Pre-rookie related memorabilia

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by Forever Young

Anyone else have any pre-rookie sigs?

The postcard Below was signed by Maris while playing on the Fargo/Moorhead team in 1953 under his given name of Maras.

That's impressive!

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by BradH

Bobby Cox - in his back yard in California, on the day he signed with the Dodgers in August 1959. BobbyCoxAugust1959.jpg

I just love this Cox snapshot! Can you imagine the excitement, as he just signed a pro contract in his folks living room, donned his new Dodger uniform, and out to the backyard to have this picture taken by his Pop! Well, that's how I imagined it unfolded!

Originally Posted by sportsbaron

Lansing Everett Yearbook Supplement

And this Magic & Team yearbook insert is really cool. Check out everyone's stats. The number two scorer averaged 11.3 to Magic's 28.8 and he also had more than twice as many rebounds as the runner up! So within four short years, Magic lead his teammates to State, NCAA, and NBA Championships!

Here's the Bambino and a few of the other Sox pitchers from 1915. TYPE 1 photo.

BabeREDSOXpitchingSTAFF.jpg

[roarfrom34]

Cal Ripken Jr. 3rd Grade Class Photo (center of photo)

[sayhey24]

I'll keep the Cal Ripken theme going -- here is his game bat from 1978 while playing for Bluefield.

Greg

[ramram]

1934 - 1936 Iowa State Amateur Baseball Tournament scorebook. Playing against much older seasoned ballplayers was a 16 year old high schooler named Bob Feller. This was the tournament at which Feller was "found" by superscout Cy Slapnicka. He was signed shortly thereafter. The scorebook was the official scorers book kept by the Iowa Amateur Athletic Association's State Chairman Joe Campbell. Feller's team of farm boys ended up winning the tournament against many of the well sponsored city boys. Feller was probably 8 - 10 years younger than most of the participants.

In the tournament, Feller pitched 27 1/3 innings, had 49 strikeouts and gave up 14 hits, 10 walks, 4 runs (1 earned run). The only earned run was on a home run.

Rob M.

Feller Scorebook 2.jpg

Feller Scorebook 3.jpg

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by ramram

1934 - 1936 Iowa State Amateur Baseball Tournament scorebook. Playing against much older seasoned ballplayers was a 16 year old high schooler named Bob Feller. This was the tournament at which Feller was "found" by superscout Cy Slapnicka. He was signed shortly thereafter. The scorebook was the official scorers book kept by the Iowa Amateur Athletic Association's State Chairman Joe Campbell. Feller's team of farm boys ended up winning the tournament against many of the well sponsored city boys. Feller was probably 8 - 10 years younger than most of the participants.

In the tournament, Feller pitched 27 1/3 innings, had 49 strikeouts and gave up 14 hits, 10 walks, 4 runs (1 earned run). The only earned run was on a home run.

Rob M.

Attachment 76788

Attachment 76789

Rob,
That's an awesome pickup! Very cool- congrats!

[Exhibitman]

A few oddball pieces:

1968-69 ABA Minnesota Pipers Connie Hawkins team-issue card:



1950-51 Toleteros Jim Gilliam:



H815 Adam Hats Jake La Motta, issued before he became champ:



Julie Newmar, pre-Cat Woman:

[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

1950-51 Toleteros Jim Gilliam:

Nice group of cards there (especially the last one). The Gilliam shows him with the Santurce Congregeros (Crabbers) insread of Toleteros though.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by thecatspajamas

Nice group of cards there (especially the last one). The Gilliam shows him with the Santurce Congregeros (Crabbers) insread of Toleteros though.

Everyone in that set played for the Toleteros

[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Everyone in that set played for the Toleteros

Huh. Okay, I concede complete ignorance on the card set itself. (Sorry Adam).

I was just going by the translation of the uniform. Señora Alfaro, my high school Spanish teacher, would be proud, but she was probably ignorant of Mexican baseball as well

[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by thecatspajamas

...she was probably ignorant of Mexican baseball as well

Make that Puerto Rican baseball. Geez. This is what I get for making a quick post without researching first!

In order to redeem myself by contributing something to this thread, how about this photo of Bobby Brown in a Cincinnati Reds uniform.



Until a few days ago, I wouldn't have said it fit the theme. But I was chatting with Graig about it, and he dug up a Google Books excerpt from "Bridging Two Dynasties: The 1947 New York Yankees" which states in the chapter on Bobby Brown:

"In 1941, while a junior at Galileo, he was noticed by a Cincinnati Reds scout, who had seen the Galileo squad destroy the University of California freshman baseball team. After the game, the scout, who was also a professor at Berkeley, asked young Bobby if he would like to go to Cincinnati and work out with the Reds. Bobby, a shortstop, promptly agreed. That summer he took the train to Ohio and worked out for ten days with the Reds, followed by an additional three-day workout when the team went to Chicago."

As this shot was taken by George Burke, it is likely that this photo was taken when the Reds came to Chicago, Burke's base of operations. Looking at the Reds' schedule for 1941, there are only two instances where they played at home for 10+ days followed by 3 days in Chicago, with the second of these occurring in late September (in other words, not summer). The first schedule match for 1941 had the Reds in Chicago from May 23 to 25, which fits the narrative above. Thus we have a young Bobby Brown in the uniform of a club that he never officially played for, nearly 5 years before he would signed by the Yankees and sent to Newark, and just over 5 years before he would make his major league debut in New York.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by thecatspajamas

Huh. Okay, I concede complete ignorance on the card set itself. (Sorry Adam).

I was just going by the translation of the uniform. Señora Alfaro, my high school Spanish teacher, would be proud, but she was probably ignorant of Mexican baseball as well

Lance, I apologize for making a joke at your expense - I knew you could take it, or I wouldn't have (plus, I have no self-control )

[Forever Young]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

That's impressive!

Thank you David.. I just had to have this as it is in my backyard. It is oneof my favorite pieces. I am glad someone else appreciates a little Maras too.

[Den*nis O*Brien]

The LL WS program comes from the Ken Hubbs estate and is autographed by most of the oficials and support staff. Some personalizations to his Dad and some to Ken. John "Boog" Powell is pictured in the Lakeland Florida team photo. The GPC was written while Ken played for Morristown.

[Forever Young]

Originally Posted by Dennis O'Brien

The LL WS program comes from the Ken Hubbs estate and is autographed by most of the oficials and support staff. Some personalizations to his Dad and some to Ken. John "Boog" Powell is pictured in the Lakeland Florida team photo. The GPC was written while Ken played for Morristown.

Wow.. what a great piece! Not sure how I missed this.

Below is my pre-rookie letter(38 ted williams) with baseball content.

“Hit a homer the first day in KC but yesterday I didn’t even hit a loud foul. Today I’m going to try to hit another one out. I’ve got 11 already” “Sure is hot here it was 83 the first day here. Next time we hit town it will probably be 100”.