San Fran Seals Stadium sign

[Shoeless Moe]

On a more positive note, anybody win this guy:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-VINT...vip=true&rt=nc

[ooo-ribay]

I loved that! Unfortunately, it went for about 10x my snipe. LOL

[ooo-ribay]

I liked the back, too, since I have a Giants sign from the same company.

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by Shoeless Moe

On a more positive note, anybody win this guy:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-VINT...vip=true&rt=nc

What an outstanding piece! So cool.

[UnVme7]

My final price guess was way off.

[ooo-ribay]

What do you all think of this one? Price is low, right now.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/162458813763...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Shoeless Moe]

I don't know, but now it makes me question the legitimacy of the 1st one. Hate when the same ones continue to pop up, like those Wrigley Field Ticket ones.

Different seller on the 2 SEALS signs not that that means anything, who knows. I know I'm not bidding this time.

[JMEnglish27]

Looks good to me...go get it, definitely.

[bocca001]

The same seller found a new sign.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/162465338739...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[bocca001]

Here is the new Seals Stadium sign. Also, an image of a nearly identical Fenway Park sign.

[Shoeless Moe]

Wow this guy is having a lucky week



So glad I didn't win the first one now.

[perezfan]

Obviously other collectors felt the same way... The new sign (in far better condition) sold for less than half as much as the first.

You'd think this guy would have the sense to space his two current Seals signs apart. But I guess greed trumps common sense.

A shame... Hopefully the "winner" will somehow find this thread.

[EYECOLLECTVINTAGE]

Originally Posted by Shoeless Moe

On a more positive note, anybody win this guy:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-VINT...vip=true&rt=nc

That is plain SICK

[william_9]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Obviously other collectors felt the same way... The new sign (in far better condition) sold for less than half as much as the first.

You'd think this guy would have the sense to space his two current Seals signs apart. But I guess greed trumps common sense.

A shame... Hopefully the "winner" will somehow find this thread.

The new Ebbets Field Flannels shop in Seattle purchased the first one, I believe. At the very least, they put one on display shortly after the first one sold.

[bocca001]

Here is the Seals sign in a window. Not sure if that is from Ebbets. It looks like it is in pretty nice shape too.

My question for long time collectors: Is this red sign (design etc.) entirely new to the collecting field? or does anyone remembers seeing it in the past?

As for the other sign (night game), it is hard to imagine that Fenway Park and Seals Stadium had nearly identical signs and that both aged so similarly.

Also, according to Wikipedia, the copyright symbol (which is on both the Fenway and Seals Stadium signs) was not used until 1954 (I spent some time trying to verify that factoid, but came up with nothing solid either way). I'd be curious to see any pre-1954 stadium signs etc. with a copyright symbol. I also wonder what exactly the copyright would be for. The team name? The night game slogan?

[seattlerainiers]

Originally Posted by bocca001

Here is the Seals sign in a window. Not sure if that is from Ebbets. It looks like it is in pretty nice shape too.

My question for long time collectors: Is this red sign (design etc.) entirely new to the collecting field? or does anyone remembers seeing it in the past?

As for the other sign (night game), it is hard to imagine that Fenway Park and Seals Stadium had nearly identical signs and that both aged so similarly.

Also, according to Wikipedia, the copyright symbol (which is on both the Fenway and Seals Stadium signs) was not used until 1954 (I spent some time trying to verify that factoid, but came up with nothing solid either way). I'd be curious to see any pre-1954 stadium signs etc. with a copyright symbol. I also wonder what exactly the copyright would be for. The team name? The night game slogan?

The Seals sign pictured above in the Ebbets Field flannels window belongs to me. Jerry saw it at my house years ago, really liked it, and I lent it to him for display in his retail shop. Incidentally, that's two locations ago for the Ebbets retail shop, so Marc's picture is at least five years old. The sign is not in the window at his present location, but he still has it there. This is NOT one of the signs that appeared on eBay recently.

My sign originated from a long-time, legendary PCL collector, who had owned it for many years. I've owned it for over 15 years. I know of one other of these original signs that was ensconced in another very extensive PCL collection, and privately passed into another great PCL collection within the last few years.

There is no question that both of the signs I describe are authentic and original to the period, likely late 40s to early 50s. I can't speak to the two that transacted on eBay.

As Mark S. implied, the "coincidence" of the eBay seller finding two different old Seals advertising signs from two separate sources within a week gave me pause, to say the least. The copyright symbol at the bottom of the blue Seals sign on eBay bothered right off the bat, as did the wording at the bottom. The Fenway Park sign that Marc found, of course, appears to be the final nail in the coffin on that sign.

[jerseygary]

seattlerainiers: Did yours have that other sign or any other graphics on the reverse?

By the way, yours is a really great sign.

