Alan:

I forwarded the photo to Bill Stetka for his thoughts and his response was:

I've seen this photo in our archives. I’d have to access our files to see if the photo is ID’d - which won’t happen until January at the earliest.

He never played in the majors with us but I think he was a spring training invite.
Bill

I just picked up another Cal Ripken Sr. game used jersey...Sr. initially wore #47 from 1976-1984 before switching over to #7 in 1985...The year and set # flag tags were removed from this Rawlings top, but I'm guessing it was worn in the late 1970's:

https://i.imgur.com/J1E7ONP.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/Eok1syJ.jpg

Bill,

Thanks. I hope Bill Stetka can find it in the archives and doesn't remember the photo from the time I asked him about it a few years ago at a game in Baltimore. :D If I remember right, I showed it to Bill the same night Jackie Brandt was doing an Alumni signing. We both thought he never played for the Orioles during the regular season.

1967-1969 Orioles Team Issued Postcards
 

One of the easiest and most challenging sets of Orioles postcards are the team issues from 1967-1969. Postcard collectors group the years together, because the size, style and photos used, make it impossible to pinpoint them to a specific year, unless the player only played one year.

I love this set, because these are the Orioles of my childhood. If you just want a postcard example of a player or two, the 1967-69 postcards are the easiest B&W postcards to find, compared to the earlier issues. What makes the set so challenging is the size and scope of variations that have been found. To date, 148 different postcards have been discovered. Quite a few variations by me. Most postcard collectors are happy to find examples of each player/pose, but a couple of us have made it our mission to collect the whole set. I currently have 130/148 in my collection. The postcards with facsimile autographs are especially tough, along with Steve Barber, Sam Bowens, Mike Epstein, Jim Frey, Woodie Held, Bruce Howard and John Miller.

Over the next couple days, I'll post all the cards I have. Many of the variations involve name placement and the cropping of Tadder in the lower corner.

Here's the first group, minus the postcards I'm missing Steve Barber, Mark Belanger (facsimile), Paul Blair (facsimile), Don Buford (facsimile), Andy Etchebarren (variation)

Attachment 426593 Attachment 426594 Attachment 426595 Attachment 426596 Attachment 426597 Attachment 426598 Attachment 426599 Attachment 426600 Attachment 426601 Attachment 426602 Attachment 426603 Attachment 426604

Great postcards Alan.....The first Oriole I ever met outside of a stadium/game setting was Bill Dillman who was a co-worker of my baseball coach in 1978 & we still correspond to this day

Alan,

Those are some very nice O's postcards and tough to locate as well. Have you seen the postcards that you are missing?

Day 324 (November 19, 2020 – 324)

An early example of a Sports Collectors Digest (SCD) from April 30, 1975 with Brooks featured on the cover.

Attachment 426744

This SCD is from August 10, 2012 and is a National Issue. SCD went with a smaller version of the publication which was about the same size as a regular magazine.

Attachment 426745

Yes, I know what I'm looking for. Probably 20 years ago, Ed Allan, an Orioles postcard collector from Maryland, put together an illustrated checklist of Orioles postcards. A variety of collectors contributed scans of their postcards to help put the checklist together. Some old time collectors had kept good records of the years they received certain postcards, which helped to date each issue. As new postcards have been printed by the Orioles and variations of older years discovered, Ed has been updating his checklist. Ed's book is considered the bible for Orioles team issued postcards.

His website usually has the last couple years shown on it.

http://edallan.atwebpages.com/

I'm not sure if he still sells his book, but here's an example to give you an idea.

Attachment 426748

1967-1969 Orioles Team Issued Postcards (Part 2)
 

Here's the second group of 1967-69 Orioles team issued postcards, from the post I started yesterday. As I mentioned, there are 148 different postcards, including variations, in the set. I have 130/148.

The postcards I'm missing from this group are Jim Frey, Woodie Held, Marcelino Lopez (variation), Dave McNally (variation) and John Miller.

