What is your best memorabilia pickup you added to your collection in 2013?

[benjulmag]

This is George Bird's 1871 contract with the Forest City of Rockford. 1871 was the inaugural season of the National Association, baseball's first professional league. Professional baseball did not formally begin until 1869 with the Cincinnati Red Stockings, so as far as baseball contracts go, this one represents professional baseball at its infancy.

[sicollector1954]

Corey--I am soooo jealous of your letter....an awesome piece....I collect vintage baseball memorabilia as well but what makes it worse is that I am and currently live in Rockford.....If you ever want to.........never mind!

[GKreindler]

Mike,

I LOVE that shot of Willie in Puerto Rico. The shadows meandering across the field make it soooo beautiful. I remember seeing it on eBay a few years back, b never pulled the trigger. I'm glad to see it in the collection of someone who will really appreciate it.

Well done!

Graig

[Lordstan]

2013 has been a pretty good year for me personally, professionally, and collecting wise. It seems many of us here have had good years as well. Congrats to everyone for so many greats pickups.

I hope 2014 is just as good for all of us.

Some of my favorites from this year

March 1924 Lou Gehrig. One of the earliest Gehrig photos as part of the Yankees.



April 1925 Gehrig. Another early one.



1934 Burke negative



Ty Cobb check




Honus Wagner check

[CarltonHendricks]

19 inches tall, Sculptor, Demetre Chiparus 1886-1947



I'm not exactly sure this is my favorite for the year but I’ll take a stab at this statue of a Hurdler I got in April. Antique sports sculpture is one of my favorite areas of collecting. I’m always fascinated to learn about it. I prefer American works but even if they’re European like this Hurdler, if it’s good quality I’m interested.



Speaking of which, not that it has anything to do with this post…just a few days ago I came across a photo of the full version of the “First Baseman” bronze by Oronzo Cosentino. Until I saw the photo above I only knew of the first baseman by himself….this photo I uncovered shows the whole work with the runner sliding into base…..found the photo on an Italian website…even though Cosentino lived and worked in NYC…

Anyway enough of my excitment about that…back to this hurdler pick up…It was once owned by former baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth…The story I got is that at one point it was sold at a garage sale in Southern California…I could imagine Ueberroth’s wife telling him “I want that gone”…

The sculptor Demetre Chiparus 1886-1947 is a big name in Art Deco antiques…he did a slew of art deco style sculpture, mostly of woman dancers and so on…He was Romanian but his career all happened in Paris…off the top my head I don’t know of any other sports pieces he did. You can read more about the whole acquisition in a story I did which still languishes on my home page…for the time being…until I can get the whole page straightened up that is….which will have to wait till I finish the 2013 National story…which is coming along…

[tony]

Just got the clock.

[Rob D.]

Only one I've ever seen, for what that's worth.

[CarltonHendricks]

Originally Posted by tony

Just got the clock.

Wow that's great...look at the condition....congrats on that. I think I've seen that clock before with a different radio station...about twenty years ago at a street fair in San Juan Bautista Ca...by flash light as I recall....seems like it was black and orange though.

[bobfreedman]

Originally Posted by tony

Just got the clock.

Congrats! I consigned the clock. It is a fantastic piece