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Old 05-02-2014, 08:41 AM
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Scott Garner Scott Garner is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Midwest
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Default Matchbook covers

I have two to share.
The first is a circa 1950's issue of WaJo.

The second one is an interesting one related to my no-hit collection.
These are "famous for being famous" Bo Belinsky's matches from the mid-1960's.
Note that all the matches are torn from the left side of the matchbook. This makes sense since the flaky Belinsky was a lefty hurler.
In this space, Bo applied his signature, perhaps to give to a "broadie" that he picked up at Le Cognac Lounge at the City Line Motor Inn in Philly during the mid-1960 (during his brief time with the Phillies).

Belinsky gained fame for throwing the first no-hitter for the Angels organization (and first no-hitter at Dodger Stadium) on May 15th, 1962. He parlayed this one game into more "fame" than anyone that played the game.
Belinsky lived in LA and was the "it guy" on the scene dating hot starlets of the day such as Mamie Van Doren and Tina Louise (of Gilligan's Island fame).

These matches and a love letter addressed to Bo in West LA (forwarded to him in PA) were found in the back seat of a rental car by the people that rented the car following Belinsky.

Oddball for sure. It needed to be in my collection...
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Walter Johnson matchbook 001.jpg (74.8 KB, 153 views)
File Type: jpg Bo Belinsky signed matches 001.jpg (48.2 KB, 153 views)

Last edited by Scott Garner; 05-02-2014 at 08:44 AM.
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