Show Something That Could Be in the Baseball Hall of Fame
 

I wanted to start a cool thread. "Show something you own that could belong in the Baseball Hall of Fame". It could be a card, an autograph, or a piece of memorabilia. It also gives you the chance to brag or show off something from your collection. I'm not really interested in seeing 2-3 pieces, but rather just that one piece that totally WOULD NOT BE OUT OF PLACE in the Baseball Hall of Fame. After some time, I'd like to start a poll and see who the top vote-getter is. Also, please feel free to (light-heartedly) put down or make fun of those pieces in which you deem not worthy. It will be encouraged here! I'll try to take a picture of something I have, that I feel is worthy, when I get home. Otherwise, let's see some pics!

Press pin
 

Birmingham Black Barons press pin.

This item should qualify as something that could be in the Hall of Fame. It is a cabinet photo of Christy Mathewson taken by Benjamin Falk around 1904 (not certain about the date, might have been earlier). The image was used on one of the Matty W600s, Sporting Life portrait and 1915 Cracker Jack. You could say it was a cornerstone of my collection. Loved that photo. I acquired it from Mastro Auctions several years back. Subsequently Hauls of Shame alleged it had been stolen from the HOF. Long story short, this allegation proved to be correct and I returned it to the Hall. Having my name alongside in the mud with Bill Mastro, Doug Allen and Peter Nash does not count as one of my best hobby experiences. 'Nuf ced.

I could see the Hall being interested in this. Here is a Type 1 original photo of the moment Joe D extended his historic streak to 56 games:

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps3781fee4.jpg

Great character David! Wonder how many would have done the same?

SICKKK IDEA


That is a great piece

Jackie signing with Montreal. My favorite piece. I could imagine it part of a display, despite my garbage scanning crop job. :o
https://s21.postimg.org/b9ixfmykn/19...r_Montreal.jpg

Here is the only known program from Jackie Robinson's all star tour which was done in the late fall of 1946 - just before he broke through in 47- the tour features a team made up of both negro leaguers and white minor leaguers from the montreal team. Probably the first time that an integrated team played a white team in a major league park

This is an original panoramic photo (8" x 21") of Mickey Mantle on his first pro team, the semi-pro Whiz Kids, from 1947 when he was 16 years old. Mantle and a few of the other players have signed the picture (the other sigs are barely legible). The condition is a bit rough because it is an original that belonged to one of the kids in the picture, Guy Crow, who was the bat boy (left end of the right bench). This may also be the first photo of Mantle associated with baseball as his high school yearbooks don't have baseball photos in them though who knows what is still in his family.

I've written about this before, but seems interesting to me. Worthy of a local hall of fame and depending on your point of view, not too far out of place in the real one.

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=159410

If you had said "picture of Joe D playing high school baseball", I wouldn't have argued. Very spartan setup! Fantastic item.

I know Peter Nash gets slammed around these parts a lot - rightly so, in a lot of cases - he did a lot of good work in exposing thefts from the Hall like this one. It's a shame innocent guys like yourself got/get dragged into :(

Here is my contribution. Please excuse the glare. But here are some notes related to the suspicious death of Big Ed Delahanty. Shortly after he died (semi-mystery), his wife sued Michigan Rail Road. These papers are from the trial in the court room. They are a fascinating read. I apologize for the glare.

2

3

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5

HOLLLYYY SHIAAAT. That is no joke bro montana.

I made a run at this and was very disappinted to be outbid. When this came out i felt so bad for you David. You are a good man.

Signed M116 Wagner
 

As far as I can tell, this is the earliest signed baseball card of Honus Wagner, from 1910-11.

Unless you consider this to be a baseball card...

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/y...psztmerr8y.jpg

Tom C

I love the Steen signed M101-2s, and have a bunch myself. Does the Hall of Fame keep these or other 8x10 prints in the baseball card exhibit? It's definitely worth considering!

I have the Wags plus Archer and Tesreau. And a few of the 1940's examples.

Tom C

Oldest signed card
 

I believe this is the oldest signed baseball card known to exist. Might be HOF worthy http://www.1933goudey.com/uploads/6/...onnie_orig.jpg worthy.

This stuff is amazing! Great thread!!!!!

Brendan-Great document. If you ever tire of it...........

Truly impressive David!

Great stuff everyone. I'd have to say that the Mathewson or Mack signed Old Judge are definitely in the lead. Both Hall-worthy for sure. Keep 'em coming!

