1962 Tri City Braves
 

In post #995, I discussed the 1961 Tri City Braves/Atoms. In 1962, the Braves were a Co-Op team and not directly affiliated with the Orioles. A Co-Op team is one that borrows players from several to many different major league franchises. Over the years, the Orioles have been involved with a few co-op teams, mainly during the 1980's.

The Braves finished a respectable 78-62 in the Class B Northwest League. The Orioles would skip a few years and return to the Tri City area in 1965.

While the LA Angels contributed the most players, at least a half dozen other teams were represented. The Orioles lent three players to the Braves. Joe Puleo, Paul Knechtges and Joe Petrikovic. None made it to the Orioles and I might be the only person that even cares. :D

Here's the 1962 program along with a roster sheet that gives you an idea of the teams represented. If you check out the visitors roster, you'll find out that future Atlanta Braves player, Rico Carty started out as a catcher.

Attachment 391727

Attachment 391728

The best part of the program is the photo of the 1961 Tri City team

Attachment 391729

Day 92 (April 1, 2020 – 092)

Even though it's April 1st and it's April Fools Day this is an actual poll I found which made me think about today. When I look at the results I think they're trying to play a joke, but these people are serious. As time goes by history seems to be revised...

Attachment 391817

1957-59 Orioles Team Issued Postcards
 

The Orioles have issued postcards since 1954. The earliest ones were B&W and mostly used for autograph requests through the mail. Often you find them autographed and postmarked through the mail. While postmarks on the back can add to the postcard, I hate when they are stamped on the front photo. They measure 3.25" x 5.5" and the backs are blank.

Here are the postcards issued from 1957-59. Since the style is the same, it's often difficult to identify exact years for players that played multiple years. Postcard collectors identify these by year range.

Here are all the postcards and known variations. I have 66 out of 72. Included are the first postcards of Brooks Robinson. I'm still missing the following - Joe Durham, Bert Hamric, Billy Loes (3rd variation), Al Pilarcik (Name in small print), Arnold Portocarrero (Name in small print), and Bill Wight. A Jack Harshman upgrade would be nice also.

Awesome collection! The Ronnie Hansen is really interesting. Older uniform with newer style cap! Must have been a spring training photo.

About 30 years ago while waiting outside in line on a Friday evening to get in the infamous George Washington Inn for the old Fort Washington show, I met a guy who offered me these Oriole postcards....I bought the lot for what I think was $50 but what attracted me to them (other than the cool factor), was that each player was still alive and I could add their autographs..I believe I also had a Eddie Lopat in the lot who I traded to long time Orioles post card collector Wayne Johnson at some point down the road:

https://i.imgur.com/pRltegp.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/7Y8H5L2.jpg

Bill,

Nice postcards. I know Wayne Johnson very well. He has an impressive Orioles collection, but unfortunately won't be sharing on this site or any other. He doesn't do computers, much like fellow Maine-ah Bob Thing.

Your postcards should be 1956 with numbers stamped on the back. For example Gardner is 023. The Ed Lopat would have been 1954-55. If Brown, Causey or Moore don't have numbers, they too are 1954-55 issues, but they look 1956. The Ray Moore is the toughest of the group, other than Lopat.

Alan,

Those postcards are AWESOME! I especially like the signed Foster Castleman example. Man, you can't get a much better autograph IMO; love it! I personally think the autographs make them even better, but I go back and forth on signed vs. unsigned.

Bill,

LOVE IT! Man, you got a bargain!

[QUOTE=Mark70Z;1966822]Day 92 (April 1, 2020 – 092)

Even though it's April 1st and it's April Fools Day this is an actual poll I found which made me think about today. When I look at the results I think they're trying to play a joke, but these people are serious. As time goes by history seems to be revised...