Attachment 426749 Attachment 426750 Attachment 426751 Attachment 426752 Attachment 426753 Attachment 426754 Attachment 426755 Attachment 426756 Attachment 426757 Attachment 426758 Attachment 426759 Attachment 426760

Day 325 (November 20, 2020 – 325)

Let’s do some snapshot photos from 1969 today. The first two snapshots are from July 23, 1969 at the All-Star Game in the nation’s capital at RFK Stadium.

Attachment 426876
Attachment 426877

This snapshot of Brooks was taken on October 11, 1969 at Memorial Stadium.

Attachment 426878
Attachment 426879

1967-1969 Orioles Team Issued Postcards (Part 3)
 

Here is the final group of 1967-69 Orioles team issued postcards, that I've been sharing the last couple days. This group have the big names, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Jim Palmer and Earl Weaver. Again, I have 130/148 known postcards.

The postcards I'm missing from this group include Jim Palmer (facsimile autograph), Merv Rettenmund (facsimile), Pete Richert (diff pose), Brooks Robinson (variation), Frank Robinson (variation), Frank Robinson (facsimile), Eddie Watt (variation) and Earl Weaver (facsimile)

Attachment 426905 Attachment 426906 Attachment 426907 Attachment 426908 Attachment 426909 Attachment 426910 Attachment 426911 Attachment 426912 Attachment 426913 Attachment 426914 Attachment 426915 Attachment 426916 Attachment 426917

Alan,

Do you have a picture of the missing Brooks variation for future reference?

Mark,

It's a variation of the first three Brooks Robinson postcards.

1975 Topps
 

Day 326 (November 21, 2020 – 326)

It’s tough as a player collector, at least for me, in that I have many favorites. One of my many favorite regular issue cards of Brooks, which I believe I’ve mentioned in the past, is the 1975 Topps #50. I enjoy the out of the ordinary, so I give you a 1975 Topps #50 blank back.

Attachment 427018
Attachment 427019

Then let’s go with a 1975 Topps #50 that’s slightly mis-cut.

Attachment 427020

And finally, some progressive proofs. I don’t have all the color progressions (think I’m missing two), but here’s a few…

Attachment 427021
Attachment 427022
Attachment 427023
Attachment 427024
Attachment 427025

1988 Virginia Generals
 

I've discussed Orioles co-op teams in some earlier posts. Today, I'm taking a look at the 1988 Virginia Generals. The Orioles provided Virginia with several of it's minor league players. The Generals were the worst team in the Carolina League that year, finishing 41-99. Interestingly, the Orioles class A affiliate Hagerstown Suns were also in the Carolina League.

This leads to the story of Orioles pitching prospect Brian Dubois. He ended up splitting the season with Virginia and Hagerstown. He was 2-5 with Virginia and 12-4 with Hagerstown. Dubois never played for the Orioles, but did spend several seasons with the Detroit Tigers (1989-90). By 1994, Dubois was back in the Orioles system and appeared in the set of cards inserted in the Orioles programs that year.

1988 Virginia General program

Attachment 427054


1988 Virginia Generals schedules

Attachment 427056 Attachment 427057


1988 Virginia general team photo

Attachment 427055


Brian Dubois cards (1988 Star Virginia Generals set & 1994 Orioles program set)

Attachment 427061

Attachment 427066

Day 327 (November 22, 2020 – 327)

Koolon Visor air-conditioned insertband in its original packaging that’s likely the same that Scott (quitcrab) included in post 868. Figure you’d need to see another example so here you go…

Attachment 427193

To add to the Koolon Visor is an air-conditioned visor in its original packaging.

Attachment 427194

I do have the Koolon premium photo “somewhere” that’s pictured on this publication (which I don’t believe I’ve seen before or even heard of). I wanted to picture it along with the headband and visor, but to no avail.

Years ago I saw that a person had some of the Koolon ad pieces to include some of the photos, but I passed for some unknown reason. Would like to see them again to at least capture a photo of the items.

