ODDBALL items!
 

I love the oddball stuff. Anyone (with money) can own a '52 Topps Mantle or a signed Ruth ball but I honestly get a bigger kick out of the seldom seen stuff. Some of my favorite Giants items are not necessarily valuable but possess a certain kitschy charm, at least to me. If this thread gets any traction, I have plenty of oddball stuff to share. Here's the first - a woman's apron. What have you got?

Cool Apron, Rob!

Really captures the era, and I love the artwork.

Here’s an item that should work nicely in this thread. It’s a figural 1957 Milwaukee Braves Hair Brush. His Mohawk is actually a removable brush that rests atop his head. Must’ve been a real bust at the Concession Stands, as you NEVER see them. I don’t think I’ve seen another. Probably had a very short production run, as it’s kind of disgusting! :eek:

Mark, those are just down right creepy. LOL

Great item, I also like the oddball items way more than a lot of the common expensive items. I would love to see this thread get some traction. I also have a PLENTY of stuff to share.:)

Here is my favorite bat, it is a semi rare promo bat Wade Boggs ordered in 1991. I have a couple gamers but this promo bat come from the personal collection of Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen.

Giants percolator. Given to various SF "dignitaries" upon the Giants arrival in 1958.

ODDBALL! Note: R rated
 

Off color Tigers T-shirt from the 1984 World Series that featured the Detroit Tigers and the San Diego Padres.
Weird, but I can't bring myself to get rid of it. :D

Here is the Twins version of that apron and one other item that probably wouldn't be accepted today.

stuff
 

Love the Tigers vs. Padres shirt. That got an out loud laugh from me.

I also want to see Rob's Willie Mays clock.

Some oddball Cardinals stuff....

Dizzy Dean Ashtray, circa 1930s
Cardinals Pinback, with rare "Bird in Cage" Dangler
Cardinals Ashtray, circa 1940s (Circular version)
Cardinals Ashtray, circa 1940s (Square version)
Cardinals Statue, circa 1931

Not 100% sure the proper terms for this item. It is the original typewriter copy of the contract between Eddie Mathews and his agent Frank Scott. The contract is for things like testimonials, personal appearances, television, ect., and not anything related to playing baseball. I also have the original typewriter copies between Willie Mays and Al Kaline with Frank Scott.

Great topic and cool stuff fellas! Here's a grouping of lady's handbags sold at Crosley Field I presume in fashionable Black, Red and Blue...

Ask and ye shall receive!

Love the Cardinal's bird cage dangler and the Reds fashionable handbags!

Nolan Ryan backlit Starter sign
 

One of my favorite oddball Nolan Ryan items in my collection is a Starter brand backlit display sign from circa 1991. Approximately 24" x 24"
Ryan endorsed Starter brand apparel for a few years.

Glad he said clock.

My Rusty Staub Watch

https://live.staticflickr.com/865/39...74c6db64_z.jpgIMG_0218 by Guy Bourque, on Flickr

Le Grand Orange!

Man, I really like that watch! Any details? I know there was the SuperStar watches from 1968; that’s not part of that series is it...

Love those timepieces!
Tough to beat the Mays clock, but here are a few more Mays oddball items, with a Sadaharu Oh belt thrown in.

Greg

I own Schottzie's dog collar...odd enough?

That one might take the prize. Must be a very big collar!

Schottzie -- good dog!

I will add a First Day Cover owned by Captain Kangaroo (forgive my blackout skills -- didn't want to show his old address) and a Billy Martin calendar display (although I guess anything Billy Martin related could be considered oddball).

Greg

You guys are making me realize that I'm mostly an even ball collector.

I do, however, have an affinity for these baseball head banks. My children (who aren't exactly young) are a bit scared of them. I try to pick them up when the price is right, but they usually sell pretty well if they are in decent shape. I'm currently looking for an Oakland A's bank if anyone has one.

FANTASTIC Thread.!!!

Letter to Bill Dewitt 1929 looking for a job with the Cardinals.

One wonders if the writer got lucky:)

No it is not , it was release in The Montreal area in 1970 , I got it from my godmother for my 1st communion in 1970

Seattle Rainiers
 

The Seattle Rainiers won three straight PCL pennants , 1939-1941. Team members were awarded championship rings for the 1939 pennant, and were allowed to choose from other commemorative items in 1940 and 1941. After all, who needs more than one gorgeous championship ring? :rolleyes:

Here are a few of those alternate awards, a Kodak 8 camera, a Packard Bell floor radio, and a Remington rifle, all with commemorative championship shields. I'll add a picture of another choice, a silverware set, later.

I picked up the same Willie Mays pine tar, just yesterday. Mine, like yours, has a faded label. It was originally a nice orange.

