Does anyone remember the 2.5 inch pins being sold in stores or otherwise? I clearly remember seeing the 3.5 inch being sold in stores in the early 1970s. Sure wish I had bought every single one.

1944 Browns 6" Pin
 

Just picked up some Browns items including this 6" pinback. I'm a Cardinal collector and decided long ago that one team was enough for me (and my budget). Looking for information on this one - scarcity, value, interest, etc. Thanks.

1969 mlbpa pins
 

Has anyone put together the known checklist of these pins?

69' mlbpa
 

With the above Murcer variation, here's the 95 that I know of. I've been picking them up for years and now have 76 of them:

AARON - BW
AGEE -BW
ALLEN - BW
ANDREWS - BW
ANDREWS - C
APARICIO - BW
BANKS - BW
BANKS - C
BECKERT - BW
BLEFARY - BW
BOSWELL - BW
BROCK - BW
CALLISON - BW
CAREW - BW
CEPEDA - BW
CHARLES - BW
CLARKE - BW
CLEMENTE - BW
CLENDENON - BW
CONIGLIARO - BW
CONIGLIARO - C
CONIGLIARO, BILLY - BW
CULP - C
DIMAGGIO - BW
DRYSDALE - BW
ELLIS - BW
FERNANDEZ - C
FLOOD - BW
FREGOSI - C
GEHRIG - BW
GIBSON - BW
GROTE - BW
HARRELSON, BUD - C
HARRELSON, KEN - BW
HICKMAN - BW
HOLTZMAN - BW
HOWARD - BW
HUNDLEY - BW
JACKSON - C
JENKINS - BW
JONES, CLEON - BW
JONES, CLEON - C
JONES, DALTON - BW
KALINE - BW
KENNEY - BW
KESSINGER - BW
KILLEBREW - BW
KILLEBREW - BW - pose var.
KOOSMAN - C
KOUFAX - BW
LOLICH -BW
LONBORG - BW
LONBORG - C
MANTLE - BW
MARICHAL
MAY
MAYS
MCCLAIN - BW
MCCOVEY - BW
MELTON - BW
MICHAEL - BW
MICHAEL - C
MUNSON - BW
MURCER - BW - PIC BILLY COWAN
MURCER - C
OLIVA - BW
PEPITONE - BW - CUBS
PEPITONE - BW - YANKEES
PETROCELLI - C
PETROCELLI B&W
REICHART - C
ROBINSON, BROOKS - BW
ROBINSON, FRANK - BW
ROSE - BW
RUTH - BW
SANTO B&W
SANTO COLOR
SCOTT - BW
SCOTT - C
SEAVER - BW
SEAVER - C
SHAMSKY
SMITH - BW
SMITH - C
STOTTLEMYRE - BW
STOTTLEMYRE - C
SWABODA - BW
SWABODA - C
TORRE - BW
TRESH - C
WARD - BW
WHITE - BW
WILLIAMS/BILLY
YAZ - BW
YAZ - C

1969 pins
 

thanks for that list
if anyone can add to it please do
i can add Berra-C and Kranepool -C
picked up the kranepool today

Excellent! There is also a Kranepool-C, and these are confirmed to be 2 1/4", Banks, Beckert, Bunning, Carew, Hundley, D. Johnson, Killebrew, Mays, McCovey, Oliva, Santo, T. Taylor. I'll run through WorthPoint to see if I can add anymore.

I found a Bud Harrelson - BW and a Yogi Berra - BW on WorthPoint, each of those already mentioned were described as being color.

69's
 

Thanks for posting those. We're up to 99. Here's the color Harrelson.

pins
 

thats 102 now

I think he doesn't wants to count the three 2 1/4" Phillies, Bunning, D. Johnson, and T. Taylor, because there aren't known 3 1/2" versions of them, unless I'm mistaken. It's interesting that the known 2 1/4" pins are from four teams, Cubs - 4, Twins - 3, Phillies - 3, Giants - 2.