The foresight that someone showed to get that Mack card signed absolutely boggles the mind.

Tom C

Hall may have some interest in this. I believe this to be one of, if the not the, earliest career contemporary signatures of the great Walter Johnson. This is a postcard sent by Walter in 1908, his second major league season, between games against the Indians and Tigers. He mentions winning the game the day before in the first lines of the card. Signed Walter J:

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...psf959772d.jpg

Awesome!

+1. Nice, David.

Cool idea for a thread. I've enjoyed the pics....keep them coming.

"The foresight that someone showed to get that Mack card signed absolutely boggles the mind."


Mack lived to be a very old man. They could have gotten it signed in the mid 1950s. Autographs were a thing by then, even if people weren't really after ball player's autos in the 1880s.

Of course if you mean that it took some foresight to get a 70 year old card signed in the 1950s, that's true too. But even if you never expected it to be worth any money, it would be cool to have something that old signed by a manager of Mack's caliber.

The original of this, which includes my wife's grandfather, does appear in the HOF and in the Louisville Slugger Bat museum. ( the photo only, not the obit)

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...539/img117.jpg

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...539/img116.jpg

I love this thread. I have nothing to contribute (my 1989 Topps Sports Talk player could be in the curiosities exhibit, haha) but keep them coming everyone.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

This I actually have thought about loaning to a baseball museum, but that would be the Babe Ruth Museum down in Baltimore. It's a bat from the movie The Babe Ruth Story and it belonged to William Bendix at one time, then his relatives, who were great friends with my grandparents. Probably went untouched from the time it was stored away until I put my grubby 7-year-old hands on it. Luckily it was too big to swing back then and it has remained on display since I got it. That's why it's in such great shape.

Shown many times before, but probably the cornerstone of my collection.

What's baseball without some cracker jacks! This is one of the earliest known surviving boxes circa 1912. Because the more you eat, the more you want!

The William Bendix bat could DEFINITELY belong in the HOF. That's a great piece!

1951 Battle Creek Belles team signed ball with manager Dave Bancroft on an official AAGPBL ball

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/y...sexs9v9a1.jpeg

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/y...sjf0ukslo.jpeg

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/y...se9mc9pln.jpeg

AAGPBL contract signed by one of the great stars in league history Ruth Richard and HOFer Max Carey.

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/y...psyo9kjlm4.jpg

Tom C

insane

I do believe that the 1909 Pirates uniform in the thread below could definitely be in the HOF!

That Cracker Jack box A. J. ....... is a crackerjack!! :D

+1...if we are voting yet, that is my top vote.

Thanks. I went with the Babe Ruth bat as my choice just because it hasn't been shown here for awhile and I hadn't taken pics of it since I got my new computer a couple years ago. Also, the fact that I have given thought to loaning it to the Babe Ruth Museum, it fit the subject.

It is interesting (to me at least) how different the items in this thread are from if someone posted a thread asking people to post their most valuable items.

Here are a few that might warrant at least a moment of consideration:

1) Lineup cards from George Brett's 3000 hit game
2) Carbon copies of the lineup cards from Phil Niekro's 300 win game
3) Final baseball from the series in the 1945 Navy World Series.
4) Letter from Walter Johnson in 1910 about the proposed 1910 All-Star Tour that the Commission prevented from happening.
5) 1946 Nashua Dodgers Photo signed by entire team (featured Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe in the same season that Jackie Robinson was playing in the Minors and the year before the integration on the Major League level.

I have a few things that I believe could be described this way. I see that most of these items are player related so I thought I would change it up and add something different. Although certainly not pre-war I think this Cleveland Indians dugout phone from Municipal Stadium is fun and would look awesome mounted in the HOF as part of a display to honor the Tribe's futility;)

This piece, apparently, is worthy of being in the HOF...Because the acquisitions committee voted unanimously to take it in for their art collection.

My father, who passed away 2 years ago, was a very talented artist and designer. We took annual pilgrimages up to Cooperstown (fond memories). On one trip in 1994, he did this pen & ink sketch of the Hall. After he passed away, I had it framed and contacted the HOF to donate it. They loved it, and it's now part of their permanent collection.

Saying I'm honored, humbled and touched, to have a piece of my father's art in the Hall of Fame, would be an understatement. I plan to bring my son there in a few years to see it.

Awesome!!!! :)

Great story!

