Brooks Robinson and the Baltimore Orioles

[BaltOrioles]

The Orioles have issued postcards since 1954. The earliest ones were B&W and mostly used for autograph requests through the mail. Often you find them autographed and postmarked through the mail. While postmarks on the back can add to the postcard, I hate when they are stamped on the front photo. They measure 3.25" x 5.5" and the backs are blank.

Here are the postcards issued from 1957-59. Since the style is the same, it's often difficult to identify exact years for players that played multiple years. Postcard collectors identify these by year range.

Here are all the postcards and known variations. I have 66 out of 72. Included are the first postcards of Brooks Robinson. I'm still missing the following - Joe Durham, Bert Hamric, Billy Loes (3rd variation), Al Pilarcik (Name in small print), Arnold Portocarrero (Name in small print), and Bill Wight. A Jack Harshman upgrade would be nice also.

[stevelucille]

Awesome collection! The Ronnie Hansen is really interesting. Older uniform with newer style cap! Must have been a spring training photo.

[roarfrom34]

About 30 years ago while waiting outside in line on a Friday evening to get in the infamous George Washington Inn for the old Fort Washington show, I met a guy who offered me these Oriole postcards....I bought the lot for what I think was $50 but what attracted me to them (other than the cool factor), was that each player was still alive and I could add their autographs..I believe I also had a Eddie Lopat in the lot who I traded to long time Orioles post card collector Wayne Johnson at some point down the road:

[BaltOrioles]

Originally Posted by roarfrom34

About 30 years ago while waiting outside in line on a Friday evening to get in the infamous George Washington Inn for the old Fort Washington show, I met a guy who offered me these Oriole postcards....I bought the lot for what I think was $50 but what attracted me to them (other than the cool factor), was that each player was still alive and I could add their autographs..I believe I also had a Eddie Lopat in the lot who I traded to long time Orioles post card collector Wayne Johnson at some point down the road:

Bill,

Nice postcards. I know Wayne Johnson very well. He has an impressive Orioles collection, but unfortunately won't be sharing on this site or any other. He doesn't do computers, much like fellow Maine-ah Bob Thing.

Your postcards should be 1956 with numbers stamped on the back. For example Gardner is 023. The Ed Lopat would have been 1954-55. If Brown, Causey or Moore don't have numbers, they too are 1954-55 issues, but they look 1956. The Ray Moore is the toughest of the group, other than Lopat.

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by BaltOrioles

The Orioles have issued postcards since 1954. The earliest ones were B&W and mostly used for autograph requests through the mail. Often you find them autographed and postmarked through the mail. While postmarks on the back can add to the postcard, I hate when they are stamped on the front photo. They measure 3.25" x 5.5" and the backs are blank.

Here are the postcards issued from 1957-59. Since the style is the same, it's often difficult to identify exact years for players that played multiple years. Postcard collectors identify these by year range.

Here are all the postcards and known variations. I have 66 out of 72. Included are the first postcards of Brooks Robinson. I'm still missing the following - Joe Durham, Bert Hamric, Billy Loes (3rd variation), Al Pilarcik (Name in small print), Arnold Portocarrero (Name in small print), and Bill Wight. A Jack Harshman upgrade would be nice also.

Alan,

Those postcards are AWESOME! I especially like the signed Foster Castleman example. Man, you can't get a much better autograph IMO; love it! I personally think the autographs make them even better, but I go back and forth on signed vs. unsigned.

Bill,

LOVE IT! Man, you got a bargain!