Can anyone tell me if this is a NEW YORK or a SAN FRANCISCO Giants pin? The back is blank. Ted Hake groups this with 5 other pins, including a MILWAUKEE Braves. That would put it between 1953-65 but beyond that I don't know. As you can see, I have the same pin in red, white and blue...

There are others - one photographer!
 

I own a Clemente from the same "issue". The work was done by a single photographer. I had researched it some time ago and cannot recall his name right now. He was a team photographer for a professional sports team. He did a number of portraits of Major Leaguers. I own/have owned both pins and proof photos of Clemente, Mays, Rose, G. Perry and a number of Red Sox players. I spoke with the photographers nephew a few years back. He still has the negatives, but was a bit skeptical about speaking with me about them - perhaps because whatever was "released" had no license. I have had my eye out for these pins for over 20 years - they are EXTREMELY scarce. The brewers group pictured is the first time I recall seeing any Brewers. The style of the photograph is the giveaway - They are always - players in uniform set against a solid color background - VERY high quality posing and image quality. The pins I have seen are also different sizes. I have seen at least 1 "super size" image of Clemente.

While we are at it. I am attaching an image of a Clemente pin I have not seen before. It appears to be an early stadium pin. Anyone know anything about it?

Further about the mystery pins
 

I also highly question whether they were actually sold or distributed at ball parks as given their quality and attractiveness I think they would be in MUCH greater supply today. Also how could they have been sold there without a license. I believe it was a pet project for the photographer who did produce VERY small numbers of prints and pins - possibly for friends and those close to him - perhaps started a project intended to get a license and never did. Based on the lack of availability and awareness among advanced collectors I strongly believe these did not have any type of mass distribution. If you have any you would consider selling - please contact me.

this one, right? Not 100% sure I buy the description....it could be true but sounds a bit like wishful thinking to get a wishful price.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151175696575...84.m1423.l2649

"SUPER SUPER RARE 1 OF 2 OF THESE 1.75'' PINS THAT I KNOW OF THAT EXIST AND I OWN THE SECOND ONE. THIS PIN IS NOT IN DR. PAUL M. MUCHINSKY'S PINBACK BUTTON BOOK AND I HAVE ONLY SEEN THE TWO IN 25 YEARS OF COLLECTING. THERE IS A TED KLUSZEWSKI PIN FROM 1958 THAT IS OF THE SAME STYLE WITH LITTLE BASEBALL AFTER HIS NAME. IF YOUR LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE IN RARITY OF ROBERTO CLEMENTE OR PINBACK , THIS IS IT."

great info in your two posts!! You would think there would be someone on N54 who remembers buying them, when new, 40+ years ago.

The Red Sox varieties seem to be somewhat plentiful as I see them on ebay all the time. The others, not so much.

$5,000??? Wow!

Rare - absolutely - 5K???
 

The image I am familiar with and is from 1956-1958. The pin I have never seen before - which says A LOT - and in my humble opinion would be an indicator that if legit, the pin is in fact quite scarce. $5,000 scarce - that's a different story! Yes, It is the same one listed on ebay in the previous link.

I will try to look for additional info on the other pins being discussed and share when I find it.

Just picked these up
 

PM-10's

Nashville Boosters Pin 1907
 

This is the only one I've seen like this, certainly a lapel pin from 1907. Can anyone give me a value? Thanks! Skip

I hate to see this thread go dormant for nearly 2 months! :(

Finally found this guy after 15-20 years of looking. Of the KNOWN Giants PM-10s, I still need Haller, Pagan, Pierce and McCormick. Although I've never seen one, I think there may be a pin of Jack Sanford out there. It's crazy how readily available most of the Mays pins are while guys like Gabrielson are basically impossible. I get that the Mayses outsold everything else but you would think that, at 50 cents per pin, many kids would collect the whole team in the course of the summer. The Pagan is so rare I never even knew it existed until a few months ago. I love these things! :D

another bump attempt...

