Awesome info, thanks! Always neat to associate an actual date. I haven't received it yet but I'm assuming based on the photo with the woman's fingernail that its probably equal to the small one in your photo.

Learning more and more about pinbacks every day!

You’ll be glad you did. Now, make a spreadsheet. :p

You got a deal on that one, but it's not a high dollar pinback in any case, as others have stated. Which is a great thing about pinbacks -- some of the absolutely most attractive ones aren't necessarily rare or expensive. I love that about this niche of collecting.

(Also, yours looks to be absolutely legit vintage, but I do think pins of this design may have been reproduced at some point more recent than their original issue.)

Is there a way to tell the new ones from the originals?

Ok, I caved.

I could not let Pee Wee Reese sit in that antique store display case one more day, so he came home to live with me instead.

I am now officially addicted to pinback collecting.

Very nice Jim and a dodger to boot.... Enjoy..

Thank you, Al. I went back to that same store and saw that this vendor was having a considerable sale. I pointed out to him that there was no pin and I got it for a fair bit better price than he quoted last week. Then, I found another vendor who had miscellaneous old pinbacks for $1 each and I found one with a comparable, vintage pin and bought it for the Reese. I think it looks period appropriate and it fits well.

I’m relatively new to serious pinback collecting so let me ask you guys…what draws you to these?

- There are no stats on the back like cards.
- Probably not much in the way of checklists or set building for many of these.
- Many seem to be somewhat crudely designed or just plain
- Can’t recall many people wearing these to games or in every day life during my youth (1970s-1980s)

So what’s the draw? What attracts you to them?

O.K. Jim I will flip the script what made you start collecting these? Now if you can answer that then you know why we do...:D:D

I would disagree on lack of checklists. Unfortunately, most of those checklists are homemade on our computers….at least mine is. :p

I’m old school, prior law enforcement. I’m a dinosaur, they tell me. I like writing stuff down on post-it notes better than an electronic to-do list. I’d much rather have a clipboard in my hands than a spreadsheet on my computer. I liked when people came to work every day, and on time because that mattered. I liked when cops hid their tattoos and were clean shaven, when the girl serving my coffee had less rings on her face than my shower curtain…when people came in for job interviews in a suit and their hair didn’t look like a bag of Skittles. I liked when kids showed respect to adults, when men looked like men and the women didn’t.

I liked when all you could think about all week was catching Mel Allen on This Week in Baseball. I liked falling asleep to the voices of Phil Rizzutto and Frank Messer calling Yankees games on 77 WABC over the pocket transistor radio hidden under my pillow. I liked when a card set could be easily built from packs, when kids flipped their cards. When cards were not shiny, refractor, serial numbered 1/1, latest/greatest nonsense. I liked when cards were just fun to collect, not investments based on a price guide.

I like when people sent linen postcards of baseball stadiums to their friends. I liked that baseball players had regular jobs in the off-season to pay the bills. I like that Willie Mays came out and played stickball with the kids in the street. I like when ball players rode the subway home like a regular Joe. I like when a ballplayer gladly signed an autograph because you revered him and wanted his signature.

I guess the pinbacks just remind me of a life that was a little simpler. Like I said, I’m a dinosaur.

I’m also old school with a similar background to you. For me these pinbacks are part of history that is gone. I still remember the venders outside ballparks selling their non-licensed items. At one time wearing pins of your favorite team or player was important. Those days are long gone. I always wonder about the history of any pin I acquire including when and where it was originally bought.

That is an outstanding photo, Mike!

For this pinback design specifically, I've seen quite a few over the years that seem to have a different backing material, with bright and shiny rims, and just overall look new. I understand that there is "new, old stock" for some vintage items, but some of these just seemed much newer than 50s or even 60s to me.

I guess a little rust can be a welcomed sight!

Right.... Grading be damned.

