Thank you for the quick response! I had done my research online of past auctions around the internet, but couldn’t find a picture of the back. This definitely helps!

Glad to help you out. I've gotten a lot of help from the posters on here and happy to give a little back when I can. This is a great group with a lot of knowledgeable posters.

picked this up......

28' Cardinals
 

Hi Ed,
I thought you may be interested in seeing a back-paper variation of the button you posted. I've never seen any variation in the 30+ years of owning this one.

Famous-Barr was a St. Louis based department store. I also posted another button that I got from the same seller. A little generic but because it was with the Cards pin, I've gotta believe it was from the same series.

Didn’t realize there would be a variant to this nearly 100 year old pin, but glad I know now. I’m sure the Saint Louis Button Co. made these for Famous-Barr to sell.It was a sad day when Macy’s bought them in the early 2000s.

1970s Baltimore Orioles Pins
 

Recently found Boog Powell pin to match my other three (Brooks Robinson, Palmer, Frank Robinson). There is a larger sized Boog. Have not seen the larger Boog in person but have seen on Net54 in past. These are very hard to find.

Nice!

Just got this. Is it a Cubs logo? I saw similar, but not identical, logos like this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!!

Sure looks Cubs to me.

Thanks Rob ... That's my thinking on it too. I just can't find that exact logo tied to the club anywhere.

Those are so pretty!

MK would probably have the definitive answer.

I think you're right that it's the Cubs, but I'd like to be 100% on it. I don't know who MK is, but would certainly appreciate his opinion too. If you say he would know, that's good enough for me.

Mike Kendall - big time Cubs pin collector.

I can’t be 100% certain, but if I have to give my opinion, I would say it is not a Chicago Cubs pin. I looked at hundreds of pins I own as well as other Cubs merchandise, and not one had this example of a Cubs head. It does not have the MLB logo but does have an R which I assume is for registered trademark. I’m guessing it is related to something else. Again this is just my opinion and I could be wrong.

Thank you for your time and research. From what I've seen it's similar to some but definitely not exactly like any Cubs logos I've come across. I appreciate your opinion and consider it a valid one. I bought it thinking it could be just a very odd Cubs logo, but I'll have to research it some more to try and find out exactly what it is.
Thank you once again and thank you too Rob!

Ok, I'm wondering what you all think of this. Real?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/11647562688...Q&LH_Auction=1

Just picked this up ....

If it's a repro, it's a really good one! From the photo, I'm saying legit.

Outstanding!

Thank you for your opinion!! It looks right to me as well. Strange that PSA wouldn't grade it or even authenticate it. I'm not into PSA graded items (especially pins) at all but wondering if this is common for PSA?

Thank you.

Hi Ed it is legit but its not really a pin.. Its known as a Tab.. But I bet you knew that...

I was asking if everyone thought this pin was legit:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/11647562688...Q&LH_Auction=1

:rolleyes:

New arrival from the wild! A 1930’s PR3-11 Green Sox Second Baseman pinback button.

Today’s estate sale rescues. Anyone familiar with the Washington pinback? I couldn’t find it right off in the Muchinsky book.

Don't know anything about it, Jim, but I had one at one time. I'd guess 1920s, very cool and rare.

Thanks, Hank. I was hoping that you’d weigh in. It’s a really neat one.

Just arrived in the mail this morning. Not the prettiest condition, but was able to add this awesome Stadium Kansas City Monarchs pin to the collection.

That's a beauty.

Thanks Jim!

Been looking low and high for this
 

Going to enjoy going thru this book. Finally found one and came in the mail today. Paul Muchinsky's "Baseball Pinback Buttons.

The publisher still sells these.

Nearly three years after filling up my first shadow box with pins, I've completed a second shadow box display. I only wish I had started about 10 years earlier when it was way easier to find — or at least buy — the tough ones.

Great displays, Chris! Pins are odd….some marginal guys are cheap and readily available. Other guys are nearly unobtainium and ridiculously expensive if they do turn up.

Cool.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/26719610512...mis&media=COPY

Love all pins, tabs, etc. Just something about them.

1 penny each. :p

Very nicely displayed, Chris!
Congrats on completing shadow box #2. :cool:

A mix of pins

I picked this up ...

I don’t pay a ton of attention to the early stuff, but that’s a cool pin. I’m assuming it’s part of a set? A set I’ve never seen? :p

When I first saw the photo of the front of this pin, I just assumed it was from the 1930s set of Chicago evening pins which featured 10 Chicago White Sox and 10 Chicago Cubs. However, when I saw the back of the pin, I was very confused. The originals are 1 1/4 inch in diameter. I’m wondering what this one is as it appears to have some sort of a rim around the outside. Here’s a photo of one of the originals.

I keep looking at Ed’s picture and can’t figure out what we’re looking at. :confused:

I’m with you. I hope he can add some more information.

Hi Mike looks normal to me.. I think what you call a rim is just the way your looking thru the plastic holder making it appear it has a rim around it... Looks like a normal 1 1/4 to me....

That makes sense. It looks like the “ring” is the same color as the background that we can barely see, outside the holder. The pin/clasp is different, though.

That’s a ‘Bear Brand’ Sandpaper logo.

Rob I have seen them both with that pin clasp locking hoop and the straight pin.. like i said it just appears to look like a rim but I believe its just the reflection from the plastic coin holder making it look that way...

Post 1848?

