Brooks Robinson and the Baltimore Orioles

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by roarfrom34

Alan...

I spent a lot of hours playing those dice games (though I was more of an APBA guy).

At one time, Beckett had a quarterly magazine called "Beckett Elite" and in the Spring of 2007 (with his HOF Induction right around the corner) they placed Cal Ripken Jr. on the cover.

They made eight printing plates of the cover and had Cal sign each one..I was able to acquire plate 8 of 8 :

That is a great piece. Like how you have it framed as well; very professional and just plain cool looking.

[Mark70Z]

Happy Fathers Day! Hope you guys have a wonderful day...

Day 173 (June 21, 2020 – 173)

To follow up Day 172 with the 1977 Topps #285 we have a blank back card.

1977 Topps #285 front/back

Day 173 a 1977 Topps #285 blank back.jpg
Day 173 b 1977 Topps #285 blank back back.jpg

1977 Topps Rack Pack

Day 173 c 1977 Topps Rack Pack.jpg
Day 173 d 1977 Topps Rack Pack back.jpg

[roarfrom34]

Mark....I'm always amazed when I see packs over 40 years old still unopened...

I posted this in the Game Used Bat thread back in March, but I thought I'd re-post it here since it has a Father's Day theme & perhaps some of you missed it:

On Father's Day 1995 at Tiger Stadium, Cal Ripken Jr. swung/missed at a pitch and uncharacteristically lost the grip of this bat as it "helicoptered" into the stands. Fortunately, no one was injured and the fan who retrieved it offered to pass it back down to the field to Cal, however Jr. motioned back up to him that he could keep it.

Time rolled on and the fan who retrieved that errant bat sadly passes away and his son (who sat next to his dad that Father's Day) reached out to me to see if I had interest in the bat & a deal was quickly struck.

When I had Cal sign it, I asked him to add the '1995 Game Used' inscription but most collectors know that Cal won't do that unless he is 110% certain it's true. When I told Cal about the provenance, he fortunately recalled the incident & gladly added the inscription...

Adding also that 1995 is somewhat important to the story because less than three months later, he passed Lou Gehrig for the most Consecutive Games Played Record.



Happy Father's Day to All!

[BaltOrioles]

Happy Father's Day to everyone

In the fall of 2013, I entered the Topps Make Your Pro Debut Contest for the fun of it. I never expected to win, but entered mostly because the sponsoring team that year was the Orioles affiliate, the Aberdeen Ironbirds. In January 2014, I was notified that I was a finalist and after on line fan voting ended up winning.

Six years ago today, I made my debut with the Ironbirds. It was the thrill of a lifetime for an Orioles fan. I can't say enough about the Ironbirds and the welcome they gave me, my family and friends that attended the game. I did everything that the players did that day, from warm ups, batting practice, meals and just hanging around getting to know a few guys. The Ironbirds even had a press conference where I signed my contract. Dylan Bundy was on a rehab assignment and one of my teammates. He's actually a very cool guy. The player in the locker beside me was Hector Veloz. He made me feel a part of the team from the beginning. Aberdeen is a short season team and many of the players were making their debuts, too. Most of the players on that team didn't last very long, but one player to make it to the Orioles is Stevie Wilkerson. I still say hi to him each spring training. He is a nice kid and hope him success in his career.

Matt Merullo was the manager and was great. He introduced me to the team and treated me like one of the guys. After the game, we had a nice talk about baseball in his office. His final words were, I'm glad you had a great time, because I'm afraid we're going to have to let you go. Cut after one game..

I could go on and on, but really appreciate everyone that made it possible, my family, friends, Topps and the Ironbirds.

Debut 1.jpg

The winning essay

Pro Debut Essay.jpg Debut 2.jpg

Signing my contract

Debut 3.jpg

Batting practice

Debut 5.jpg
Debut 4.jpg

Pre Game Activities - Signing autographs, throwing out the first pitch and delivering the lineup card

Debut 7.jpg Debut 10.jpg
Debut 14.jpg

Enjoying the game from the dugout - The Ironbirds lost 2-1 in 10 innings

Debut 17.jpg

The dugout lineup card signed by all my teammates including Dylan Bundy, Stevie Wilkerson and manager Matt Merullo.

DSCN2425.jpg

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by BaltOrioles

Happy Father's Day to everyone

In the fall of 2013, I entered the Topps Make Your Pro Debut Contest for the fun of it. I never expected to win, but entered mostly because the sponsoring team that year was the Orioles affiliate, the Aberdeen Ironbirds. In January 2014, I was notified that I was a finalist and after on line fan voting ended up winning.

Six years ago today, I made my debut with the Ironbirds. It was the thrill of a lifetime for an Orioles fan. I can't say enough about the Ironbirds and the welcome they gave me, my family and friends that attended the game. I did everything that the players did that day, from warm ups, batting practice, meals and just hanging around getting to know a few guys. The Ironbirds even had a press conference where I signed my contract. Dylan Bundy was on a rehab assignment and one of my teammates. He's actually a very cool guy. The player in the locker beside me was Hector Veloz. He made me feel a part of the team from the beginning. Aberdeen is a short season team and many of the players were making their debuts, too. Most of the players on that team didn't last very long, but one player to make it to the Orioles is Stevie Wilkerson. I still say hi to him each spring training. He is a nice kid and hope him success in his career.

Matt Merullo was the manager and was great. He introduced me to the team and treated me like one of the guys. After the game, we had a nice talk about baseball in his office. His final words were, I'm glad you had a great time, because I'm afraid we're going to have to let you go. Cut after one game..

