Moonlight Graham pc on ebay

[yanks12025]

What would that piece go for if Moonlight was not made famous by the movie Field of Dreams.

[prewarsports]

I was buying up Scranton pieces before SABR put their Minor League database on the internet for all to see for about $50-$75 each but now that this is public knowledge those days are over. He is 100% in the picture, I have owned several different 1907 Scranton postcards with the same player identified on the front as "Graham". I bid $415 and thought I would win it for less than $200 but was surprised to have been outbid by multiple people at that level. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted!

Rhys

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Nobody would care about Graham if not for the movie. Kinsella could have picked another great baseball name, such as Icehouse Wilson from the 1934 Tigers, and revolved the plot around him, thereby etching a different obscure player's name into the memory banks of modern-day fans. It bothers me how much Graham's memorabilia fetches just because an author plucked him out of the 15,000+ players who have made the big time. Yes, the real Archie Graham was a doctor who lived in Chisholm, MN and had a wife name Alicia. For all we know, she really could have favored blue hats. As someone who thinks every player's biography is equally important to preserve, the hype has always bothered me. After all, people don't collect Babe Ruth material because they're huge William Bendix or John Goodman fans; why collect Moonlight memorabilia because you`re enamored with either Kinsella`s book or Burt Lancaster`s preformance? Oddly, Eddie Waitkus memorabilia never really skyrocketed because his case was the basis for The Natural.

(Yes, we`ve debated this one before. I realize all of the Moonlight devotees have passionate reasons for craving this sort of material, but I`ll never understand why!)

[slidekellyslide]

Well, how many guys are in the baseball encyclopedia with no at bats who are reasonably close to Iowa and have a cool nickname?

edited to add: I looked up Icehouse Wilson and the dude was from California (not on the way to Fenway park from Iowa) and he got his one at bat.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Yes, and a pinch hitter in his one game, to boot! I was waiting for someone to notice the glaring opposites between the cases of Wilson and Graham!

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by JBirkholm

Nobody would care about Graham if not for the movie. Kinsella could have picked another great baseball name, such as Icehouse Wilson from the 1934 Tigers, and revolved the plot around him, thereby etching a different obscure player's name into the memory banks of modern-day fans. It bothers me how much Graham's memorabilia fetches just because an author plucked him out of the 15,000+ players who have made the big time. Yes, the real Archie Graham was a doctor who lived in Chisholm, MN and had a wife name Alicia. For all we know, she really could have favored blue hats. As someone who thinks every player's biography is equally important to preserve, the hype has always bothered me. After all, people don't collect Babe Ruth material because they're huge William Bendix or John Goodman fans; why collect Moonlight memorabilia because you`re enamored with either Kinsella`s book or Burt Lancaster`s preformance? Oddly, Eddie Waitkus memorabilia never really skyrocketed because his case was the basis for The Natural.

(Yes, we`ve debated this one before. I realize all of the Moonlight devotees have passionate reasons for craving this sort of material, but I`ll never understand why!)

The film touched peoples' hearts; it idealizes baseball and what it means to people who are crazed enough to spend big on cardboard, and they want to touch some part of that magic in their collections:

"Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come."

[zork1974]

Geez, that gave me tingles just reading it. With James Earl Jones in my head to boot...

[Bicem]

anyone know who the seller is?

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by JBirkholm

Nobody would care about Graham if not for the movie. Kinsella could have picked another great baseball name, such as Icehouse Wilson from the 1934 Tigers, and revolved the plot around him, thereby etching a different obscure player's name into the memory banks of modern-day fans. It bothers me how much Graham's memorabilia fetches just because an author plucked him out of the 15,000+ players who have made the big time. Yes, the real Archie Graham was a doctor who lived in Chisholm, MN and had a wife name Alicia. For all we know, she really could have favored blue hats. As someone who thinks every player's biography is equally important to preserve, the hype has always bothered me. After all, people don't collect Babe Ruth material because they're huge William Bendix or John Goodman fans; why collect Moonlight memorabilia because you`re enamored with either Kinsella`s book or Burt Lancaster`s preformance? Oddly, Eddie Waitkus memorabilia never really skyrocketed because his case was the basis for The Natural.

