On the Card side, they have this thread going... "Show Your One Of A Kind Items"

[thekingofclout]

And I thought that it may apply even more so to those of us who collect Memorabilia.

So let's see what "One of a Kind" pieces you have in your collection!

I'll kick it off with this Jan. 1941 Telegram from Lou Gehrig to the "Toast Master" for The Newspaper Writers Dinner honoring the four Sons of Harry Stevens, the Concessions Pioneer who brought Hot Dogs, Programs, and Souvenirs to the "House that Ruth Built"

Now it's not the "Luckiest Man" speech, but what a flattering and gracious "Toast" that Lou came up with just six months prior to his untimely death.

gehrigtelegram1941.jpg

[leftygrove10]

A few years ago I was lucky enough to pick up Lefty Grove's Masonic rings and his police badge. Lefty Grove was police chief in Lonaconing, MD in the mid-1950's. The middle ring is inscribed, "Robert M Grove, Oct 24, 1929" I also own a picture of Lefty wearing this ring. See the picture below.

[Scott Garner]

Jimmy and Brad,
Those are some unbelievably cool one of a kind pieces! Congrats to both of you!

I suspect that this thread is going to be terrific, because I'm guessing that many of us have some great one of a kind pieces to share.

I've got quite a few that I would throw into this category in my personal collection, so I decided to share some items that I've never shown on net54.

Here are some cool ones:

1) This is one of the handwritten pages that Angels GM Harry Dalton used while negotiating Nolan Ryan's Angels contract in 1975. It provides an interesting study as to how team brass thinks in terms of the negotiating process.

This is really the tip of the iceberg, as I own all of the original documents (or copies) that were involved in the back and forth between the Angels and Ryan's camp (Ryan himself as well as his agent) for his 1973, 1975 and final contract with the Halos in 1979. There are literally dozens of handwritten and typed docs that cover each contract. Every time I read through these I can't believe how interesting they are!

2) Here are the original home plate umpire lineup cards that were used in the famous Ryan vs. Ventura fight on 8/15/93 at Arlington. These came from AL home plate umpire Dale Scott that worked the dish in this game.

There is a great story behind how I found these as they happen to be one of my all-time favorite pickups from the National. I actually found these in a record 10 minutes after entering a Chicago National Convention about 10-12 years ago!

Background story: A dealer that set up in the front of the National had a stack of lineup cards from umpire Dale Scott on his table. After watching me pour through them, he finally asked if there was something specific I was looking for? I mentioned that I collected Nolan Ryan. He said that he had something really cool that was related to Ryan that came from this collection, but he had it in his brief case and was not going to sell them. I asked to see what he had anyway, and he pulled out these two lineup cards. When he handed them to me, he asked if I knew the significance of them was? I immediately responded to him that I did, but did he? To make a long story short, we negotiated and I walked away smiling as I knew I had a great one-of-a-kind item to add to my advanced Ryan collection.

Take a look at Dale Scott's notes regarding the fight that he wrote on the back of the Rangers home white lineup card. I believe that he wrote down certain short details that he would need to report back to the league following the game.

Down the line I had both of these lineup cards signed. Note that the home Rangers card is signed on the front by both Nolan and Robin Ventura. This was unbelievably tough to get done because Ventura has never wanted to sign anything related to this game due to embarrasment, from what I have heard from people that know him personally. How I managed to get this done is a story in of itself, but I believe that it makes for an unbelieveable one-of- a-kind collectible that many from our generation can relate to a 47 year old Texas legend Ryan taking young Ventura to the woodshed...

Don't mess with Texas!

[Exhibitman]

Benny Leonard cigar box. I've never seen another full box, though I have seen a label or two:




This is an 1897 woodcut of Corbett/Fitzsimmons used as a printing block for a publication of some sort:



Sid Luckman signed this note for my father in 1946:



Promotional poster for my cousin:

[aquarius31]

Wow, some really nice items. Adam, that boxing woodblock is fantastic and I hope at some point that you come across the associated publication.

The below woodblock has nothing to do with sports but was very intriguing to me given my interest in woodcuts. It depicts a French statesman by the name of Eugene Rouher. The detail on this piece is truly incredible and it was later used in an 1840's Police Gazette (still searching for the exact publication date).

