Brooks Robinson and the Baltimore Orioles

[Mark70Z]

Day 322 (November 17, 2020 – 322)

A 1977 Orioles parking permit, stamped Orioles Advocates, for an Orioles game during the season.

1977 Orioles Special Parking Permit

Day 322 a 1977 Special Parking.jpg

I only have ONE proof of Brooks’ 1977 Topps #285 (I don’t count the blank back; if you count it then it would be two proofs); sad, but true…

1977 Topps #285 progressive proof

Day 322 b 1977 Topps #285 Progressive proof.jpg

Today we’ll stick to the 1977 theme and picture a long strip of cellophane wrap that’s broken into three compartments known as a rack-pack. I believe I’ve shown one from 1977 prior, but here’s another for your possible enjoyment. Along with Brooks on the front we have Maximino Leon of the Braves and Johnny Bench with the Reds.

1977 Topps Rack Pack

Day 322 c 1977 Topps Rack Pack.jpg

[roarfrom34]

Mark...Fantastic 1977 items...The proof and Rack Pack are off the charts!

Some of you may remember the first set offering from Upper Deck in 1989 which included team checklist cards with player artwork on the front. The artist on all those team cards was Vernon Wells Jr., who is the father of former MLB outfielder Vernon Wells.

Here is Wells' original artwork used for the Cal Ripken Jr. Checklist card...You'll note the bird logo on the cap was incorrectly painted backwards & thus was digitally corrected on the card itself:

[BaltOrioles]

I'm hoping someone out there can help me to identify the O's player in this photo.

I picked this photo up years ago, because I couldn't recognize him. The photo has number 100 stamped on the back, similar to the style of Jim Elder B&W postcards. However, a look through Jim Elders checklist, eliminated it being #100 on Elder's list.

I believe the player played in the Orioles system in the late 50's - early 60's range. I don't believe he ever made it to the Orioles, but I could be wrong. I've asked several old time Orioles, but haven't had any luck. Boog Powell thought it was Al Bumbry.. NO The closest I came was Jackie Brandt, who said he recognized the player, but couldn't remember his name. Jackie gets a pass, since he's 86.

The most common responses from people are Bobby Avilia and Chico Carrasquel, but I personally don't think it's either of them. Thoughts anyone.....


SCAN4776 - Copy.JPG




Bobby Avilia and Chico Carrasquel (for comparison purposes)

Avila, Bobby 1 - Copy.jpg Carrasquel, Chico 1 - Copy.jpg

[Mark70Z]

Day 323 (November 18, 2020 – 323)

In 1989 Topps along with LJN Corporation put out a set of Talking Baseball cards. Each card had a plastic disc affixed to the back of the card and played like a record on a player. I never had the SportsTalk player so I’m unsure what was said on the Brooksie card. I do know I picked up the examples shown below cheaply.

1989 Topps and LJN Corp. Talking Baseball

Day 323 1989 Topps Talking Baseball #10.jpg

I have a couple sealed 10 sets; one with Brooks displayed on front.

Day 323 Baseball Talk.jpg

[roarfrom34]

Originally Posted by BaltOrioles

I'm hoping someone out there can help me to identify the O's player in this photo.

I picked this photo up years ago, because I couldn't recognize him. The photo has number 100 stamped on the back, similar to the style of Jim Elder B&W postcards. However, a look through Jim Elders checklist, eliminated it being #100 on Elder's list.

I believe the player played in the Orioles system in the late 50's - early 60's range. I don't believe he ever made it to the Orioles, but I could be wrong. I've asked several old time Orioles, but haven't had any luck. Boog Powell thought it was Al Bumbry.. NO The closest I came was Jackie Brandt, who said he recognized the player, but couldn't remember his name. Jackie gets a pass, since he's 86.

Attachment 426446

Alan:

I forwarded the photo to Bill Stetka for his thoughts and his response was:

I've seen this photo in our archives. I’d have to access our files to see if the photo is ID’d - which won’t happen until January at the earliest.

