Attachment 385903

Mexico City 3/16 - 3/18

Attachment 385906

Houston 3/31 - 4/2

Attachment 385904

Dallas - Ft Worth 4/3

Attachment 385905

Has it been that long?!?

The programs are very nice; thanks for sharing.

I'm just hoping for good ball playing this year. I also hope the fans stick with them.

Day 50 (February 19, 2020 – 050)

To me it’s truly sad that at the time the two most beloved professional athletes in Baltimore, Brooks Robinson and Johnny Unitas, didn’t have a statue in or outside of Memorial Stadium. There’s now a Johnny “Golden Arm” Unitas, or just “Johnny U”, statue outside of the Baltimore Ravens stadium that was unveiled after his passing in 2002. Thankfully there are now two Brooks Robinson statues in Baltimore, one just outside of Camden Yards and one inside and I am very thankful that Brooks was able to see both unveiled firsthand.

In 1977 the Mayor, William Donald Schaefer, tried to get a statue of Brooks Robinson and Johnny Unitas at Memorial Stadium. This is a card stock item with Brooks and Johnny pictured on the front and the mailing address on the back to send in donations for the statue project. Of course, this never occurred.


Attachment 386026
Attachment 386027

Cool card Mark! If you find another of those let me know.

Good morning,

Mark had previously posted a 1972 Orioles pocket schedule from Crown Gas that featured Brooks and Paul Blair. The 1976 Crown Gas O's schedule also featured Brooks but in a nice action shot this time.

Clint,

I’m sure I have at least two of these. As long as I can find the thing!

That would be awesome. My dad was a Johnny U fan and of course I’m the Robinson fan.

Spring Training
 

I know most of the stuff being shared on this thread are older Orioles items and I hope I don't upset too many of you by talking about the great weather and fun of spring training in Florida. Granted, it's not the same laid back atmosphere I enjoyed when I first starting coming down to spring training, but still nice to see some baseball.

I don't consider myself an avid autograph collector, but do like to get stuff signed when I can. I won't pay for an autograph and my only certificate of authenticity is that I get everything personalized to me. I guess when I'm gone my kids will have to sell everything to another Orioles collector named Alan.

Here are a few of today's acquisitions, a combination of the old and the new.

Jeff Conine and Brian Roberts

Attachment 386114

Attachment 386115

Adley Rutchman (Last year's #1 Draft Pick)

Attachment 386113

Adley was very good with the fans, signing for everyone, but does ask to personalize everything. Not a problem for me...

I also picked up Jose Iglesias, Hanser Alberto, Brandon Hyde, Jose Rondon, Rylan Bannon, Martin Cervenka, Branden Kline, Trey Mancini, Richie Martin, Mason McCoy, Ryan Mountcastle, Renato Nunez, Anthony Santander, Chance Sisco, and Pat Valaika.

So a pretty good day.

Allan is non stop! He maybe the number one oriole fan! We all love our birds but Allan maybe be a cut above us all. So what do you guys think about the upcoming season? Orioles do better than last year? 30 games under 500?

I know I sure won’t be upset with all the great old AND new items being shared.

I already live in FL so I’m already familiar with the whether :D

Let's get behind the Birds!
 

Day 51 (February 20, 2020 – 051)

This is a 1968 “Let’s get behind the Birds!” premium photo. The only one facing front in the photo is none other than Earl Weaver. To me it’s a great concept whoever thought of the slogan and the player arrangement. Now, here’s the interesting fact about this photo; it has several things changed or touched up including who was in the photo. Why did they do this you say? Well, the Orioles were doing a billboard campaign with the slogan “Let’s Get Behind the Birds” and there had been some changes to some of the team members since the original photo was taken. I will not go into everything that was changed, but that is really NOT Earl Weaver facing forward; it’s Hank Bauer. The artist took an Earl Weaver head shot and put it on Bauer’s body. That’s actually Earl Weaver in the photo with HARDIN #44 on his back. Weaver replaced Bauer as manager at the All-Star break and they needed him facing front for the billboard campaign. The up-to-date portrait graced billboards around the Baltimore area during the second half of the 1968 season.

