REA- winners....

[Donscards]

I won the Willie Mays Rookie--Jim Brown Rookie and the Ted Williams lot---Very happy to get the Mays card which is really in demand.

[pencil1974]

Picked up the two Anson photos. Since I have two if anyone is interested in one let me know.

[HisPerfectGift]

Good afternoon:

What are you asking?

Thank you,

Josh

[RCMcKenzie]

Thanks, Jeff. Tom, I didn't mind seeing another 31 Buffs photo surface because now it is a scarce item instead of a unique item. Now they become a commodity.- Rob

[ls7plus]

Won the 1909-16 PC758 Max Stein Honus Wagner at a price I was well pleased with. I've wanted this card since seeing one for the first time at the 2009 National in Cleveland--great actual action photo, showing that virtual log of a bat most used during the dead-ball era. My first Honus, too, and a very tough one!

Happy collecting, guys,

Larry

[Kawika]

Originally Posted by RCMcKenzie

Thanks, Jeff. Tom, I didn't mind seeing another 31 Buffs photo surface because now it is a scarce item instead of a unique item. Now they become a commodity.- Rob

They're coming out of the woodwork. I won a copy from Legendary in 2008.


Here's a write-up I found on the internet back when I bought the photo. You might find it interesting.

The Great 1931 Houston Buffs!

The Houston Buffs won 108 games in 1931 on their way to capturing first place by 14 games over runner-up Beaumont. Only the 1922 and 1924 Fort Worth Cats ever won more games in a single Texas League season. The Cats did it by posting 109 wins in each year of those two championship seasons.

Popularly selected as #42 on the list of Minor League Baseball’s 1oo Greatest Teams, the ’31 Buffs were the cradle of several players who would soon after go star as the backbone of the 1934 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals, the club that becamebetter known to entire baseball world as The Gashouse Gang. Few have forgotten the names and major league feats of pitcher Dizzy Dean and outfielder Joe Medwick – and only a handful more need to be reimnded all these years later of the pitching star that was Tex Carleton. It still doen’t hurt, every now then, to recall all the major parts of the whole that went into the making of a champion, so today, we bring you a brief look at the 1,starting lineup and star pitchers of the 1931 Buffs:

Starting Lineup

Ed Hock, 3b (age 32, BL/TL, .299, 0 HR, 42 RBI): The speedy Hock was an anomaly, a rule-breaker that few of us have seen in our lifetime, a lefthanded throwing third baseman. I even have trouble simulating a vision of Hock making routine plays in my mind. Oh, I can see him diving toward the line pretty well to stop balls headed down the line, allright; I just can’t see him getting up and making a throw to first. Hock made 31 errors for Houston in’31 and he had a .936 fielding average. When he first switched from outfield to shortstop at Oklahoma City in 1925-26, Hock made 74 and 68 errors consecutively, so, I guess his fielding record at Buff Stadium in 1931 marks improvement.

Carey Selph, 2b (age 29, BR/TR, .322, 3 HR, 88 RBI): Selph posted the Buffs’ second highest average. His ability to hit for average and in the clutch with men on base was a key to the ’31 championhsip season. He also had good range on defense and showed a native ability for knowing what to do in the field. In other words, Selph was “baseball smart.”

Homer Peel, lf (age 28, BR/TR, .326, 7 HR, 95 RBI): Peel finished with the highest team batting average. His ability as a contact hitter paired with Selph in producing baserunners and clutch hitting with other ducks on the pond.

Joe Medwick, cf (age 19, BR/TR. .305, 19 HR, 126 RBI): This guy was ripped long before anyone ever heard of LA Fitness and, in 1931, he had the glow of future stardom written all over him. Medwick led the Texas League in both homers and runs batted in during the ’31 season. He almost got stuck with the nickname “Muscles” until a female fan wrote Houston Post sportswriter Lloyd Gregory that she loved Medwick, even if he did walk like a duck. She even admitted to thinking of him as “Ducky” Medwick. Gregory agreed with the lady and published the story of Medwick’s new name.. He also started describing the young phenom as Ducky Medwick in his game stories. – It stuck. The rest is history.

Guy Sturdy, 1b (age 32, BL/TL, .295, 3 HR, 49 RBI): Sturdy was “Old Reliable” on defense at the most-outs bag and a steady bat in the lineup.

