Cuban & Negro League Baseball Pick-Ups

[autocentral]

Hey guys,
I have recently started a Cuban Baseball & Negro League Baseball collection. This collection even though it is just underway means a lot to me because I'm a first generation Cuban-American and Cuban baseball was an important part of my grandfather's life.

If anyone has anything related they would like to share please do.

Here are my recent pick-ups:

-1947 Cafe Regil Cienfuegos Team Card with Martin Dihigo



-1947 Almendares Team Premium Photo with Buck O'Neil & Adolfo Luque


-1945/46 Caramelo Deportivos Minnie Minoso RC


-1945/46 Caramelo Deportivos Album (Empty)


-1946 La Ambrosia Album (Empty)


-1949/50 Alerta Antonio Alcalde Photo Premium Ray "Talua" Dandridge


-1940s/50s Kansas City Monarchs Vintage Pin

[Al C.risafulli]

That's the START of your collection?

That's a hell of a start! Gorgeous stuff, outstanding diversity!

-Al

[autocentral]

Originally Posted by Al C.risafulli

That's the START of your collection?

That's a hell of a start! Gorgeous stuff, outstanding diversity!

-Al

Thanks for the support Al. I really appreciate it.

Nick

[baseballart]

Nick

Great stuff. Here's an early book

[Jason19th]

Glad to see another board member with a similar passion. Here are a couple of items which you may find interesting

Photos of Vincente Rodriguez and Jose Olivero
Rare (or possible fake) romeo and julieta card
1943 album
Photo of team possible related to Santa Clara
Album page with Willie Mays "rookie"
1st book published in Cuba about baseball

[autocentral]

Originally Posted by baseballart

Nick

Great stuff. Here's an early book

Wow cool book.

Nick

[autocentral]

Originally Posted by Jason19th

Glad to see another board member with a similar passion. Here are a couple of items which you may find interesting

Photos of Vincente Rodriguez and Jose Olivero
Rare (or possible fake) romeo and julieta card
1943 album
Photo of team possible related to Santa Clara
Album page with Willie Mays "rookie"
1st book published in Cuba about baseball

Awesome stuff Jason! Thank you for sharing these items.

That album page with the Willie Mays is awesome and so is the 1943 Album.

[h2oya311]

Jason - nice LaSorda!!

Nick - fantastic start!!

[packs]

This is a 1948-49 Toleteros card of 2 time Negro League All Star Francisco Coimbre. In the 1944 East - West game he hit third between Ray Dandridge and Buck Leonard.

[btcarfagno]

Havana Reds flag of some sort. Not completely sure what it is really. Perhaps a souvenir? Could even be homemade with a crest from a uniform placed onto a fancy background?

Whatever it is I liked it so I bought it.

Tom C

[Shoebox]

Great stuff in this thread!

[baseball tourist]

Awesome stuff! Love the look of the albums specifically.

[autocentral]

Awesome stuff everyone has posted. Really glad people are sharing.

Nick

[Kenny Cole]

Sort of a focus of mine.

[autocentral]

^Wow Kenny. Definitely a focus of yours. That is one of the most impressive collections I have seen.

-Nick

[Kenny Cole]

Nick,

Sort of the blind squirrel thing. I was a huge baseball fan forever, sort of wandered into the great books about the Negro Leagues, started figuring out that there were actually cards of some of them out there and made GREAT friends with others like Ryan Christoff and Matt Goebel, both of whom I cannot tell you how much I respect and admire. Jump in to this fun and be welcome!!! Best,

Kenny

[autocentral]

Originally Posted by Kenny Cole

Nick,

Sort of the blind squirrel thing. I was a huge baseball fan forever, sort of wandered into the great books about the Negro Leagues, started figuring out that there were actually cards of some of them out there and made GREAT friends with others like Ryan Christoff and Matt Goebel, both of whom I cannot tell you how much I respect and admire. Jump in to this fun and be welcome!!! Best,

Kenny

Awesome, I just started discovering all the cards of these players and it has been amazing so far. I've read about four books for far on the Negro Leagues and two on Cuban baseball.