The second piece is not necessarily 'one of a kind' but I have yet to see another example come up for auction. It's an 1874 Daily Graphic woodcut depicting the Philadelphia Atheltics. The woodcuts of McBride and Battin are referenced in this REA auction as the basis for the 1874 "Golden Ball' cigar box label.

[Bugsy]

I have posted these before, but they truly are one of a kind.

This looks like an insignificant pitcher, but this is actually the championship trophy that was awarded to the 1920 St. Paul Saints. The fob was given to their manager, Mike Kelley, in recognition of winning the 1919, 1920, and 1922 championships.

[Runscott]

A lot more possibilities in this thread

Rob asked about this yesterday, so just for grins, here's a page from a 1911 scorebook where a town ball team in Iowa played the Kansas City, KS Giants. One of the players listed, Ashes Jackson, also went by 'Arthur Hardy'. I recently picked up a signed letter by him and would love to see more items related to this team.

[ramram]

Thanks for posting Scott. Looks like "Home Run" Johnson had two more taters in that game!

Rob M.

[CarltonHendricks]

Jimmy, Good thread..."one of a kind" is an interesting decree to bestow on something....To be able to say something is one of a kind or at least "never seen another", the person saying it would have to have spent considerable time in the hobby...So pretty much everything in this thread would be posted by veteran collectors with considerable windshield time looking for this stuff...Phew! man I feel I've paid my dues...Especially after I just got back from another 700 mile road trip down your way last weekend...to the All American Collectors Show in Glendale CA and the Long Beach Flea. Picked up something that should fit one of a kind status...





Antique exercise rowing machines seem to surface at antique shows somewhat regularly....I've seen quite a few kinds over the years....they're usually interesting...and big....but I never saw one that hit the gotta have it level till last Sunday...The photos don't do it justice, more impressive in person...Weighs a ton, mostly from the arm swivel fittings. Fortunately the arms slide out easily...I managed to carry it out to the gate in two trips from about dead middle the show....



I don't recall ever seeing one made of wood...it's not burl but same color and look as with black painted trim...In untouched condition it looked great but I expect once I get it polished it'll really pop...the handles were another thing that had me....the wound thread grips seem to say 19th century. I'm surprised such a work of art has no maker label....looked all over it, nada. The look and great original condition was what sold me....The guy had $345.00 on it..and I was thinking he'd be anxious to move it it was so heavy....no such luck....he came down to $300.00 and that was it!...I hit him at $200.00...then $250.00 and he wouldn't blink...nice enough guy but wouldn't budge off the $300.00...So after walking around a while I went back and caved. The thing was so impressive, as I sat there mulling it over, passersby were continually stopping to look it over and paw it....it was stopping a lot of people.

[mjkm90]

This isn't the only one ever manufactured, but it is the only example known to me or my fellow pennant collectors.

[Scott Garner]

Carlton, Carlton Carlton,

Your collection is just nuts! I can't believe the items that you unearth that fit beautifully into that collection of yours.

I love the "hunt" stories that accompany each one of them...

This thread rocks, BTW, Jimmy!

[CarltonHendricks]

Originally Posted by mjkm90

This isn't the only one ever manufactured, but it is the only example known to me or my fellow pennant collectors.

Man that's nice....and I'm not even a pennant guy

[milkit1]

not one of a kind individually but certainly one of a kind together

1933 goudeys cubs 1.jpg

1933 goudeys cubs 2.jpg

[Den*nis O*Brien]

This is most likely his first adventure into the world of finance. The account was opened 11/12/47 with a deposit of 25 cents and a dozen more within 6 months ranging from 5 cents to $3.90.
The Dizzy/Cardinals pin looks great!

[Forever Young]

Originally Posted by Dennis O'Brien

This is most likely his first adventure into the world of finance. The account was opened 11/12/47 with a deposit of 25 cents and a dozen more within 6 months ranging from 5 cents to $3.90.
The Dizzy/Cardinals pin looks great!

I love this Dennis ..love me some pre-rookie sigs!

[MVSNYC]

PS- Al, your Munson jersey is such a special piece...also love your Gehrig photos.

[batsballsbases]

MVSNYC,
Always a big Thankyou! I also love that Mantle bat ! Very nice! I dont remember you showing that one. Its a beauty! I guess we all have some hidden gems that we dont show that often! A Pleasure!!

[MVSNYC]

Thanks Al, i appreciate that!