Any Brooklyn Dodgers collectors out there?

[homerunhitter]

With our hobby getting younger and younger collectors , it seems like all they want to collect is mike trout and Aaron judge. Or mookie betts or Christian yelich! Some will go “old school” and collect Derek Jeter or roger Clemens! So, I was wondering are there any collectors out there that collect Brooklyn Dodgers? If so let’s see them!!!

It’s sad with only 20 or so living Brooklyn Dodgers, I’m afraid this generation won’t understand how historic of a team they were.

[mr2686]

I had a friend who was a big Brooklyn fan. Never really got it until I started researching them, and then fell in love with those bums. On the collecting front, I collect the 55 Dodger team. I would have had them all by now, but other projects always seem to get in the way. As of right now, I still need 4 players, one coach, the owner and Vin Scully. All of those are fairly easy, just haven't turned my attention to them recently.
As for collecting them, I try to get as many of the 55 team players on signed magazines (doesn't have to be on a 55 magazine), 55 Topps or Bowman cards, 3x5's, photos, and a couple of cuts on a scorecard at Dodger Stadium when I was a boy (who knew I'd appreciate autographs of Walt Alston and Jim Gilliam many years later. LOL).
By the way, I think there are only 15 living Brooklyn players left, 4 of which are from the 55 team. That's a real bummer.

[rlevy]

Interesting question. I am always surprised when at Dodger Stadium, I hear fans often say "I didn't know the Dodgers came from Brooklyn" when they show old footage on the big screens. Growing up in LA, I always considered them just LA, until I spent time living in NY and grew to appreciate the Brooklyn history and what the team meant to the borough. I think the one thing that will keep collectors and fans interested in Brooklyn is the history of Jackie Robinson. People collect Ruth and Gehrig and a whole host of others having never seen them play, and Jackie is such an important part of history that he will keep the Brooklyn Dodgers in focus.

I also collect items related to Jackie and the '55 Dodgers. One of my favorites is below, a 1955 Yearbook signed by the whole team, and signed "to Irene, from Happy Felton".

Rick

1955 signed Dodger yearbook for posting.jpg

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Happy Felton

[mr2686]

Originally Posted by BillyCox3

Happy Felton

Darn Jodi, I couldn't out type you. LOL

[rlevy]

Originally Posted by BillyCox3

Happy Felton

You are correct, I shouldn't post before morning coffee. When I bought this years ago (pre-internet), I thought this was Happy Chandler, but later learned it was Happy Felton when I saw his autograph. This morning I just reverted in my memory to Chandler. Thanks for the catch.

Rick

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

A great addition to such an item, too. Too bad Gladys Goodding and Hilda Chester were rarely asked to sign, as they would have been icing on the cake. I've been fortunate to own examples of both.

[mr2686]

Originally Posted by rlevy

Interesting question. I am always surprised when at Dodger Stadium, I hear fans often say "I didn't know the Dodgers came from Brooklyn" when they show old footage on the big screens. Growing up in LA, I always considered them just LA, until I spent time living in NY and grew to appreciate the Brooklyn history and what the team meant to the borough. I think the one thing that will keep collectors and fans interested in Brooklyn is the history of Jackie Robinson. People collect Ruth and Gehrig and a whole host of others having never seen them play, and Jackie is such an important part of history that he will keep the Brooklyn Dodgers in focus.

I also collect items related to Jackie and the '55 Dodgers. One of my favorites is below, a 1955 Yearbook signed by the whole team, and signed "to Irene, from Happy Chandler".

Rick

Attachment 367674

Rick, are you sure that's Happy Chandler? Looks a little more like Happy Felton. He did the Knothole gang show for the Dodgers.

[mrmopar]

Unless another slipped by me, we are down to 15 former Brooklyn Dodgers among the living.

Been tracking it for a while as I was expanding my collection.

http://1978theyearitallbegan.blogspo...ckens-rip.html

I have tried to grab as many different as I can find/afford on a collector budget. I started later than I could/should have, so I am missing a fair number of the real key signatures prior to the 40s if they are expensive/hard to find.

I do have the LA run complete with the exception of 2 new additions this year that I have yet to track down (Gonsolin & Sadler), but there should still be plenty of time to get those and start adding new names soon as well.

[RichardSimon]

I can tell you that the market for Brooklyn Dodgers items, with Jackie Robinson being the exception, is not near what it used to be.
btw - that 1955 cover is fantastic.

[rlevy]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

I can tell you that the market for Brooklyn Dodgers items, with Jackie Robinson being the exception, is not near what it used to be.
btw - that 1955 cover is fantastic.

Thanks Richard. I really like how carefully everyone signed the cover so the signatures are so visible. Sometimes they sign across the cover images and the signatures blend into the image.

It's not surprising to me that the market for Brooklyn Dodgers items (except for Jackie) is softer than it was. For the most part, people in LA don't feel any real connection to the Dodgers' Brooklyn years. so those who collect Brooklyn items are fewer in number as time goes by. It's probably a different story for teams with a continuous presence in one geographic market.

Rick

[ocjack]

My Brooklyn contribution. SI cover with Johnny Podres. Magazine cover has minor issues. Autograph obtained in-person.

[mr2686]

I'll add this one. I have this as the center piece on my Brooklyn wall. 36 brooklyn sigs (7 from the 55 team). Purchased from Jim Stinson...we miss ya buddy!

[HexsHeroes]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

I can tell you that the market for Brooklyn Dodgers items, with Jackie Robinson being the exception, is not near what it used to be.
btw - that 1955 cover is fantastic.

.
.
.
Aside from those collecting HOF signatures, it seems (IMHO) that interest in team collecting has diminished considerably. Even, possibly, crossing over
to collecting ballplayer autographs from historic teams, such as the 1927 New York Yankees, 1919 Chicago White Sox, 1919 Cincinnati Reds,
1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, etc. If true, just wish that resulted in more of the obscure autographs I seek to come to market, and/or at irresistible prices

[mr2686]

Originally Posted by HexsHeroes

.
.
.
Aside from those collecting HOF signatures, it seems (IMHO) that interest in team collecting has diminished considerably. Even, possibly, crossing over
to collecting ballplayer autographs from historic teams, such as the 1927 New York Yankees, 1919 Chicago White Sox, 1919 Cincinnati Reds,
1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, etc. If true, just wish that resulted in more of the obscure autographs I seek to come to market, and/or at irresistible prices

I agree, and I understand that the average collector doesn't want to collect a team that might have one or two obscure players that might cost as much as a Ruth or Gehrig. Card collectors have the same problem when they pick a year to collect that might have a famous rookie card in it...like Mantle, Aaron, etc.
For me so far, except for the 1919 Black Sox, obscure has only meant 200-300 bucks for teams like the 1955 Dodgers, 1960 Pirates, 61 Yankees and 69 Cubs.

[homerunhitter]

Keep the posts and photos coming guys! Great stuff and discussions!