Any way we can get a larger scan of this beautiful piece sir, would really like to enjoy the details of your father`s work. Thank you.

Thanks for the very kind words, guys.

Here's a close up of the HOF sketch...

He also did this other one on the same day. It's of the old, great shop (National Pastime) in Cooperstown. I framed this one too...but this one is being kept for my son.

Not sure
 

If these are HOF worthy but maybe;

Great ball! Who was Spencer Wood?

The first "little" World Series was played in 1904. The Buffalo Bisons of the Eastern (International) League beat the St Paul Saints of the American Association.
I acquired this very rare composite 27 years ago while set-up at the Cooperstown HOF weekend Baseball Card Show. A gentleman "walked-in" with it, he was
interested its trade value. I gave him a fair figure and he traded it to me for a bunch of T206's.
I have searched for another one since 1990, but to no avail.

Anyhow, I'm thinking of eventually donating it to the Hall of Fame. It's a significant piece of Baseball history since No Major League World Series was played in
1904.

http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan7...sonsTeam50.jpg


The 1904 NL Champs were the NY Giants. McGraw was hoping to play the NY Highlanders in the World Series. However, the AL Championship came down to
a dramatic Playoff game in which Jack Chesbro (41-game winner) "blew" the game in the 9th inning and Boston went on to win the AL Pennant.

McGraw refused to play Boston, so there was no World Series. Furthermore, McGraw declared the Giants...."World Champions" !


TED Z
.

This is a very neat collectible, but probably not "HOF worthy" lol. This photo was taken moments before the first of several meetings to move the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. At first glance, the photo appears to be off center. Upon further review, the beloved Emmett Kelly aka Brooklyn Bum can be seen lying on the bleachers. Certainly this was done for effect, as this meeting was highly publicized and ultimately led to the cross country move. This would be the final year for Brooklyn in Vero Beach, aka "Dodgertown"

More can be read here on walteromalley dot com:

"Another important meeting took place with several representatives from Los Angeles, including its Mayor Norris Poulson and Hahn, at Dodgertown on March 6, 1957. Also in attendance were John Gibson, President of the City Council; Samuel Leask, City Administration Officer; John Leach, Los Angeles County Chief Administrative Officer; and Milton Arthur, Chairman of the County Recreation Commission. It was an opportunity for Los Angeles to put its best foot forward and explain its genuine hope of pursuing the Dodgers and bring Major League Baseball to the West Coast, while gauging O’Malley’s interest. During their visit and throughout that spring, Emmett Kelly, the world-famous clown, entertained everyone and his antics were well-received by the fans."**

Attachment 280908

The photo is in VG-EX condition, more on the EX side, with a slight bend on the top right corner area. Mild staining on the back, with the United Press stamp clear and visible. The typed story portion intact and still attached to the photo at the bottom.

Attachment 280909

Unbelievable stuff here. What a great thread. With all this amazing stuff, my contribution would probably go in the HOF basement or attic.
Maybe a World Series wing........
http://i.imgur.com/YHAd9yK.jpg?2

This one might be interesting to either the Negro League museum or the Hall Of Fame...one of the highlights of my collection. Connie Morgan's personal scrapbook from her days in the Negro Leagues. Filled with newspaper clippings and handwritten notes and a few photos...all put into the scrapbook during her time with the Indianapolis Clowns.

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/y...psu5cpzugi.jpg

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/y...psguspx1qo.jpg

Tom C

Wow. What's pretty incredible about this (aside from the obvious baseball history), to me at least, is the attempt at a panoramic shot before panorama was truly possible.

Ted that is amazing. And great story!

1891/2 Cy Young

JC -

Surely you have a better scan than that! Your scan is basement-worthy, but your cabinet would be front-and-center of the Hall in my mind!

PM me your email address and a better scan you shall have. Just don't want to see a counterfeit pop up on the market like what happened when I showed a Cap Anson Cabinet longtime ago.

Thanks Brendan.

Yes, 1904 was a really interesting season.....and, especially the way it ended.

There's an excellent book regarding the 1904 season......"The Year They Called Off the World Series", by Benton Stark.

TED Z
.

Not sure if this works
 

But I haven't seen another.....

I hope none of these items gets donated to a museum !!!! They will either be stolen or put into a basement and never be seen again. At least put them up for auction so a collector can enjoy it when you don't want it anymore.
Must be stupid to donate it to a museum. These are great items. Thanks to all for sharing.