Day 92 (April 1, 2020 – 092) - CONTINUED

If a ranking of all-time third baseman doesn’t include Brooks either 1 or 2 (#1 all the way in my book) I don’t read any further (kind of makes me mad as well; did these writers developing an article or people doing a poll even watch these guys play, read, study, etc. or do they just care about offense?). How can the greatest defensive “THIRD BASEMAN” not be on top? If you want to look at just hitting, then talk about the greatest hitters of all time… I’m more than fine with Brooks not being the greatest hitter of all time.

Quote: “Brooks Robinson is the greatest defensive third baseman in history, and I would say my numbers are a little better than the other third baseman offensively.” – Mike Schmidt

This is what Brooks feels about the individuals who developed these rankings…

Attachment 391897

I LOVE the newspaper insert type magazines (I’m weird…I know). This is a magazine is from the Pueblo Star-Journal and Sunday Chieftain in Pueblo, Colorado called Family Weekly from August 7, 1966. Love what it says about Brooks on the cover of the newspaper magazine, “Brooks Robinson won’t let anything stand in the way of winning – not even a broken thumb. Says the Baltimore slugger; “It hurts when you don’t hit the ball.”

Attachment 391898

Day 93 (April 2, 2020 – 093)

Personally, I really like the 1962 Topps stamps. They are small measuring around 1 3/8”x 1 7/8” and the set has 201 stamps. They were inserted into packs of 1962 Topps series and either had the red or a yellow background. I really like the picture they chose for Brooks on the stamp and he has the yellow background. Brooks was on a stamp panel with Wally Moon (most common), Jack Baldschun, and Duke Snider.

Brooks and Wally Moon panel

Attachment 391968

Brooks and Jack Baldschun panel

Attachment 391969

Brooks and Duke Snider panel

Attachment 391970

I also have one of Brooks and Wally Moon with a few more stamps included.

Attachment 391971

Those are nice examples of the stamps. The top panel is really nicely centered! Scott

Great start to April to all!!

Here is what I suppose to be a girl's purse with the Hartzell bird logo on both sides.....

https://i.imgur.com/g8rZkC6.jpg

Orioles & the Junior Baseball Federation
 

The Junior Baseball Federation is an organization in Philadelphia. Here's a quote from their website -

"The JBF was formed in 1948 by Bob Carpenter, owner of the Phillies, and Connie Mack, manager and part-owner of the Philadelphia Athletics, to coordinate and provide funding to the city’s youth baseball programs. The earliest JBF benefit games were exhibition games at Shibe Park between the Philadelphia Phillies and their hometown rivals, the Philadelphia Athletics. The scheduling of these benefit games was later changed to regular-season games and this year, the Phillies have identified five games for which a JBF voucher can be redeemed. "

The Phillies would invite teams to participate in a yearly benefit game. Participating teams would not get paid, but the visiting team's city youth baseball programs would get a portion of the receipts.

I have four programs from the years the Orioles participated, 1964-1966 and 1972. While the covers are similar, they did a nice job with articles relating to the Orioles inside. The 1972 program has an article about the Orioles trip to Japan in 1971. I believe the Orioles also played in the 1968 game, but I don't have that program. If anyone can verify all the years the Orioles played, that would be great.

I've seen programs as late as 1977. I'm not sure when the game was switched from an exhibition to regular season voucher games.

Attachment 391982 Attachment 391983 Attachment 391984 Attachment 391985

Alan,

For whatever reason the Junior Federation Baseball Games have been intriguing. I'd love to have a list of all of the games the Phillies played since inception of the organization in 1948. Of course, like you, I'd especially like to know all of the games where the Orioles were involved. Think it would be easier on the search if the games and dates were known. I thought about subscribing to the newspaper searches so I could search the Philly papers to find out more on these games. Hopefully someone knows more about the Junior Baseball Federation and can help in the research.

Day 94 (April 3, 2020 – 094)

Figure I’ll show a couple of hardback books that have Brooks “somewhere” on the cover.