Thanks for sharing Kenny,
-Nick

[Kenny Cole]

Nick,

The cards, and the history they represent in general, are awesome. I love the Old Judges, the T206s, the '33 Goudeys and whatnot. I'm a big HOF collector. But IMO there is nothing like getting a new card of a guy who couldn't play here because of race issues and who you maybe didn't know much about until you got it and looked into what he did. That's pretty special.

The history of baseball is always fun, and the history of the other leagues is really interesting IMO. If you enjoy your time here 1/4 as much as I have enjoyed mine you will be really rewarded. There are great people on this forum and lots of knowledge. Soak it up and be happy to be the sponge. Best,

Kenny

[Comiskey]

I love baseball history too and would like to read about the Cuban and negro leagues. What books do you guys recommend?

Jeff

[Kenny Cole]

Only the Ball was White is the starting point IMO. There are a bunch of books that follow, most of which are good. They are obviously written from viewpoints that the authors have a stake in, so sift the information. James Riley wrote the Negro Leagues Encyclopedia about 20 years ago, and it has a wealth of information. I blew off literally a week of paid for golf games, which I used to never do, to read it cover to cover. I could simply not put it down. That probably makes me a massive nerd but I suppose I will have to live with that.

Cuban baseball-wise, "Smoke" by Mark Rucker et al. is an awesome book. I feigned illness and stayed home for two days simply to finish it. Insofar as Cuban baseball goes, "The Pride of Havana" is also pretty damn good. I would start with those and they will take you where you need to go. Best,

Kenny

[autocentral]

Originally Posted by Comiskey

I love baseball history too and would like to read about the Cuban and negro leagues. What books do you guys recommend?

Jeff

All those books Kenny recommended are great.

One of the books I'd recommend is The Soul of Baseball. It is the story of Buck O'Neil told in a very interesting and different way. It is really a short read and I read it in under 30 minutes because it was just that good.

Nick

[triwak]

I always enjoy these threads. (And seeing "the other" Kenny's wonderful cards, haha)! Here are my Negro League HOFers:

Found this Jimmy Claxton related item; a July 4, 1941 Toppenish Community Celebration pinback. Claxton pitched for the Fife Tigers v. Yakima Indians during a triple-header between six teams in Toppenish. At 48, Claxton pitched Fife to a 4 to 1 victory, with 7 strikeouts. Always nice to find anything related to this ballplayer.

[Northviewcats]

Hello Everyone,

Lots of fantastic (and very expensive) cards on display in this thread.

When I first started collecting players from the negro leagues I thought that I would never be able to afford the cards, but there are a lot of lesser known players that you can find for under $300. Here are some that I picked up.

Best regards,

Joe

[Kenny Cole]

Ken,

Sweet cards!!! Very impressive. I love threads like this where folks bring out stuff that is, to say the least, uncommon. You have some awesome cards, a couple of which I wish I would have bid higher on. I'm glad that since I didn't get them, you did. Best,

Kenny

[h2oya311]

Kenny, Ken, and Joe - great cards! I could certainly use quite a few of those for my collection, but, I'll happily live vicariously through you two while getting to see them on this forum! Here are a few of mine...

1948-49 Trinidad y Hno Almendares Team Booklet w/ Monte Irvin & Sam Jethroe


1948-49 Trinidad y Hno Marianao Team Booklet w/ Buck Leonard, Minnie Minoso & Dave Barnhill


1924 Diaz Cigarettes - Ted Lyons & Red Ruffing


1950-51 Mejoral Almendares Team Booklet w/ Dick Williams


1950-51 Mejoral Habana Team Booklet w/ Hoyt Wilhelm

[triwak]

Thank you, Kenny and Derek. (Those booklets are cool). And nice cards, Joe. Really dig that Gutierrez Luque. Great stuff, everyone!!

