My Thoughts on Vintage Baseball

[WillowGrove]

I thought I'd take a moment to post on my favorite forum some of my thoughts about baseball that have been in my head for a long time. Pretty random thoughts. I'm sure you have your own as well. Let's find out.
Happy New Year everybody.


To this day I confuse Max Bishop and Bing Miller.

Is Nick Altrock in every team photo of all time?

Hey did you know that when the Yankees dealt Urban Shocker to the Browns they got Eddie Plank in return who retired before reporting?

Jeff Tesreau goes with Claude Passeau who goes with Paul Derringer

Of all the old timers I think about, I want to hear John McGraw's voice the most. How bout you? What player would you like to hear speak?

Don't really like composite photos. I much rather enjoy the thought of the team getting together for a pciture than a printer piecing together existing photos.

Is that actually Jimmy Collins leaping in the Red Belt post card series?

Do you ever go on baseball reference.com, look up a player and then try to guess other players who have similar stats? They have 'similarity scores' at the bottom of each player's page - and it is downright addicting!

When Harry Hooper went to the White Sox how did the Boston fans react?

Isn't it exciting when you see an old publication choose not to use the typical photos of players? I mean Cobb sliding into Jimmy Austin is great but c'mon editors...

Oh and I'd also give like my right arm to hear an interview with one Mr. Rube Waddell.

Does anyone else feel that Goudeys and Diamond Stars are okay but if you want to really get to know a guy you gotta have his exhibit card? (see Eppa Rixey)

I think it maybe time for me to read up on Hugh Jennings and see what made him so great; I'm getting a little tired of his dance, so a shot of education may help me appreciate him more.

and while we're on ol' Hughie, anyone have any candid shots of him? In every photo I see of him, he's either Ee ya-ing or shaking hands in a super posed shot with an opposing manager. gettin' a little boring.

Does anyone else hate the Yankees but love their cards from the early 1920's? Miller Huggins? Bullet Joe Bush? Those sweaters? Babe wasn't Babe juuuuuuust yet. Steinbrenner wasn't born till '30. They were gathering their power.

And how much do you love Lou's exhibit card calling him, Henry L. Gehrig? That's like calling Bono, Paul D. Hewson.

Whenever I come across a player who spent time as a pitcher AND as a hitter/fielder. I'm never 100% comfortable with them.

"Dots Miller!" And a nickname was born.

If you are a fan of vintage baseball and haven't listened to the recordings from Lawrence Ritter's The Glory of Their Times you are doing yourself a big injustice. You will be revited. I guarantee it.

Boy there are a lot of players on B&W caramel cards I don't know. WWI era players. I just never took the time to get to know them. Maybe 2012 I'll go Ivy Wingo on myself.

But I do know that Hank Gowdy is quite often the answer.

Do you remember when you first started collecting and thought certain players were superstars when they really weren't? Like for me Bobby Thomson was a huge name and I couldn't believe it when a dealer left him in with the commons. Not to mention - Rico Petrocelli, John Roseboro, Whitey Lockman, Ron Fairly and bringing it back to vintage - Zeke Bonura, Wild Bill Hallahan, Alvin Crowder, Pepper Martin come to mind. Red Ames is actually still in this category.

I am finally over getting Amos Rusie and Addie Joss mixed up.

Not for nothing but Frank Chance only had six seasons with over 100 hits.

Who wins an arm wrestle - Rabbit Maranville or Willie Keeler? Correct Rabbitt does.

And that reminds me, I gotta look up Willie Kamm.

So what would kids do, go to the candy store and buy strip cards off the role while the store owner cut them? Would they say, "give me 5 players?" Have we ever seen an entire role of these cards still rolled?

Why doesn't the hobby seem to like 1936 Goudeys Wide Pens? The shots are pretty cool. Do we not like our cardboard to actually be thin paper? (see Sporting News supplements)

And how do I know Joe Sewell was a nice guy? When he responded to my mom's request for an autograph for her son's 15th birthday he wrote on the bottom of her letter - "thanks for remembering me".



Anyone else want to tell what they've always been thinking?

Happy New Year. Have a great 2012.

peter