Diamond Greats by Rich Westcott

Attachment 392120

Memories 1969 – 1994 by Rex Barney

Attachment 392121

TSN The Game for all America by John Thorn

Attachment 392122

Orioles Photos
 

I thought I'd share a couple photos from renowned Baltimore Sun photographer Richard Stacks. The photos are 11x14 and the quality is much better than the scans suggest. They are probably circa 1963 for Roberts and 1964 for Bunker.

Robin Roberts

Attachment 392151

Wally Bunker

Attachment 392152

Day 95 (April 4, 2020 – 095)

While I’m not a big fan of the cachets I do have a few of them. Today I’ll picture a couple of the Grenada examples below.

Grenada Cachets – November 28, 1988

Attachment 392199
Attachment 392200

Below is a small Grenada stamp panel with Brooks included.

Attachment 392201

I don't think I have any photos from Stacks, but would love to acquire some or at least one. He had a way with his photographs that's for sure. The two you posted are especially nice AND of the over-sized variety. The block letter uniforms are very nice looking in my view.

Ken Singleton
 

Posted for Clint (ksfarmboy)

Clint has a nice Ken Singleton Game Used Orioles cap. He didn't specify the year, but I'd say 1976-1977 era (what do you think?). Always wondered why the Bird was tilted so far up on some of these hats, but liked it just the same.

Attachment 392202
Attachment 392203

The hat looks very similar to his 1977 Topps #445

Attachment 392204

I believe the Singleton '76 hat (BTW great hat Clint!) may be the perfect segue to this month's edition of an Orioles BiCentennial bat:


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

When the new BB&T Bank ballpark opened in Charlotte in 2014, that April they had a reunion of the old Charlotte O's players from the past.

I was for fortunate to be invited and on the field prior to the game when I saw Mark Corey, John Flinn and the late Sammy Stewart, I saw the perfect opportunity for them to re-create their 1979 Topps Rookie Card:

https://i.imgur.com/Rj4MvEG.jpg

Bill that is one of the best 76 bats I’ve seen. The color on it is real nice! Love the pic of the Three Amigos. Sad Sammy is no longer with us☹️.

Outside Pitch Stat Cards
 

In 1992, an alternate to the programs sold at Camden Yards emerged. The programs were sold outside the stadium and eventually through a yearly magazine subscription. I started collecting them one issue too late and have all the programs printed, except issue #1. I have never seen it, but haven't given up hope of finding one. They lasted from 1992 until their last program in the beginning of 2010. The number of issues each year varied, but there are 192 different. The program was initially called GameDay, but in 1994 was renamed Outside Pitch. The publication's quality improved over the years.

Here is the Vol 1 No 2 issue along with their last issue Vol. 19 No 1.

Attachment 392244

Attachment 392245

In 1998, Outside Pitch added a cool twist with their programs. From 1998-2004, they printed sets of what they called stat cards. They were distributed with the programs at the stadium and offered as promos to encourage subscriptions. The cards are 5.5" x 8.5" and the fronts varied a little over the years.

Attachment 392253

Here are examples from 1998-2004. In 2002 and 2003, Outside Pitch highlighted former O's players and included a card of Brooks Robinson in the 2002 set.

Attachment 392246 Attachment 392247

Attachment 392254 Attachment 392249

Attachment 392250 Attachment 392251

Attachment 392252

On the backs of the cards were printed the current stats of the teams playing in the series. A few have blank backs and were probably used as the subscription gifts.

Attachment 392255

I have 69 out of the 71 cards I know of. I'm sure there are other back variations out there. I'm also missing card #3 from the 2004 set. Here are the known cards and stat back variations from my research. Additions to the list are welcome.

Attachment 392256 Attachment 392257

That's really something unique right there!!!

Bill,

That is one good looking BiCentennial bat.

Alan,

Thanks for the information on these items. I know I can’t add anything because I don’t have anything related, even the Brooks card example (I do like the Brooks card though!). Those cards look oversized; is that correct?

Mark...