[Northviewcats]

Thanks Ken. Adolfo Luque is my favorite Cuban player. A lot of collectors don't know that he played in the major and Negro leagues. I have more of his cards than any other player in my collection.

Derek your 1924 Diaz of Lyons and Ruffing are really cool, and as you know extremely rare. They should be great investments for the future. I purchased several Diaz commons in the last couple of months, probably from the same vendor, and they look sharp framed in SGC holders. Some of them I believe are the only known examples.

Here are some pictures. (Not a Cuban, but tossed in another Luque for fun.)

Best regards,

Joe

[seattlerainiers]

Originally Posted by Northviewcats

Thanks Ken. Adolfo Luque is my favorite Cuban player. A lot of collectors don't know that he played in the major and Negro leagues. I have more of his cards than any other player in my collection.



Here are some pictures. (Not a Cuban, but tossed in another Luque for fun.)

Best regards,

Joe

Hi, Joe:

Since you are such a fan of the great Luque, I thought you'd like to see some photos of his personal, baseball-themed stand-up humidor, still stocked with some of his (ancient) cigars.

[ullmandds]

tough cuban movie poster form the 80's.

[ullmandds]

that humidor is INSANE!

[ramram]

Scorebook covering one of the games of the 1905 All-Cubans base ball tour through the U.S.:

Rob M.

All Cubans.jpg

All Cubans Closeup.jpg

[Northviewcats]

Wow! I agree with Pete that humidor is insane. Great item.

Joe

[midmo]

Here's my only example. I picked this up at the Baltimore National a couple years ago. 1946-47 Caramelo Deportivo Don Newcombe.

newcombe1.jpg

newcombe2.jpg

[Leon]

I can add a few...(scans are NOT to size)

[autocentral]

I'm so glad people are sharing awesome stuff. I really love these types of threads that let us share our collections. Thanks for posting!

Nick

[Kenny Cole]

A few more

[richardcards]

Great cards! My favorite is the Ray Dandridge Colleciones Victoria issue.
The Colleciones Victoria Cuban cards are among the most scarcest Cuban issue of all!

Nice Collection all the cards.
Thanks Rich

[autocentral]

Wow. Love of the Game Auctions has some nice Cuban and Negro League Items. Here is quick list I put together.

-1923/24 Nacionales Cigarros Cristobal Torriente
-1923/24 Nacionales Cigarros Andy Cooper
-1923/24 Nacionales Cigarros Red Ryan
-1923/24 Nacionales Cigarros Juanelo Mirabal
-1923/24 Billiken Ivy Griffin
-1923/24 Billiken Ramon Herrera
-1923/24 Billiken Armando Marsans
-1945/46 Caramelo Deportivo Ray Brown
-1946/47 Caramelo Deportivo Martin Dihigo
-1946/47 Caramelo Deportivo Ray Dandridge
-1946/47 Caramelo Deportivo Luis Tiant
-1946/47 Propaganda Montiel Christy Mathewson
-1948/49 Toleteros Johnny Davis
-1948/49 Toleteros Alfonso Perry
-1949/50 Toleteros Chester Brewer
-1949/50 Toleteros George Scales
-1950/51 Toleteros Josh Gibson
-1950/51 Toleteros Dick Seay

I definitely have my eye out for some of these closer to my price point. I will definitely try to get some bids down for the Marsans, Brown, Dihigo, Dandridge, and Tiant.

[Shoebox]

Originally Posted by autocentral

Wow. Love of the Game Auctions has some nice Cuban and Negro League Items. Here is quick list I put together.

