Historical Baseball memorabilia from McGreevy's Sports Bar up for sale January 26th
 

Hey did you know that the historical baseball memorabilia from McGreevy's Sports bar in Boston is up for auction on January 26th. It's being auction off by Bodnar's Auctions. https://connect.invaluable.com/bodnar/

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Some very interesting items for auction

Yikes....

Sad to see that a Mitchell & Ness reproduction pennant made it into this auction. Check out the tassels and remnants of the paper tag sewn to reverse side of spine. Someone artificially aged it and snuck it in. Really hate to see this...

https://connect.invaluable.com/bodna...ant_4414730996

Here's another...

https://connect.invaluable.com/bodna...ant_46F45549E2


And another one that they somehow managed to identify properly...

https://connect.invaluable.com/bodna...ant_79C4A0B97A

There are some great items here, but it appears many if not most of the lots are reproductions, especially the photos. It does clearly say that many photos are copies, with the exception of those marked as original. It looks to be the same for pennants and signs. Reproductions that were used in the bar.

Greg

Good God... Here's another reproduction/fantasy pennant they fail to describe for what it is. I'll stop looking now... the pages load slowly, and I don't have the time to scrutinize all of these items that cast doubt upon the entire auction.

https://connect.invaluable.com/bodna...ant_98F44A6BFB

Suffice it to say "Buyer Beware".

At least the photos and prints say "Copy Of" in the title.

Auction
 

everything is a Copy or a reprint, it clearly states it in the terms and conditions with very few exceptions

Indeed. I've seen the auction listing a little while ago and it was very disappointing. The auction listings state

"All items in this sale are copies from the original archives from the Boston Public Library unless noted in the description as "original"."

I think the auction house is thinking that people will bid on the items just so that they can have an item as a memento from the bar rather than the collectible value of the item itself. Since these items were all displayed in the bar, thankfully they are mostly copies.

Looks like you can do a search for "original" at the top to get the real items.

Be careful, many of the "original" items are only original in strict legal terms, meaning that most of the "composites" and photos were assembled in relatively recent years. It is therefor also pretty easy to surmise that most of these, due to their construction, never were part of the original McGreevy establishment, but the recent incarnation that was resurrected and lasted for a few years. Not trying to start anything, but please do your homework with lots of google searches before dropping money beyond trinket value on most of this stuff. A few of the items at the front of the auction seem fine, but after that, consider it like you are at a flea market or antique mall and you see something that looks old but is made for the modern collector and not actually of much value beyond it's aesthetic display value.

Anybody else watch this auction Live?

I'm not sure what to make of those running it.

Like when the lady was doing it she'd say the item was original, then someone would yell over to her that it wasn't......of course this is after she's calling bids for the item.

It was a bit of a circus act.

They were discussing ordering lunch....so it wasn't a pro auction, it was kinda different, I don't know, did anyone else watch or win anything?

I lost the over sized bat which I thought was pretty cool. Some strong prices I thought.

I bought a bunch of stuff .... I previewed yesterday . ALOT - I mean a lot of the items would fool the best eye unless you can take it out of the frame and actually feel it and view the back. Guarantee a lot will be passed off as real somewhere along the way.
Ron - the bug bat was cool, but not too impressive in person .

I bid on about a half dozen items, but prices were pretty strong and got out of my comfortable price range for not being able to see the items in person and judge their validity for original/reproduction purposes. Plus I read the shipping/handling prices from that auction house is pretty awful.

Would have still liked to win 1-2 items just for the coolness factor, but it was not meant to be.

I won a 1888 Beaneaters photo in a cool frame. I was surprised to get outbid on a few things. I really wanted some of the 06 series panoramas even being repros. I called the local UPS and the quote wasn't too bad but was informed that the auction can mail my items for cost of usps plus $10 handling so I doubt it'll be very expensive.

Didn’t Peter Nash own this bar? He’s been pretty quiet the last couple of years.

Yes, he was involved.

From his site: In 2008, Nash re-opened Nuf Ced McGreevy’s 3rd Base Saloon at 911 Boylston St. in Boston, MA.

