Here are a few of my highlights from across my different areas of collecting:
Lineup Cards
1) Lineup cards - I was lucky enough to be able to acquire the lineup cards from Game 4 of the 1944 World Series. The Series is the only one ever played between the 2 St Louis teams. The Cardinals lineup card was filled out by HOF manager Billy Southworth. The Cardinal won the game 5-1, and Stan Musial hit his only career World Series homerun.
Some honorable mentions (not pictured)
- Carl Yastrzemski final career HR
- Steve Carlton final career win
- 1981 WS clinching game
- Adrian Beltre 1st career HR
WWII baseball
Both items come from the 1944 Army vs Navy "World Series" played in Hawaii.
The first is a plaque that the players from the game received. As the plaque indicates, this is from William Barney McCosky.
The 2nd is a ticket from the 1st game of that series.
Integration Baseball
1) In the Integration collection, I was excited to acquire 3 tickets from the 1939 UCLA football team, featuring Jackie Robinson. I'd love to eventually acquire the full run of tickets and programs from Jackie's football career at UCLA, though I know that is a long shot.
2) Saving the best for last (for me anyways). I had been trying to acquire this item for years, and was finally successful.
In between the 1945 and 1946 seasons, the Dodgers signed 5 black players. Jackie Robinson, John Wright, Don Newcombe, Roy Campanella and Roy Partlow. Robinson, Wright and Partlow played in Montreal, while Newcombe and Campanella integrated the US, playing in Nashua, New Hampshire for the Nashua Dodgers. (Both actually first signed to play with the Danville Dodgers, and the team/league pushed back against integration and they re-signed to play in Nashua.)
I was able to acquire Campanella's Nashua (and Danville) contracts in the past, and had really wanted to pair them with Newcombe's. It took a few years, but I was finally able to do so. I'm hoping that the Newcombe Danville contract one day materializes.
Fun to look back over the year and take an inventory.
I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season.