He never played in the majors with us but I think he was a spring training invite.
Bill

[roarfrom34]

I just picked up another Cal Ripken Sr. game used jersey...Sr. initially wore #47 from 1976-1984 before switching over to #7 in 1985...The year and set # flag tags were removed from this Rawlings top, but I'm guessing it was worn in the late 1970's:

[BaltOrioles]

Originally Posted by roarfrom34

Alan:

I forwarded the photo to Bill Stetka for his thoughts and his response was:

I've seen this photo in our archives. I’d have to access our files to see if the photo is ID’d - which won’t happen until January at the earliest.

He never played in the majors with us but I think he was a spring training invite.
Bill

Bill,

Thanks. I hope Bill Stetka can find it in the archives and doesn't remember the photo from the time I asked him about it a few years ago at a game in Baltimore. If I remember right, I showed it to Bill the same night Jackie Brandt was doing an Alumni signing. We both thought he never played for the Orioles during the regular season.

[BaltOrioles]

One of the easiest and most challenging sets of Orioles postcards are the team issues from 1967-1969. Postcard collectors group the years together, because the size, style and photos used, make it impossible to pinpoint them to a specific year, unless the player only played one year.

I love this set, because these are the Orioles of my childhood. If you just want a postcard example of a player or two, the 1967-69 postcards are the easiest B&W postcards to find, compared to the earlier issues. What makes the set so challenging is the size and scope of variations that have been found. To date, 148 different postcards have been discovered. Quite a few variations by me. Most postcard collectors are happy to find examples of each player/pose, but a couple of us have made it our mission to collect the whole set. I currently have 130/148 in my collection. The postcards with facsimile autographs are especially tough, along with Steve Barber, Sam Bowens, Mike Epstein, Jim Frey, Woodie Held, Bruce Howard and John Miller.

Over the next couple days, I'll post all the cards I have. Many of the variations involve name placement and the cropping of Tadder in the lower corner.

Here's the first group, minus the postcards I'm missing Steve Barber, Mark Belanger (facsimile), Paul Blair (facsimile), Don Buford (facsimile), Andy Etchebarren (variation)

196769 Postcards 01.jpg 196769 Postcards 02.jpg 196769 Postcards 03.jpg 196769 Postcards 04.jpg 196769 Postcards 05.jpg 196769 Postcards 06.jpg 196769 Postcards 07.jpg 196769 Postcards 08.jpg 196769 Postcards 09.jpg 196769 Postcards 10.jpg 196769 Postcards 11.jpg 196769 Postcards 12.JPG

[roarfrom34]

Great postcards Alan.....The first Oriole I ever met outside of a stadium/game setting was Bill Dillman who was a co-worker of my baseball coach in 1978 & we still correspond to this day

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by BaltOrioles

One of the easiest and most challenging sets of Orioles postcards are the team issues from 1967-1969. Postcard collectors group the years together, because the size, style and photos used, make it impossible to pinpoint them to a specific year, unless the player only played one year.

I currently have 130/148 in my collection. The postcards with facsimile autographs are especially tough, along with Steve Barber, Sam Bowens, Mike Epstein, Jim Frey, Woodie Held, Bruce Howard and John Miller.

Alan,

Those are some very nice O's postcards and tough to locate as well. Have you seen the postcards that you are missing?

[Mark70Z]

Day 324 (November 19, 2020 – 324)

An early example of a Sports Collectors Digest (SCD) from April 30, 1975 with Brooks featured on the cover.

Day 324 a Publication 1975 SCD April 30.jpg

This SCD is from August 10, 2012 and is a National Issue. SCD went with a smaller version of the publication which was about the same size as a regular magazine.

Day 324 b Publication 2012 SCD August 10 1.jpg

[BaltOrioles]

Originally Posted by Mark70Z

Alan,

Those are some very nice O's postcards and tough to locate as well. Have you seen the postcards that you are missing?

Yes, I know what I'm looking for. Probably 20 years ago, Ed Allan, an Orioles postcard collector from Maryland, put together an illustrated checklist of Orioles postcards. A variety of collectors contributed scans of their postcards to help put the checklist together. Some old time collectors had kept good records of the years they received certain postcards, which helped to date each issue. As new postcards have been printed by the Orioles and variations of older years discovered, Ed has been updating his checklist. Ed's book is considered the bible for Orioles team issued postcards.

His website usually has the last couple years shown on it.

http://edallan.atwebpages.com/

I'm not sure if he still sells his book, but here's an example to give you an idea.

1967-1969-01.jpg