Howard,

That is a great photo! I like to think that I have seen most Clemente items, but I have never seen that photo before.

Day 5

This is one of the other Plak panels that Howard was referring to above. There is one other panel combination that I don't have and that is the Kaline-Clemente-Yastrzemski. One interesting thing is how they changed Roberto's name on each of the base plates. The panel I posted on Day 4 has Roberto Clemente, this next one has his name as Robert Clemente, and the last has his name as R. Clemente.

I was able to pick up this panel on eBay about a year after I purchased the first one. You can tell that there were some modifications made between the panels (notably in the shoulder area). I'm assuming that the Mile High find consisted of prototypes. The Plaks that made it out to the public also seem to be on thicker sprues.

1968 Topps Plaks Panel: Wynn-Clemente-Santo

http://photos.imageevent.com/docpatl...enteSantoA.jpg

http://photos.imageevent.com/docpatl...menteSanto.jpg

Interesting - I knew about the "Clement" and "Clemente" differences, never realized the "R" and "Roberto". I had such a hard time spending "real" money on these as they are so darn ugly!! I still only have 1 single (from before the find) and 1 3 player sprue (and I'm done with them at that).

The photos I am posting today I know little about and have been unsuccessful in getting any information about them. If anyone has any please do share. The person I purchased them from said they were acquired during spring training 1960. They are on a medium weight cardboard stock and are about the size of 1975 topps mini's. As you can see they appear to be hand cut. I have not had them authenticated, but believe the signatures to be legit.

That photo would fit in most peoples collection, including mine. :D

Howard, have never seen those before. Maybe cut from an advertising sheet?

Thanks Dale, it's tough to find larger sized autographed photos of Roberto with a nice, clean signature.

Day 6

Sometimes you can still find great items at small card shows. I don't make it to too many card shows anymore, but I found this at a local mall show years ago.

To go along with the previous 2 items I posted...

1968 Topps Plak Checklist # 2 (National League). Tough item to find, may even be tougher than finding some of the Plaks themselves.

http://photos.imageevent.com/docpatl...psPlaksCLa.jpg

Pirates Score Card with Clemente and Aaron

While I’m not that crazy about the Plaks; always thought they were a tad bit ugly (they’ve grown on me over the years). The Clemente doesn’t look half bad and I’d guess I’d go after the Plaks if Brooks, the player I collect, was part of the grouping. Now the checklists are a totally different story; one of my favorites! Think they look so cool with all the different players pictured, in color, both front and back. Yours looks great; thanks for sharing.

Nice Checklist!
 

Like was mentioned in previous post - the Plak checklist is SOOO much nicer than the Plak's. If I remember correctly there was some type of checklist proof or variation that sold in the Halper auction - I was an underbidder - anyone have a photo of or know where that went?

So about the image I am posting today: Horne's department store was a big pirates sponsor throughout at least the 50's and 60's that I am aware. There are a number of Pirate team items showing Horne's as the sponsor/producer. For the first time a few years ago I saw an autographed black and white photo of a Pirate's player from 1958 - dated and printed - saying it was from the players appearance at Horne's department store. I figured they would have advertised the appearance. I found digitally reproduced copies of the Pittsburgh papers from the week before the appearance (with the help of a fellow board member). I found an advertisement for the appearance. I then surmised that there would be a good likelihood that Clemente probably appeared at some point! Heart racing - I checked papers as far back as 1955 and went through 1962 (when ads stopped appearing). I don't recall, nor would I likely admit how much time I spent looking, but I found an ad mentioning an appearance by Clemente on September 15, 1960. A new item was added to my wantlist. Last year while searching the completed listings of ebay, I found a Clemente (not autographed) that had sold :(:mad: I had never seen the item before and it slipped away. I did what any die hard collector would - I contacted the seller and asked him to contact the buyer on my behalf offering to double his money - no response. Damn. A few months later another pops up offered by the same seller :eek::D - Thankfully the seller responded very quickly to my "best offer" saving me a few bucks in the process. The signature is facsimile. The things we do for our collections!!

Awesome Howard! What a fun thread.

Howard,

You’ve already posted two Clemente items I’ve never seen; very cool!

Not only is this thread great with all the interesting Clemente items, but the background is so very interesting as well.