Rob Andrews played for the Giants 1977-79. He ran a baseball camp in the 80s and 90s. I had had the green, Year 1 pin for quite some time and had seen one or two other years. Then, from out of nowhere, a complete set surfaces on ebay with a Buy it Now. I love when that happens!

not too thrilling, I know, but I wanted to revive this thread.

even a blind squirrel sometimes finds an acorn....

I did a Buy it Now on the small Mays because the price was so good and I know how tough this pin is. The thing is, I didn't know it was the SMALL size until it arrived. The 2.25"s are WAY more scarce than the 3.5"s :D

Congrats on the small Mays pin. That's a tough one and the price was right too.

The BIG one took me forever to get and I was outbid a couple of times. I was like a kid at Christmas when I discovered my latest purchase was the SMALL size :D. I'm going to assume they made a small Marichal but I've never seen one.

Does anyone have answers to these questions regarding the 1969 pins:

A) How were they distributed?
B) Is there a complete checklist?
C) Why were some in Black and white, and some in color?
D) Why we're some created as 2 1/2 inch in addition to the 3 1/2 inch diameter?
E) Why are some extremely scarce?

That's awesome! I have collected these pins (mainly Twins players) for a number of years and have seen very few of the small pins.

To try and answer some of the questions.

I don't think a complete checklist exists. The Standard Catalog of Baseball cards had a checklist but it was not complete.

I'm thinking they were made for at least two years and possibly three. You are correct in that there are color and black and white versions of a number of the players. There are also different head shots that are both black and white. Here are two different Killebrew buttons that are both black and white.

I am not sure why two different sizes exist and I don't know why certain players are so difficult while others are so easy.

That's interesting, I did not know there was different head shots on some pins. This would make completing this set even more difficult than I thought. Thanks for the information.

Couple of New Ones...
 

Hi Mike, I didn't know about different poses either. I know I've posted this link before but here's my group of the 3 1/2" pins.
http://andysvintagepinbacks.homestea...969-MLBPA.html

Somebody with more energy than myself should tie together the SCD list with the contributions on this board and come up with a tentative master list.

Rob, nice one. I've never come across that one either.

I picked up these at a show last week. You know how I like the "low minor" leaguers. Paducah (Kitty League I think), and the Yuma Panthers.
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z228/andypcl/minors_zps07d3910f.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo minors_zps07d3910f.jpg"/></a>

Hey Andy,
Thanks for posting the photo group again. Very impressive collection. I do not have the energy to put together a checklist for these pins, but maybe somebody will. I'm sure as soon as it is "complete", another Pin would surface.

Wow! 59 cents originally. I paid $244 for my large Mays :eek:

I, also, was not aware of the different poses or the color examples. Not surprising that there are so many Killebrew pins, since the company was MN based....just like the large number of Twins player pennants.

In Andy's group (which I had somehow missed on previous visits to your site), it looks like the majority of players are a All-Star caliber.....but there are certainly some exceptions! Hate to admit, I'm not familiar with Bill Melton or Jim Hickman. Odd, also that they decided to do a Ruth and Gehrig.

As for scarcity, I had never seen the original packaging (thanks, DWR!), but that makes me think these must have been sold in dime stores and not at the ballparks. They really must not have sold that many because, whereas Mays PM-10s are a dime a dozen (figuratively speaking), these 1969 pins of Mays hardly ever turn up on eBay. Besides Mays and McCovey, Marichal is the only other Giant I know of.

I may start working on a checklist. Or not. :p

Clemente
 

Is anyone aware of any Clemente variations - a small pin, color photo, etc?

I have never seen a small or colored photo Clemente pin. You would think that since these were made in Minnesota the Twins players would be very easy but they actually are quite difficult to locate. Here are pictures of a few that aren't in the group photo. I have either had or seen both the Carew and Oliva in both sizes. I can't find a picture right now but I have had a few Mickey Mantle's from this series (all the same photo). They are not impossible to find.

One has to assume that these pins were not a big seller for MLB. Even the big name stars are difficult to find, but the lesser-known players are almost impossible to find. Several years ago, a Ken Holzman sold on eBay for $118. I have never seen one since.

I'll start a checklist from Mike's, Andy's and Paul M's pictures and any other source I can find. I may even add an eBay search....not to buy but just to see what's out there.