Pins
 

Does the 95 he listed include the other 2 1/4 or just 3 1/2 inch pins

69's
 

Yep, I just listed the 3 1/2"

Pins
 

Okay so now 99 3 1/2 inch pins
And 12 2 1/4 inch pins

Just on a hunch, I figured there is probably a very good chance that there is a 2 1/4" Juan Marichal pin because there are only two known 2 1/4" Giants so I looked at Marichal pins on WorthPoint. I could only find two there but sure enough one of them doesn't have the red line around the MLB swinging batter emblem, so I am pretty confident that the 2 1/4" Marichal exists. The pin on the left doesn't have the red line, the 3 1/2" pin on the right has the red line. The seller of the pin on the left only described it as a 1969 pin and there is no back scan.

Picked up this Norm Cash button today. Attachment 378809

Paul Muchinsky gave it a value of $300. I thought it would be more, so $300 suggests to me it’s either not exceptionally rare or not exceptionally sought after. Onteresing that they made an identical pin with a different font.

Thanks Rob - appreciate the information.

Now that there are checklists for the known 1969 MLB pins, 1971 studio backdrop pins, and the 1978-198? numbered pins, I figured I would make one for the 1972-1974 black box pins. Some of the Yankees have only YANKEES and not NEW YORK and some of the Red Sox have only RED SOX and not BOSTON, which I included, and there are some Red Sox pins that are similar to these that were apparently made in 1975-1976 that mainly feature Fred Lynn and/or Jim Rice that I didn't include. If anyone can add to the list with a scan please do.

A's- Rollie Fingers, Ken Holtzman, Reggie Jackson, Gene Tenace

Angels- Frank Robinson, Nolan Ryan, Bobby Winkles

Braves- Hank Aaron, Paul Casanova

Brewers- Pedro Garcia, Darrell Porter, Robin Yount

Cubs- Ernie Banks, Ray Burris, Jose Cardenal, Jose Cardenal (closeup), Carmen Fanzone, Vic Harris, Gene Hiser, Burt Hooton (misspelled Houton), Burt Hooton (spelled correctly), Randy Hundley, Fergie Jenkins, Don Kessinger (batting, misspelled Kissinger), Don Kessinger (fielding, spelled correctly), Bill Madlock, George Mitterwald, Rick Monday, Rick Monday (closeup), Jerry Morales, Rick Reuschel, Ron Santo, Steve Stone, Billy Williams

Giants- Bobby Bonds, Tom Bradley, Ron Bryant, Tito Fuentes, Ed Goodson, Ken Henderson, Dave Kingman, Garry Maddox, Juan Marichal, Willie McCovey, Dave Rader, Chris Speier

Mets- Tommie Agee, Jim Fregosi, Wayne Garrett, Jerry Grote, Bud Harrelson, Cleon Jones, Jerry Koosman, Willie Mays, Tug McGraw, Felix Millan, John Milner, Tom Seaver, Rusty Staub

Orioles- Don Baylor, Paul Blair, Bobby Grich, Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson

Pirates- Roberto Clemente (arms crossed), Roberto Clemente (face only), Gene Clines, Dave Giusti, Richie Hebner (mouth open), Richie Hebner (closeup smiling), Al Oliver, Bob Robertson, Manny Sanguillen, Willie Stargell, Rennie Stennett

Rangers- David Clyde, Fergie Jenkins

Red Sox- Luis Aparicio (batting), Luis Aparicio (closeup face), Rick Burleson, Orlando Cepeda, Tony Conigliaro, Ray Culp, Dwight Evans, Carlton Fisk, Doug Griffin, Tommy Harper, Rico Petrocelli, Sonny Siebert, Reggie Smith, Luis Tiant (RED SOX only, serious expression), Luis Tiant (BOSTON RED SOX, smiling), Carl Yastrzemski (batting), Carl Yastrzemski (two tone cap), Carl Yastrzemski (Red Sox only, no Boston)