Earl L. Smith, rf (age 40, BB/TR, .272, 1 hr, 19 RBI): Only played 67 games before moving up to Columbus. He was replaced by Jim Sanders, who also subbed for Medwick in center on rare occasion.

Jim Sanders, rf-cf (age 29, BL/TL, .278, 1 HR, 40 RBI): Taking over for Smith, Sanders was a veteran minor leaguer who hit pretty well and did no harm in the field.

Hal Funk, c (age 31, BR/TR, .254, 1 HR, 50 RBI): Funk’s major contribution was his ability to handle and get the most out of a very young Dizzy Dean, but the other pitchers liked him as well. How many times do we see a championship club that doesn’t have a catcher who holds the confidence of a talented, but sometimes temperamental pitching staff? I can’t think of too many.

Tom Carey, SS (age 24, BR/TR, .240, 2 HR, 36 RBI): “Good Field/Mediocre Hit.” Yuong Carey got the job done in the field, anchoring the middle infield defense well in tandem with the more veteran Selph.

Pitchers:

DeanDizzy300 Dizzy Dean (age 21, BR/TR, 26-10, 1.53 ERA): Dizzy was brilliant and Houston loved him. His 26 wins and 303 strikeouts led the Texas League in 1931 and his 1.53 ERA tied him with Whitlow Wyatt of Beaumont for the lowest mark in the league.

George Payne (age 42, BR/TR, 23-13M 2.75).

Tex Carleton (age 25, BB/TR, 20-7, 1.90 ERA).

Elmer Hanson (age 36, B?/T?, age 36, 16-7, 1.81): I seem to remember a newspaper article that described Fowler as a righthander, but I cannot be sure.

Jesse “Pete” Fowler (age 32, 15-8, 2.40).

The above five pitchers accounted for exactly 100 of the Buffs’ 108 wins in 1931. Eight Buffs were subsequently named to the 13-man end-of-season Texas League All Star Team. These included: pitchers Dean, Payne, and Carleton, plus position players Self, Hock, Peel, Medwick and Funk.

In the end, the pitching, hitting, and defense was certainly good enough to carry the ’31 Buffs to complete victory under manager Joe Schultz, but the club fell a game short, losing the seventh game of the Dixie Series to the Birmingham Barons after sailing through the Texas League straight away championship and then winning the Shaughnessy Playoffs for their well-deserved pennant.

Sometimes the best of teams can’t win ‘em all because some other club happens to be better at a given moment in time. And when that moment in time happens to be Game Seven of the last series in the season, for better or worse, destiny takes a hand.

We’ve a long history of surviving this kind of disappointment in Houston and we will never give up the belief that is always inspired by a great team like the 1931 Houston Buffs: Our day will come!

[vthobby]

All:

I know how Heritage is after an auction with their shipping speed (or lack thereof). Anyone with REA experience?
I have already paid for my winnings so curious as to how many days it takes to ship and if they send tracking or not. VERY high value item. Thanks.

Peace, Mike

[mansco]

In the past, I've generally received my items within a couple of weeks. I check my bank to see when check was cashed and generally receive notification last than a week later that the item is being shipped. I think they use FedEx Ground with tracking.

[MVSNYC]

Originally Posted by vtgmsc

All:

I know how Heritage is after an auction with their shipping speed (or lack thereof). Anyone with REA experience?
I have already paid for my winnings so curious as to how many days it takes to ship and if they send tracking or not. VERY high value item. Thanks.

Peace, Mike

Mike- I got mine today.

(kidding)

They are very fast.

PS- Darrin- great scrap! prepare to see an upcoming post from Johnny with 14 (!!!!!!!!), 7 () and 9 (WOOOOOWWWW).

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by vtgmsc

All:

I know how Heritage is after an auction with their shipping speed (or lack thereof). Anyone with REA experience?
I have already paid for my winnings so curious as to how many days it takes to ship and if they send tracking or not. VERY high value item. Thanks.

Peace, Mike

I received a Fed Ex tracking number today for tomorrow's delivery. No one is faster than REA in shipping or customer service.

[Runscott]

Needed this for my baseball photo 'type' collection. He's been moving around too much.