Orioles Kail Pickup

[vintagesportflips]

I wanted to share images of a recent pickup of mine. It is a 1960's Fred Kail Baltimore Orioles statue with some significant condition issues. These rarely ever show up so I figured despite the condition I would make a run at it. I believe Brock showed a more recent Kail Orioles statue last year. I have a bunch of football Kails, and this one is a lot different in terms of composition. The football kails (and my bowling kails for that matter) are a lightweight porcelain? type makeup, where this Orioles statue is made of a very heavy chalkware. The statue came from I believe the collection of Vincent Greco, and as you can see the statue is broken just above the cleats, with the bottom portion missing. Lou Criscone of Inside the Park mentioned on this board, and in his blog, that he handled an Orioles statue (that looks identical to this one acc to his photos) that was made for Orioles pitcher Milt Papas (numbered 32). I am assuming based on the number 5, that this statue was made for Brooks Robinson. Obviously the condition is a shame, but I still love the look of it.

[Chris Counts]

I realize it's Brooks Robinson, but it looks more like Boog Powell.

[vintagesportflips]

I agree it resembles Boog Powell, but all of his Baseball Kails have that same appearance, as do his football statues for that matter.

[perezfan]

Keith...

It's a wonderful piece and really captures the essence of the early 1960s. I just love these, and the Baseball versions are near-impossible as you know... I would kill for a Reds one!

Perhaps you could lessen the damage to the lower portion by devising a mount or base that would call less attention to the breakage. Maybe something similar to the Rams/Packers Kails you have, but with a baseball field base instead of football.

Either way, it's a great item to see... must be less than half a dozen of these in existence.

[tothrk]

Maybe you could mount him on a little rolling platform and put a tin cup in his hands like Eddie Murphy in Trading Places.

[BrockJacob]

Great pickup Keith. Really is a shame about the condition considering the rarity of the old baseball statues and the fact that this one was made for Robinson (assumingly). If you want I can throw the newer statue I have in a box, mail it to you and let the postal service handle smashing it to hell so you can give this guy something to stand on. They're experts at it.

[vintagesportflips]

Thanks guys. Mark, I was thinking the same thing: constructing some sort of wood base, but I am not sure how I would go about doing it. Will have to give that some thought.

The Eddie Murphy suggestion is an interesting one

And Brock, Yes the Post Office is not great with these type of fragile items. I had one of my Kail Bowling pieces arrive in literally 30 pieces.

[vintagesportflips]

Hello again guys,

I did have a pretty nice quality wood base custom made for the statue, so that the broken edge rests inside a recessed area. I think it came out pretty well, and this way I can display this guy a little better (If I can find room in my already packed display case )

[rickybulldog50]

Nice look! Does the plate turn around?

[vintagesportflips]

Oops. I had the guy make a custom plate as well, but haven't attached it yet, and just laid it on there for the photo. Wasn't even paying attention to the fact that I placed it backward.

[perezfan]

Perfect solution, Keith... it even looks somewhat vintage with the teak-type of wood which was used so much in the early '60s. Looks great!

[vintagesportflips]

Thanks Mark, I am pretty happy with how it came out.