July 2011 pickup thread
 

WOW! No pun intended, but July is off with a bang!

I just picked up a tremendous historically significant piece to add to my no-hitter collection:

A game used ball from the Red Sox Hubert Benjamin "Dutch" Leonard's no-hitter that he threw on August 30, 1916 at Fenway Park. The panel inscription was written in vintage fountain pen. The ball originated as a gift to a fan from Red Sox Chick Shorten. It has remained in one family's hands since 1916 where it was recently discovered in an attic find in upstate NY.

In this game, Red Sox lefty Dutch Leonard recorded only the 2nd no-hitter ever at Fenway. His teammate George "Rube" Foster beat him to the punch by throwing the 1st no-hitter at Fenway in June of 1916. This ball is a nice compliment to the only known ticket and scored program to Foster's no-hitter that I have in my personal collection. The Red Sox were really stacked with pitching during 1916. In addition to Leonard and Foster, they also had Ernie Shore and some left-handed upstart hurler named Babe Ruth... :D

BTW, perhaps some of you know this, but in 1914 Dutch Leonard put together one of the most incredible statistical pitching seasons ever recorded. Check out these stats:

In 36 games, Leonard only allowed a microscopic 0.96 ERA, and winning 19. :eek:

Now that's a season! It's a wonder that he ever lost in 1914 with an ERA that low....

I'd like to take a minute to wish everyone at net54 a wonderful July 4th!

I'm pretty excited about this one. I couldn't pass it up. Larry Doyle was NL MVP that year and Smokey Joe went 34-5.

http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m...Doyle-Wood.jpg

scott, that ball is AWESOME. I love hearing the stories of the Great old memorabilia still being found in attics and such. ANOTHER reason why your hobby is so rich in lore.

july pickups
 

Amazing baseball Scott! Great pickup

Wow, that ball is something else!

And Packs, that's also a very cool piece. Always nice to see Smokey Joe around.

my pickup
 

cost me a couple of Bucks

Scott, Keith, Rick, Chris & Jerrod,

Thanks for the nice words about the 1916 Dutch Leonard no-hitter game ball. As collectors, finds like these are what it's all about! ;)

July Pickups
 

Earllier today I finally had some luck scouring the antique store that I also rent a display case in. I picked up an early figure eight baseball as well as a Spalding football from the late 20's early 30's time period. The football needs a little work, but should cleanup very well. The baseball is the piece that I am more excited about. It is a smaller sized baseball with just about an 8 inch circumference. The ball retains its makers mark as well as its model name: ROCKET. The Rocket is tough to discern in the photos, but is easier to see in person. The maker is Shibe, and it is in the shape of a baseball diamond. I was pretty excited to see Shibe as the maker, given his later connection with the Philadelphia Athletics and his namesake Shibe Park. I believe the ball dates to the 1880s. It has some condition issues with a large stain on one area, and its marks aren't the strongest, but I was still pumped to find it.
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/p...ibe1resize.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/p...kin/shibe2.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/p...kin/Shibe3.jpg

It might not be vintage, but I'm excited about it. I have had the bat for a year or so, so with Jeter rehabing in Trenton over the weekend I figured it would be my best shot at getting him to sign it. I went both days to try to get him to sign it. Day 1, I failed. He was a few feet away but I couldn't get him to sign it for me. Then day 2 I got lucky. He was a few people away from me and with some luck he signed the bat.
Matt

Nice Jeter!
 

He can be so damn tough...great looking bat and nice to add his sig, too! Enjoy...