1968 “Let’s get behind the Birds!” premium photo

Attachment 386208

I just happen to have a photograph of the 1968 Orioles team photo taken my Mort Tadder; the same photo above without the artists modifications. If you’d like you can go through and see for yourself the changes that were made to the photo; be my guest. I know there were quite a few changes.

1968 Orioles team photo

Attachment 386209

Quote: "I don't think, in all the years I managed them, I ever spoke more than thirty words to Frank (Robinson) and Brooks Robinson." - Earl Weaver

1970 Dayton Daily News
 

If you have plenty of patience, here's a set you can work on putting together, the 1970 Dayton Daily News set. I've been working on this set for years and years. The cards were printed in the newspaper. They were designed to be cut out by kids each day and touted as bubblegum less. There are 13 Orioles in the set and I have found the higher numbers much harder to find. I'm guessing kids got tired of cutting them out over the summer. In fact, I've never seen what the Brooks Robinson looks like.

They also reprinted a couple Orioles in 1971, #5 Frank Robinson and #34 Boog Powell, with some stat changes.

I have 9 out of 13 of the 1970 cards. I'm missing #143 Merv Rettenmund, #154 Brooks Robinson, #157 Paul Blair and #159 Mark Belanger.

Attachment 386227 Attachment 386228

Alan,

Your examples of the Dayton Daily News seem to be in really nice shape for a newspaper cutout item. Thanks for sharing since I really didn't know what most of the Oriole examples looked like.

Here's my relatively ugly example of Brooks' DDN cutout...

Attachment 386282

1970 Dayton Daily News
 

Mark,

Thanks for sharing the Brooks Robinson. Ugly or not, it's the first one I've seen in all my years of collecting. It looks good to me.

Posted for Clint (ksfarmboy)

Clint has a nice looking Memorial Stadium usher hat from back in the day.


Attachment 386299


Does anyone happen to know the year of the usher hat?

Day 52 (February 21, 2020 – 052)

I like the 1967 large Dexter Press Coca-Cola premiums. The cards measure 5 ½”x7” and are definitely glossy. Brooks has an All Star version as well with extended biographies on the back, but these pictured are just the regular issued cards. I never really understood why these premiums are not more popular (possibly the size?).

1967 Dexter Press Premium

Attachment 386302

1967 Dexter Press Premium – signed

Attachment 386303

I love those Dexter Press cards. Some great photos, wished they would have done them for the 1970 team.

Orioles Photos
 

I've posted a few Morton Tadder team issued B&W 8x10 photos in some earlier posts. In addition to the individual 8x10 photos, the Orioles also produced 8x10 team sheets. There were usually 4-5 per year. I have most of them from 1966-1997. I haven't seen any after 1997. These were usually distributed to newspapers, etc to use if they needed a photo for their publications. Sometimes you find them cut up into individual photos, but they weren't printed as such. The team sheets also help me to identify the year of the individual player photos, since the individual 8x10 player photos usually paralleled the team sheets.


Here are examples from 1974

Attachment 386340
Attachment 386341
Attachment 386342
Attachment 386343

There are some individual player photos of fringe players that weren't on the team sheets. Here's an example of the 1974 Mike Reinbach.

Attachment 386350

All those '70s staches with the gap in the middle. No wonder there were a lot of babies made around the time I was born.....the women must have melted :cool:

Clint & Mark:

I’ve handled a few hats of this style over the years & I’d date it to the early to mid 1980’s.

Thanks Bill, was never sure on a date for it.

Alan,

These are something else I didn't know even was out there or have even see before. Since you said you have most of them from 1966 through 1997 can you post them all eventually? Please...:)

A fellow at work told me yesterday that he purchased an autographed Orioles card for me, but wouldn't tell me who it was. I asked if I had ever heard of the Orioles player and he said that I would know him.

Well, I was pleasantly surprised when he handed me a 2000 UD Legends Jim Palmer on-card autograph. I really like the setup on this card and the nice signature applied to the card. Very nice of him.

Attachment 386392

Day 53 (February 22, 2020 – 053)

Program for the 10th Annual Father and Son Sports Banquet on February 22, 1967. The banquet, held in Mattydale, NY, featured Brooks as their main speaker. Brooks signed the banquet program, “Best of Luck Brooks Robinson” on the cover; likely signed the day of the event.