We like them clean, but (unlike cards) signs of age are very much welcomed (especially when confined to the reverse side :rolleyes: )

Check out the sweater on the left. Is that a pennant safety pinned to his sweater? If so, it’s a pennant I’ve never seen before!

Good eye Rob. That has to be a pennant and obviously a Dodger. Maybe a pennant expert will recognize it.

It’s weird, though…looks like National League Champs, but without a Dodgers reference. :confused:

Went back to that antique store from last week to pick up those two other crossed bat pinbacks

Oh, and my previously noted Cubs pinback finally arrived!

I really don't mean to monopolize the thread, but here i go again.

I was doing some research on my recent purchases. I had assumed that my Milwaukee Braves, LA Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals crossed bats pinbacks were all of 1960's vintage. I stumbled across Paul Muchinsky's old blog? I guess and I saw a Cardinals pin of his that resembled mine, but the font was different. I've pictured them both below. Mine is on the left and Muchinsky's is on the right.

Is there any way to date these? is there any rhyme or reason for the different font styles? I know that you guys said that they maker was never identified, but with the different fonts it makes me think that there was more than one maker, no?

I don’t know of any way to date these for sure. I do believe the 1.25 inch version came out first in the late 1930s, and the 1.75 inch version followed a few years later. As for variations of basically the same pin, it’s probably just the result of a new press run.

Yes, and depending upon how you look at it, fun or frustration for variation chasers. But these are all great fun to see.

Since we were on the subject of Crossed Bat pins, I was wondering if anyone has seen a “Go-Go” version for any team other than the Cubs, White Sox, Orioles or Reds? The Cubs and Sox are the only ones I’ve seen in the 3.5 inch size. Paul had the only Reds version I have seen in his book and I don’t remember it coming up for sale, although I might have missed it.

Those are great. I wasn’t even aware there were others besides the White Sox. Wasn’t the “Go-Go Sox” their “thing”?

Yes, I believe that was the ‘59 Sox slogan as they ran a lot.

Mike I believe you are correct I havnt seen any others ,as the ones you mentioned .... Great pins... also havnt seen Pauls reds one up for sale..

Today’s antique store rescues, complete with vintage rust!


I was reading on a pinback webpage (https://baseballpinbackbuttons.wordp...r-derivatives/) the following quote “In 1962 when the Minnesota Twins joined the Major Leagues, the Midwest Badge and Novelty Company of Minneapolis issued a set of 1.75” pins for all the MLB teams. The pin for the Twins featured the image of two ballplayers shaking hands, symbolic of the Twin Cities. A crossed bats pin was made for every other team”

Is the Twins pinback pictured here the one described in the quote or am I missing something? I would think this one is smaller than the quote described.

Pm 10
 

One year collection...Looking for others I don't have..

Thanks, Marty

Whoa! That’s a helluva year! Is the red and blue NY one a football Giants pinback?

There are some NY Giants pins that I think were sold during both seasons. I’ve seen identical pins with both football or baseball “charms.” Red and blue would seem to be the football colors but the Giants baseball team went through many colors before the settled on orange and black.

See post 1181 for picture of Twins pin from the Midwest Badge set.

Wow, that's excellent Mike! Thanks for the quick reply. Guess mine is a more generic 60's or 70's pin.

So much to learn!

Antique store Pick-ups.

Not sure on the date or rarity on any of them.

Charge! I thought looked 70s.

Small orioles one has a magnet back. No idea on time period for this one.

Plastic Phillies Ring I assume is a charm from a Pinback? Probably 50s.?


Would love you alls input. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...bcb4ec06fc.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...db67cbdf88.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...9c5ed1b6e3.jpg

I believe the Charge pin is 1966.

Great grouping of pins! I especially like all the attachments which is exactly how they were sold by vendors outside stadiums. The Dizzy Dean attachment is much harder to find than the small pennant seen on the Big Bill Lee. It clearly dates these pins from 1938. There is also a Gabby Hartnett.

