If You Collect Scorecards or Programs, Show 'em Here!

[MVSNYC]

100 years old...

[Scott Garner]

One of my favorite pickups from the National in Chicago is an unusual exhibition scorebook that I had never seen that has some interesting historic significance.

Monday, August 15, 1932 was the Bicentennial Anniversary of Washington DC.
Virtually all MLB baseball teams did not play on this date.

To commemorate the Washington DC Bicentennial, a special Exhibition game was played that pitted members of the 1924 World Champion Washington Nats team that included HOF Walter Johnson and Goose Goslin vs. the current 1932 Washington Team managed by WaJo.

WaJo pitched some of the innings for the 1924 World Champion squad and Marberry pitched the rest. Alas, the upstart 1932 Washington team best the 1924 Champions 6-2 in the game.

Here are some pictures of the scorebook which is remarkable shape considering it's over 90 years old.
I included a closeup of the inside of the scorebook that highlighted the individual significance of WaJo's only win in the World Series in a terrific HOF career.

Enjoy!

[Topnotchsy]

One of my favorite barnstorming programs. Was from a Paige/Feller All-Stars dual in 1945, and this one featured Jackie Robinson not long before he signed his contract with the Dodgers.

In an interview after the game, Feller expressed skepticism that Jackie was a good enough player to play in the Majors. The comment strained their relationship. (Info from Satch, Dizzy and Rapid Robert if my memory is not failing me.)

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Topnotchsy

One of my favorite barnstorming programs. Was from a Paige/Feller All-Stars dual in 1945, and this one featured Jackie Robinson not long before he signed his contract with the Dodgers.

In an interview after the game, Feller expressed skepticism that Jackie was a good enough player to play in the Majors. The comment strained their relationship. (Info from Satch, Dizzy and Rapid Robert if my memory is not failing me.)

Sounds like Rapid Robert had a chapped ass after Jackie Robinson lit him up and went 2-4 with two doubles in the game! LOL

[tippedfinger]

I think this one is my favorite -- probably a top five game of all time, some might argue for the top spot. One of the greatest rosters ever assembled (and lest we forget the competition) -- and the background story is incomparable.

Game 7 of the 1937 Ciudad Trujillo tournament.

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Sounds like Rapid Robert had a chapped ass after Jackie Robinson lit him up and went 2-4 with two doubles in the game! LOL

Yup!

[ramram]

Bob Feller related 1936 Iowa State Amateur Baseball Tournament scorebook. Playing against much older seasoned ballplayers was a 16 year old high schooler named Bob Feller. This was the tournament at which Feller was "found" by superscout Cy Slapnicka. He was signed shortly after. The scorebook was the official scorers book kept by the Iowa Amateur Athletic Association's State Chairman Joe Campbell. Feller's team of farm boys ended up winning the tournament against many of the well sponsored city boys. Feller was probably 8 - 10 years younger than most of the participants.

In the tournament, Feller pitched 27 1/3 innings, had 49 strikeouts and gave up 14 hits, 10 walks, 4 runs (1 earned run). The only earned run was on a home run.

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[seattlerainiers]

Jeff's posts motivated me to scan some more of my barnstorming program covers...here are a few more.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

[B]One of my favorite pickups from the National in Chicago is an unusual exhibition scorebook that I had never seen that has some interesting historic significance. Monday, August 15, 1932 was the Bicentennial Anniversary of Washington DC. Virtually all MLB baseball teams did not play on this date. To commemorate the Washington DC Bicentennial, a special Exhibition game was played that pitted members of the 1924 World Champion Washington Nats team that included HOF Walter Johnson and Goose Goslin vs. the current 1932 Washington Team managed by WaJo. WaJo pitched some of the innings for the 1924 World Champion squad and Marberry pitched the rest. Alas, the upstart 1932 Washington team best the 1924 Champions 6-2 in the game. Here are some pictures of the scorebook which is remarkable shape considering it's over 90 years old.
I included a closeup of the inside of the scorebook that highlighted the individual significance of WaJo's only win in the World Series in a terrific HOF career. Enjoy!