Here are a few more pictures. These are not mine but I have seen these before.

Also, I know of the following:
Richie Allen
John Ellis
Cleon Jones
Jerry Kenney
Brooks Robinson
Frank Robinson
Ron Swoboda
Al Kaline
Jerry Koosman B&W
Joe Pepitone

^^^ very cool. Crazy how they pandered to the Yankees :rolleyes:

I guess there were no legendary Twins, ca. 1969.

Brooks Robinson
 

Anyone have a picture of the Brooksie pin (if there is one)?

I have Yaz, Reggie Smith, and a B&W version of Conigliaro. They are the genesis of my addiction. They are the first three items added to my collection in 1970. My dad bought them for me during my first MLB game at Fenway. Not much monetary value but priceless memories are attached to them.

I have one from this series with Frank Howard of the Senators.

dwr says there is one, two posts up ^^^^

B&W or color? Size?

hmmmmm.....so they WERE sold at ballparks (and maybe at five and dimes as well). The "Rah-Rah" packaging led me to believe these were sold in stores. It seems like most stuff sold at ballpark concession stands was sold without packaging.

I went through Paul M's book. Unless I missed something, the scan below is all I found. Paul dates these to 1970 and they are smaller still, at 1.75". They are extremely similar to the pins we've been discussing but lack the MLB logos, have different fonts and have 4 stars per side, rather than 5. I'd have to imagine Paul bought these as a set from someone...

The Frank Howard I have is B&W in the larger size.

are those all 3.5" and B&W, that you remember? :confused:

I don't own any of those Standard Catalogs :eek:, probably because I'm not a "card guy." I want to pick one up now. Does it matter what year I get and/or whether they are called the Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards or the Standard Catalog of Vintage Baseball Cards? I see both on the internet.

Thanks!

They were all 3.5" buttons.

Here are a couple of photos of the price guide. The prices are way out of whack but it gets you an idea of some of the players in the series.

From my early research, it appears there were no Indians, Pilots, Royals, Astros or Padres in this set. Plenty of Yankees, Red Sox, Mets and Cubs. :cool:

The spreadsheet is coming. :p

If you get the 2009 version, the included DVD (make sure it's still in there) has the entire guide in pdf format on it. Later guides had CDs or DVDs as well, but only had pdfs for the parts they didn't want to print in the hardcopy catalog (minor league? I may be remembering that wrong), not the entire catalog.

The "digital format" may or may not be your thing, but it sure makes searching for particular players a heckuva lot easier.

Expos...
 

Those 69's Expos are actually pretty tough to find. If anyone can help me finish out the set, please let me know. Thanks!
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z228/andypcl/expos_zpsb43c1935.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo expos_zpsb43c1935.jpg"/></a>

Expos
 

I hit the wrong button and wanted to add that the guide I have doesn't list these, only the 1970 Expos. I'm not sure what a full set consists of...
-A

I only see the last three (3) players listed within the catalog. So, does that mean the others were not produced and/or were they not listed in the catalog?

They were produced but not listed in the catalog. The catalog is only a partial list of what is out there.

Hey Andy-

Judging from Paul M's book, you lack 3 each of the 1969 and 1970 Expos series. You're almost there! Do the red, white and blue 1970s have any markings on the curl?

Expos
 

Hi Rob,

Yes, on the white half of the curl in tiny red text is says "Made in Canada"

Some others not in the Standard Catalog checklist:
Carew
Fregosi
Koufax
Lolich
Marichal
Melton
Oliva

:cool:

Orioles
 

Thanks for the clarification. I'd ultimately like to know, from the Orioles, what pins are out there.

I really enjoy looking at all the variety of those pins and the slight differences of the pins.

Lotta stars on that '69 O's team, but I think only the two Robinsons were in that set.

1952 Hawthorn Mellody Farm
 

These are the "Club Of Champs" pins offered by the Libertyville Illinois dairy farm, petting zoo and retailer. I think they are PF7 pins. Shown are the 2 known (to me) beanie styles offered for kids to display the White Sox pins. Shown is the very difficult "members pin". Many years ago Don Steinbach offered the jagged edge beanie and all of the pins on a large counter top easel back display with graphics.

