a pin anyone?

[Rob D.]

Hi Paul,

Nice to see you posting again.

The questions you bring up about this series are similar to ones that I've kicked around countless times with Indians collectors at shows here in Ohio. I do think we're looking at series from two different years, but if we accept that as a fact, it just leads to more questions.

Why issue new poses of Avila and Hegan, popular players to be sure but not on the same level as Boudreau? One theory I have that kind of holds water is that the "star" series was issued first, because the pose of Avila isn't just a head shot but rather one from his waist up, which is different from all of the other poses in both series. So that might explain why a new pose -- one of the more typical head shot -- was used in the second year for the "Wahoo" series. Unfortunately, that doesn't explain why a new pose of Hegan was used, because both are head shots.

The other thing that has bugged me is why examples like Boudreau, Mitchell and Rosen border on being common, but the Wynn and the one pose of Hegan are really, really tough. The reason it bugs me is that somewhere I have an ad from a team-issued publication (and, of course, I can't put my hands on it right now) that shows these very pins being offered for sale. So that always has led me to believe they simply could be purchased, as opposed to being part of a seasonlong giveaway or promotion. Unfortunately, the ad pictures only a generic drawing of a pin -- exact enough to positively conclude that its for this series but generic enough that you can't make out a star or Wahoo to determine the year of issue. Argh!

Another reason I think the "Wahoo" series came second is because that pose of Avila is used in the 1.25-inch series pictured below, which based on the players I've seen, likely was issued third. It would make little sense to go back and use an earlier pose of Avila for this third series -- but I suppose that can't be ruled out entirely, can it?

Like you say, lots of unanswered questions and fun, little mysteries.