Hi Scott, very cool scorecard. I handled a number of these as a collector and dealer, and of course always thought they were great, with the '24 Nationals playing the '32 team in a full game! What that had to do with George Washington I can't tell you, but so cool nonetheless. And historical in the sense that this was the last game Walter ever pitched for Washington, albeit an exhibition.

[jethrod3]

No new scorecard to show at the moment, but definitely something about scorecards to talk about...

I noticed that one company that grades comic books had been grading and slabbing Sports Illustrated mags for some time, much like comic books. But I had never, until very recently, noticed that they are also grading and slabbing scorecards! Perhaps I have been living under a rock for some time! When did any company start doing this?

I have not noticed many examples of graded/slabbed scorecards. Those that I've seen I've just happened to stumble on by chance (one that comes to mind is up for bid in an auction I was browsing through earlier today). But the things that I found most amazing are that 1) there was no description by the TPG as to whether the scorecard was filled out, and 2) the grading system has nothing to do with how a card might be graded. The grading system seems pretty lenient compared to cards, as no torn/tattered card I have ever seen would escape with a grade of 3. But for scorecards, it looks like a whole different ballgame. I also wonder whether the lack of mentioning of scored vs. unscored is a statement to the effect that it doesn't matter, although all scorecard collectors will tell you that they'd prefer a scorecard that is neatly scored vs scoring done with very poor penmanship and that is unintelligible.

So...the million-dollar question would be whether the majority of scorecard collectors will now make a move to grade and slab at least some of their scorecards if the pricing is not too outrageous. Of course, while the right slabbed scorecards may bring top dollar, the trade-off would be that a collector would no longer be able to experience the enjoyment of opening and gazing at the inside of that scorecard again.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by jethrod3

No new scorecard to show at the moment, but definitely something about scorecards to talk about...

I noticed that once company that grades comic books had been grading and slabbing Sports Illustrated mags for some time, much like comic books. But I had never, until very recently, noticed that they are also grading and slabbing scorecards! Perhaps I have been living under a rock for some time! When did any company start doing this?

I have not noticed many examples of graded/slabbed scorecards. Those that I've seen I've just happened to stumble on by chance (one that comes to mind is up for bid in an auction I was browsing through earlier today). But the things that I found most amazing are that 1) there was no description by the TPG as to whether the scorecard was filled out, and 2) the grading system has nothing to do with how a card might be graded. The grading system seems pretty lenient compared to cards, as no torn/tattered card I have ever seen would escape with a grade of 3. But for scorecards, it looks like a whole different ballgame. I also wonder whether the lack of mentioning of scored vs. unscored is a statement to the effect that it doesn't matter, although all scorecard collectors will tell you that they'd prefer a scorecard that is neatly scored vs scoring done with very poor penmanship and that is unintelligible.

So...the million-dollar question would be whether the majority of scorecard collectors will now make a move to grade and slab at least some of their scorecards if the pricing is not too outrageous. Of course, while the right slabbed scorecards may bring top dollar, the trade-off would be that a collector would no longer be able to experience the enjoyment of opening and gazing at the inside of that scorecard again.

I'm with you on that one!
Why would you slab a scorecard that allowed you to view all the pages and content?
That's beyond me...

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

I'm with you on that one!
Why would you slab a scorecard that allowed you to view all the pages and content?
That's beyond me...

It shocks me that people slab comics the way they do, but it is clearly a huge market.

[bigfanNY]

I cannot tell you how many times I have lit up with joy reading something in a scorecard or program. Stories cheers songs, scorecards are priceless moments in time.... but it dose increases the value by multiples. So as long as I dont have to sell them I am gonna keep reading them.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Topnotchsy

It shocks me that people slab comics the way they do, but it is clearly a huge market.

+1

[jethrod3]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

I'm with you on that one!
Why would you slab a scorecard that allowed you to view all the pages and content? That's beyond me...

Yes, and actually, unless the scorecard is marked on the front or back cover, not being able to view the pages inside can leave everlasting doubt as to whether you actually have the scorecard you believe you have in that slab!

[jethrod3]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

I'm with you on that one!
Why would you slab a scorecard that allowed you to view all the pages and content? That's beyond me...