Alan:

I was sifting through some items in my collection today & ran across this 1959 Amarillo Gold Sox team photo which I'm not sure I had posted earlier....The photo is oversized and thus wasn't organized with my other MiLB team photos. I love the Hartzell bird patch on the left shoulders........

Future MLB guys are Artie Quirk, Bill Lajoie (Exec.), Charlie Beamon, Ron Moeller, Cal Ripken ("Ripkin"), Jerry Adair, George Staller, Angelo Dagres & Tom Patton...

Club finished 75-71 good enough for 5th place in the Texas League...

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

Bill,

Wow nice photo. It doesn't show up very often. I thought I might have something to do with the Ripkens in my collection, that you didn't have. I guess not. :)

I posted the 1959 Amarillo program and team photo way back in post #657, but my photo has a crease down the middle. I prefer 8x10 team photos, that I can store in albums, to the oversized photos.

Here's the program again for reference.

Attachment 427298

Thanks Alan...

I wish their was a way to Index these posts lol......

At least yours doesn't have a fisheye over Cal Sr.'s face

Nice program

Day 328 (November 23, 2020 – 328)

This is a nice large 1998 lithograph that I had framed by artist Bill Purdom. The original art was called “Mr. Robinson’s Neighborhood”.
(1998 Mr. Robinson’s Neighborhood)

Attachment 427374

Love that lithograph!

Agree, it’s beautiful.

Thanks you guys; it is a nice looking LARGE display piece...


Day 329 (November 24, 2020 – 329)

This is an oversized photo, 11X14, taken by Fred Burnette of Brooks holding a couple bats (one is a Paul Blair H&B) prior to an away game. Again, the stadium identification is not my thing (along with a bunch of other stuff), but I’m going to guess California? Hey, I know it was an away game for sure...

Attachment 427554

Richard Starks Photos
 

Mark,

That is a very nice photo. Here are a couple more 11x14 photos. These were taken by Baltimore Sunpapers photographer, Richard Starks. I especially like the Robin Roberts photo, because he's wearing both the block letter style uniform and the B hat, the Orioles used briefly.

Robin Roberts and Wally Bunker (Richard Starks 11x14 photo)

Attachment 427571

Attachment 427570

I’m with you; really like the Roberts photo as well. Don’t see many photos with both the block letter uni and cap.

Day 330 (November 25, 2020 – 330)

I don’t have any full sheets of Topps cards, but do have a couple small partial sheets. This partial sheet example is from the 1970 Topps set and includes the Brooks Robinson All-Star card #455. The back of the Brooks AS card has my favorite comic on a Topps card (likely because it’s LARGE).

Attachment 427698
Attachment 427699
Attachment 427700
Attachment 427703
Attachment 427702

1970 Orioles Affiliates Programs
 

In 1970, the Orioles had six minor league affiliates....

Rochester Red Wings (AAA), Dallas-Ft Worth Spurs (AA), Stockton Ports (A), Aberdeen Pheasants (A), Miami Marlins (A) and Bluefield Orioles (Rookie)

They combined for a record of 354-312 (.532), led by Miami (88-45), Bluefield (37-21), Rochester (76-64) and Aberdeen (36-33). Dallas Ft-Worth (63-73) and Stockton (54-76) finished with below .500 records.

Items from the higher level teams are fairly easy to find, but stuff from the other teams are much harder, with Stockton and Aberdeen nearly impossible. I was lucky to find an Aberdeen Pheasants scorecard, but I'm still looking for the 1970 Stockton Ports program, along with most of the other programs while Stockton was an Orioles affiliate.

Programs from the 1970 Orioles affiliates minus the Stockton Ports

Attachment 427713

Attachment 427714

Attachment 427715

Attachment 427716

Attachment 427717

Hand written letter from a young Cal Ripken Jr. to a family during his season in Rochester (1981):

https://i.imgur.com/zMlLpG0.jpg

Bill,

VERY COOL piece...

Day 331 (November 26, 2020 – 331)


Hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving Day!


