Very cool Mantle photo, Craig!

Not vintage but still kinda cool. This is second base from the May 30th, 2010 game in Chicago vs the Cards. Albert Pujols hits 3 homeruns in this game. Now the MLB sticker only states the date of the game and which base this was, but not which innings the base was used. Generally they change them after each 3 innings. But Albert hits a HR in the 1st, 5th and 9th innings so which ever set this may be from, he hit a homer and stepped on this base! So I covered all my bases, LOL

Another of my favorite finds from this year was this 1964 Remco Beatles Doll Set with the seldom seen Sears Catalog Mailing Box. While most of the Dolls themselves are plentiful, these Sears Dolls were made to be very hard as opposed to the much more common soft plastic regular dolls. The Sears Dolls also came in a marked cardboard 4 in one box, compared to the individual display boxes that the regular issued soft Dolls came in.

So when I had the Dolls in hand, I set out to find a 1964 Sears Christmas Catalog as a companion piece. It took some time but I was finally able to locate one, as is shown in the scans below...

Attachment 52178Attachment 52179

Attachment 52180Attachment 52181

years not over yet, I'm still looking

Not "finds" but favorite pickups for the year.
 

First, I just want to say I've seen some truly amazing pickups/finds!

This pin - I've rarely seen since the Phillies were only called "bluejays" for a short period - and it was unofficial.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...g?t=1324235976

And in the world of lobby cards - this one is a whale for me - one of my favorite Sci-Fi movies of the 50s - This Island Earth title card.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...g?t=1322539464

Oops - what? Another whale? Yes! The Thing! 1951.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...g?t=1322451561

A very cool "rescue cat" whose mom left her litter on my porch - and later died of feline aids - we named her Sadie:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...g?t=1317357300

A really neat "coke" advertising piece that still lights up and the clock works!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...g?t=1315670300

My 27th variation to my collection of Take Me Out to the Ball Game sheet music - I'm working with Tim Wiles - Director of Research - at the HOF on cataloging all the variations - I've provided an update to their list of 5 - I'm short 2 from my total list of 29 - which includes some variations of the same singer - this one is Richard Burton:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...g?t=1311641006

The original artwork for the 1955 Yankee's WS press pin:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/stone193/55WS.jpg

Tobacco store advertising piece with original frame:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...Egyptienne.jpg

A beer advertising piece - New York Yankees - in the most incredible condition I've ever seen with respect to this piece:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...3/tn_003-9.jpg

On the toy side - this Dick Tracy car is pristine - I got Noel Barrett of the Antique Roadshow to authenticate it for me!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...g?t=1324876168

I'm gonna call it quits with this one - the centerpiece of my Hartland collection - Ted Williams - Box - and Tag!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...rtlandnew1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...93/Scan3-1.jpg

It's actually whiter than this pic:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...g?t=1324876356

Thanx for viewing and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Jimmy,

You are effing amazing. This is a great Beatles ensamble! I love the original Sears packaging and 1964 catalogue!!

I think this is the exact Sears catalogue that my first GI Joe (Navy) was ordered from. That was my best Christmas that I remember as a kid. I remember it like it was yesterday.

BTW, does anyone else remember the excitement of looking through the Sears Christmas catalogue for the first time every year like I do? Those were great times!! :D

Great stuff, Mike R.!!

Merry Christmas!

I absolutely concur with Scott, Mike. What a fabulous and broad collection you must have if that was just your winnings from this past year! :eek:

Can't wait to see more. Regards, Jimmy

2011 Favorite Pick-Up
 

On the memorabilia side, my favorite 2011 pick-up would be a small collection of letters that were written to Bill Watkins, many during his tenure with Detroit (1885-88). When combined with the Robert Leadley / Robert Allen letters I already had (from Rhys Yeakley's famous find), I have a nice run of team stationary from 1885, 1886, 1888 (National League) and 1889 (International Association).