Yes, those cards were oversized (little bigger than a postcard).

There also was a one year publication in 1987 (available via subscription) which was entitled aptly enough "Baltimore Orioles Magazine" and they probably published 4-5 issues before ceasing operation.

Here is a subscription form (later signed by Jr., Sr. & Bill) which I remember picking up at the Babe Ruth Museum that Spring and the very first issue used this cover design as well:

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

Orioles Magazine
 

There were 5 issues. They were nicely done. I was sorry to see them stop.

Attachment 392333

Attachment 392334

Attachment 392335

Attachment 392336


The last issue had a nice article on the collection of broadcaster Ted Patterson. Oh Wow!! Look what I found on page 24.... :D

Attachment 392337 Attachment 392338

About a year ago, my wife and I were visiting Maryland. Being from the Midwest, we relish opportunities to eat quality, fresh, seafood. So, when we asked our Uber driver about a good, local seafood restaurant, he suggested The Blue Dolphin outside of Baltimore. Wow - we were not disappointed with his recommendation!

On a wall (I believe near the bar) was a collection of framed artwork of Baltimore sports heroes. I was most impressed with this one of the great Brooks Robinson - so I took this photo. We always respected him in Detroit.
Attachment 392360

Those are some nice looking publications; wonder why they ceased after just five issues.

The last issue with part of Ted Patterson's collection is my favorite. Now how cool is it to have both Alan AND Bill "featured" in the magazine (of course Alan came out on top). Did you guys have fun at the games?

Marcos,

Thanks for the great memory of your visit to Maryland. The Norman Rockwell "Thanks Brooks" piece is likely in most Orioles fans collections. I know I have a few different size examples.

Since you mentioned Detroit, I'm sure they'll be a couple examples of Brooks with Al Kaline in this thread the coming year.

Day 96 (April 5, 2020 – 096)

Today we have a somewhat rare unreleased ‘Test’ issue from Topps. The 1973 Topps Comic were meant to be folded around gum (since Topps owned Bazooka) so some examples do have the folds and show evidence of being attached. Below is the 1973 Topps Comic Brooks Robinson.

1973 Topps Comic

Attachment 392517
Attachment 392518

Al Bumbry
 

Posted for Clint (ksfarmboy)

Clint is breaking out some good stuff and this is another example. Today is a game used jersey of the Orioles lead off hitter and speed demon Al Bumbry worn during the 1976 season.

Attachment 392519
Attachment 392520

Comic
 

I don’t ever remember seeing the 73 Comics as a kid. It’s very apparent that the 73 comics are harder to find then the 73 Pin Ups
That’s a real nice example of the comic Mark! The one I have has 3 marks/dots where the glue held the wrapper together, so I am guessing mine had gum in it at one time and was sold at a store.

Never quite understood why all the team emblems on the players hats are airbrushed off. I figured Topps had contracts with all the players and MLB.

I live in NY and a guy who lives across the street use to work for Topps a few years ago. I remember him saying once “ just because we have a contract with Alex Rodriguez, doesn’t mean we can make a million different baseball cards of him “
I assume even with a contract certain rules apply for Topps .

SSPC Orioles
 

While my friends had given up on collecting cards by the time they hit junior high and high school, I was still actively looking for my beloved Orioles. While the earlier 70's provided a little variety with cards from Milk Duds and Kelloggs, the high school years of the middle 70's were great. I could search the grocery aisles for Hostess cards and Royal Crown Cola cans. As a working man, I had some income of my own to invest. One set I loved was the SSPC cards from 1975-1976. Maybe it was their simplicity or the fact that the set contained a few Orioles that Topps hadn't printed cards of yet. Either way, I was impressed with the cards. I think they are still fairly popular and not too hard to find.

Here's the history of the set per BaseballCardPedia.........