1967 10th Annual Father and Son Sports Banquet program.


Attachment 386451
Attachment 386452

1974/75 PCL Popcorn Cards
 

As many of you know by now, I love stuff featuring players from the Orioles minor league affiliates almost as much as items from the Orioles. Here's a set of minor league cards that are fun and not very hard to find. Printed in 1974 or 1975 by Ed Broder, the set is titled "Popcorn cards" and features players from the Pacific Coast League from 1957/58. The cards are smaller than regular size, about 2"x 3". I assume the set is a play off the Seattle Popcorn sets from the 50's & 60's.

There are 18 cards from the Vancouver Mounties. While there is no Brooks Robinson, there are a bunch of players that spend time in Baltimore.

Here's the checklist - Fred Besana #21, Jim Archer #22, Charlie White #23, John Jorgenson #24, Jim Marshall #25, Charley Beamon #26, Sandy Consuegra #83, Joe Frazier #84, Tito Francona #85, Chuck Diering #124, Lenny Green #125, Ed Erautt #126, Toby Atwell #176, Art Houtteman #177, Carl Powis #178, Dick Marlowe #219, Kal Segrist #220, Charlie Metro #221


Attachment 386478 Attachment 386479

The back of the cards are fairly plain

Attachment 386480

Alan,

I fixed your quote for you...:D

Here's a small photo of Brooks from 1956 when Brooks was with the San Antonio Missions. This may be my only photo with Brooks wearing a different uniform than #5. As you see he's wearing #17 for the Missions.

Attachment 386534
Attachment 386535

Brooks Robinson
 

Mark,

That's a nice photo. I might be converting you to minor league items :)

I know and there's so many great items for the minor league teams. I'm especially enjoying minor league programs and the card issues you're posting.

Day 54 (February 23, 2020 – 054)

I’m not sure what you call this item so I’ll try to word it properly, but correct me if I’m off on the terminology. The item pictured below is the artwork (basically a photo with the background whited out) for the 1962 Topps Brooks Robinson stamp. The background of the 1962 Brooks stamp was yellow; some of the other stamps in ’62 had a red background. The Topps stamps came inserted in the Topps wax packs. Brooks was on a stamp panel with Wally Moon (most common), Jack Baldschun, and Duke Snider.

1962 Topps Stamp artwork

Attachment 386544


I have included an example of a Topps Stamp panel with Brooks alongside Wally Moon.

1962 Topps Stamp panel

Attachment 386545

R.G. Laughlin cards
 

From around 1966 through the 1970's, Robert (R.G.) Laughlin produced a variety of sets in conjunction with Fleer. Most notably were his World Series sets, but a couple of his sets included Brooks Robinson. These cards are interesting and fairly inexpensive.

1974 All-Star Games

Attachment 386589

1976 Diamond Jubilee

Attachment 386590

Spring Training
 

For anyone interested, the newest Orioles spring training program.

Attachment 386607

Those last two photos are killer Mark!

I like the look of the Laughlin Brooks cards. Marty (laughlinfan) has the original artwork for the Brooks 1974 AS Games. He had a few others from this set along with some from the Super Standups set.

Day 55 (February 24, 2020 – 055)

It’s sad for me to say, but I was never a member of the Brooks Robinson Fan Club. As a matter of fact I didn’t even know that there was a Brooks Robinson Fan Club. I sure wish I could go back and join (and pick up a few Mantle rookies while I’m there); I’d have been a die-hard member that’s for sure.

I’ve had this certificate for a while and it was placed, not so neatly, in a scrapbook I purchased back in the day. The scrapbook wasn’t that great, but it did have a couple of neat items glued heavily on a scrapbook page. This is a Certificate of Membership to the Brooks Robinson Fan Club dated June 11, 1965.

1965 Certificate of Membership – Brooks Robinson Fan Club


Attachment 386678

1977 Style
 

A 1977 style Brooks card !

This is a cool item! Is it from Topps Vault?