(Yes, we`ve debated this one before. I realize all of the Moonlight devotees have passionate reasons for craving this sort of material, but I`ll never understand why!)

But do you really think that anyone would care about Bob Uecker cards if he was not sitting in the "front row". Sometimes; for whatever reasons; people become much better known after their playing careers so if Archibald is getting more famous 100 years after his major league playing career -- that is OK by me. Fame is a weird thing and people who are famous one day (Eddie Fisher; once involved in the most torrid affair in Hollywood, can turn 81 years old this week and is now just a blip in people's memories)

Rich

[3-2-count]

Nostalgic figures in the game whom have a certain mystique about them are all still part of this wonderful game which we call baseball.
Archibald "Moonlight Graham has become just that. Game or movie related, makes absolutely no difference to me. I love it all.
Just one collectors thoughts.....

Tony A.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

There is no doubt that FoD is a wonderful movie, and I really did enjoy Lancaster's role as Graham. I am a baseball autograph completionist (meaning I want at least one signature of everybody), so I would like an Archie Graham one day. It just blows me away when it comes to the kind of money people spend on his memorabilia. If I wasn't after everybody's signature, I'd rather own a Burt Lancaster signed 8X10 in character as Graham, stepping out of the shadows on a dark Chisholm night. Can't say as I've ever seen one offered, though.

I like Rich's reverse take on this matter. Fame is certainly fleeting. It reminds me of, Sinatra aside, how little anyone cares about big band memorabilia anymore. Glenn Miller was the biggest musician in his time. He disappeared over 60 years ago, but you can still pick up a cut signature for under $100. It really makes me wonder, Beatles aside, how much people are going to care about rock memorabilia once the baby boomers have all died off.

So the laurel fades
In the snow-swept glades
Of flying years,
And the dreams of youth
Learn the bitter truth
Of pain and tears.

Through the cheering mass
Let the victors pass
To find fate's thrust,
As tomorrow's fame
Writes another name
On drifting dust.

[mybuddyinc]

I know I'm gonna' be struck down by a lightning bolt, but "Field of Dreams" never did much for me. On the other hand, talk about chills:

"Mr. Watkins, It is extremely important that I see you as soon as possible. We're not acquainted, but I have something of importance to speak to you about. I think it would be to your advantage to let me explain this to you as I am leaving the hotel the day after tomorrow. I realize this is out of the ordinary, but as I say, it is extremely important."

-- Ruth Ann


36 -- 36 -- 36 -- 36 -- 36 -- 36 -- 36 -- 36 -- 36 -- 36 -- 36 -- 36 -- 36 -- 36 -- 36 -- Scott

[D. Bergin]

Popularity in pop culture commands a certain value also.

Imagine if somebody like Obama or Michael Jackson had been aspiring baseball players in their younger years and had a couple obscure minor league cards issued before they left the game.

I imagine they would be commanding Mantlesque prices right now.

As a Boxing guy I have people calling me all the time looking for boxing items from the R&B singer Jackie Wilson (he was an Amateur Champion). There were several Jackie Wilson's active during his time period, some very good boxers, but I have yet to come across anything on THE Jackie Wilson everybody seems to be looking for.

I find this thread fascinating BTW. I hadn't even known there was Moonlight Graham stuff out there before this.

[Rich Klein]

And yes; that is exactly what I meant. Although every once in a while I enjoy listening to Bix; I doubt that most other people on this board even realize whom I'm discussing here. And I bet Bix's autographs are real tough as he died IIRC in 1931 at a very young age.

And although, not a major leaguer; I was shown a minor league card of James Jones from 1952 at the National. (I believe it was from John Rumeriez) And yes; that is the same James Jones better known as the Reverand Jim Jones who became famous thanks to some kool aid. 25-30 years ago, that card would have far more interesting than it is today as the Jonestown experience is now part of the 70's which is nearly 4-5 decades away from our collective memories.