-1923/24 Nacionales Cigarros Cristobal Torriente
-1923/24 Nacionales Cigarros Andy Cooper
-1923/24 Nacionales Cigarros Red Ryan
-1923/24 Nacionales Cigarros Juanelo Mirabal
-1923/24 Billiken Ivy Griffin
-1923/24 Billiken Ramon Herrera
-1923/24 Billiken Armando Marsans
-1945/46 Caramelo Deportivo Ray Brown
-1946/47 Caramelo Deportivo Martin Dihigo
-1946/47 Caramelo Deportivo Ray Dandridge
-1946/47 Caramelo Deportivo Luis Tiant
-1946/47 Propaganda Montiel Christy Mathewson
-1948/49 Toleteros Johnny Davis
-1948/49 Toleteros Alfonso Perry
-1949/50 Toleteros Chester Brewer
-1949/50 Toleteros George Scales
-1950/51 Toleteros Josh Gibson
-1950/51 Toleteros Dick Seay

I definitely have my eye out for some of these closer to my price point. I will definitely try to get some bids down for the Marsans, Brown, Dihigo, Dandridge, and Tiant.

You just posted my watch list! I am hoping I can catch something in my price range.

[soccersaver97]

I went to Cuba for about a week this past July, but I didn't have a lot of time to search for baseball memorabilia like I hoped to do. Although I did pick up a neat book about the history of Cuban baseball from around 1880-ww2 era. I wish I had more time to look around all of their flea markets! There are some great pieces on this thread!

[bcbgcbrcb]

I thought this would be a good place to post a shameless plug for my Negro League Baseball Collectibles Guide (Second Edition). I still have several copies available at $29.95 plus $5.95 for USPS Priority Mailing. The guide includes over 1,000 full-color images of Negro/Cuban Baseball cards, postcards, press photos, scorecards, broadsides, programs, etc. Price ranges are also included for every item along with HOF lists, future HOF lists and Top 100 Negro League cards of all-time. To date, it is the only resource of its kind on the market and IMHO a must-have for everyone from the collector starting a Negro/Cuban Baseball collection to the advanced collector who has seen almost everything. Many of the major auction houses and grading copies have picked up copies to use as resources for their own businesses.

Please PM me if you would like to order a copy or e-mail me at: vguerrerobb@yahoo.com.

[aljurgela]

Originally Posted by Kenny Cole

Sort of a focus of mine.

Let me know when you are a seller Kenny!!! Hope all is well with you!!

[autocentral]

Thanks to Derek. I have a nice 1949/50 Toleteros Album on the way. Though it isn't the most colorful album it still is a nice add to my collection. I will post pictures once it arrives.

-Nick

[Scocs]

Anybody know what the accepted price was on this Torriente card?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1923-1924-Na...p2047675.l2557

Weird that the seller seemed to have taken the phrase "the card has a tear in it so it would grade Authentic" out of the listing in its final current state....

[bcbgcbrcb]

This one didn't sell in the latest REA Auction so back it goes into the Phil Garry collection. It pictures HOF'ers, Hilton Smith & Satchel Paige along with a host of other Negro League stars who participated in the 1946 postseason Satchel Paige All-Stars team that took on Bob Feller's MLB All-Stars among others..........

[Scocs]

Originally Posted by Scocs

Anybody know what the accepted price was on this Torriente card?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1923-1924-Na...p2047675.l2557

Weird that the seller seemed to have taken the phrase "the card has a tear in it so it would grade Authentic" out of the listing in its final current state....

$3550. That's what it sold for, which was half the asking price.

Disturbing though that the seller changed his description several times, ultimately eliminating the tear that goes through the card....

[Exhibitman]

I almost bid on that photo, Phil. What dissuaded me [FWIW] was the description of its condition: "The photo (10 x 8 inches) displays numerous creases and three tears that have been repaired by clear tape (one on the front, two on the reverse), a slight trim along the left border, and paper residue on the reverse from its having once been mounted in an album. The photo has also been laminated." Sounded just terrible, like the list of side effects for a new drug.

Meanwhile, the items displayed in this thread are awesome. I particularly enjoyed Kenny's group of snapshots. Please post more stuff, guys!

[Jeffrompa]

Not a Cuban player .. Got him because he is the only HOFer from near where I grew up .

[bcbgcbrcb]

Jeff:

Don't think Vernon is in the HOF?