I purchased 5 lots. Mostly because I thought the display value was great. Total cost was under $200. I pick them up later today and will post pics. I figured the boston public library and Peter nash would do a good job on the copies I liked that the backs all had a file number from the sale. But definitely gonna keep a copy of these items in a file as I traverse flea markets here in NJ. Teaser first lot I got was a large photo of a few 1895 Baltimore players. Given the size and quality of pic ( not in hand yet) I didn't think I could go wrong at $15.. I did think the repro carl Horner teams sold for alot less than it would cost to get a similar copy. And they have to look great on a wall.
Jonathan

All of the items look better in hand than in pictures. The 1891 team is almost 3 feet tall. The smallest is Kelly at about 11x14. The Baltimore photo is a very nice print of the photo. About 24x27 plus frame. I will most likely reframe and put on walls.

I picked my items up at 12:30 .. wish I knew you were picking up today too .. would have been nice to say hi

Nice pick ups tho !

I’m selling a few pieces I bought . If you’re passing through NJ anytime soon, come take a look

Matt
Just missed you today I picked up my items at noon. And I was talking with the staff for a few minutes. When my Dad passed I used Bodner auctions. They did a great job with 86 years of estate items.
Post some of your pickups.
Jonathan

Nice pickups! I have to have mine mailed but am looking forward to it.

Kelly
 

Last display item. This Kelly picture, the frame is broken but image is as you can see very nice. Size is about 11x14. I also picked up 2 Boston Braves Mini bats that were listed as vintage but were clearly newer than 1952. But for $5 each I am happy with them.

cool! I wonder if there is a place that sells these old style frames? or did someone just find all these over the years?

It is my understanding that the Boston public library and Renowned (replicator)Peter nash put these together as exact copies of the items. I cannot imagine the time and cost..

You can insert any number of words to describe the talents of Mr. Nash..

First of the Mc Greevey items to hit Ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/40344404884...kAAOSwTB1h-J3X



Only a slight markup:

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item...-cabinet-photo

And he got the name of the field wrong in his listing. Pretty sad.

Got mine this weekend shipped. The auction house was very professional and friendly. I got the 1888 Beaneaters and it's definetly a replica. The frame didn't have glass but it ls kind of cool walking up and touching it. Looks great on my wall. I wish I had bought a couple more!

The team photo looks great. I think I bid on that one. Surprised they shipped with no glass. But glass frames don't travel well. They did a very good job reproducing the items. I did expect the team of Boston public library and Peter nash would be good at that task. But having the items in hand they look great. I am very happy that the ones I own all have a stamped catalog number that makes them easy to identify as reproductions. There is a local sports bar that I stop by for wings etc. I will show the owner some of these and see if he wants to put one up on the wall. In the past he put up a feame full of local ballplayers I put together Bill Urbanski Joe Medwick etc.

One of Mr. Nash's talents was investigating the bullshit, hypocrisy, and downright illegalities perpetrated by the major auction houses and third-party authenticators.
Did a damn fine job of it, as I recall.

Every time I look at this thread I assume I must be missing something.

Some folks are very excited about buying nice . . . reproductions?

for $50, yeah why not?

Whatever floats your boat. Ebay is full of reproductions. And will have a lot more when this stuff hits the market.

Wait, you are telling me that Ebay has nice reproductions in cool looking frames from a badass bar with a lot of history?!?!

Wait, ebay EXISTS?!!?

These are REPRODUCTIONS?!?!

Thank you thank you thank you for schooling us on this. I was so busy being happy with a few other net54 members for purchasing a $50 item that I should have remembered that there are "experts" on here that need to remind people how much better they are. NOW I realize that when a incredible looking 40x30 1903 Horner Composite shows up in a reproduction auction I should not be happy paying $50 but instead save up $15,000 for the original.

I should also remember that when a auction house sells quality reproductions from a sports bar with a lot of history to not bid $50 on an item for the fun of it. I TOTALLY forgot that fun is not allowed in collecting.

Fellow net54'ers whom posted on here that bought items, PLEASE read Snapolit1's very important observation and thank him.

Nuf ced

I have three consignments from the Bodnar auction listed with Goldin. These are original pieces not copies

https://goldin.co/item/1890-home-pla...27-5x21-5ttd8p

https://goldin.co/item/1897-michael-...e-16-5x1418ouv

https://goldin.co/item/harpers-weekl...d-coloredc83ah