Brooks Robinson and the Baltimore Orioles

[cardsagain74]

I know base cards are boring, but when it's his two big ones together...

[roarfrom34]

Mark....First time I've ever seen those publications!

The late Todd Cruz game used bat with autograph/inscription:

[BaltOrioles]

According to the Orioles 2020 Media Guide, 20 managers, 101 coaches and 1100 players have appeared in an Orioles regular season game since 1954. In my quest to find photos of all of those players, in an Orioles uniform, even the most obscure of those names can be found, either through team issued photos by the Orioles or a variety of photographers from the era. However, even the Orioles don't have photos of some of these guys. I have mentioned that one player, John Buzhardt, has eluded me all these years.

While not the hardest for me to find, certainly in the top five is journeyman pitcher Sam Jones. Sam had a nice 12 year major league career with several teams. He has the distinction of being one of the few 20-20 pitchers. We won 21 games for the SF Giants in 1959, but also lost 20 games with the 1955 Chicago Cubs.

In 1964, Sam pitched the final month of the season with the Orioles, appearing in 7 games with no record. It would be Sam's last stint in the major leagues.

While the Orioles couldn't provide a photo, I was happy to find a newspaper wirephoto from when Sam joined the Orioles. Wirephotos aren't my first choice for a player, but sometimes you take what you can find.

Sam Jones pictured with Chuck Estrada (left) and Manager Hank Bauer (middle)

1964 Baltimore Sun Wirephoto (Orioles Get Pitching Help) MMS1.jpg

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by cardsagain74

I know base cards are boring, but when it's his two big ones together...

I enjoy pretty much everything Brooks Robinson, even his base cards. Of course, you're correct these are likely at the top of the list. Those cards are very nice!

[Mark70Z]

Day 182 (June 30, 2020 – 182)

On the last day of the month we need some snapshot photos for month end, quarter end and half year end. Let’s do a couple related to hitting. First, let’s do a relatively early batting cage B&W photo.

Day 182 a Snapshot batting cage.jpg

Next a color game snapshot. Man, looks like Brooksie got ahold of one…

Day 182 b Shapshot Hitting Game.jpg

[quitcrab]

Mark
Great job on running this thread and posting everyday! I start my day with checking what you posted for the day. Can’t wait to see what the second half of the year brings. Come September when I am back to work and have a scanner, I will post a couple gems from my collection .
Again, thanks for an amazing thread .
Scott

[BaltOrioles]

I echo Scott's comment. I enjoy each morning seeing what has been posted. It's made a very unusual start to 2020 much easier. I've seen plenty of items for the first time and even picked up some nice additions to my collection through new friends I've found on the site. Looking forward to the next 6 months.

Louis Requena was a legendary sports photographer. He passed away in 2013 after a 50 year career. Being based in New York, he is mostly associated with NY teams like the Yankees and Mets. He did take some very nice photos of players from other teams.

I have one photo of Brooks Robinson that has the Requena stamp on the back. It is 4x5 and from the early 60's. The autograph is quite light, but the photo quality is nice.

Robinson, Brooks (Requena).jpg SCAN8659.JPG


I don't know how many Orioles photos Louis Requena took, but here's a Ron Hansen that has the look of being taken by him. It's not stamped on the back, but was taken in Yankee Stadium.

Hansen, Ron.jpg

[Mark70Z]

Thanks for the nice comments. At times it has been a bit of a struggle, but so far we’ve made it through half a year. I sure appreciate you guys posting your collections and make this thread so much more interesting with your collections. Now, let’s see if I can reach my personal goal and make it to year end...

[Mark70Z]

Day 183 (July 1, 2020 – 183)

Not too far into collecting Brooks I ran across a Brooks Robinson watch, no band just the wrist watch. I thought it was such a neat item I had to get a band for it so I could wear the thing. It’s been quite a number of years now, but a Tom Seaver collector had the same type of watch with Seaver pictured, but he had the original packaging for the watch which included a picture of Seaver included in the package. I’ve seen a few of these pictured now, in auctions, over the years to include Banks, Aaron, and Mays. I know I’ve seen an ad for them in a magazine as well.

A little detail about the watches. The Major League Super Star watches were manufactured by the American Time Co. in Detroit Michigan. The watches were licensed by the MLB Players Association and have a Copyright of 1968. They had a cheap black band originally and instead of using crystal to cover the face of the watch it’s made of plastic, but they do have Swiss made movement (they don’t keep accurate time at all; just an FYI). The photo cards in the original packaging are about 5” x 9” and the box just a tad larger than the photo; maybe 6” x 9”. If anyone has one, I’d love to see them pictured; such a nice item for a player or team collector. Here’s one other thing; I’ve seen them with a green face and a blue face. Were they made with both colors and/or is one faded? Hopefully you guys can get it solved.

I did find a checklist of the watches. Thought I’d include even though some of them I’ve never seen: Al Kaline, Brooks Robinson, Carl Yastrzemski, Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins, Harmon Killebrew, Henry Aaron, Joe Torre, Tom Seaver and Willie Mays.

Over the years I picked up a couple of the Brooks watches and FINALLY last year picked up a watch with the original packaging. I’ll just show the watch and thin photo that came along for the ride…

1968 Major League SuperStar Watch

Day 183.jpg
Day 183 e.jpg
Day 183 d.jpg

Day 183 b.jpg


A photo of Ernie Banks holding Brooks’ Super Star watch packaging and
Brooks holding Ernie's Super Star watch package.

Day 183 c.jpg