Was told to post these pins in here so I am.

[MK]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Likewise, I don't have anything to dispute it, just a feeling of greater likelihood that assembly would have been done at the source to enhance attractiveness and sales. Wonder if there's much in the way of information on manufacturers or distributors out there, does Muchinsky go into that? I need to get his book. I'll also grill Rick Haskins at the national this summer about some of these things, he's seen as many pinbacks as anybody.

While not proof, what I found in an old classified ad on the internet does add credence to my theory that the ribbons and tinkets attached to pins were done by the vendors. The persons name is not in the ad, but the information is very interesting.


Phil Rizzuto Souvenir Pinback Baseball Button 1 3/4 inch.
This is a Vintage souvenir baseball pin / button. When I was a child 5-13 years of age I would spend occasional summer weeks at my Grandfathers & Grandmothers house in the Bronx, New York. Grandpa Joe, AKA “Baseball Joe”, was the owner of a large outside food and souvenir concession (1945-1975) at Yankee Stadium; opposite gate 6. As a result, they kept an inventory of souvenirs, in their garage at their residence. While visiting, as a child, I would often play at, in, and around the rear yard and the garage. Grandma, would allow me to play with the souvenirs and would also allow me to take and keep what I wanted. I was their 1st grandchild, therefore the oldest, and looking back, I was treated special.
As I approached my teen years, I became a weekend and summer employee of “Baseball Joes” Concessions. Among my numerous jobs, (when not selling hotdogs) was opening boxes of these buttons, cutting ribbon from rolls & installing the pin into its back (they snap in). In other words, the buttons you see elsewhere, with trinkets and ribbons hanging from them, were not factory generated. Rather, they were assembled by concessionaires and souvenir vendors. I know, because while the baseball games were being played, I would assemble hundreds of these souvenir items.
What I have for sale here, is the souvenir baseball button, AS IT WAS SHIPPED from the manufacture. The rear pin (basically an attaching device so you can pin it onto your shirt) was never installed by the factory. The (2) components were shipped separately. In the mid 1970’s the City of NY, through imminent domain, bought Grandpa out, razed his buildings, and built a multilevel parking garage. Prior to that happening, which was the end of “Baseball Joes”, Grandma, who I loved dearly, allowed me to take a box of these old buttons and various other souvenirs, for myself. Fast-forward to today, I have had these items for 40+ years, and now I am selling some of them.
So please study the photos carefully and determine if this is the Vintage souvenir baseball button you want. You will receive the Pin in the Photos. I will answer any questions you have and will gather any information needed, will supply additional photos if requested; just ask. Kindly see my other items for sale, as there will be others of my Vintage souvenir baseball buttons listed.