As for Lucas’ Phillies ring….I don’t think it’s a pinback charm. I think it’s just a ring; possibly from a gum ball machine (or elsewhere).

Found a new antique store today that I had never heard of but apparently it’s been in business for six years. This place was the antique store to end all antique stores. Bigger than anything I’ve ever been in.

So how bad do I have this newfound pinback obsession? Here’s the three big containers of Pinback Buttons that I looked through this afternoon by laying on the floor and sorting through them for over an hour. After I looked through all these, I thought I was done but spotted two smaller jars on the shelf so they’ll have to get looked at next time. I probably have about 15 or 20 new holes in my fingers from getting stabbed while sorting through all of these, but I was able to come up with a few goodies.

Two ‘65 Guys chips pins, the Cubs pinback and the Luzinski.

The airplane one is from a non-sports set that I picked up only because I already have another one so I thought it would be fun to collect those as well. The Reynolds ones were just throw-ins because that’s my last name so I couldn’t resist buying those two.

I did not buy the Fenway one, but I just thought it was neat as it obviously has a baseball connection to it.

Nice pickups, Jim. I have no idea what you’re paying for your finds but there’s no need to overpay. Some pinbacks can fetch thousands but others, like the Guy’s chips, are pretty common. Some eBay sellers think they can send their kids to college on such stuff but all can be found cheaply, with patience.

Appreciate the info, Rob. I’m paying what I feel are very fair prices. For example, I paid $20 for the 7 pins that I bought today. At $2.85 a pin, I feel very comfortable with what I paid.

Very fair! Good job. Here’s the Giants Crane’s and Guy’s:

Boy, they sure did like to reuse that same phrasing, didn’t they!

Anyone know when this Cubs pin that I found yesterday may have been made? I’m assuming 50s-60s???

Today’s finds.

I think more like 40s-50s, but I could be wrong.

Love the tab, I see this one survived its one bend and rebend. I don't know why they don't get more love, they are SO tough to find with the tabs intact. Here's my little collection.

2 new arrivals today

1900-1910 Recruit Little Cigars Philadelphia Athletics
1936 Jimmy Foxx Life Bread "Yours for Life" Pin

Thanks for a fellow Net54'er I found these.

Appreciate it! Trying to learn as much as I can.

That Recruit pin looks brand new! Wow!

Tabs? Did someone say tabs? :p

Incredible! I wish they'd done my Senators.

A few tabs of mine.

Are those all the same year, and is that a complete set? Are there players from other teams? Please tell what you know about them.

Those are great!

Those are cool. I've never seen those before.

Thank you Mike!

Complete set, yes. 1958. These pins were included in packs of Armour hot dogs sold in the Bay Area. I don’t believe player pins were done for any other teams. I think the similarly shaped team pins, like Mike’s, were most probably stamped by the same manufacturer but I don’t know how they were distributed. Do you know, Mike?

I don’t know. Hakes Guide lists them as Issuer Unknown, for both the early issued set (40’s-50’s) and the one from the 60’s.

Thanks. Great information on some really cool collectibles.

I don't want to turn this into the tab thread, but here's something else I noticed. Whether they be Giants players or team fan pins, there are only three shapes - round, diamond and rectangular. The round and rectangular may look a bit different because of how they are printed, but the shapes are identical. Another note - some believe the Giant Fan was distributed by Armour Meats, like the player pins, but I don't think so. It seems to me, the pin would be black, orange and white if that were the case. So, again, my theory is one "stamper"; different distributors.

P.S. the larger, round tabs are obviously a different maker.

P.P.S. Mike, why does the Yankee have an "M" on his hat? :p

He doesn’t have a “M”. It’s a “N” with a “Y” under it. As in New York.

Thought you guys may enjoy seeing this beanie that I saw in an antique store today.