I could go on and on, but really appreciate everyone that made it possible, my family, friends, Topps and the Ironbirds.

Alan,

Thanks for sharing the experience that you had with the Ironbirds plus the great items that you have to remember it by.

[BaltOrioles]

I never really considered myself a schedule collector until I was at a card show a few years ago. One dealer had huge boxes of misc schedules at 10-25c each. As I pulled out my list of schedules I already had, I mentioned that I'm not much of a sked collector, but pick some up when I find them cheap. He looked at my list of about 15 pages and said "I think you are a schedule collector". I didn't realize until I organized them that I have close to 1000 different Orioles and O's affiliate schedules. I know a few people that specialize in schedules that have three times that many, with some very rare ones. I've been told that Orioles schedules are quite popular and tend to sell for a lot more than most teams. I've seen some from the 1950's sell on eBay for hundreds of dollars.

Here are a few from my collection that don't fall into the pocket schedule category.

1970 National Bohemian Beer Can Schedule

DSCN2426.JPG DSCN2427.jpg

1966 Political Candidate Schedule
compliments of Clement J. Prucha

SCAN8617-1.jpg SCAN8618-1.jpg

1965 Matchbook Schedules
from George E. Palmer Beer Distributors in Littlestown, PA

SCAN8615.JPG SCAN8616.JPG

[ripfan008]

Good afternoon,

I recently picked this ad up because I had never seen it before and liked the facsimile autographs of the 1974 Orioles (not dated but it includes Ross Grimsley who only came to the O's in 1974 and still includes Earl Williams who last played in Baltimore in 1974). It has Mickey Mantle on the outside and is an offer for a personally inscribed bat. The O's signatures are on the inside. However, I don't know much about the piece. Does this look legitimate to everyone?

1974 O's ad- front and back.jpg

1974 O's ad- inside.jpg

[roarfrom34]

Mike:

appear legit to me

Nice!

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by ripfan008

Good afternoon,

I recently picked this ad up because I had never seen it before and liked the facsimile autographs of the 1974 Orioles (not dated but it includes Ross Grimsley who only came to the O's in 1974 and still includes Earl Williams who last played in Baltimore in 1974). It has Mickey Mantle on the outside and is an offer for a personally inscribed bat. The O's signatures are on the inside. However, I don't know much about the piece. Does this look legitimate to everyone?

I like it...

[bluejay4eva34]

Originally Posted by ripfan008

Good afternoon,

I recently picked this ad up because I had never seen it before and liked the facsimile autographs of the 1974 Orioles (not dated but it includes Ross Grimsley who only came to the O's in 1974 and still includes Earl Williams who last played in Baltimore in 1974). It has Mickey Mantle on the outside and is an offer for a personally inscribed bat. The O's signatures are on the inside. However, I don't know much about the piece. Does this look legitimate to everyone?

Attachment 406215

Attachment 406216

My Father signed it!! Jesse Jefferson

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by BaltOrioles

I never really considered myself a schedule collector until I was at a card show a few years ago. One dealer had huge boxes of misc schedules at 10-25c each. As I pulled out my list of schedules I already had, I mentioned that I'm not much of a sked collector, but pick some up when I find them cheap. He looked at my list of about 15 pages and said "I think you are a schedule collector". I didn't realize until I organized them that I have close to 1000 different Orioles and O's affiliate schedules. I know a few people that specialize in schedules that have three times that many, with some very rare ones. I've been told that Orioles schedules are quite popular and tend to sell for a lot more than most teams. I've seen some from the 1950's sell on eBay for hundreds of dollars.

Here are a few from my collection that don't fall into the pocket schedule category.

Alan,

YES; you ARE a schedule collector Those are some nice and unique one's at that.

[BaltOrioles]

I ended up with a lot of items for my collection from my experience with the Ironbirds.

My Topps Minor League Heritage card and Bobblehead

Pro Debut Card.JPG Bobblehead - Copy.jpg

2 different uniform tops. The Ironbirds ened up wearing the tops without names that game, so that's the one that's game used

DSCN2416.jpg DSCN2417.jpg

DSCN2418.jpg DSCN2419.jpg

Warm up gear, two hats, spikes and batting gloves

DSCN2420.jpg DSCN2421.jpg

Four bats with my name engraved on them. If you look close one shows use from batting practice.

DSCN2422.jpg

Equipment bag and glove - leftovers from the 2012/2013 MLB All-Star games

DSCN2424.jpg

[Mark70Z]

Day 174 (June 22, 2020 – 174)

For Day 174 I’m picturing three full page Rawlings ads that were in The Sporting News. I like to collect ads that are Brooks related, but they are really not a priority. I like these since they are the full-page variety and include the players of the day and Brooks is included somewhere in the advertisement (even if it’s just his name like in the first ad pictured).
1974 Rawlings Ad – Pro Leagues make it official: Rawlings is “The Mark of a Pro”

Day 174 a Ad Rawlings TSN.jpg

The second ad is a bit different since the page is set up like there are different articles, but it’s all really an ad for Rawlings.

1970 Rawlings Ad

Day 174 b Ad Rawlings TSN 1.jpg

Lastly this is an ad for the Rawlings Gold Glove winners of 1974. As you can see the Orioles have four Gold Glove Winners pictured (Belanger, Blair, Grich and Robinson).

1974 Rawlings Ad - Gold Glove Winners

Day 174 c Ad TSN Rawlings 1974 GG Winners.jpg