The letters are loaded with interesting content with several dating to when Detroit purchased the Western League Indianapolis team on 6/15/1885. This brought Watkins and most of the Indy team to Detroit, including Sam Thompson. When Keenan & McKeon failed to report/sign, the total cost to Detroit dropped from $5000 to $2000 (not a bad price for Sam Thompson, Deacon McGuire, Sam Crane, Dan Casey, and others). Furthermore, the Western League collapsed without its best team (Indy) and allowed Detroit to snag Lady Baldwin from the disbanded Milwaukee club. Near the end of 1885 baseball season, Detroit would also purchase the Buffalo club, sending the "Big 4" to Detroit (Brouthers, Richardson, Rowe, & White). Unfortunately, no content on the Big 4 to be found in the letters but still plenty of interesting tidbits (here is a sampling):

INDIANAPOLIS, July 16 1885
Mr. W. H. Watkins
Detroit Mich

Dear Sir:
When the Base Ball Club left here, Crane owed us $140.00 on the advance Money he got. McQueery 12.40, as you know as well as we do their Contracts read “The Advance Money to be kept from their Salaries at the rate of 40.00 each pay day, until settled”, & we now kindly ask you to attend to this for us, & remit amount due to date. Glad the Club is doing so well. Has Collins been released? Are you going to keep 4 Pitchers? Awaiting to hear from you.

Where is Poorman?

Yours Truly
Indlps Base Ball Club
S. E. Rauh Secy & Treas

In a letter dated 8/2/1885 (Team secretary Robert Leadley to Bill Watkins):

Anything relative to the financial business of the Club, you & I can settle between us, it is not necessary for Messrs Marsh and Stearns to stick in their oars. Those two, especially Stearns make me tired, this of course is confidential.
Baldwin taking good care of himself. Dr thinks next year he’ll be a great pitcher if he doesn’t over do this season.

Thank you Scott and Jimmy!

For clarity - I collect certain toys from the 50s and lobby cards from Sci-Fi/horror movies of the 50s.

Minor focus pins (WS and stadium) - and advertising items.

Hartlands, working on a few card sets.

Passion: Take me out...sheet music - according to the HOF - I have the most complete checklist of variations - I'm planning on donating the complete run -when finished down the road.

Scott you stole the words right out of my mouth about the Sears catalog -- I remember so well the excitement as a kid when it came and looking through it for potential gifts. Jimmy that goes great with your Beatles set -- you are not just the King of Clout, but also the King of Companion Pieces!

Mike R. -- lots of great pickups there, but the Dick Tracy car really stands out for me. My uncle had a large toy collection displayed in his home years ago, and that car was always my favorite piece.

Greg

I've been actively collecting for over 40 years, and 2011 was absolutely one of my very best for great finds at shows, shops and online. The best sports items included 1914 and 1915 World Series programs, a 1935 Kool Cigarettes Kentucky Derby radio broadcast advertising sign, a program for the 1977 "Rudy" Notre Dame-Georgia Tech football game and a 2001 post-9/11 Kevin Millwood Atlanta Braves jersey (perhaps the one he wore to clinch the pennant). But as in 2010, my favorite pickups were non-sports.

http://s915.photobucket.com/albums/a...TROLBADGES.jpg

First, a full set of DICK TRACY SECRET SERVICE PATROL radio premium badges issued by Quaker Cereals back in 1938. The "Inspector General" and "Patrol Leader" badges are quite rare; in fact, only a handful of the "Patrol Leader" badges are known to exist. The lack of any Dick Tracy identification on the Patrol Leader badge is one reason. The other reason is that exploitation of little kids is not a recent development.

Badges were earned by sending in Quaker Puffed Wheat and Puffed Rice boxtops. Two boxtops was all it took to become a Member. You could become a Sergeant for 5 more boxtops. For only 7 more boxtops, a Sergeant could be promoted to Lieutenant. When the Lieutenant sent in another 10, he became a Captain. The highest rank...Inspector General...only took 15 more boxtops. That's right...to become an Inspector General, the poor kid had to eat 39 boxes of cereal! The Patrol Leader rank could be yours if you could recruit five friends to give you two boxtops each and add two more yourself...bringing the total to 51 boxtops to acquire the badges shown in the photo! I suspect the life expectancy of Patrol Leaders was a matter of months.

