Info Checklist for 1960/61 Pirates Horne's Department Store Set

[whiteymet]

Hi All:

I am looking for info/checklist for a set I and other veteran regional collectors I have contacted have not seen before.

1960/61 Horne's Department Store Pirates. These appear to have been issued only on the day the player made a personal appearance at the Dept. store as is evidenced by the different date on each one.

I have Burgess, Groat and Skinner from 1960. I have seen a Sturart from 1960and a DIFFERENT pose of Groat from 1961.

The signatures are facsimile they are blank backed and are 5 1/2" x 8".

Anyone have any? A checklist? Info?

Thanks,

Fred

[Rich Klein]

I can't check the Beckett OPG here at work but I'll check at home. If not, then you create what you have and we'll figure out how to get this into the hobby.

Rich

[whiteymet]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

I can't check the Beckett OPG here at work but I'll check at home. If not, then you create what you have and we'll figure out how to get this into the hobby.

Rich

Thanks Rch. I don;t have Beckett's but I could not find them in the 2011 SCD Standard Catalog.

Just heard from a fellow collector who grew up in Pittsburgh he said:

Back in the day, the Pirates would make all kinds of public appearances for retailers, local parks, little leagues, etc. During the summers we looked forward to the visits from someone from the Pirates at our neighborhood summer park baseball program. That’s where I met Roberto Clemente and Bill Mazeroski – and let me tell ya that was one very exciting day!

I have been unable to find any information on these photos, although I am sure that search of the archives of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette would yield an answer. Based on the language on the photos, these appear to have been given away at an in-store event. It is odd that May 26, 1960 was a Thursday: not exactly a day when there would be a lot of shoppers downtown. But according to the schedule this was an off day for the team.

I have never seen a checklist but have put together the attached one from what I have seen over the years. I am sure there are more of these to be discovered.

His checklist:

(Issued in, 1959, 1960 and 1961)
(All appear to have facsimile autographs)

Roberto Clemente (portrait, similar to Exhibit card)(date unknown)
Forrest “Smoky” Burgess (sitting with three bats)(1960)
Forrest “Smoky” Burgess (standing to waist)(1959)
Bob Friend (PFT)(1960)
Dick Groat (batting to waist)(1960)
Dick Groat (batting to waist)(1961)
Vern Law (PFT – horizontal)(1960)
Bob Skinner (standing with four bats)(1960)
Dick Stuart (batting to waist)(1960)

Hopefully Bob Lemke will see this, though he is not into doing stuff like this any longer.

Fred

[Bob Lemke]

I did see it. That would have made a great addition to the Standard Catalog.

You can try contacting tom.bartsch@fwmedia.com.

I don't know to what extent, if at all, they are making additions to the vintage cards data base for possible future editions of the big book.

[hcv123]

Hi Fred,

I have or have seen a couple of other Horne's Pirates related items, but do not recall ever seeing anything like the photo you posted. I would be very excited to see a copy of the Clemente - who/how is it that Clemente is on the checklist? Thanks.

-Howard

[quitcrab]

Oh Boy.. Howard may be missing a Clemente card. I would love to see a scan of the issue if anyone has it.

[whiteymet]

Originally Posted by hcv123

Hi Fred,

I have or have seen a couple of other Horne's Pirates related items, but do not recall ever seeing anything like the photo you posted. I would be very excited to see a copy of the Clemente - who/how is it that Clemente is on the checklist? Thanks.

-Howard

Hi Howard:

I am starting my quest for info on this set here on Net54 and elsewhere. A knowledgeable collector who grew up in the area at the time has a few of these and has looked for more of them over the years. He recalls seeing a Clemente that was autographed, assuming from the personal appearance at the Department store. It was offered, he can't recall where, he says perhaps ebay years ago. He tells me it was too rich for his blood so he let it go. But he is sure the pose was that of the Clemente on the Exhibit card which was one of the normal team issued poses used for the rest of the seen Horne's.

I spoke today with another Clemente collector you may know from Delaware who has a massive Clemente collection and he does not have one nor ever seen one or was aware of it's existance.

I may also be able to obtain an in store Poster from Hornes advertising the siginings. I am waiting to hear on that. I am told from memory that it does not show individual players, but rather a boy kneeling at his bedside praying that his favorite Pirate will appear at the store so he can get the players autograph. It may have a Pirates logo I am told, but the owner is not sure until he digs it out. It came from an ex Horne's employee.

The checklist I posted earlier is all I have now. Will update as I get more info.

Fred

[Jack Webster]

Found an ad from the Pittsburgh Press on Newspapers.com for an appearance by Forrest "Smoky" Burgess & Harvey Haddix, at Horne's, on June 11, 1959.

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/147997428/

[Jack Webster]

1959 Burgess pic

[hcv123]

Now if there were only a guide to have them published in........

[hcv123]

I have since acquired the Clemente and I think 3 other players - don't remember who.

[whiteymet]

FYI there are three currently in the new Huggins and Scott auction.

See: https://hugginsandscott.com/cgi-bin/...l?itemid=29069