So I was thinking a bit more about why tickets seem so much more desirable than scorecards and programs...

Tickets take up less space, that much is true. But as others have mentioned when considering whether or not they might get their scorecards or programs slabbed if they had the opportunity to do so, you'd miss out on all the great content. In this case, the content, at least in older programs, includes photos (sometimes early photos) of the players that are playing. Tickets can be ornate and some will have a specific player on them, especially season tickets printed in the last 30 years or so, but half of my tickets have no images. So it's just tough to figure out why there is such a disparity in pricing between programs and scorecards/program. I can't imagine that for any given game, more scorecards/programs were saved than tickets.

[Ulidia]

Originally Posted by jethrod3

Tickets take up less space, that much is true. But as others have mentioned when considering whether or not they might get their scorecards or programs slabbed if they had the opportunity to do so, you'd miss out on all the great content. In this case, the content, at least in older programs, includes photos (sometimes early photos) of the players that are playing. Tickets can be ornate and some will have a specific player on them, especially season tickets printed in the last 30 years or so, but half of my tickets have no images. So it's just tough to figure out why there is such a disparity in pricing between programs and scorecards/program. I can't imagine that for any given game, more scorecards/programs were saved than tickets.

Many of the pre World War Two World Series programs are items of absolute beauty. The Cincinnati 1919 issue above is a case in point but also the Subway Series of Yankees & Giants 1921 to 1923 (and same format for Yankees vs Pirates in 1927).

New York Giants issues of 1910s are particularly attractive and way ahead of their time. Boston Braves, Brooklyn Dodgers also had stunning World Series programs in this era.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by jethrod3

So I was thinking a bit more about why tickets seem so much more desirable than scorecards and programs...

Tickets take up less space, that much is true. But as others have mentioned when considering whether or not they might get their scorecards or programs slabbed if they had the opportunity to do so, you'd miss out on all the great content. In this case, the content, at least in older programs, includes photos (sometimes early photos) of the players that are playing. Tickets can be ornate and some will have a specific player on them, especially season tickets printed in the last 30 years or so, but half of my tickets have no images. So it's just tough to figure out why there is such a disparity in pricing between programs and scorecards/program. I can't imagine that for any given game, more scorecards/programs were saved than tickets.

Just an opinion, but I actually believe that more scorecards//programs were saved.

Have you ever noticed how many earlier vintage scorecards have a vertical crease running down the middle?
Male fans frequently folded the scorecards in order to stick them in their breast pockets. This would allow them to pull them out during the game and also bring them home.

Regular gameday tickets not so much, as they were often tossed as trash based on what I have observed in my lifetime.
Notable exceptions would include playoff games, World Series and All Star Games IMHO.

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

One of my favorite pickups from the National in Chicago is an unusual exhibition scorebook that I had never seen that has some interesting historic significance.

Monday, August 15, 1932 was the Bicentennial Anniversary of Washington DC.
Virtually all MLB baseball teams did not play on this date.

To commemorate the Washington DC Bicentennial, a special Exhibition game was played that pitted members of the 1924 World Champion Washington Nats team that included HOF Walter Johnson and Goose Goslin vs. the current 1932 Washington Team managed by WaJo.

WaJo pitched some of the innings for the 1924 World Champion squad and Marberry pitched the rest. Alas, the upstart 1932 Washington team best the 1924 Champions 6-2 in the game.

Here are some pictures of the scorebook which is remarkable shape considering it's over 90 years old.
I included a closeup of the inside of the scorebook that highlighted the individual significance of WaJo's only win in the World Series in a terrific HOF career.

Enjoy!

This was the Bicentennial of the birth of George Washington, not of the District of Columbia. The District of Columbia was created January 5, 1792. It is something I need to know for some of the legal research I do in D.C.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Michael B

This was the Bicentennial of the birth of George Washington, not of the District of Columbia. The District of Columbia was created January 5, 1792. It is something I need to know for some of the legal research I do in D.C.

Thanks Michael!
BTW, Hank Thomas shared the same info with me, so I stand corrected.
Certainly, an interesting reason to celebrate a bicentennial (?), but pretty cool nevertheless...