February pickups

[Lordstan]

Epic pick up.
Seems Paul has a knack for finding these types of balls.

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Thanks to Paul G. (ShoelessMoe on net54) I just was able to add this beautiful game used ball to Denny McLain's 31st win in 1968. which is fresh to the hobby.

The inscriptions on the ball IMHO really take it to the next level.
They are all in the hand of a famous gentleman in the Detroit area named Morris (Morrie) Moorawnick who passed away in 2010. He was known for his precise and small printing as is demonstrated on his notations on this ball.

Morrie Moorawnick was a celebrated statistician and scorekeeper for the Detroit Pistons and Red Wings and was the close friend of many professional athletes including Gordy Howe and Willie Horton. He was honored in 2009 at Comerica Park by the Ilitch Family for his contributions to amateur sports and excellence of sportsmanship.

This game is historic on multiple levels:

Denny McLain's amazing 31st win marked the last win in McLain's great 1968 campaign where he went 31-6, winning the Cy Young and MVP awards and leading the Detroit Tigers to becoming the '68 World Series Champions.

Accomplishing this, McLain became the 1st pitcher in 34 years to win 30 games in a single season. McLain would also be the last because it has now been 52 years since this occurred and with specialized pitching, 100 pitch counts and 4-5 man rotations it will never happen again..
Dizzy Dean was previously the last to win 30+ games in 1934.

In this game, Denny also famously grooved HOF Mickey Mantle's 535th (second to last) career HR.

About 5 years ago I had Denny McLain sign and inscribe my Grandparent's license plate from 1968. It was a tribute to the Summer of 1968 that I spent in MI watching the Tigers run to the pennant and eventual World Series Championship. I was fortunate to have caught one of Denny's 31 wins in person at the now defunct Tiger Stadium.
Great memories!

[Mark]

Hal Rhyne bat. Hal played for the 1927 NL champion Pirates and later for the Red Sox, periodically enjoying a fine career in the PCL.

[kevlar7]

1940 Lou Gehrig Biography Advertising Pamphlet. Four-page pamphlet advertises Stan W. Carlson's biography about the Hall of Fame first baseman for the New York Yankees. I'm now on the lookout for this book.

[kevlar7]

The back of it.

[Lordstan]

Originally Posted by kevlar7

1940 Lou Gehrig Biography Advertising Pamphlet. Four-page pamphlet advertises Stan W. Carlson's biography about the Hall of Fame first baseman for the New York Yankees. I'm now on the lookout for this book.

It's a beauty. The book pops up every once in a while. In case you have not seen it, here is what it looks like

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[kevlar7]

Originally Posted by Lordstan

It's a beauty. The book pops up every once in a while. In case you have not seen it, here is what it looks like

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

That is great. Thanks for sharing the image of the book. Hopefully one will pop up.

[Lordstan]

Originally Posted by kevlar7

That is great. Thanks for sharing the image of the book. Hopefully one will pop up.

I hope you find one. I think i wound up paying $150-200 for it on eBay. That is more than i would pay for any of the other Gehrig books, but it is much harder to find.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[BeanTown]

EBay purchase just came in. Population for the 1887 St Louis team note went up to 10 now. One of my favorite notes behind the 1893 All Star note

[jcmtiger]

Originally Posted by kevlar7

1940 Lou Gehrig Biography Advertising Pamphlet. Four-page pamphlet advertises Stan W. Carlson's biography about the Hall of Fame first baseman for the New York Yankees. I'm now on the lookout for this book.

On eBay right now. Buy it now $555.55 lol Not my listing.

[eastonfalcon19]

Picked up and cleaned up this Walker Reach bat. Cleaned up better than I thought.

[Bill Rayburn]

Nice pick up Ron. Great job on the clean up also. Looks like you put a little life back in that beauty.

[eastonfalcon19]

Thank you Bill. A little Goo Gone and some Feed N Wax to give it some life. Any tips with removing tape and cleaning up bats? I have another bat and I got most of the tape off but there's still some left and it's a bear to get off.

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by eastonfalcon19

Picked up and cleaned up this Walker Reach bat. Cleaned up better than I thought.

Looks great! Did you blacken the “WALKER”?

[eastonfalcon19]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

Looks great! Did you blacken the “WALKER”?

No it had tape residue when I got it. I took it all off.