Rochester Red Wings photos
 

I'll keep posting minor league items until Mark shuts me off. :D

Here are photos of the 1979 Rochester Red Wings (O's AAA affiliate) that were sponsored by The Big Red Q Quickprint Centers. I assume they were giveaways of some sort. They are B&W 8.5" x 11" and the autographs are facsimile. The most recognizable names include Mike Boddicker and Nate Snell.

I also have photos of Jose Bastian, Vic Bernal, Mark Corey, Randy Fierbaugh, Larry Johnson, Wayne Krenchicki, Gerry Pirtle, Jimmy Smith, Tommy Smith and Wayne Tyrone. I don't know if the set is complete at 12 or not.

Mike Boddicker

Attachment 386690

Nate Snell

Attachment 386691

I also really enjoy this set. I did a blog post about how these cards were tied into the Coke baseball bottle caps promotion (with a couple of pictures of Brooks Robinson caps):

http://fleersticker.blogspot.com/201...1967-coke.html

The photographer's grandson reached out to me after seeing the post and shared some great documentation regarding the photo shoots for this set, including the lists of players to be photographed. You can see the full story here:

http://fleersticker.blogspot.com/sea...Dexter%20Press

I like the new shiny cards with the old school Topps setup like this one with the '77 borders.

I saw the artwork at one of the Baltimore Nationals and kept an eye out for it since the personnel at the Topps booth said it would be in an upcoming auction at the Topps Vault. Topps usually puts some nice items out around National time. I'm glad I saw it there since I really don't follow what they put out on a regular basis.

Alan,

I'm hoping you can make it with minor league Oriole affiliate items ALL year! :D I get to see all these pieces that I've never seen before and I'm lovin' it...

Both the Boddicker and the Snell look nice and I like the setup. They even have credit for photographer on there.

AWESOME read! Thanks for sharing this information related to the Dexter Press cards and how they tied in with the Coke bottle cap promotion.

So cool that so much detailed information was saved to be shared with us collectors. Makes collecting much more enjoyable to get the back story on these items and in this instance mainly from the photographer and the individuals dealing with the promotions prospective.

Keep up the GREAT work!

1976 Charlotte Orioles
 

Mark,

Shouldn't be a problem. I've got stuff back in Maine, I haven't scanned yet.

For Eddie Murray's birthday, how about the 1976 Charlotte Orioles team photo with a young Eddie in the back row.

Attachment 386796

1976 Charlotte Orioles
 

Mark,

Part of the fun I'm having is that the posts from others are reminding me of some of my items that I haven't looked at in ages.

Day 56 (February 25, 2020 – 056)

Rawlings MVP Baseball’s Most Valuable Players book. Small booklet type item put out by Rawlings in 1965 to celebrate Ken Boyer and Brooks Robinson for their 1964 MVP year and produced baseball mitts to commemorate. The Rawlings Robinson/Boyer gloves were an MVP model with the Big Wheel web. I “ALWAYS” wanted, and had to have, a Brooks Robinson endorsed glove when I was young and playing baseball.

1965 Rawlings MVP booklet Baseball’s Most Valuable Players

Attachment 386815

1965 Rawlings Glove Premium Print – Ken Boyer

Attachment 386817

1965 Rawlings Glove Premium Print – Brooks Robinson

Attachment 386816

My scanner didn’t like the Boyer print which is actually a brownish color like the Brooks pictured. Also, I couldn’t locate my Brooks print, even though I likely have a couple of them, so I had to just post what it looks like; sorry about that…

You have to love "Steady Eddie". Wasn't it at Charlotte where he learned to switch hit? Then, the next year win the AL Rookie of the Year :)

1964 Topps Giant
 

One of my favorite oddball sets of the 60s. Great looking cards! I wish they would have been 2.5 x 3.5.

1978 Miami Orioles
 

The 1978 Miami Orioles were the Orioles class A affiliate, in the Florida State League. They finished with a record of 76-65, which was good for 1st place in the Southern Division. They went on to defeat the Lakeland Tigers, 2 games to 1, to win the championship that year.

The Orioles were managed by future O's coach Jimmy Williams. Not a lot of future major leaguers were on the roster, although John Shelby played a few games that year. Drungo Hazewood, who played briefly for the Orioles, is probably the biggest name to make the team photo that year.

