January Pickups

[Lordstan]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Quick trivia question:

Who came the closest to duplicating Johnny Vander Meer's record feat of throwing two back-to-back no-hitters?

My post title gives it away, but it was Johnny's Reds teammate Ewell "The Whip" Blackwell in 1947. But, the coincidental circumstances surrounding it were absolutely bizarre:

On June 17th, 1947 Blackwell no-hit the Boston Braves 6-0. Johnny Vander Meer also no-hit the Boston Braves for his 1st no-hitter on June 11th, 1938. Vander Meer witnessed Blackwell's no-hitter from the bench that night.

On June 22nd, 1947 Blackwell took the mound in game 1 of a double header against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Vander Meer also no-hit the Brooklyn Dodgers to complete his record setting double no-hitter in 1938. Blackwell took his 2nd consecutive no-hitter into the 9th inning. Vandy was actually perched on the top step of the Reds dugout ready to congratulate his friend and teammate for duplicating his record. Blackwell retired the first batter he faced before excruciatingly surrendering a hit (a single) to Eddie Stanky in the 9th inning.

The parallels are interesting and eerie. So close! After more than 76 years, no one has even duplicated the feat.

For a number of years I have owned a ticket to Blackwell's near brush with history. I was able to finally find the ultimate companion piece, a scored program to Blackwell's game on 6/22/47. It's really in great shape (NMT).
Check it out...

Scott,
I don't know where you find this stuff, but it is amazing. Congrats on another great companion piece. You know since Jimmy(kingofclout) stopped doing baseball, I think the crown of King of Companion Pieces has been passed to you.
Best,
Mark

[Scott Garner]

Thanks!
I've got to share this with you:
I may be the ONLY person that still subscribes to the SCD (Sports Collectors Digest). I actually have been a subscriber for a million years. It's certainly not the publication that it once was, but as I tell many of my friends, every once in a while I still find a diamond in the rough.

This was a perfect example of why I still subscribe. I would have missed this scorebook otherwise, because the seller Pat Nuttycombe does not sell on eBay.
I managed to score something that had been on my want list for years.

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Thanks!
I've got to share this with you:
I may be the ONLY person that still subscribes to the SCD (Sports Collectors Digest). I actually have been a subscriber for a million years. It's certainly not the publication that it once was, but as I tell many of my friends, every once in a while I still find a diamond in the rough.

This was a perfect example of why I still subscribe. I would have missed this scorebook otherwise, because the seller Pat Nuttycombe does not sell on eBay.
I managed to score something that had been on my want list for years.

that IS funny!

I remember getting SCD at my local card shop on a regular basis.....that shop used to welcome my Golden Retriever.

[Huysmans]

Hey Kevin, that's another great glove of yours. Thanks for posting!
What would you say the value of your glove is, if you don't mind me asking?