Those are awesome I've never seen the beanies before,thanks for sharing.

I'm chiefly a football collector, but there are some baseball items I've latched onto. One of those items are these Guy's Potato Chip team pins. Started finding them pretty regularly when i moved to Missouri and found out that Guy's was based here (in Missouri) at the time, which explains why I find them so often at local antique stores and flea markets. I don't really know much about them, except that there seems to be several different variations of sets. So far I've sorted mine out into 5 different sets, some dated '65 & '66, some undated. Any information on these would be appreciated.

http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4aefe7ba.jpg
http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/...psdeff084e.jpg
http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/...ps84713cb7.jpg
http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/...psc70c552b.jpg
http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/...ps11d71023.jpg

Ted Hake did a pretty good job discussing these in the book below, although I disagree with some of the color combos he reported. The Guy's pins were only done 1964-66, while Crane's Potato Chips did theirs from 1961-65, 1967-69, 1984 and 1986. Sellers seem to have a wide range of what they think these are worth...I see them on ebay from 99 cents to 50 bucks. Some people even have them graded, which I think is totatally ridiculous. If I was selling any, I'd be happy to get 10 bucks apiece.

In the display frame picture, the top two rows are Crane's in chronological order. The first three on the left side of the bottom row are the Guy's. The bottom right is a similar, generic pin from an unknown manufacturer. One more thing...the Guy's all have the logo on back. 1965 and '66 are dated; 1964 is not. Crane's are all identified (one way or another) on back, but only the 1961, 1963-65, 1984 and '86 are dated. Both series offered prizes for completed sets (last picture).

ooo-ribay - Thank you for the information. I had never seen that book before. I will have to try and find it.

As far as the pin sets go, I had mine separated into 5 different, or so I thought they were different. I'm guessing they are just variations of the same sets. For the undated ones (1964) I have some that have silver backs with black Guys's logo and printing, and some with silver backs and brown logo/printing. The '65's I have some with silver backs and some with gold backs, and the '66's I only have 1 type. I just figured maybe the different back variations were distributed with different types of chips or something. Anyway, one of my collecting OCD's won't allow me to just collect one set for each year. Since I found variations, I have to collect them all as separate versions of the sets (makes collecting thnigs interesting, and sometimes frustrating).

I agree about the prices. All of mine have been purchased locally at various times, and most were in the $3-5 range. Exceptions being a Yankees pin, which I paid $8 for and a Cardinals I paid $10 for (living in Cardinals country, anything St Louis is higher).

I was recently browsing ebay for these and saw many, like you state, well above what I am willing to pay. Some of the graded ones were as high as $200! While I didn't see any for .99, I did see quite a few for around $10, including shipping.

I love the prize sheet pictured. I actually have one of those somewhere, although mine has seen better days. I wonder what kinds of "prizes" were available? Baseball mitt's maybe? Posters?

here's one. Don't know if it's still for sale.

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...light=Ted+hake

I have examples of the Crane redemption sheets from 1963-65 and 1967-69. In 1969, you had to send in 24 pins for the lousy baseball. Even as a kid, I think I would have rather had the pins! :D

Reds Crane and Guys Pins
 

Here are all of the Reds Crane and Guys pins, except the '62. I have it, but haven't added it yet. Also a blank back from the same series. Not sure how that one was distributed.

I'll throw a few of my updated Cubs and Tigers into the ring since I havn't contributed much lately;)


http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps3c57d775.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps523e235f.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...0/IMG_2266.jpg

Lookin' good Mike!

Greg

Awesome displays Mike...

That baby-blue 1945 Cubs WS Pin, especially is a real eye-catcher!

Clyde "Hardrock" or "Duster" Shoun 1937 American Badge Co. pinback
 

Here is a recent no-hit pitcher pinback that I added to my collection.
Considering it's terrific condition, a tough find indeed.

This is a 1937 American Bridge pinback of no-hit pitcher Clyde Shoun.
Take a look...

Great pick up Scott! Congrats!

Thanks Chris!

The 1937 American Badge set is very difficult to complete.