1978 Team Photo

Attachment 386836

1978 Program (cover was same as the Orioles spring training program, but some different content inside)

Attachment 386837

2 different pocket schedules

Attachment 386838 Attachment 386839

One of my favorites as well. I think most of the 1964 Topps Giant cards are good looking. I especially like the Brooks and the size is fine with me, but I'm sure that's the reason they are not as desirable currently. Also, it seems like they are rather abundant as well.

Were the 1978 Miami Orioles even prepared for a team photo? :eek:

I'm liking the small schedules as well as the programs...

Day 57 (February 26, 2020 – 057)

Brooks had a couple of baseball heroes growing up in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was a St. Louis Cardinals fan so Stan Musial was one of this favorite players. In the 8th grade Brooks was given an English composition assignment about his career ambition and he entitled the paper, “Why I Want to Play Professional Baseball.” His desire was to play professional baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals (so glad that part of the goal didn’t happen). Another all-time favorite player was a fellow Arkansas native George Kell (who was inducted to the HOF the same year as Brooks). George Kell was traded to the Orioles to fill in at third base in 1956 and 1957 till Brooks was ready to take the position full time. Kell had nothing but good things to say about Brooks; he stated, “You could talk about Brooks all day but he possessed three things you must have, he could hit, he could field – the best ever – and he was a class act.”

This is a photo of Brooks and George at Spring Training in Scottsdale, AZ in 1957 comparing bat grips. The picture was taken at a slightly weird angle, but still looks pretty cool.

Attachment 386942

WS Photos
 

World Series 1970 at Memorial Stadium. Cool to see the athletes in "street clothes".
I drove Frank Robinson and his wife in my car about two years ago. I showed them this picture. The wife thought it was SO FUNNY! "Frank look how skinny you where! " "Look at that collar " "Look at your Afro" They both got a good laugh from the photo.
Rose looks so Young-Love the skinny tie
Weaver with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.
and Bench looks like he was just robbed..... maybe he was!

Gil Coan
 

I just noticed that Gil Coan passed away earlier this month at 97 years old. He recorded the first hit in modern Orioles history.

Here'a photo of his 1954 Esskay card (not mine). RIP

1954 Aberdeen Pheasants
 

The 1954 Aberdeen Pheasants were the Orioles Class C affiliate. They played in the Northern League. The Pheasants were affiliated with the
Orioles until 1971 and saw a lot of future O's go through there.

The 1954 Pheasants finished 60-75 and were managed by Barney Lutz. The only future Oriole to play that year was Dick Luebke.
I was happy when I found the program, but thrilled to come across some player photos.


1954 Pheasants program

Attachment 386966

5x7 Player Photos - George Blash, Paul Carson, Robert Ehrke, William Hain, John Hoffman, William Hurst, Arthur Hunt, Roy Leafgren,
Barney Lutz, George Morris, Reginald Pitre, Rolf Scheel and the batboys

Attachment 386967 Attachment 386968 Attachment 386969 Attachment 386970 Attachment 386971 Attachment 386972 Attachment 386973

Dick Luebke Postcard

Attachment 386974

Gil Coan
 

I wondered how long it would take for some Esskay cards to be posted. I'm working on the set, but a long way from completing it. I have 21 from 1954, but none from 1955.

It's interesting to note, that Esskay used the Orioles team issued photos for their sets.

Eddie generally credits Jimmie Shaffer (the Charlotte manager that year) for making him into a switch hitter.

Back in 2016, I was fortunate to be invited to the 40th Anniversary Reunion of that 1976 club (which was the first year it was an Orioles affiliate) and took this picture of Eddie & Jimmie:

https://i.imgur.com/LDZttaM.jpg

Scott,

While you've showed me these snapshots in the past I still think they are AWESOME! It's really hard to pick a favorite since I like them all and all are very unique in their own way.

Thanks for sharing the story of your drive with Frank and his wife. Frank brought some great memories to the O's fans including myself. I heard that Frank could be a bit rough at shows and such, but each time I've had an interaction with him it was ALWAYS pleasant and sometimes funny...

Alan,

Where do you come up with all these great minor league items!