[william_9]

Originally Posted by seattlerainiers

The Seals sign pictured above in the Ebbets Field flannels window belongs to me. Jerry saw it at my house years ago, really liked it, and I lent it to him for display in his retail shop

Well there you go. Can't beat a first hand account. Quite the coincidence then that someone at Ebbets (Lisa, I believe) posted a photo of the sign hanging in one of the new spaces around two weeks after the first eBay sale. My mistake.

[bocca001]

Originally Posted by seattlerainiers

The Seals sign pictured above in the Ebbets Field flannels window belongs to me. Jerry saw it at my house years ago, really liked it, and I lent it to him for display in his retail shop...My sign originated from a long-time, legendary PCL collector, who had owned it for many years. I've owned it for over 15 years. I know of one other of these original signs that was ensconced in another very extensive PCL collection, and privately passed into another great PCL collection within the last few years...There is no question that both of the signs I describe are authentic and original to the period, likely late 40s to early 50s. I can't speak to the two that transacted on eBay.

seattlerainers: Thank you for this information. I would also like to know if your Seals sign has a different advertisement on the back. Also, do you have any thoughts about how the sign was used? Do you think it was posted outside the stadium? Around town? It's a really nice piece.

[ooo-ribay]

So many questions....

The "dateable" campaign sign on the reverse of the most recent seems almost too convenient.

And the first ebay one that started this thread looks too have many, many screw or nail holes around the perimeter....it seems to me a "baseball this week" sign would be up and down and wouldn't have so many fasteners.

If I were to guess at Marc's question, I would go with "around town." In looking at vintage photos of Seals Stadium, I've never seen this kind of signage.

[vintagesportscollector]

piggybacking off this thread...I'd love to see more Seals memorabilia from others.

@seattlerainers..have any other items to share?

Others?

[bocca001]

Seals pennant

[Shoeless Moe]

Only the 2nd time the DiMaggio brothers all played in an outfield together in a game.

[seattlerainiers]

Originally Posted by bocca001

seattlerainers: Thank you for this information. I would also like to know if your Seals sign has a different advertisement on the back. Also, do you have any thoughts about how the sign was used? Do you think it was posted outside the stadium? Around town? It's a really nice piece.

To answer both Gary and Marc, my sign has nothing on the back. Neither does the other non-eBay-transacted sign I'd mentioned.

Here are a few Seals rosters and a pinback which employ the same cartoon Seal graphic, which is how I date production/use of the sign to the early 50s.

[seattlerainiers]

Originally Posted by vintagesportscollector

piggybacking off this thread...I'd love to see more Seals memorabilia from others.

@seattlerainers..have any other items to share?

Others?

Here's a picture of a Seals Japan tour display case I put together for some baseball-themed activities when SAFECO Field opened in 1999, and a terrific poster from that historic 1949 tour.

On a related note, Dennis Snelling's new book on Lefty O'Doul is an essential read for O'Doul and Seals fans.

[andypcl]

[packs]

Figured why not contribute myself since we've moved on to generally cool Seals items:

Here's my 1940 San Francisco Seals stamp book that includes 17 of the 25 stamps, but even more incredible is that the book includes 23 of the 25 player's autographs.

[ooo-ribay]

Rental seat cushion and bottle opener. Not sure if the opener was for the Seals or Giants....it's the Seals' SF but the Giants used the same on some early 1958 stuff.

[vintagesportscollector]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

Rental seat cushion and bottle opener. Not sure if the opener was for the Seals or Giants....it's the Seals' SF but the Giants used the same on some early 1958 stuff.

Rob - is the seat cushion sitting on one of those Tacoma Rainiers old Seals Stadium seats that they were selling back in 2005 at a bargain of $75 a pop? I wish I picked up a few of those back then.

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by vintagesportscollector

Rob - is the seat cushion sitting on one of those Tacoma Rainiers old Seals Stadium seats that they were selling back in 2005 at a bargain of $75 a pop? I wish I picked up a few of those back then.

Yep. I bought five. Two for me, two for a buddy and one for his sister-in-law, whose granddad, Jack Bacciocco, played for the Seals.

For those who don't know, the Seals seats went to Tacoma.

[ooo-ribay]

Here they are....

[bocca001]

So, I e-mailed the E-bay seller of the Seals signs and told him to check out our discussion. Was glad to see that he updated the auction page with this info.


“IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS SIGN MAY BE A FAKE..AND AFTER SEEING AN ALMOST IDENTICAL FENWAY PARK SIGN HERE ON EBAY I BELIEVE IT PROBABLY IS--A VERY WELL DONE FAKE. I FOUND 2 SEALS SIGNS THIS WEEK AND LISTED THEM ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. TALK ABOUT EXCITED. THE FIRST SIGN JUST SOLD FOR LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT I THOUGH IT WOULD- AND I AM ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN IT WAS AUTHENTIC. THE SECOND SIGN (THIS SIGN) LOOKS OLD AS THE HILLS AND REAL (TO ME). I WENT WITH MY GUT ON THIS SIGN AND LISTED AS A REAL PIECE OF BASEBALL HISTORY. SHOULD HAVE HAD PATIENCE AND WAITED FOR AN EXPERT TO LOOK AT. THE OLD MAN I PURCHASED IT FROM HAD GREAT STORIES TO SHARE AND I BELIEVED IT ALL...I THINK THE DOUBT ON THIS SIGN, KILLED THE PRICE OF THE OTHER....WAS JUST GOING TO CANCEL THE AUCTION, BUT THOUGHT I WOULD MAKE SOME COMMENTS BEFORE LETTING IT RUN ITS COURSE. I AM AN HONEST SELLER AND WOULD NEVER PUT UP AN AUCTION THAT WAS TRYING TO DECEIVE ANYONE...FRUSTRATED HERE...COMMENTS WELCOME”

[khkco4bls]

What a breath of fresh air. But they are obviously fakes.

[perezfan]

The red one is most likely authentic. Someone apparently got a steal...

The seller really hurt himself by listing the obvious fake while the other (legit) auction was still live. It killed the credibility, as evidenced by the low price.

Very unfortunate for the seller, who I believe simply made a mistake rather than having any intent to deceive.

[ruth-gehrig]

Is this possibly the source of the fake signs? Check sellers "sold" items.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/322476124643...84.m1436.l2649

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by ruth-gehrig

Is this possibly the source of the fake signs? Check sellers "sold" items.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/322476124643...84.m1436.l2649

How do you do that? If I check completed sales it only goes back 15 days and showns 5 items...

[ruth-gehrig]

Im seeing 15 items sold stretching back to Jan. 17. If you search highest price first 4 of these 15 sold items are similar themed wooden signs. It sounds as if you are searching correctly however.

[bgar3]

To add to the copyright reference above, I think the address of Fenway in the 1950's was Jersey street and it wasn't changed to Yawkey way until the 1970's.

[mrkrab]

no lights in wrigley either

[baseball tourist]

Originally Posted by mrkrab

no lights in wrigley either

The forger couldn't even take the time to pick a stadium that didn't have a known history avoiding night games. Lazy and corrupt.

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by bocca001

Also, according to Wikipedia, the copyright symbol (which is on both the Fenway and Seals Stadium signs) was not used until 1954 (I spent some time trying to verify that factoid, but came up with nothing solid either way). I'd be curious to see any pre-1954 stadium signs etc. with a copyright symbol. I also wonder what exactly the copyright would be for. The team name? The night game slogan?

Just saw a Barnum & Bailey poster on Antiques Roadshow. It had the copyright symbol and dates to 1938.

That still changes nothing about these fake signs, though.

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

Just saw a Barnum & Bailey poster on Antiques Roadshow. It had the copyright symbol and dates to 1938.

That still changes nothing about these fake signs, though.

When the fake Seals sign was first posted here, I also tried to find out when the copyright symbol was first used, hoping it would be a clue as to authenticity. I didn't spend that much time on it, but I got the impression that it was used by some for a while before it was actually required by law in the U.S. for some purposes.

[Shoeless Moe]

another one back again, and another "honest seller" in the old description. I "honestly" don't know what to make of this....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/San-Francis...kAAOSwNSJa-PCR

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by Shoeless Moe

another one back again, and another "honest seller" in the old description. I "honestly" don't know what to make of this....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/San-Francis...kAAOSwNSJa-PCR

That's the same one. It's legit, IMO.

[ooo-ribay]

A Seals sign showed up on Antiques Roadshow last night. This lady's story was that she was tearing off a roof in San Mateo in 1980 and the sign was part of the roof. Hmmmm...if it was part of a roof, why are there no nail holes where nails would have fastened it to the rafters? If memory serves, two similar signs showed up on ebay in 2016. Back then, I thought they were real but now I'm not so sure. One ebay sign had a Marin Dell milk ad on the back; the other (I think) was a campaign sign from 1959. That seemed a little fishy. They did not show the back of the one on Antiques Roadshow.

[bigfanNY]

I think this one is gonna come back and haunt Antique Roadshow. I dont think any chance it was on a roof for a long period of time. Even under the roofing materials as flashing elements would have gotten to it.

[ooo-ribay]

Yet another one surfaces....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-2-SIDE...53.m1438.l2649

[bocca001]

This appears to be the same one from the Antiques Roadshow (see upper corner wear/damage).

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by bocca001

This appears to be the same one from the Antiques Roadshow (see upper corner wear/damage).

Good eye!