I picked up this ball at an antique store today. It was marked as an autographed Duke Sanders ball. I purchased it for $9.99. The autograph appears to be a vintage Duke Snider. As you can see it has faded. Nonetheless, what I really liked was the ball itself. I know it isn't very valuable but it is interesting to me and I think it was $9.99 well spent.

wow
 

Great pickup 71buc! Does this store you went to have any Babe Roth balls?:D

No Babe Roth balls...but I wouldn't want to be greedy either. Lately I have been on the most incredible hot streak. After collecting and scouring antique stores for over 35 years with little to no luck I am actually tripping across stuff. In the past two months I added several items to my collection to include this ball, a 4'X4' banner which hung at Three Rivers Stadium during the 1979 series, the 1963 Dodger World Series banner I posted last month, and 6 unopened boxes of 1976-77 Topps Basketball. I recently sold the basketball cards and have arranged a deal for for a 33 Goudey Ruth, a 54 Topps Aaron, and a 55 Topps Clemente. The funds from the Basketball cards financed the whole deal. Those three cards that have been on my collecting bucket list since the late 1970's. I will be picking them up this weekend. My total out of pocket investment in all these items has been just under $200.00. Christmas in July for me here in the Great Northwest.

I'd say so. Some guys have all the luck.:)

Congrats Matt-very nice!!

HB Dutch Leonard game used no-hitter ball 8/30/16 at Fenway follow up
 

Follow up note: I just received the 1916 HB Dutch Leonard game used no-hitter ball today. After now seeing it in person, I would have to say that this is one of my most favorite items in my collection. The ball is just AWESOME!! :D

After inspecting the ball up close, I believe that the extreme dark toning is possibly due to the fact that Leonard occasionally threw a spitball and perhaps "loaded up" this vintage orb with his preferred concoction of licorice and whatever else. Considering it's age (95 years), it's in tremendous shape. Definately a centerpiece for my no-hitter collection, direct from the deadball era!

BTW, Lefty hurler Leonard also featured an overpowering fastball and hard breaking curve in his pitching arsenal en route to helping the Red Sox win World Championships in 1915, 1916 and 1918.

I've included a couple of pictures of Leonard in 1916. The second one features him and his batterymate from the no-hitter Bill Carrigan.

The two photos I picked up in the Yee auction came in. Very nice.

The first is Gehrig arguing with the ump from 1938 WS.
It looks even better in person. Very large 8 1/4 x 10 size, but it still appears like it was cut a little.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...1936WSPOed.jpg

Second is 1936 Gehrig and Ott before WS.
It came slabbed. I was surprised as the slab is actually pretty nice. Thin yet sturdy. Now, I wouldn't spend money to send any of my others in to be slabbed, but I don't think I'm going to break any I happen to buy slabbed out either.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../GehrigOtt.jpg

I'm not quite sure what's going on the last three months, but it's been raining Lincoln minor league baseball memorabilia...anyway today I was at an estate auction and picked up 10 (TEN!!) programs from 1947-49 including the program (scored) from the very first Lincoln Athletics Game...along with that I picked up a ticket from the very first game, a 1947 schedule card and two Child's grandstand tickets from 1947....three of the programs I picked up today are from 1948 and have Nellie Fox in the lineups.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...1947opener.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...grandstand.jpg


http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...47schedule.jpg

Dan
Awesome Stuff- Congrats.
Matt

Great Stuff Dan!
 

When you send emails like you've been sending, I always feel that they capture the true essence of collecting. congrats!

Whi is #3 in the photo behind Gehrig??
 

Interesting photo. What Yankee is that behind Gehrig wearing #3 certainly not the Babe. Probably George Selkirk.

How many guys wore #3 for the Yanks before they retired his number? Can you believe:

Eddie Bockman
Allie Clark
Frank Colman
Cliff Mapes
Bud Metheny
George Selkirk
Roy Weatherly


Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_wore_n...#ixzz1Rg7NaeAM

.

Lincoln Athletics pickups
 

Congrats Dan- you are definately on a roll!! :)

Thanks guys. I'm really fond of that first game ticket stub...someone in here a year or so back posted a similar ticket from the opening game of another of Connie Mack's minor league clubs so I always suspected that a stub like that existed for Lincoln and I was right.

Selkirk is correct.

July Pickups
 

Continued with my lucky week of antiquing with a couple of new pickups
The first is a rare small sized Gund NFL Chicago Bears doll in immaculate condition. I have never seen one this size before - the others I've seen are about 14 inches tall, this one is only about 9 inches tall.
Next is an early smooth gutty - gutta percha golf ball.
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/p.../BearsGund.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/p.../guttycrop.jpg

Wow, great pick ups Dan! Congrats.