Just when you have an opportunity to expand on collecting minor league Oriole affiliates. I believe you've discussed that you were an Oriole fan in Maine, but how the progression to ALL minor league affiliates?

LOVE the picture Bill!

Day 58 (February 27, 2020 – 058)

Late 60’s early 70’s JD McCarthy Postcard. I see a lot of these JDM postcards of certain players, but over the years I don’t see Brooks show up often at all. I really don’t know a lot about these postcards, but the picture used on this one is from 1969 since Brooks has the 100th Anniversary patch on his left sleeve. His uniform looks kind of white in the B&W picture, but he’s wearing his grey road uniform.

JD McCarthy Postcard

Attachment 387028
Attachment 387029

Hi! New here and loving all this Orioles stuff!

I think the reason you don't see many JD McCarthy Brooks Robinson postcards is he usually used Orioles team postcards for autographs. He was very good about replying to requests back in the day. I have a number of signed team postcards that I got just by writing to him care of the Orioles from 1965-1972 or so. All team postcards. Usually he'd just sign it, somebody would address it and drop it in the mail, no envelope.

Steve

Alan:

I have to admit to never seeing those Red Q Print Centers Rochester cards before (one of the reasons I love this thread).

Here is Mike Boddicker's Red Wings warm up jacket..Mike joked to me one time that he spent so much time in Rochester (parts of six seasons), he probably could have been elected mayor:

https://i.imgur.com/h61U5i4.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/xTcZXXa.jpg

Bill,

Nice jacket. It's interesting that the tags give you a history of the players that wore the same jacket. So much stuff in the minor leagues are reused over and over.

Orioles Minor Leagues
 

Mark,

I did grow up an Orioles fan in Maine. In 1964, at age six, I fell in love with the Orioles bird on their hat and Brooks Robinson. Back in those days, I collected baseball cards like most kids. By the late 60's, I had progressed to yearbooks and some programs. I came across some Orioles team issued postcards and a Norm Siebern 8x10 photo at a card show in Nashua, NH and was hooked on team issued stuff.

My interest in minor league items can probably be traced back to my first set of TCMA cards (1978 Rochester Red Wings). I've always had an interest in family history and geneology. Since the minor leagues are part of a franchise's history, the progression to Orioles minor league items was logical. That's the short answer. I'll expand of some items as the year progresses. I will say that it is amazing how much stuff a minor league team will just give you if you show interest and ask them. Needless to say, all the current O's affiliates know who I am... :D

1961 Rochester Red Wings
 

Here are some photos from a baseball clinic sponsored by the Rochester Red Wings and Southtown Plaza. They are about postcard size and could be considered postcards, rather than photos. I have four photos, Luke Easter, Frank House, Bob Johnson and Fred Valentine. They are all autographed. My guess is these are 1961, since that was the only season Frank House played for the Red Wings. No idea if this is a complete set. Only ones I've ever seen.

Attachment 387056 Attachment 387057

WOW! Never even heard of those! Thanks for posting.

Steve,

Welcome aboard and great to have you viewing the Orioles thread. Would love to see anything O's related, and or any and all teams that are connected to the O's, from your collection. Of course we like feedback as well...

Yeah, I wasn't sure on the Brooksie JDM. That definitely could be the reason. Thanks for the input.

Awesome jacket Bill. So cool how the players would get hand me downs. Wonder who else wore the jacket...

So cool. Of course never seen these before and the signatures give it an added touch in my view. Hey, at least I've "heard of" the Red Wings team!

I'm sure Alan (and a few others) may recognize the others on the tag..

Gerry Pirtle was with the Red Wings in 1979 (and actually had a cup of coffee with Montreal the year prior)

Tommy "Skid" Rowe was with the Orioles organization for a few seasons in the late 1980's and early 1990's

Day 59 (February 28, 2020 – 059)

Gunther Brewing Company was one of the original beer sponsor for the Baltimore Orioles and became the primary sponsor in 1956. Their slogan for the Orioles back in 1954 were – “Get on the Oriole bandwagon with Gunther”. If I’m not mistaken they had two different ads on the scoreboard at the time within Memorial Stadium; one with the beer bottle cap and one with the bottle.