FAcinating stuff gentlemen. Very nice.

I tend to agree with you, although I believe that it's "stupid" to donate is a bit harsh.

It costs money to maintain museum pieces, and many times the funds aren't there for the museum to do this. Personally, I would keep all of the posted items, or donate with wording the items are secured and permanently on display and I set up funding to maintain the items myself. I would also reserve the right to have items return to my possession at any time.

1947 Original Photograph of Jackie Robinson as a member of the Montreal Royals, the Brooklyn Dodgers Minor League club in his 1st appearance at Ebbets Field during an exhibition game. The Dodgers would pick up Jackie's contract and officially promote him to the big leagues at the end of the day.

Attachment 281012
Attachment 281013

Great stuff guys! That Mathewson pic is insane. I love pre-war baseball photography.

well, perhaps this pendant given to John McGraw by the Giants Boosters in October of 1904 commemorating his "Champions" declaration could go alongside that other photo?

also, Dummy Hoy wool from 1890's

The pendant and the Hoy jersey! Wow is all I can say. That Hoy SHOULD be in the HOF. 2 great contributions, thanks!

http://www.baseballcardstars.com/jackmanbros3.jpg http://www.baseballcardstars.com/jackmanbros4.jpg

Parts of my item are already in the HOF. These are two 1908 "OUR HOME TEAM" Postcards published by H. E. Smith Publishing, St. Louis. and include one Chicago Cubs version and one Chicago White Sox version.

These were once owned by Alan Jackman, a very early autograph collector. As a boy, he and his brother David spent 9 years (1902-1912) assembling a scrapbook with photos of just about every player, manager and umpire in the majors. The boys cut photos out of Spaulding Guides, newspapers, and - you guessed it - these "Our Home Team" postcards. When it was finished in the fall of 1912, they began taking it to Pirate games in their hometown of Pittsburgh and also traveled by train to other parks in order to get as many of the photos autographed as possible. Their successes included Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson and at least 34 other HOFers. Ty Cobb, according to legend, stopped a game and had all his teammates sign for the boys.

Alan became the custodian of the scrapbook and kept it in his possession until 1975. Towards the end of his life, Mr. Jackman donated the incredible scrapbook to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. It was "enthusiastically received by the director and librarian 'who could think of no compilation of autographs to match it'." I like the anecdote that only one player ever refused to sign for the young boy (identity unknown), and he was a non-hall of famer, so in Alan's words "he missed out on his chance to be in the Hall of Fame!"

I've contacted the HOF about the postcards and they've invited me to bring them to the Archives Library and match them to the scrapbook if and when I visit Cooperstown.

http://www.baseballcardstars.com/alanjackman.jpg

Photo of Jackman Bros. Scrapbook from the book "Inside the Hall of Fame."

http://www.baseballcardstars.com/jackman_scrapbook.jpg

I know that you could previously see the entire scrapbook online through the BBHOF digital archive, but can't seem to find it anymore.

That's incredible. We may have a winner. I'm assuming Joe Jackson actually signed it? I can't tell from that pic, but it doesn't look like his wife Katherine signed it...

Here is my contribution
 

1885 Imperial Cabinet of the Chicago White Stockings used in the Oct. 1885 issue of Harpers Weekly as woodcut art.

This stuff is incredible!

Earliest known Ruth ML photo
 

July 16, 1914 RPPC of Babe Ruth on the mound at Fenway during his second ML game. This is the earliest known image of Ruth in the Majors. Here is an article about it in the June 2017 SABR Pictorial History Research Committee Newsletter if you want to know more: http://sabr.org/research/pictorial-h...ee-newsletters. And yes, the HOF made it clear they when they were assisting me with my research that they would love to have this in their collection if I am ever so inclined.

Attachment 281367

Hoy Jersey!.....Wow. :eek:

July 16, 1914 RPPC of Babe Ruth on the mound at Fenway during his second ML game. This is the earliest known image of Ruth in the Majors. Here is an article about it in the June 2017 SABR Pictorial History Research Committee Newsletter if you want to know more: http://sabr.org/research/pictorial-h...ee-newsletters. And yes, the HOF made it clear they when they were assisting me with my research that they would love to have this in their collection if I am ever so inclined.

Jim, can you even put a price tag on something like this? I'm assuming you bought it first and then learned that that was Ruth on the mound (later)?