Collection Dedicated to the All Time Home Run Leader...
 

for players born in Alaska - Josh Phelps. Had to be tricky with the title of this thread since I figured no one would look if I wasn't! :)

I have been collecting stuff related to Josh's career for over a decade now and have had the good fortune to get to know him over the past few years. I had always hoped his career would take off...alas it did not. Still, he spent 8 years in the big leagues and played in the Atlantic League (Bridgeport) and Italy (Telemarket Rimini), too.

The chances of putting a collection like this together for a HOF or even All Star caliber would be impossible (for me) so it's a great opportunity to pick things up from various teams, leagues and types. I'll post some of my collection over time as well as any new pickups...finding things has become harder of late but every now and again I find a gem.

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...lps-collection

The above photo was taken back in March 2011...since that time I've added a bunch of things...

At this point, I have:

20 Game Used Jerseys (includes Yankee Spring Training and Home Uniforms)
1 Game Used Batting Helmet (Yankees)
13 Game Used Bats (including a Yankee bat from Josh for my birthday)
3 Locker Name Plates (Blue Jays, Devil Rays & Yankees)
175+ different cards
Assorted Programs, Autographs, etc.

and here's my latest find...a 2002 Blue Jay Season Ticket Holder Christmas Greeting Card...

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...2-holiday-card

...and yes, Josh was on the cover of the 2003 edition of Baseball Prospectus.

Matt very impressive Phelps collection

That is a great focus and collection. Very cool.

For the love of the game...
 

During the last two years of Josh's career he played in two of the most completely opposite locales I could imagine...Bridgeport, Connecticut and Rimini, Italy...the jerseys he wore for both teams are below...

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...filiation-2010http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...filiation-2011

2010 Bridgeport Bluefish (Home)
http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...ridgeport-29-ahttp://www.collectorfocus.com/images...ridgeport-29-b

2011 Telemarket Rimini Pirates (Home)
http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...11-rimini-29-ahttp://www.collectorfocus.com/images...11-rimini-29-b

2011 Telemarket Rimini Pirates (BP)
http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...11-rimini-29-chttp://www.collectorfocus.com/images...11-rimini-29-d

The Italy jerseys (as well as a Road Indians jersey) were received directly from Josh as part of a trade for a spare Game-Issued Yankee jersey/pant set I had. He even threw in an Offical Italian League baseball, too.

Today's Installment...
 

includes some close up photos of the three locker room name plates I've managed to find that belonged to Josh. They are:

2003 Toronto Blue Jays (Opening Day vs. Yankees)
http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...3-toronto-17-e

2005 Tampa Bay Devil Rays (Opening Day)
http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...evil-rays-21-c

2007 New York Yankees (Spring Training)
http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...2007-yankees-g

A new addition...finally!
 

Got an email from a big Devil Ray collector over at GUU that he had a 2005 Away jersey...this makes 21 different game jerseys for my Phelps collection! Below is the only image I've been able to find of Josh in this style of jersey. Hoping to find a better quality picture in order to attempt a photo match.

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...evil-rays-21-chttp://www.collectorfocus.com/images...evil-rays-21-d

Something from the Vault...
 

Just picked up my first contractual item...an Extension Agreement between Topps and Josh from 2003. Hoping more of this stuff pops up for sale!

Great looking stuff Matt. I always keep an eye out here for Italian items (Rimini is only about 2.5 hours from here)....hopefully I can find something for you one day.

Thank you for looking...hope you're enjoying your time over there, too!

Slow going...
 

Haven't been able to add to my collection in a while so I was thrilled to find an Opening Day ticket from 2007 when Josh played 1st base for the Yankees.

Amazingly hard ticket for me to track down...

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...07-opening-day

Collection Dedicated to the All Time Home Run Leader...
 

For those who are on Facebook, I started a page on Josh that will feature my collection. Additionally, as his daughter has Type 1 Diabetes, I added a link that you can make a donation to their team that is participating in Sam Fuld’s SLAM T1D event in December.

For those interested but not having Facebook, you can follow the link below:

https://www.crowdrise.com/Sick-of-Pr...elps4?mobile=1


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I run into something new so infrequently for this part of my collection...but this was a pretty big find for me. A 2007 game used Away Jersey...always loved the Yankee grays!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...73173bf325.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0b4f267e3e.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0d17eaa6fc.jpg


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