In 2010, I was amazed to pick up an incredible set of original 1936 "FLASH GORDON" serial lobby cards (chapter 12) in their original Universal Pictures distribution envelope at an antique show. This year, the same seller confessed she had two additional sets...a condition I was pleased to cure. These are from chapter 10 and from the feature version released that same year.

http://s915.photobucket.com/albums/a...BBYCARDSET.jpg

http://s915.photobucket.com/albums/a...BBYCARDSET.jpg

Finally, here's a 1935 Joe Louis chalkware lamp that belonged to my Dad. It took five years to convince my sister that it was my turn to have it at my house. Never seen another one; it's a beauty.

http://s915.photobucket.com/albums/a...UISLAMP001.jpg

Scott & Greg. Am glad you guys like the Beatles stuff. Shifting a big part of my focus towards collecting the Fab Four was one of the best decisions I've made in years.

And regarding the Sears Catalog, my feelings are not only on the same page as the both of you, but the same sentence! I would expect that most of us Baby Boomers feel the same way.

The day that catalog arrived, I spent the better part of the evening going through page after page after page. Some terrific memories, for sure. :)

Attachment 52276Attachment 52277

Jeez Rick. Would I love to follow you around a show for a weekend. Your Premiums Collection is mind-boggling, as is your Lobby Card and Ticket Collection. I'm absolutely amazed at the constant top-notch condition of EVERYTHING you have collected, including your superb Baseball Advertising pieces. You RULE Rick!

The exploitation of kids and cereal box premiums...
 

First, a full set of DICK TRACY SECRET SERVICE PATROL radio premium badges issued by Quaker Cereals back in 1938. The "Inspector General" and "Patrol Leader" badges are quite rare; in fact, only a handful of the "Patrol Leader" badges are known to exist. The lack of any Dick Tracy identification on the Patrol Leader badge is one reason. The other reason is that exploitation of little kids is not a recent development.

Badges were earned by sending in Quaker Puffed Wheat and Puffed Rice boxtops. Two boxtops was all it took to become a Member. You could become a Sergeant for 5 more boxtops. For only 7 more boxtops, a Sergeant could be promoted to Lieutenant. When the Lieutenant sent in another 10, he became a Captain. The highest rank...Inspector General...only took 15 more boxtops. That's right...to become an Inspector General, the poor kid had to eat 39 boxes of cereal! The Patrol Leader rank could be yours if you could recruit five friends to give you two boxtops each and add two more yourself...bringing the total to 51 boxtops to acquire the badges shown in the photo! I suspect the life expectancy of Patrol Leaders was a matter of months.

Rick,
Great pickups in 2011! Your detailed description of how many boxes of cereal you needed to eat to gain all the Dick Tracy premium badges is a hoot!! I especially like the part about the life expectency of Patrol Leaders. :p

I remember that as a kid I had to eat 20 boxes of Zoom cereal in order to get my first baseball mitt- a Wally Moon special. Believe me, eating 20 boxes of Zoom cereal was a yeoman's task. Zoom was a hot cereal that tasted similar to hot oatmeal. Talking about being burned out- yikes! I can't imagine eating 51 boxes of any cereal.

Exploited for sure, but I loved that first mitt and I still have it around somewhere...

Thanks for the nice comments guys, and thanks for sharing your fantastic finds throughout the year. Glad to read that I'm not alone in my fond memories of the Sears Christmas catalogs - here are a few more to stoke the happy thoughts! (top row - 1962, 1964, 1965; bottom row - 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969). If anyone wants to see the ad for their favorite toy, drop me a note and I'll scan if for you.

http://s915.photobucket.com/albums/a...orts/003-5.jpg

Although I don't post pickups too often, figured I'd add to the thread. Nothing mind-blowing, but here are some representative pick-ups in a number of areas...