Just got these 3 scorecards in that I'm pleased to add to the collection from 1941,42, and 46.

It's contagious Clint! Nice pickups...where'd you find them?

Thanks Dan, I got them on ebay. I'm working on another deal that might yield a couple more pieces for my collection too.

Honus Wagner 1945, Type 1?, Type 2? I really don't care. He is obviously well beyond his prime in this one but a fun picture nonetheless. .

.
 

Nice pic. I like to see the kids being allowed to get up close. These days you would be lucky if you were a kid to squeeze in.

Added a few local game used items and a jersey to my childhood team collection. A 1982-83 Wichita Aeros Montreal farm club jersey and jacket. Also a jersey from the 1980 Atlanta Braves team.

Good stuff Clint...any word on the other jersey you were after?

Dan, he had 2 different jerseys but wasn't going to sell. He knows where another is and is going to see if that guy will sell his. Hopefully he will.

Good luck with that...hopefully he comes through for you. Congrats on the stuff you did get. That's a very cool Aeros jersey.

Thanks Dan. I've been after that Aeros one for awhile. You can definitely tell that they were the Expos farm club back then. The guy had a bunch of great jerseys and memorabilia. He lived across town from me but we have never met. We had talked on the phone once before though. You never know what great memorabilia is within a short driving distance from you.

I've already heard there are a few guys in town that collect the Lincoln minor league stuff, but they collected it back in the 1950s...One guy that I got a bunch of images from (That I'm not allowed to post on the internet) told me he would pass my name and phone number on to one of them, but that was almost a year ago now and I've heard nothing. There is another guy who was the Sports Information Director at the U of Nebraska for years and before that he was the sports editor for the Lincoln newspaper..I've heard he has a ton of Lincoln baseball stuff including one of Dick Stuart's bats from 1956. A few years back (three maybe?) I ran across a posting on Keyman collectibles from a woman who said she had a bunch of Lincoln Athletics stuff...I was able to google her up and had a nice email conversation with her in which she told me her dad was the trainer...I happened to have a photo of her dad and I sent it to her and she told me to contact her after she came back from her vacation...I did, but she never contacted me back. I took a shot at trying to contact her again a few months back, but still heard nothing.

Here's that old posting..still sitting there, just taunting me-

http://www.network54.com/Forum/48467...coln+Athletics

Gets you excited just thinking what they may have. Hopefully we both get a call in the near future with good news.

Picked up these two. An Aug 1960 Sport magazine and a Duke Maas cut from an AP dated Aug 1st, 1960. With Maas, I now need only one more for the 1961 Yankees.

Picked up an interesting 1955 Yankees program...it's from a game in Hawaii against the National Baseball Congress team Hawaii Red Sox...I've seen 1955 programs from the Japan tour, but this is the first I've seen of their stop in Hawaii...actually I didn't even know they went to Hawaii first before heading off to Japan.

Signed by Billy Martin and Bob Turley...too bad they didn't get the Mick's signature that day.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3.../yankee001.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3.../yankee002.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3.../yankee003.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3.../yankee005.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3.../yankee004.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3.../yankee006.jpg

Nice, Dan! How many of those can there be?

I've been searching the internets for another one with no luck. I see lots of the Japanese programs though.

edited to add: There may have been one in this lot from Mastro in 2006, but it is not shown in any of the pics

http://www.legendaryauctions.com/Lot...px?lotid=60643

Finally landed one of my grail items after a long, long search. I've known about this jersey but wasn't able to persuade the owner to sell until now. It's a 1953 Wichita Indians jersey. I picked up the team picture from the same year in an earlier ebay auction. Needless to say I'm one happy camper right now. Also picked up a couple of newer jerseys I'll post later.

Awesome Clint!!! Congrats!!

What can ya get for a buck?
 