SSPC: With the exception of some regional and oddball sets, baseball card collectors in the 1970s had the choice of collecting cards from one company and one company alone, Topps. Topps has a stranglehold on nationally distributed baseball card issues from 1956 throughout the 1970s until Fleer took up the challenge in 1980. But even before 1980, in 1975 to be exact, Mike Aronstein set the groundwork by challenging Topps in the market it had enjoyed to itself for two decades.

Aronstein was an ardent card collector who had put out card sets for several years in the 1970s, mostly minor league sets, but also some special team sets and reprints of some classic sets. His company was called TCMA, which stood for The Card Memorabilia Associates. Coincidentally, or perhaps not, the initials also stood for Tom Collier and Mike Aronstein, co-founders of TCMA. From TCMA came the Sports Stars Publishing Co. or "SSPC." SSPC published an early baseball card magazine/advertising vehicle, called Collectors Quarterly. Aronstein decided to become a maverick by testing the baseball card waters by printing an unlicensed 630-card collector's set using the 1953 Bowman set as a model. The '53 Bowman's have always been a favorite of card collectors because of their photography and simple, uncluttered design. Collectors Quarterly, or CQ as it became known, was used to introduce and promote the SSPC set. Incidentally, CQ was edited by a young hobbyist named Keith Olbermann. Yes, that Keith Olbermann. Olbermann was charged with the monumental task of writing material for the backs for the 630-card SSPC set.

The winter 1975 issue of CQ contained a two-page cardboard insert previewing the 1975-76 SSPC set. The 18 cards could be cut apart into singles and represented something of a traded set, as each player or manager changed teams between the end the 1975 season and beginning of 1976.

Here are the SSPC Orioles cards

1975 CQ Preview (Muser listed as an Oriole on back), 1975 Superstars Set of 42 (4 Orioles), 1975 Puzzle Back

Attachment 392541 Attachment 392540 Attachment 392542

1976 Orioles team set

Attachment 392536 Attachment 392537 Attachment 392538 Attachment 392539

Alan:

I'll be honest with you that I had completely forgotten about that...I know I was given a ticket to make up for my subscription unused balance but totally had forgotten that contest! As an aside, what did you win, just tickets too?

Back in the mid 1990's, Crown gas stations used Brooks image on their credit cards..I had met one of their sales reps from prior promotions and he somehow got me a un-embossed one too....

https://i.imgur.com/pXJK2wF.jpg

Mark:

That is a fantastic piece......I never went after the Brooks' Topps test issues but wish I had.

Bill

Great stuff guys! Mark that comic is real nice!

Bill,

I don't really remember why I even entered, but I do remember when the Orioles called me, they said "We never expected anyone from Maine to win, in fact we never expected anyone from Maine to enter". Since, I hadn't had many chances to go to Memorial Stadium over the years, my wife and I went down. I think they upped the prize a little because of the distance we traveled. We got tickets to the whole weekend series against Boston, a tour of the stadium, watched Orioles batting practice before the rest of the fans came into the park and a goody bag. I do remember our seats were beside Tom Neidenfuer's girlfriend in the Orioles family section. For those curious, Tom's girlfriend at the time was actress Judy Landers, now his wife.

I don't know if I was the reason, but I've noticed that most of the Orioles contests after that were limited to residents living in Maryland and surrounding states, but not Maine. :rolleyes:

Day 97 (April 6, 2020 – 097)

“EXTRA” put out by The News American in Baltimore Maryland. Just by coincidence it’s dated April 6, 1975. The article enclosed which is also listed on the front of the insert is “Brooks Robinson and His Gloveful of Memories”.

EXTRA The Magazine of The News American Baltimore, Maryland Sunday, April 6, 1975

Attachment 392808

Posted for Clint (ksfarmboy)

Today Clint has an 1980 Rich Dauer home game used Jersey. Dauer played his ten-year career with the Baltimore Orioles and was part of the 1983 World Series.