Wow!

Holy smokes, MK. Amazing.

Speaking of pinbacks -- the next hour should be an interesting one re: eBay. The winner had better gloat shortly after the hammer drops; what an incredible piece.

It's over! What an incredible price for a pin from the 1950s. Paul won't gloat.

Dr. M strikes again. :D I saw a couple of board members were in heavy on it; you have my empathy, Gents.

As an aside, I messaged the individual selling it -- and congratulated them on the impending sale. Her response was awesome. Besides being blown away at the response (and the honesty of a few people advising her to watch the auction play out) -- she reminisced about her grandfather buying it for her, because she was in love with Brooksie's "beautiful blue eyes". She said she just wanted $50 for it; hopefully, it helps fund something grand for her (courtesy of her Grandfather).

Loved the story, thought I'd share. Congrats, Paul.

Unreal! I NEED that Tex Carleton... :)
Thanks for posting this, Mike! Very cool.

Yep there were a few of us in on that one Aaron! Its hard to justify why the pin went so high but I believe it might be because these were the first brooks robinson pins seen, could also be because my feeling was they spelled his middle name wrong COLBERT instead of CALBERT and was probably pulled from production very early. No one will ever know why but it was a great pin..

Brooksie Pin
 

Can't you guys cut a Brooksie collector a break!:D When I first saw the pin I thought I'd put a bid in that was a "sure" win ($305). Man, that bid didn't last long. So, how much was the winning bidder willing to pay for the pin; a bit more?!?

By the way, on the O's picture pack photo's the early one's list Brooks with the middle name as "Colbert" as well. They later corrected the mistake.

Just a side note, I've never seen this pin before and I've been collecting Brooks for quite a while now. Congrats on the GREAT addition!

Can you post a link?

It was out of my Giants universe, so I have no idea what you guys are talking about :rolleyes:

Mark,
Im sure his bid was much higher but thats the way it goes sometimes. As for never seeing that pin before that is why it went so high. All of us hadnt seen it before. The other version the corrected one with his name spelled right is also just as hard to find. Here is a photo for everyone who needs to know what we are talking about.

Actually another one of these Robinson pins did show up on eBay about a year ago. It had a few scratches on the surface, and a small ribbon attached. Don't remember exactly, but I believe it went in the $500-$600 range.

Hi Mike,
are we talking about the same robinson pin that just sold or the other one? I dont remember seeing that one a year ago. But Im getting older and miss a few things now and then! LOL

Al,
It was definitely the Brooks Colbert Robinson pin that just sold. I remember it very well because I have never seen it before.

Al, I think Mike is right; i remember that button, too.

I thought it ended north of $700, though.

May've catalogued it....I'll double check later this afternoon.

Thanks Aaron! Boy then I missed that one!

Brooks Robinson pin
 

Are you talking about this Brooksie pin? This is the only pin I've seen in the past on eBay, grouped w/Brandt, but as I remember the auction was pulled (maybe someone talked the seller into ending early?). Hopefully you can notice by the picture that the middle name was correct as Calbert. Also, notice that this is a different picture of Brooks, not the one in the current auction.

Mark,
Yes thats the one. I also remember that auction it was taken down fast!:eek:
The bids were up to $1000 when taken down . I spoke to him about it and he told me he was going to take them to the national and only listed them to "Test" the market. Guess he got his answer. Wow your good that was 3 years ago!!:D

I located a photo I had saved of the Robinson pin that sold on eBay a year or so ago.

Brooks Robinson
 

Al,

I had seen that particular Brooks pin in the past, prior to the eBay auction, and if I recall correctly was surely one of the bidders when the auction was taken down. When the auction was open I copied the pin to my pictures so I'd have it as one to find and acquire if I ever saw one again. I sure do "appear bright" now dont I?

I have never seen the pin in the current eBay auction, but still was surprised by the ending price. Now it gives me another Brooks pin to look for in the future.

Brooks Robinson pin
 

Mike,

How in the world did I miss that pin of Brooks?!?

Thanks Mike I guess I missed that one!

I remember seeing one on ebay not too long ago and it was pulled. I'm talking within the last few months.