Electric Baseball - Jim Prentice - model 79B

This is actually one of the more rare Prentice games - the seller had a less than stellar rating - but for a 10 buck snipe - I was willing to take a chance - and I "was" amazed it shipped at the one buck selling price.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...g?t=1311119724

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...g?t=1311119753

I was impressed that it still had the written instructions:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...g?t=1311119796

Tho not in the best shape - I picked up this 1938 photo of Babe Ruth when he coached for the Dodgers.

It's from TSN and originally from Acme - thus a news service photo - it's dated on the back 1938.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...g?t=1311119930

next - artwork for the 1955 Yankees WS press pin:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...g?t=1311119999

It included a "white letter" version of the pin - but based on the design, I think it's a reprint from the 90s by Balfour.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...g?t=1311120123

And last - a board game - Parlor Base Ball.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...g?t=1311120174

On the plus - it has the written instructions, pieces and die, but is missing the more colorful cover. I guess ya can't have everything. :(

Thanks Dan, I can't believe I finally got it. Also as someone who collects NBC material I've never seen that program either. Thats a great score.

I wouldn't normally post my Saltdogs pickups in this chatroom, but this was such a nice score today I'll use my slightly off topic post here. Picked up 7 game used bats...three are team signed..one has a notation that it was used to hit three homers in one game, one is the breast cancer day pink bat...also got a few game used balls that are good for autographs, and two game used jerseys. All off of a Craigslist ad from a lady who has hosted players for the last decade.

I just picked this baseball up. This ball was the final pitch of a game between the Indians and the A's on June 15th, 1926. Rube Walberg had just won his 15th major league game by tossing a 5 hit shutout. I'm hopeful I can do some research and find out who made the last out. Would be great if this beauty got Tris Speaker to pop out. Rube wrote out the box score and starting pitchers and catchers for each team, so technically it is also autographed.

http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/walberg1.jpg

If I'm reading the box score correctly, it looks like the last out for the Indians on June 15, 1926 was hall of famer Joe Sewell. Not Speaker, but still really nice!
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bo...92606150.shtml

Does it say that it was the final out ball. I always Figured these were just balls used during the game and not the final outs?

The baseball is inscribed "Last ball on June 15th, 1926" and then has the box scores and starting pitchers written on opposite side panels. Sounded like the last pitch to me. I should also mention it comes with an LOA from Walberg's daughter which states this ball was the "last ball used in the game."

http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/walberg3.jpg

Really glad to have this...
 

You don't see too many of these left...

I got an unexpected surprise in the mail today from the folks I bought a big lot of Lincoln minor league stuff from in June...they sent me some newspaper clippings, two team photos (one of which I didn't have..and didn't know existed since I have a 1960 team photo the only difference is the one I already had does not have any advertising on it)...the best item though is a 1924 Lincoln Links program..check out the player batting 5th in the lineup for Lincoln....TONY LAZZERI!!!!

Wow Dan that's incredible. Especially that 20's program. It seems minor league programs from our areas are exceedingly rare. Congrats.

Here's one I just picked up for a future painting:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...972April15.jpg

It's from Opening Day, April 15, 1972, as Steve Carlton unloads to Ron Santo. This was to be Carlton's first year with Philadelphia and his first truly great year. I can't wait to get it on canvas!

Graig

Few of my recent pickups.
 

Great stuff guys. Here are a few of my recent pickups.
The first one is a smaller sized Gussett style town ball baseball. Next is a beautiful looking raincap style football helmet. Lastly I picked up a photo of a House of David basketball player, which with the help of the House of David museum founder was able to identify the player as Jesse Lee "Doc" Tally. Tally was one of the original HOD baseball players, who invented their famous pepper game, and was referred to as the Bearded Babe Ruth for his slugging prowess.

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/p...ettResize1.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/p...RainCap2-1.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/p...Pigskin/HD.jpg

Canadian bat
 

Nice Gussett Keith, i'm afraid to ask.
I picked this bat up today. It's a Mile Products Limited 125 TITLE Ted Williams Model. Made in Montreal Quebec. Can't find anything about this type of bat. Can anyone help me learn more?

