Quote:
Originally Posted by Chstrite
Day 349 – 14 December 2024
I recently found a few 1960s-1970s Bluefield Orioles Program/Scorecards. I do not really collect minor league programs unless related to Cal, Eddie or Brooks but had to have these given their condition and the artwork on the cover. They are all scored. The years include 1961, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975 (Murray), 1976, 1977, and 1978 (Ripken…spelled Ripkin). They are all in great shape. Bluefield was affiliated with the Orioles from 1958-2010. They were the oldest continuous affiliated team with the same major league club. In September 2010, they began an affiliation with the Blue Jays. They were part of the Appalachian League willing championships in 1962, 63, 67, 70, 71, 82, 92, 96, 97, and 01.
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Ah Charlie, you've ventured into the dark side. I love the minor league programs. I have an almost complete run of the Bluefield programs from 1958-2010. I'm missing 1987, 2001, 2005 and 2009. The last few years were more like newspapers than programs.
Here's the first and last years Bluefield programs while they were Orioles affiliates.
1958 Bluefield Orioles - Copy.jpg 2010 Bluefield Orioles.jpg
FYI - Minor leagues teams would often reuse left over stuff from the previous season to help save money, especially lower level clubs. Here's a 1974 Bluefield program reused in 1975 with a sticker added to the cover.
1974 Bluefield Orioles - Copy.jpg 1975 Bluefield Orioles #2 - Copy.jpg
When Cal Ripken Jr was in Bluefield, they actually had a color and B&W program. Maybe Bill knows the story behind it. I'm sure it wasn't the fact that someone saw a HOF career in Ripken's future. Probably ran out of one and switched to the other. I'm not sure which came first. Here's the B&W version.
1978 Bluefield Orioles #2 - Copy.jpg