On Thanksgiving I’d like to picture a couple of 1967 Topps Test Discs. The ’67 Test Discs are all progressive proofs or not a finished product. I don’t have a full color ’67 proof; all are missing a color or multiple colors. The discs have a circular photo with a silver foil background. My scanner really doesn’t do them justice, but hopefully they still look ok.

1967 Topps Test Discs

Attachment 427877
Attachment 427878
Attachment 427879

You have some very nice progressive proofs.

Miami Marlins/Orioles
 

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

The Baltimore Orioles of the late 1960's and 1970's were one of the most successful franchises in baseball, being in playoff contention every year. However, if I described a team, over an 11 year period, as having a .582 winning percentage, 8 First Place finishes, 2 Second Place finishes and 1 Third Place finish, 10 Playoff Appearances with 5 League Championships, you would probably assume I talking about the hated Yankees from their hey day.

I'm actually talking about an Orioles farm team. From 1966-1981, Miami was the Orioles class A affiliate in the Florida State League. From 1966-1970, they were known as the Miami Marlins. in 1971, they were renamed the Miami Orioles. A number of future Orioles played in Miami, over the years, including Jim Palmer, Don Baylor, Eddie Murray, Mike Flanagan, Dennis Martinez, Cal Ripken Jr and John Shelby, to name a few.

Here's what the Marlins/Orioles accomplished during an 11 year run.

Combined record

1968–1978 (879-629) (.582)

Yearly records

1968 (87-55) 1st Lost in Championship Series
1969 (80-52) 1st Florida State League Champions
1970 (88-45) 1st Florida State League Champions
1971 (94-47) 1st Florida State League Champions
1972 (73-57) 1st Florida State League Champions
1973 (77-64) 2nd Lost in 1st Round of Playoffs
1974 (74-58) 3rd Missed Playoffs
1975 (79-57) 1st Lost in 1st Round of Playoffs
1976 (79-63) 1st Lost in 1st Round of Playoffs
1977 (72-66) 2nd Lost in 1st Round of Playoffs
1978 (76-65) 1st Florida State League Champions


Here are all the Miami programs from that incredible run. On a side note, the programs, from 1971-1978, parallel the Orioles spring training programs.

Miami Marlins / Orioles programs from 1968-1978

Attachment 427881 Attachment 427882

Attachment 427883 Attachment 427884

Attachment 427885 Attachment 427886

Attachment 427887 Attachment 427888

Attachment 427889 Attachment 427890

Attachment 427891

Mark...awesome Test discs (they look just fine)...

Some of you may remember at Memorial Stadium the "Hit & Run Club" which was a bar/restaurant located near the front entrance...

From Cal's rookie season of 1982, here is a placemat from the restaurant signed by most of the team:

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

Thanks David. I'm trying to find more blank backs as well. I see you have quite a number of Brock examples.

Always thought these were neat, but too expensive. The value is always there is the metals, I suppose. I have a different Brooks, also signed, that may be platinum. I'd have to try to dig it out, as I don't recall.

Day 332 (November 27, 2020 – 332)

I may as well follow up the 1967 Test Discs with two 1968 Topps Test Discs. The Brooks disc for 1968, as you can see, have Brooks’ photo reversed, but is the same setup as the 1967. Also, the one full color disc proof has a white background rather than the silver foil. To date I’ve only seen the white background proofs associated the ’68 discs and not the ’67’s.

1968 Topps Test Discs

Attachment 428064
Attachment 428065

Orioles Glove Tag Cards
 

Over the years, it's been popular for sporting goods companies to attach cards of players to their gloves at the retail level. I call them cards, but they are sometimes referred to as glove tags.

I'm curious if anyone has found any additional Orioles to the ones I've picked up. I've got Mike Flanagan and Eddie Murray from Wilson Sporting Goods, plus a Rawlings Sporting Goods tag of Cal Ripken Jr. My best guess is that the Flanagan is from 1982, Murray around 1985 and Ripken about 1996.

Additions to the list appreciated.

