Brooks Robinson and the Baltimore Orioles

[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...

[roarfrom34]

OTD in 1979, the Orioles trailed Detroit 5-3 going into the bottom of the 9th inning & Doug DeCinces hit a two out, two run walk off HR to give the Orioles a 6-5 victory..It was this day that the phrase "Orioles Magic" was born...

Here is a signed/inscribed AP Laserphoto from that event:

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by roarfrom34

OTD in 1979, the Orioles trailed Detroit 5-3 going into the bottom of the 9th inning & Doug DeCinces hit a two out, two run walk off HR to give the Orioles a 6-5 victory..It was this day that the phrase "Orioles Magic" was born...

Here is a signed/inscribed AP Laserphoto from that event:

Bill,

Very nice! I'd like to find one of the stadium signs that say "Orioles Magic" on it. The example I've seen is relatively small, but very cool looking.

[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

[Chstrite]

Mark, maybe you know…were the Brooks clips worn by everyone ate the banquet? How many are out there is the question. The glove might clean up a little; not much to work with. Ha. Thanks for sharing that awesome photo.

[Chstrite]

Day 45 – 15 February 2024
Another unique display from the early 1970s is from Brandpower, Inc. advertising a trophy personally autographed by a player of your choice. The display is blue with red and white letters advertising “All Star Personally Autographed Baseballs.” This display must have been a regional thing with the Orioles. Six Orioles are shown (Blair, Belanger, Grich, Palmer, May and Brooksie) with an example of the autographed ball in its display. I am not sure what the price for the ball was. In total, a kid could order 30 different players. See the picture of the mail in sheet with players. I have heard different people talk about these balls but have never personally seen one. Would be cool to find the Brooks ball and display it with this advertisement.

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by Chstrite

Mark, maybe you know…were the Brooks clips worn by everyone ate the banquet? How many are out there is the question. The glove might clean up a little; not much to work with. Ha. Thanks for sharing that awesome photo.

I can only assume the clips were made for the 1965 Rawlings Sporting Goods Fair held in NY. We see Brooks and Boyer wearing one and likely a lot of the others in attendance had them or were available to them. I've seen a few in the past, but not in large numbers.

[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.