Picked up a signed Al Gionfriddo "catch" photo from game 6 of the 1947 WS along with a ticket from the game. I'll be matting these together soon. Also got back my Smokey Joe Wood and Harry Hooper matted and framed checks from the framer today.

I had a Joe D. model, Title bay from Quebec a while back. Nice solid, heavy bat with block letter stamping. I posted pics and not much was known about the maker. Nice bat!

Gussett ball
 

Thanks Dan,
I added the Gusset, as well as 8 other early baseballs that I just recently picked up to my website earlier this evening.

Just picked up this ticket to the " Fourth Annual Hop " of the Newark Base Ball Club. It is dated 2/15/1860.

Got this in the mail yesterday. Tough to find anything with Duff Cooley on it.

4th Annual Hop Newark Base Ball
 

Gary,
I saw that one on eBay and considered chasing that as well.
Very nice pickup-congrats! :)

Vandy 1935 vintage signed ball
 

I recently have picked a nice item for my Johnny VanderMeer collection:

A circa 1935 vintage fountain pen signed minor league ball of Vandy on his way up to the bigs. Gotta love the multi-colored laces! A perfect vintage orb of the pitcher who's ML record of two consecutive no-hitters is likely to never be broken.

This begs the question:
What ML baseball record do you feel is the most bulletproof? :cool:

I'd have to agree with Larry Ritter: nobody will come close to Cobb's career BA.

I guess it would be OK to derail the pickup thread with only a few more days left in the month. :)

There's always talk of DiMaggio's hitting streak being completely bulletproof, especially after reading about the statistics that Stephen Jay Gould came up with regarding the thing. Here's a piece he wrote about it in 1988:

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/arch...ak-of-streaks/

For whatever reason, it always seems to me like it could be beaten, especially when modern players start getting into the mid-to-high 30s (Rollins, Castillo, Utley, etc.). But of course at that point, the media scrutiny would probably be overwhelming, and I can't imagine the pressure not getting to them. If it got to DiMaggio in '41, back when the press wasn't ANYTHING like it is today, then I can't even imagine the modern day equivalent. So, I suppose when I consider all of that, it's pretty darn safe.

For my money, I think the one record that will never be touched is Cy Young's career win total. And heck, even his loss total. 511-316?? I mean, that stat becomes more and more incredible as pitcher's inning counts become more and more 'important' to development of talent. Well, not saying that they aren't important, but I think you know what I mean.

Anywho...

Here's another photo I picked up:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...Palmer1969.jpg

A lovely shot of Jim Palmer during his no-hitter from August 13, 1969 - only FOUR days after coming off of the disabled list. It reminded me of that Koufax shot I did a while back, so I though it would make a cool painting, too!

Weeee!

Graig

A good month for bats
 

July was a good month for bats.I feel very fortunate to have picked these up this month.Two early ring bats,Ty Cobb georgia peach decal bat,not perfect but still Cobb.Early JF Hillerich, 1930s Babe Ruth special.

http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...elmet002-1.jpg

Dave- Incredible bats! The rings look awesome!
Congrats
Matt

but your grass looks like shit

What an excellent way to welcome a new member!

The doom and gloom of this place might scare someone away, not a little humor

Great Bats
 

Amazing bat pickups Dave; I especially love the top ring bat in the photo - are those painted rings at the grip area, or are they incised rings?

I figured you were just joking around, but without the smiley face one can never know..and with how heated this place has gotten lately a newbie may not be able to tell.

The rings on the top bat are incised it has a round knob.The second bat was made by L&B never seen that one before.The both of them were on the ground at local flea market.

Just received this one in the mail today - 1885 Harper's Weekly woodcut includes Buck Ewing, King Kelly, John Ward, Jim O'Rourke & Charles Radbourne.

Completed a great transaction with a board member and added the below to my collection. Very excited and am going to try to figure out a way to frame it with a T3.

Here's George Walsh's stats if anyone's interested...

I guess Hughie didn't hit the mark on this one!