Orioles Glove Tag Cards

Attachment 428070 Attachment 428071 Attachment 428072


As an added bonus, Brooks Robinson appeared on a couple of Rawlings Sporting Goods cards in the 1960's, but I don't consider them part of the glove tag category. The first one was cut off the glove box.

Attachment 428073

Attachment 428074 Attachment 428075

Alan:

The tag on the left is from 1985 and the card from 1996 on the right is not a tag per se but rather included with the purchase of a Cal Jr. mini glove/ball set:

https://i.imgur.com/BH7tBzx.jpg

Thanks Bill. I appreciate the additions to the list.

No problem Alan...The Ripken tag you pictured is from 1995...Curious as to the origin of that B&W Brooks Rawlings card?

Mark.....Love those Test Discs!!

Alan,

The Brooks Robinson Rawlings has eluded me over the years. Tell me you have another one... I know Scott (quitcrab) has an example, but i don't really know a lot about this Rawlings item.

Day 333 (November 28, 2020 – 333)

Early Brooks photos are probably my favorites. Youthful kids basically trying to make it in the big leagues. This photo is taken by The Sunpapers Joe DiPaola, Jr. in March of 1957. Notice the back of Brooks’ jersey you can see a number 4 on the back; he was wearing #34 at the time. You don’t see many photos of Brooks in uniform where he’s not wearing good ole’ #5. This photo has made its rounds and is in rough shape with all the editorial marks and general handling damage. Pretty awesome photo in my book…

1957 Photo

Attachment 428250

Mark,

I'm sorry to say, I don't even have the B&W Rawlings card. Wish I did. I've only seen one in auction and I was easily outbid. It might even be the one that Scott owns. I saved the photo from the auction, but don't know much about it's origin. I assume it's from 1969, based upon the stats on the back. Maybe Scott can offer more background info for us.

Joe DiPaola Photos
 

Mark,

Great looking photo. I have a bunch of Joe DiPaola photos in my collection and really like his work. He took photos of a lot of guys that are hard to find in O's uniforms.

Here's a few examples of Joe DiPaola photos in my collection.

Tom Fisher, Paul Gilliford, Lou Piniella and Gordon Sundin

Attachment 428272 Attachment 428273

Attachment 428274 Attachment 428275

At the conclusion of every season the Orioles would have a Fan Appreciation weekend and one of the things they would do is choose children randomly as they entered the ballpark to be given game used jerseys of the players (as part of a pre-game ceremony). The players placed the jerseys on the children as a photo opportunity & then took them back to play that evening's game....Once the game was over, the jersey's/Thanks Fans Undershirts were washed, signed then sent to the recipient.

In 2000, a child from the Bowie area was the lucky winner of the Cal Ripken Jr. jersey. About 5-6 years ago that child (then in his early 20's) read about my collection somewhere and reached out to me to see if I would be interested in purchasing it from him. Fortunately, we were able to work it out and I drove down to Bowie one afternoon to pick it up and spent a nice day with him and his family hearing all the stories about that evening (they kept one photograph and fortunately included the rest of the photos and the Orioles paperwork with the jersey).

When I acquired it it was signed just "Cal Ripken Jr." but the next time I saw Cal I showed him the photos/paperwork, etc. and he added "2000 Game Used" underneath his original autograph....Did I mention that Cal homered that night too?...lol..Easily, one of my favorite pieces in my collection

https://i.imgur.com/WTLNvbz.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/n12Og54.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/mz4xhvD.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/vOkGcgw.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/yzMW30m.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/4xS51lO.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/EnotiZw.jpg

I believe it’s from 1969 and is referred to as a “1969 Rawlings Promo”... I have never seen another until I saw the post above.... but then I find out it may be a picture of the one I own. SGC has graded both a Reggie Jackson and Mickey Mantle from this issue.

Really nice photos taken by Joe DiPaola. It's not often you see Lou Piniella in an Orioles jersey.

Day 334 (November 29, 2020 – 334)

While I don’t have the regular issued complete panel of the 1968 Topps Action All-Star Stickers with Brooks included, I do have a proof of the full panel.

Attachment 428398