I have the skateboard, too. I was able to find out it was sold only at Northern California Macy's in 1960. Tough to find, these days.

Not rare or expensive, just an example on how far us player collectors will go.:D

In the center in the life vest is GI Joe Cutter(Wade Boggs). On the weird note the little guy in the radiation suit on the far left is stamped Occupied Japan.

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...dvertising.jpg

One of the oddest Joe Louis pieces I have, it is a door hangar presumably hung on newsstands soliciting orders for a special edition related to the Louis-Braddock fight in 1937. I've never seen another.

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...bsize/841a.jpghttps://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...bsize/841b.jpg

This is a betting slip (front and back) from the Louis-Schmeling I fight in 1936. Looks almost governmental, which is great since betting was illegal at the time.

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...%20Wrapper.jpg

Last of all, how about a piece of actual trash: a 1930s candy wrapper for Barney Ross's candy bar. Ross, a HOFer and two-division champ, was awarded America's third highest military honor, the Silver Star, as well as a presidential citation, for heroism on Guadalcanal during WWII.

Magnificent oddball stuff, everyone! Let's make this a long ongoing thread.

Here's a smattering of oddball items with the common thread being they are all Tobacco-related...

Pipes, Pipe Stands, Lighters, Cigarette Holders, Match Safes, Match Strikers, Ash Trays, Cigar Tins, Humidors, and other various pieces... all of which contributed to Lung, Mouth and Tongue Cancer back in the day. :o

Great stuff, Adam! "One man's trash is another man's treasure." So true.

Even Mark's "oddball" items are classy!

Oddball Items
 

Great idea for a thread with some really cool items. Enclosed 2 Babe Ruth items from completely different avenues. 1913 St. Mary`s Industrial School calendar made famous by the Babe and where it all began. Second is an antique leather suitcase with a hand painted Movie advertisement for the 1927 picture featuring Babe, "Babe Comes Home".

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c9e97750_c.jpg1913 St Mary`s Industrial School Calendar #2 by Hugh Murphy, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9d856171_b.jpgPic 4, Babe Comes Home, Suitcase by Hugh Murphy, on Flickr

ca. 1980's 45 RPM record by wannabe rapper Joe Mama. Gotta love the boombox! I can't remember what the "B side" was but I know it's by another wannabe white rapper...this one with blond dreadlocks. :p

Rob, that one might even have Schottzie’s Collar beat!

That could be a lone survivor (and with good reason!)

I had a dedicated “joe mama” ebay search for years! :p

Some would be happy with one milk chocolate bar or even one of each color wrapper. I am WAY past that point in collecting.:D

Here is an entire original box of Wade Boggs .352 bars and a partial roll of red wrappers.

Mark your tobacco related items are incredible, just like the rest of your collection.
I'll stick with that theme and offer a few more, including an old cigarette vendor --

Greg

The "B side" to Giant's Cap! GIVITUP!! I gotta listen to this thing (I never have)!

If only we had audio on this site!

Greg

Awesome stuff, Greg... I especially love that figural Photographer Ashtray. Great detail, and beautiful piece!

And Rob...
While your Giants collection may be Hall-Of-Fame worthy.... I don't think Joe Mama will ever be inducted into the Rock & Roll HOF.

Just guessin' :rolleyes:

You guys continue to amaze me with what your pulling out of the closet. Here's a few more Reds pieces...

Wow Chris!

Never seen either of those items. But I can remember those beaded Indian style belts from when I was just a little kid. That thing is really cool!

Scarce light bulb pitcher from the Cubs first night game.

Is a popcorn megaphone oddball enough?

Yes! :p

Love the belt, especially the “Big League” medallion. Is the “Play Ball” book sized for baseball cards or business cards?

Not baseball but basketball. A letter to John Cullen Murphy a very good friend of mine ( wrote the prince valliant comic strip did covers for sport, sports illustrated , colliers etc) a request for information from the Harlem Globe trotters on a story he was doing on Abe Saperstein. talking about what he looked like and what the uniforms were to look like in 1948. John had some great items when I sold off his stuff for him. John died in 2004. And by the way lived not far from Lou Gehrig back in the day!

Thanks, fellas. Rob I'm fairly certain the wallet was made for baseball cards. It has the position numbers printed at the bottom of each sleeve.

I have lots of odd stuff but will focus on the odd ball 1971 Pirates items in my collection. All of these items are fairly hard to find. Roberto and Stargell coin banks, Roberto Memorial pennant, 1971 NL Championship banner hung during the series, Bob Moose's team issued tie, blazer, watch and his Iron City Beer tie.

That's a lot of great stuff Mike -- I really like the two busts, but I vote for the Bob Moose jacket and the Iron City tie as the most oddball!

Greg

1 foot section of the Foul Line from the Old Comiskey Park

Attachment 377560

A few more misc. Minnesota Twins items.