From the Philly show


https://photos.imageevent.com/docpat...BabeRuthJM.jpg

https://photos.imageevent.com/docpat...beRuthJMbk.jpg

Very nice! I had to Google Jordan Marsh - Boston department store 1841-1996.

Thanks, I think the pin is ca. 1935 from the Babe’s time in Boston. Recently picked up this companion piece newspaper photo which seller stated was from a 1935 Boston Globe newspaper.


https://photos.imageevent.com/docpat...ePhotoRuth.jpg

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...%20Collins.jpghttps://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...in%20Young.jpghttps://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...in%20Doyle.jpghttps://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...Austin%201.png

I got into these a bit last year.

Looks like the boy is wearing a pin too.

Would be cool if it was the same pin and you could see it. I hadn’t noticed that.

Has anyone seen this pin before? I don't have it in hand yet but I think it's between 3-4 inches. An approximate value would be helpful too if it's a St. Louis Cardinals pin. Thanks in advance for any help.

Well I know its not a pin but humor me Im old... I didnt win this photo 25+ years ago and wished I did... The kid was so proud of his babe ruth scorer he hung it from his belt.... I copied it but kick myself I didnt win it.. O.K. Jim tell me which version it was LOL

I couldn’t even venture a guess there!

Been collecting pins on and off for over 50 years......mostly off....but seem to always get back in the game from time to time....have a lot of Dodgers / Yankees / Giants from the 40's / 50's......growing up in NY, those would pop up at shows quite frequently....will post some pics some time.....for now, my favorite pin of my favorite player of all time.....

He was awkward and floated at the same time patrolling CF.....love me some Agee....

https://i.imgur.com/l4g13x0.jpg

Very nice Jim I like the pins from that set....

Thanks Al - also have a Bobby Murcer and Cleon Jones from that set.....these large white 3-1/2" pins are tougher to find these days for some reason.....Believe they are from 1971 if not mistaken?

Have had a chance to review most of this thread recently (great collections out here!) and someone along the way asked what the appeal was to collecting pins?.....For me (especially when it comes to PM10 Pins):

* They display extremely well......
* Chance to collect vintage HOFer and Star players at a fraction of the cost of cards from that same era.....
* From a former New Yorker, they were easy to find at shows growing up and the legend of those 40's, 50's, and even early 60's Yankees, Dodgers and Giants teams was huge back in the day....I mainly collect player pins from those three teams although I have a few HOFers and Stars not from NY....
* Readily available in the market in good condition for their age....even though some are much tougher than others....
* They take me back to a time when things were simple and easy....

I know the value is higher for those pins that have the pennants, ribbons, bats, gloves still attached, but for me, I like them "raw".......just the pin.....

I've thought about diving back into earlier pins (Pre-1940) as well as later pins (Mid 60's / 70's and on), but there is something very special about the 1-3/4" PM 10s from the 40's, 50's and early 60's.......just love them....

Love it Jim... and so funny this is the only Met pm10 1 3/4 I know of... Very strange....

Let me know when you want to sell the Kranepool Al …..LOL

I was perusing this online auction last week that had a bunch of political pinback buttons. I was hoping to find a baseball one mixed in the lot.

That’s when I spotted it! The baseball glove charm seen on so many of the displays that you’ve all shown.

Now it’s mine!

Love all the charms! How cool was it to see things like rabbit's feet, knives, metal rifles, and all the other standard charms dangling from great-looking team pins at concession stands in the 50s and 60s? Irresistible! I am still drawn to an assemblage including the team pin, red, white, and blue ribbons, metal or plastic (bakelite?) ball, bat, and glove or a little hollow plastic pitcher, catcher, or batter. Although dealers started putting their own assemblages together years ago to enhance the value of their pins, if you've seen a lot of them it's fairly easy to tell an actual vintage complement from a more recent creation. Originals for my Senators/Nationals are hard to come by, however, and highly prized by this collector.

I love the charms too. That’s why when I spotted the glove, I had to have it.