Brooks Robinson and the Baltimore Orioles

[roarfrom34]

Clint, nice '86 BP jersey...don't see those often!
Mike...Love the oddball publications
Mark...I've never seen that Good Word publication before
Alan...Great pictures of the minor leagues (as always)..What I like about this Forum (among a lot of things) is that names of players will pop up & it will remind me of things I have buried around here...

Alan showed a photo of Willie Royster..Royster had a monster year at AA Charlotte in 1981 setting Franchise records in HR's/RBI's & Stolen Bases...Willie stole 53 bases that year and he was a catcher!

He was rewarded with a promotion to Baltimore after the season ended, however he only got 4 AB's with the Orioles that last month & never saw a day in the Major Leagues after that.

Well over 20 years ago I bought a collection of game bats from a former Rochester Red Wings clubhouse employee and Royster was among them..I had wanted to get this bat signed at some point, however Willie passed away before I had the opportunity to do so.

[BaltOrioles]

Originally Posted by roarfrom34

Alan...Great pictures of the minor leagues (as always)..What I like about this Forum (among a lot of things) is that names of players will pop up & it will remind me of things I have buried around here...

Bill,

I echo that statement. We head back to Maine in a week and I have some items I need to unearth.

[BaltOrioles]

I've always been one of those guys that has enjoyed collecting minor league sets. I remember when TCMA started putting out sets in the 1970's. At last count, I have around 275 different Orioles minor league team sets. I have the 1980 Charlotte Blue set and someday hope to add the Orange set to my collection. I still can't find the 2006 Choice Ottawa Lynx set anywhere. Dealing with the Lynx was an adventure and a story for another day.

In 1977, McCurdy's Department Stores out of Rochester sponsored a set of 4 sheets of Red Wings players. It used to be fairly hard to find them, but recently I've seen more around and prices all over the place. The cards are standard size when cut out, but I see most still in sheet form. The set contains plenty of guys that played for the Orioles at one time or another.

1977 McCurdy's Rochester Red Wings #1.jpg

1977 McCurdy's Rochester Red Wings #2.jpg

1977 McCurdy's Rochester Red Wings #3.jpg

1977 McCurdy's Rochester Red Wings #4.jpg

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by BaltOrioles

Bill,

I echo that statement. We head back to Maine in a week and I have some items I need to unearth.

It’s a wonder that you have “more” items!

[docpatlv]

Mark,

Just posted this on the Clemente thread, but thought you'd like to see it since Brooks is present.

About 4-5 years ago I saw this next item on eBay with a reasonable BIN. As I frantically rushed to make the purchase, someone must have beat me to the punch by a few seconds and purchased it before I could.

Earlier this year, I saw only the second one I've ever seen and was able to make the purchase. Either side could be used, and I'm sure many were, which is why I've only seen 2 examples.

1965 Complete Sports book cover...

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by docpatlv

Mark,

Just posted this on the Clemente thread, but thought you'd like to see it since Brooks is present.

About 4-5 years ago I saw this next item on eBay with a reasonable BIN. As I frantically rushed to make the purchase, someone must have beat me to the punch by a few seconds and purchased it before I could.

Earlier this year, I saw only the second one I've ever seen and was able to make the purchase. Either side could be used, and I'm sure many were, which is why I've only seen 2 examples.

1965 Complete Sports book cover...

Thanks so much for posting the book cover here. That is such an interesting item that I have never seen before. So neat to see things for the first time.

[Mark70Z]

Day 122 (May 1, 2020 – 122)

I used to get a calendar every year, the type with a picture per month and usually of the muscle car variety, but once it a while I’d pick up a baseball calendar. I still have a few of these calendars stored in boxes somewhere, but this calendar pictures Brooks on the front of the calendar. It’s such a cool photo of Brooks during a night game, in-action, at Memorial Stadium. It states on the back cover about the cover shot, “1983 Hall of Fame inductee Brooks Robinson stalks the white sphere.” It also has a different picture of him, in his away uniform, on the inside for the month of May. The calendar is actually a lot nicer looking than this photo would indicate (looks a bit dull in color, but it's glossy and bright).

1984 Play Ball! Calendar put out by Tide-Mark Press – front cover

Day 122 a.jpg

1984 Play Ball! – May 1984

Day 122 b.jpg

The calendar has a very nice Clemente pictured for the month of August; back cover states “Latin whirlwind and hero: Roberto Clemente”

1984 Play Ball! – Clemente

Day 122 c.jpg

[roarfrom34]

Mark:

I had that very calendar up in my first apartment!

Here is a game used BP top from Larry Sheets (1985)