Minor League Score
 

Snagged 8 gamers from the 1955-57 Lincoln Chiefs (Western League) at an auction today. The former owner of these bats was the batboy for the team in those years...also snagged two game used balls and a couple of team photos. Players included in the bat lot are - Theodore Adkins, Rex Babcock, Joe Christopher, John Morse, Milt Nielsen (did not play for Lincoln and did not play for a team on Lincoln's schedule..a mystery??), Dick Barnhart (Sioux City), and Moore??? (Possibly Clarence or Edward who both played for Pueblo in 1955)...the Chuck Klein bat was used by one of the players but the guy had no idea which player used it...he just grabbed the cracked bats and took them home after games. He said at one time he had probably 40 or 50, but his mom sold them off through the years at flea markets and garage sales.

Wow nice score! Isn't that your second Lincoln bat find?

Yep, I had a find almost exactly like this two years ago. I've had great luck with the bats and balls, but no luck with uniforms. Someday though...I hold out hope. :)

Aren't there a couple of uniforms in private collections? I'd still like to get an early 50's WI jersey. They looked just like the Cleveland jerseys.

I know that someone has one because they used it in the recent renovation ads for Sherman Field.

Incredible find! Not many people probably understand a score like this. I collect St. Paul Saints memorabilia (they were a top minor league team for the White Sox and Dodgers and a feeder for the 1920s Yankees) and finding bats of little-known players can be near impossible. As crazy as it sounds, while guys like Duke Snider and Roy Campanella passed through St. Paul, I get more excited about landing stuff from guys like Bruno Haas, Eric Tipton, or Larry Rosenthal. Think of how many Duke Snider game used bats are out there and then think how many there are of Bob Ramazzotti. A lot of the bats you just landed might be one of a kind. That is exciting. Congratulations!!

Chris

Thank you Chris...I was really hoping for a Dick Stuart bat though. :) One from his 66 homer season would be a jewel in my collection. I talked to the guy who was the batboy about Stuart and he said he didn't recall much from him other than he was very arrogant and he hit a lot of home runs.

Dan

I'm with you and Chris. No doubt we're a distinct and small minority, but I'd much rather find obscure ephemera from a Vancouver or Victoria player than a Cobb or Ruth item. And don't get me started about material from Saskatoon, my home town.

Yep! Of course there are obscure items for major leaguers and MLB teams, but for a lot of minor league clubs just finding anything can be a real challenge.