...and I'll bet it's some of your favorite stuff, huh?

You got all artistic with your photo of the coin banks! :p

Great stuff! Got more?

A few pins I've never seen.

Misc. Minnesota Twins/Vikings buttons. Notice the different photos used for the Harmon 1969 MLB pin. Both of them are difficult to track down but the one still on the card is the most difficult.

Venturing into the really ODD
 

Sorry Rob, need some Dodger stuff in this thread. This is something I never show anyone at my house, as they already think my collecting is weird, and this would convince them. It was well established that Koufax had arm issues, and here is a 1964 x-ray of (as Vinny put it) "The Left Arm of God".

Rick

Attachment 377584

Wow.... amazing Twins and Pirates stuff. LOVE the Clemente and Stargell Banks, and everything else, Mike!

And the mega Twins collection is off the charts... Sweeeeeet!

But that Koufax X-ray will be very tough to beat, if we're looking for oddball. How did you even go about acquiring that, Rick??

Mark, I actually bought it, and an xray of Ali's broken jaw from the Norton fight after it had been wired shut, on ebay about 20 years ago. I gave the Ali to a dealer on consignment, not sure where it ended up, and I never got paid for it. I have a wirephoto of Koufax leaving Dr Kerlan's office after an examination a year earlier than the date of the x-ray.

Rick

Beautiful Twins stuff!!!

Love the x-ray. That will be tough to beat unless anyone has something like a piece of a player (hair, toenail).

;)

Man you guys have amazing items!

I have never seen a baseball theme Mystery clock....love it!!

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Casablanca Fans from Los Angeles giveaway.

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Ted Williams Key Charm...have a Newsome one of these also but no pic.

I like that the keychain is "Luckee." :p

My wife gave me a hard time when I paid $30 for this ca. 1958 sugar packet. 20 years later, I still haven't seen another. She still gives me a hard time...

3 Twins SGAs

The Tony Oliva is from when they inducted him into the Twins HOF. I got Tony to sign it a few yeas ago.

The Kirby Puckett flip bookshows his 11th inning HR in the 1991 WS.

A encased card celebrating Torii Hunter winning a gold glove.

That's pretty funny about the sugar packet Rob!

Greg

Christmas gift from my brother in law. He just returned from Puerto Rico. I think a Clemente beach towel would qualify as pretty odd ball.

Attachment 378193

In the early 60s, Howard had opened Elston Howard Travel in my hometown of Nutley, New Jersey. It was about two blocks from my house and right where the bus dropped us after school. When it opened my best friend and I would walk by every day hoping for a glimpse of a major leaguer. One day a woman waved us into the offices and told us to come by that weekend. Sure enough Elston was there and he signed pictures for us. Gave us some of these charms as well but I lost mine. I found one on eBay while searching for something else and overpaid for it instantly.

Meeting Elston Howard was probably my first in-person autograph and definitely our first off the field encounter with an athlete. Cool memory.

Here is Earl Weaver's hand written scouting report on every A.L. Player from 1986 divided by club. After the season, he gave the reports to coach Jimmy Williams for use in '87....I had Earl sign the box lid a few years before he passed.....

https://i.imgur.com/r5VA99q.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/7uEpJA0.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/1UEYKBj.jpg

A page from a Royal Tailor sample book from 1914. Christy Mathewson was one of a handful of players from that book. I believe Frank Chance, Ty Cobb, Eddie Plank, Connie Mack, and John McGraw were the other baseball players featured, but there could be more.

During the Depression, the White Sox produced and bottled their own brand of orange soda under the stands at Comiskey Park.

And an oddball score counter that was produced by Brown & Bigelow in St. Paul.

Red Sox Beer:

This one is pretty strange. I believe another former member previously owned this one. In a book, "A History of Boston in 50 Artifacts," a deteriorated version of this pin was recovered in a dig. Since it has a copyright of 1912, someone (the author?) made the connection that it is tied to either the opening of Fenway Park or the 1912 World Series. Either assumption is a pretty large leap. I did a brief search for copyright info on that phrase in 1912. Not sure if my findings were for this pin, but the owner is from NY. It doesn't mean this pin isn't specifically related to the Red Sox, but it is worth noting.

Sorry for all the posts :o I actually just found the answer on the pin...

A light bulb pitcher...pretty cool. I have never seen one.

Great stuff!

Nellie Fox Bowling alley ashtray 1960's

https://qualitycards.com/pictures/nelliefoxe.jpg



Its still in operation, though Nellie died in '75

https://qualitycards.com/pictures/nelliefoxc.jpg

Nellie Fox bowling alley signed postcard from 1963

https://qualitycards.com/pictures/81789454.jpg

https://qualitycards.com/pictures/81789454b.jpg