Sorry about taking so long to reply. The pin is 1.25 inch and the locking pin is different than what I'm used to seeing on that set. I thought it might have lost the original pin at some point and it was replaced with the current one.


Thank you to Al (Batsballsbases) for clearing it up:

"Rob I have seen them both with that pin clasp locking hoop and the straight pin.. like i said it just appears to look like a rim but I believe its just the reflection from the plastic coin holder making it look that way..."

Photo out of the coin holder:

Yep looks about right! Thanks Ed for taking it out of the holder...

I'm really starting to enjoy picking up and learning about pins. Is there a (affordable/In Print) Book / "Bible" or a super-frequented resource to dive into? Really wanting to learn about the types / rarities / etc. and what to keep my eye out for when digging at shows - I think I saw one a large handful of posts back but the post seems to imply its rare/expensive (I write in my books like this, so can't over spend when its getting doodled in!)

Post #1873, above. It might cost you 100 bucks but it’s worth it IMO. There are a few inaccuracies and the prices are somewhat inflated but there’s no better book out there.

Thanks - I saw that but wasn't completely sure if it was "A book" or "THE book"! haha

IMO, this doesn't compare to THE book, but does contain some decent information. I just found this on ebay for 11 bucks. There may be others.

I have this. Good reference book.

It’s quite a book with great photos. If I recall correctly, the pins included were all in the author’s collection. He included a price guide at the back of the book and I agree that the prices, at least for the more commonly available pins, are inflated. Overall, Paul Muchinsky’s book is fun and informative, depicting the author’s love for this niche of the hobby. It’s a must-own for any collector of baseball pinback buttons.

Here's a link to the book ooo-ribay suggested. It's $18 new:

https://www.tedhake.com/itemcatalog.aspx?categoryid=243

Thanks Guys! I put that one in my cart in hopes they shoot me a deal, if not I'll snag it later today

It may be true of all memorabilia, but I think pins are especially hard to “value”…

First, you’ll have the situation of multiple ebay bidders but with only two putting in big bids. Let’s say you had last minute snipes of $132, $475 and $500. The pin will sell for $480, but without either of the high bids, it would have gone for $133. Is it really “worth” $480? We’ve all experienced what I call “that one other guy” who either beats you or costs you a lot of money. And now, with the $500 bidder out of the way, the same pin might go for significantly less if it comes up again. There have definitely been times where, in hindsight, I was glad I lost out the first time around. Some of Paul’s inflated “values” may be due to the fact he regularly dueled with another big time pin collector.

Another factor, I think, affects pin value for a team collector like myself. I often joke with my fellow Giants collectors that “after you, me and he gets one,” these pins go for peanuts. That is, after we fight among ourselves, there’s no one for the next bidder to fight with. I know a newer Giants team collector who is frustrated some pins I have are now hard to find but if he does find them he usually gets them for less than what I paid (not always).

PM-10’s may be easier to value than “team” pins but, again, I almost think their value actually goes down as the collectors who want them, get them. To me, only the super rare, “seen once every 10 years” pins can really be assigned a value. Am I making any sense?

If you're interested, you can also ask him if he has a copy of the Munchisky book available. He thinks he may have a copy or 2 left.

I tend to follow a very simple rule about valuing collectibles. I don’t pay much attention to eBay sold prices or “comps”. What a buyer and seller sold a particular item for yesterday, last week, last month is irrelevant to me. That’s them. I’m me. There really can’t be a price guide for collectibles in my mind. I may ask a fellow collector what they might value something at, but the ultimate decision to buy or sell at a particular price is mine.

Example: You have a Mantle signed ball that want to buy. Would you sell it for $1? No. $100? Probably not. $1,000? Well, now I’ve probably got your attention. So $1,000 is the ceiling. I ask, would you take $200?
You: $900?
Me: $300?
You: $800?

And so, we dance.

Sometimes, I pay over “comps” because I see something that I must own. Sometimes, I offer less than comps because that’s what I value it at.

I agree with you, and have experienced the “one other guy” scenario. Like you, there are times I was a disappointed under bidder only to be glad later to get the same type of item for a lot less because the “other guy” wasn’t bidding this time. In such scenarios, applying the concept of current market value is complicated. But the point in my post is really directed to much more commonly available pins, of which there are often multiples selling on eBay for less, sometimes quite a bit, than the listed value. It’s not a big deal to me but I point this out for newer pin collectors.

+1

Just picked this up...

Just picked this up..

Maris x3
Photo was taken at an angle so it appears each pin is progressively smaller lol

Saw this at an antiques show and the vendor wanted $200 !!!!

Ever buy a group of pinback buttons just to get one?

Haven’t seen much activity on this thread lately other than what I’ve posted. Everyone still collecting pinback buttons?

Based on the prices of things I try to buy, it is clear that people are still collecting pinbacks. Although they have no interest in any I'm trying to sell.

1958 Tommy Davis
 

This one wasn't in the Muchinsky guide or any other reference that I had, so was shocked to find it on Etsy, of all places.

Just picked this up...

1954 Grape Nuts Mantle
 

Can anyone tell me how the hobby knows this is a 1954 Grape Nuts issue and is there a printed reference guide that lists this button?


Asking for a friend. Thanks.

I have never seen that pin or been aware of that set. I found this old reference that mentions the pin but doesn’t really answer your question. If there is a checklist, I would love to see it. Might there be a Mays pin?

https://sportscollectorsdigest.com/c...mantle-buttons

Just got this...

Love that one!

Never seen that one before. Neat!