Brooks Robinson and the Baltimore Orioles

[Chstrite]

Day 349 – 14 December 2024
I recently found a few 1960s-1970s Bluefield Orioles Program/Scorecards. I do not really collect minor league programs unless related to Cal, Eddie or Brooks but had to have these given their condition and the artwork on the cover. They are all scored. The years include 1961, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975 (Murray), 1976, 1977, and 1978 (Ripken…spelled Ripkin). They are all in great shape. Bluefield was affiliated with the Orioles from 1958-2010. They were the oldest continuous affiliated team with the same major league club. In September 2010, they began an affiliation with the Blue Jays. They were part of the Appalachian League willing championships in 1962, 63, 67, 70, 71, 82, 92, 96, 97, and 01.

[BaltOrioles]

Originally Posted by Chstrite

Day 349 – 14 December 2024
I recently found a few 1960s-1970s Bluefield Orioles Program/Scorecards. I do not really collect minor league programs unless related to Cal, Eddie or Brooks but had to have these given their condition and the artwork on the cover. They are all scored. The years include 1961, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975 (Murray), 1976, 1977, and 1978 (Ripken…spelled Ripkin). They are all in great shape. Bluefield was affiliated with the Orioles from 1958-2010. They were the oldest continuous affiliated team with the same major league club. In September 2010, they began an affiliation with the Blue Jays. They were part of the Appalachian League willing championships in 1962, 63, 67, 70, 71, 82, 92, 96, 97, and 01.

Ah Charlie, you've ventured into the dark side. I love the minor league programs. I have an almost complete run of the Bluefield programs from 1958-2010. I'm missing 1987, 2001, 2005 and 2009. The last few years were more like newspapers than programs.

Here's the first and last years Bluefield programs while they were Orioles affiliates.

1958 Bluefield Orioles - Copy.jpg 2010 Bluefield Orioles.jpg



FYI - Minor leagues teams would often reuse left over stuff from the previous season to help save money, especially lower level clubs. Here's a 1974 Bluefield program reused in 1975 with a sticker added to the cover.

1974 Bluefield Orioles - Copy.jpg 1975 Bluefield Orioles #2 - Copy.jpg



When Cal Ripken Jr was in Bluefield, they actually had a color and B&W program. Maybe Bill knows the story behind it. I'm sure it wasn't the fact that someone saw a HOF career in Ripken's future. Probably ran out of one and switched to the other. I'm not sure which came first. Here's the B&W version.

1978 Bluefield Orioles #2 - Copy.jpg

[Chstrite]

Alan, ha. I could not pass them up. Good luck finding the missing ones.

[Chstrite]

Day 350 – 15 December 2024
Another recent find is this very nice Sunpapers 1977 Sports Calendar. The calendar measures 13 in X 19.5 in, made of a hard cardboard with calendar pages that can be torn out. At first, I did not think a lot about it but then got to thinking, this was Eddie Murray’s first year and Brooks Robinson’s last year so I had to have it. Other than the hole at the top to hang it, the calendar is in great shape. I also thought to show my August 13, 1977 Ticket from Brooks last game.

[roarfrom34]

Originally Posted by BaltOrioles

When Cal Ripken Jr was in Bluefield, they actually had a color and B&W program. Maybe Bill knows the story behind it. I'm sure it wasn't the fact that someone saw a HOF career in Ripken's future. Probably ran out of one and switched to the other. I'm not sure which came first. Here's the B&W version.

Attachment 643714

Alan:

I was hoping you would know lol....I could surmise that the B&W ones came out later in the season only b/c my team signed, colored one (see above) has both Bob ("Robert") Bonner & Mike Boddicker signatures on it....Bonner was called up to Charlotte w/o ever getting into a game at Bluefield while Boddicker only pitched in a handful of games before moving up as well..

The B/W one also has player photos inside....There was a warehouse find of these programs in the late 80's and they really aren't that difficult to locate (though some people still put crazy money on them)..

[BaltOrioles]

Originally Posted by roarfrom34

Alan:

I was hoping you would know lol....I could surmise that the B&W ones came out later in the season only b/c my team signed, colored one (see above) has both Bob ("Robert") Bonner & Mike Boddicker signatures on it....Bonner was called up to Charlotte w/o ever getting into a game at Bluefield while Boddicker only pitched in a handful of games before moving up as well..

The B/W one also has player photos inside....There was a warehouse find of these programs in the late 80's and they really aren't that difficult to locate (though some people still put crazy money on them)..

Bill,

I would tend to agree. I think it's probably the reverse of using left over programs from one year, the next season. Bluefield probably ran out of color programs and did a quick B&W scorecard for the end of the season. I've found with the warehouse find of the B&W Bluefield scorecards, they're actually easier to find than the color programs.

The Rochester Red Wings ended up doing something similar in 1971.

1971 Rochester Red Wings #1.jpg 1971 Rochester Red Wings #2.jpg

[roarfrom34]

Originally Posted by BaltOrioles

Bill,

The Rochester Red Wings ended up doing something similar in 1971.

Attachment 643824 Attachment 643825

I do love those '71 program covers because they picture Red Wings mgr./third base coach Cal Ripken Sr. (who managed there in 1969 & 1970)

[Chstrite]

Day 351 – 16 December 2024
Another recent find is my 1972 Team Issued Brooks Robinson and Jim Palmer 5 in X 7 in photos. I purchased about 50 different photos at a card show, which included a bunch of Brooks photos. At first I did not recognize it but recalled the 1972 checklist Alan Strout gave me. I looked closely at the pose, size and font and realized I checked off another Brooks photo I was missing.

[BaltOrioles]

I just saw where Len Johnston passed away at 95 years old. Len was in the Orioles minor system for 43 years, serving as a manager, coach and administrator. He spent 2 years managing the Miami Orioles and one year with the Hagerstown Suns. The majority of his tenure with the Orioles was spent as a coach with the Bluefield Orioles (Appalachian League) team in Bluefield, WV.

For many years, I would see Len at the Orioles minor league camp during spring training. He was also great to talk with and signed this team issued photo for me. He was quite surprised that one even existed.

Len Johnston 8x10 Photo

Johnston, Len 1.jpg

[stevelucille]

Originally Posted by BaltOrioles

Bill,

I would tend to agree. I think it's probably the reverse of using left over programs from one year, the next season. Bluefield probably ran out of color programs and did a quick B&W scorecard for the end of the season. I've found with the warehouse find of the B&W Bluefield scorecards, they're actually easier to find than the color programs.

The Rochester Red Wings ended up doing something similar in 1971.

Attachment 643824 Attachment 643825

Just catching up with this thread.

The backstory for the B&W Red Wings program - They played the Denver Bears in the Junior World Series in 1971. The Bears got thrown out of their stadium by the NFL Denver Broncos. So all 7 games of the series were played in Rochester. They ran out of programs early on and printed more in B&W. So if you have a B&W version it is also a Junior World Series program.

[roarfrom34]

Scott Klingenbeck a RHP who pitched in seven games for the Orioles back in 1994-95 passed away on May 20th at the age of 54....

I attended Klingenbeck's debut (ironically 31 years ago today) where he pitched 7 innings, giving up 3 earned runs, defeating Detroit 11-8 (Cal Ripken Jr. also hit his 301st career HR in that game).

A few days days later I mailed my ticket stub to Scott (who had been sent down to Bowie), who graciously signed and returned it.

RIP Scott

[Chstrite]

Thanks for sharing, Bill. RIP