This is a relatively common Orioles poster, but not a lot are in the best of shape and some, when found, have been folded. In 1959 Gunther put out a team poster, around 24”x36”, of the Orioles pictured in front of the scoreboard with the Gunther ad predominantly shown.

1959 Gunther Beer Baltimore Orioles team poster.


Attachment 387145

1954-55 Pine Bluff Judges
 

Pine Bluff, Arkansas hosted the Orioles Class C representative from the Cotton States League for several years. The Judges has been affiliated with the St Louis Browns previous to 1954.

The 1954 Pine Bluff Judges finished with a record of 47-71. Attendance for the whole season was 24,196 (an average of 410/game). I wish I had more items to share from that team, but it's amazing that anything survives from some of the obscure teams. I'm lucky to have a program.

Attachment 387151

Attendance in 1955 continued to be an issue and on June 16, the Judges moved from Pine Bluff to Meridian, Mississippi. The team was 25-31, while in Pine Bluff, but rebounded to finish with a winning record of 59-56, after moving to Meridian. Unfortunately, neither of the Judges teams produced any future major league Orioles.

I've never seen anything from Meridian, but here's the 1955 Judges program.
It's not mine, but I hope to have first chance at it, if it ever hits the market. Hint! Hint! Donny :D

Attachment 387152

Very interesting information on the Pine Bluff/Meridian Judges. How can a team survive with that type of attendance. Does the program mention the Orioles anywhere within the program?

Stick with the Birds!
 

Day 60 (February 29, 2020 – 060)

On the last day of the month, as O’s fans, we really need to remember to “STICK WITH THOSE BIRDS”. This is a relatively small Orioles banner from the ‘60’s that remind us to do just that. Really like the original Hartzell bird (1954 -1964) from the early days of the Orioles. It’s tough on an O’s fan nowadays, but I’m a lifer so we’ll just have to live in the past when it comes to the great Oriole teams. Hopefully in my lifetime I’ll see them back on top (I can hope).


Attachment 387230


Not only did I really like the Hartzell bird, but The Shoulder Patch Bird (unsure of the read name) was a favorite as well; just a neat vintage look to the Orioles uniform. Below is a picture taken by Bob Olen of Brooks from 1961 with the Bird on the shoulder.

1961 Photograph

Attachment 387231


Quote: "Watching Brooks [Robinson] play third is like watching Oscar Robertson play basketball every day." Frank Robinson


I found a ticket envelope produced by The Oles Envelope Corporation that was interesting. On the back has a reminder to “Stick with the Birds”.


Attachment 387232
Attachment 387233

I was going through some items in my collection last week and ran across this Jim Palmer personal check (which was obtained through his ex wife Joni) and noted that it was dated 02/29/96

Happy Leap Day!

https://i.imgur.com/s914qZP.jpg

Yes, the original scoreboard had a bottle cap, which was later replaced with the bottle. Here is a picture from 1954 that appeared in the Baltimore Sun, with a caption that read "Gunther presents the world's largest scoreboard to citizens of Baltimore".

You can see my look back at the history of Memorial Stadium's scoreboards here:

http://fleersticker.blogspot.com/201...l-stadium.html

1954 Spring Training
 

As I attend Orioles spring training games in Sarasota this month, I'm reminded just how much it has changed over the years.

Here are some of the earliest items from my collection. They are from the Orioles first spring training in 1954. The Orioles began spring training in Yuma, Arizona. I would love to add a program from a game in Yuma, but have yet to come across one.

As you can see from the O's spring schedule, towards the end of spring training, teams would travel from city to city playing exhibition games. It looks like the Orioles and Cubs got to know each other fairly well.

Attachment 387263 Attachment 387266

Here are a couple of programs before the Orioles started the regular season.

Program vs Chicago Cubs in Dallas (March 29-30)

Attachment 387264 Attachment 387267

Program vs St Louis Cardinals in St Louis (April 10-11)

Attachment 387265

If anyone has any other programs from the Orioles 1954 spring training. Please post!!!

That is a GREAT read and nice pictures to go along. Thanks for the link. I can’t believe I haven’t seen that till now.

Jim Palmer
 

Nice Bill. I don't have much related to Palmer; just a few things. Here's a relatively early signed piece.

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