Attachment 392809
Attachment 392810

On June 23, 1980 the Southern League All Star Team was scheduled to play the Atlanta Braves in an exhibition game in Jacksonville. The Charlotte O's represented on this All Star squad included a 19 year old Cal Ripken Jr., as well as the late John Denman & Drungo Hazewood. Ironically one of the team members was future Orioles manager Buck Showalter (who played for Nashville).

Unfortunately the game was rained out (the first rainout in Jacksonville all season).

Here is a program, roster & team signed ball from my collection that I obtained from the manager of this team, Jimmy Williams (who would eventually become an Orioles coach):

https://i.imgur.com/xrA6KqL.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/GMjWwyJ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/WCmLc2Q.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/Lj9LXOr.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/UbRiDno.jpg

Charlotte O's programs
 

Bill,

I love the program. It reminded me of a couple exhibition programs hosted by the Charlotte O's from my collection.

The first program is similar to the 1980 program. In 1976, the Charlotte O's hosted an exhibition game with the Southern League All-Stars and the Braves. It was the first year Charlotte was an affiliate of the Orioles.

Attachment 392831

The roster included future Orioles Hall of Famer Eddie Murray. Other notables on the Southern League All-Stars included Dale Murphy and future O's pitcher Tim Stoddard, who started in the White Sox organization. I believe that Barry Barnell listed is actually major leaguer Barry Bonnell.

Attachment 392833

Attachment 392834

The second program is a exhibition game between the Charlotte O's and their parent club in 1984.

Attachment 392832

Here is the Orioles team poster (sponsored by Armour Hot Dogs) that was given away that night in Charlotte in '84..I've always liked that '84 logo as well:

https://i.imgur.com/WL99Y9X.jpg

Alan,

Do you have any pictures of Eddie wearing the uniform that was pictured in the program?

Great poster! I liked the logo they used as well.

Hey, that was a great looking signed ball you showed as well...

Day 98 (April 7, 2020 – 098)

I very much enjoy the Jay Publishing photos and try to pick them up either in a set and/or stand alone. Below pictured is an example from 1958-1962 Jay Publishing (seen them called ’61 as well); one of the Jays signed and one unsigned. I’ll let Alan sound in on the year; I’m sure he knows for sure… I just go by an “estimated” year 😊

Attachment 392977
Attachment 392979
Attachment 392978

Kiko Garcia
 

Posted for Clint (ksfarmboy)

Today Clint has another nice game used uniform. This time around is a 1979 Kiko Garcia Orioles home jersey. In 1979 Kiko really became the primary Orioles shortstop replacing Mark Belanger for the most part.

Attachment 392980
Attachment 392981

For those looking for something good on TV during this quarantine, tonight at 7PM on ESPN, they will replay the historic 2131 game from September 1995, with Cal Jr. & Chris Berman discussing their memories before the game & Cal will share some additional memories in the middle of the fifth inning.

Here is a rare sign from Camden Yards from that historic night along with nice inscription from Cal:

https://i.imgur.com/JZAhGfI.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/S0R5Hfl.jpg

Chime in if you were there that night!!

Brooks Robinson Jay Publishing Photos
 

Mark,

Your photos are from 1961. Here are the Brooks Robinson Jays photos by year. I can't really tell much difference between the 1959 and 1960 issues, but since I get them as team packs, I believe the years are correct. Jays must have reused the 1959 photo in 1960. The other years are easy to identify. As you can tell, Jays started using a different font for their photos starting in 1962. The 1958 Brooks photo is by far the toughest to find. There were two different sets of Orioles in 1958, but Brooks was only in one of the sets.

Tomorrow I'll list the Brooks Robinson photos from the team issued packs sold at the ballparks.

1958

Attachment 392989


1959

Attachment 392990


1960

Attachment 392991


1961

Attachment 392992


1962

Attachment 392993


1963

Attachment 392994


1964


Attachment 392995


1965

Attachment 393003

Thanks a great looking sign with a very cool inscription. That sign needs to be prominently displayed.

I had to watch the game on tv; was amazing.