Inspired by Jimmy, a photo and the obligatory companion piece:
<a href="http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/?action=view&amp;current=yogisatpost.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/yogisatpost.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><a href="http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/?action=view&amp;current=satpost.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/satpost.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

My first trophy & buckle:
<a href="http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/?action=view&amp;current=trophy.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/trophy.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><a href="http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/?action=view&amp;current=buckle.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/buckle.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

A couple of bats - Crosetti (thanks to a fellow Forum member) & Jeter:
<a href="http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/?action=view&amp;current=crosetti.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/crosetti.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><a href="http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/?action=view&amp;current=jeterbat.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/jeterbat.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

My earliest Highlanders Program (thanks to a fellow Forum member) and a neat 19c broadside:
<a href="http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/?action=view&amp;current=07highlandersprogram.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/07highlandersprogram.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><a href="http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/?action=view&amp;current=1895broadside.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/1895broadside.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

A couple of Kreindler candidates - Selkirk & Larsen PG:
<a href="http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/?action=view&amp;current=selkirk.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/selkirk.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><a href="http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/?action=view&amp;current=larsenphoto.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/larsenphoto.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

A bat rack that works within my space constraints (along with my own modification:D):
<a href="http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/?action=view&amp;current=batrackphoto.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/batrackphoto.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><a href="http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/?action=view&amp;current=rackupdated.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/rackupdated.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

And last but certainly not least - non-vintage but a classic nonetheless - the game used lineup card (Arizona dugout) from Game 4 of the 2001 WS - the "Mr. November" game:
<a href="http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/?action=view&amp;current=01wsgame4lineup.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/donfan23/01wsgame4lineup.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Not sure if I posted this pickup on this side of the forum. It's a 1910 Hal Chase Fan for a Fan.

Wow!
 

I've got to catch up on some of the stuff I just saw and the focus.

Jimmy - I'm really envious of Beatles collectors! It's just so broad and so much cool stuff. Very cool pickup. I also remember looking at catalogs and "dreaming" as a kid! Superb!

Rich - what can I say - the Dick Tracy premiums are incredible! I've never seen that many. The Flash Gordon LC's are incredible - I do remember the serial on TV when I was a kid.

RJ - I don't collect trophies - your first pick is very nice looking - I think you picked a beauty - congratulations.

Chris - that'a a really nice Chase fan.

Thanx for sharing!

INCREDIBLE! Where did you land that from? Great addition, Congratulations! Tino's homer will always be at the top of my list in the moments of Glory!

I collect only pennants - almost exclusively baseball - but this Eagles pennant surfaced at a flea market of all places. Never seen one this color (red/gray) before.

Matt,

Thanks. Took me about 3 years of patience to land that from a fellow collector.

I was a Yankees season ticketholder at the time and attended all 3 home games in that Series. From The President and Clemens in Game 3 to Tino and Jeter in Game 4 to the O'Neill farewell and Brosius in Game 5 - that 52-hour stretch of baseball is near impossible to match up against from my perspective, even though the Yanks didn't win in the end.

R.J.

RJ, I agree with Matt on that sentiment - a WONDERFUL piece.

Also, you're darn right about that Selkirk image - I'd love to get it to canvas!!

Graig

Good things come to those that wait... Always easier said than done! You're right... The entire series will never be topped.

Eagles pennant
 

Love that Eagles pennant Greg! I collect Eagles pennants (as well as everything else Eagles related), and have seen that color version only once before, and unfortunately I found it after it had already sold. If that is a pennant you ever decide to sell or trade, I would have a strong interest in it.

My top find of 2011 is also the top piece in my exclusive LSU collection. An original 9"x44" panoramic photograph of the first game in Tiger Stadium, Thanksgiving Day, 1924. I am in the works of getting it licensed with LSU and reproducing it

http://soonerpsycho.com/spfarksandpi...mpanoramic.jpg

Since I really don't collect memorabilia I figured I could stretch the definition of find to include finding out something I've had forever was actually more valuable than I thought. I have a bunch of old glove contracts signed by the players only diehard old fans would know. They were cheap because the players were mostly one year guys so I bought them because they were neat looking(and dont forget,cheap). Well, I hadn't looked at them in years until a month ago and I just happened to notice one of the contracts had a witness signer named Sam Jones. It was a 1928 Grant Gillis contract and everyone knows he was teammates with Sad Sam Jones that year, 229 game winner. The other witness was longtime second baseman Jackie Hayes. All the other contracts have non-player signatures for the witness but this one was pretty cool to find out

Four 2011 top pick ups
 

Looking good there, Carlton!! ;)