And things get more famous for various reasons. Did you know there was a second important college student massacre in 1970. But because this was at a "Black" College (Jackson State) and not memoralized in song -- how many people remember that. Or the same day as the famed Chicago Fire in 1871, a bigger fire in Peshtigo, Wisconsin took down a whole city and even more lives.

Fame is sure strange.

Rich

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

You're certainly correct that pop culture played the only role in securing Graham's fame. Therein lies my problem with it, I guess. While alive, Graham didn't do anything to earn his fame. Because his information was chosen for inclusion in a popular novel/movie, anything Moonlight-related is now worth big bucks. But yes, the movie means a great deal to many baseball fans.

I never knew Jackie Wilson was a boxer. After a particularly rough defeat, do you think he would often cry lonely teardrops?

Wilson's signature isn't the easiest to locate. He suffered a stroke while performing which left him incapacitated for the last decade of his life.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by JBirkholm

...It bothers me how much Graham's memorabilia fetches just because an author plucked him out of the 15,000+ players who have made the big time.
(Yes, we`ve debated this one before. I realize all of the Moonlight devotees have passionate reasons for craving this sort of material, but I`ll never understand why!)

If I may try:
Why does a T206 Ty Cobb carry more value then a Ed Abbaticchio? The old cardboard is worthless and the Abbaticchio is probably rarer. The fact that a player batted .400 or stole 20 bases doesn't inherantly make a cardboard likeness of them have value. Value is there because holding Cobb's image on a piece from his playing days connects you to all the stories that surround his career. The same is true with Archie "Moonlight" Graham. Only, his particular story took 80 years to become known. So long as the stories live on, the pieces have value.

Taking it a step further, would you suggest that Star Wars or Indiana Jones movie memorabilia is worthless because those items aren't even connected with anything that actually took place? Once again, it is the stories that are associated, which cause these items to have value.

With Archibald "Moonlight" Graham's story, as portrayed in Field of Dreams, you have the dramatic and inspiring story of someone who came so close to their adolescent dream only to see it disappear and then by some miracle be given a second chance 80 years later.

"Fifty years ago, for five minutes you came within... you came this close. It would kill some men to get so close to their dream and not touch it. God, they'd consider it a tragedy."

Only, the story was about a real player and this postcard is one of only a handful of artifacts with Moonlight Graham on it that still exist 100 years later. It carries with it that moving drama and therefore, quite a bit of value.

Now back to your easy listening station.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

[QUOTE=Matt;742032]

With Archibald "Moonlight" Graham's story, as portrayed in Field of Dreams, you have the dramatic and inspiring story of someone who came so close to their adolescent dream only to see it disappear and then by some miracle be given a second chance 80 years later.

QUOTE]


OK, but please keep it in mind that this may all very well be artistic liberty on the part of the author. None of us ever sat next to Graham on a barstool and heard him lament about his failed opportunity. Either way, I understand how collectors and fans who saw the film have found themselves embraced by Kinsella's romanticised notion; it's what drags all of us out to the movie theaters to escape our workaday lives to begin with!

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

It really surprises me how many of you guys are into the early jazz kick. I could be in a room of 10,000 people and utter the names of Hoagy or Bix, and everybody would look at me as if I were a Martian.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by prewarsports

I was buying up Scranton pieces before SABR put their Minor League database on the internet for all to see for about $50-$75 each but now that this is public knowledge those days are over. He is 100% in the picture, I have owned several different 1907 Scranton postcards with the same player identified on the front as "Graham". I bid $415 and thought I would win it for less than $200 but was surprised to have been outbid by multiple people at that level. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted!

Rhys

Rhys - do you have scans of any of the other Scranton PCs you owned with Graham?

[Chris-Counts]

What a great piece! The price was out of my league, but it makes more sense to me than a lot of prices I see out there. The real "Moonlight" Graham actually looks more like a young Burt Lancaster than the guy who played the younger version of him in "The Natural."