Reds- Johnny Bench, Jack Billingham, Dave Concepcion, Don Gullett, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Pete Rose

Tigers- Ed Brinkman, Norm Cash, Al Kaline, Mickey Lolich

Twins- Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva

White Sox- Dick Allen, Mike Andrews, Stan Bahnsen, Tom Bradley, Ed Hermann, Carlos May, Bill Melton, Ron Santo, Wilbur Wood

Yankees- Felipe Alou, Matty Alou, Ron Blomberg, Sparky Lyle, Bobby Murcer, Graig Nettles, Fritz Peterson, Mel Stottlemyre, Roy White

As an aside, at first glance I thought that lefty Fritz Peterson fooled the photographer by throwing right handed but it appears the photo was reversed.

You got the Giants right, Cliff.

There are actually 3 Clemente versions 1. Arms crossed, 2. close up without plastic covering 3.close up with plastic covering. The close up version is harder to find.
At first I thought the one sans the covering was merely a damaged pin missing the cover. I have since found such damaged pins and those photos are completely different. The texture on the third version is very different. I believe Scott Garner has a Nolan Ryan without the covering.

Sanguillen has two versions. The "Manny" batting pose is the tougher of the two. Richie Hebner has two versions as well. The close up Hebner is harder to find.

I have always been curious as to why Dock Ellis and Steve Blass were excluded?

Great! Checklist updated.

A's- Ray Fosse, Rollie Fingers, Ken Holtzman, Reggie Jackson, Joe Rudi, Gene Tenace

Angels- Frank Robinson, Nolan Ryan, Bobby Winkles

Braves- Hank Aaron, Paul Casanova

Brewers- Pedro Garcia, Darrell Porter, Robin Yount

Cubs- Ernie Banks, Ray Burris, Jose Cardenal (CHICAGO completely visible on uniform), Jose Cardenal (closeup, arms not showing), Carmen Fanzone, Vic Harris, Gene Hiser, Burt Hooton (misspelled Houton), Burt Hooton (spelled correctly), Randy Hundley, Fergie Jenkins, Don Kessinger (batting, misspelled Kissinger), Don Kessinger (fielding, spelled correctly), Bill Madlock, George Mitterwald, Rick Monday (bat at top of pin), Rick Monday (closeup, cap at top of pin), Jerry Morales, Rick Reuschel, Ron Santo, Steve Stone, Billy Williams

Giants- Bobby Bonds, Tom Bradley, Ron Bryant, Tito Fuentes, Ed Goodson, Ken Henderson, Dave Kingman, Garry Maddox, Juan Marichal, Willie McCovey, Dave Rader, Chris Speier

Mets- Tommie Agee, Jim Fregosi, Wayne Garrett, Jerry Grote, Bud Harrelson, Cleon Jones, Jerry Koosman, Willie Mays, Tug McGraw, Felix Millan, John Milner, Tom Seaver, Rusty Staub

Orioles- Don Baylor, Paul Blair, Pat Dobson*, Bobby Grich, Jim Palmer, Merv Rettenmund*, Brooks Robinson

Pirates- Roberto Clemente (arms crossed), Roberto Clemente (closeup face), Roberto Clemente ( closeup face, no clear plastic cover), Gene Clines, Dave Giusti, Richie Hebner (mouth open), Richie Hebner (closeup smiling), Al Oliver, Bob Robertson, Manny Sanguillen (batting), Manny Sanguillen (standing with #35 visible), Willie Stargell, Rennie Stennett

Rangers- David Clyde, Fergie Jenkins

Red Sox- Luis Aparicio (batting), Luis Aparicio (face closeup), Rick Burleson, Bernie Carbo, Orlando Cepeda, Tony Conigliaro, Ray Culp, Dwight Evans, Carlton Fisk, Doug Griffin, Tommy Harper, Rico Petrocelli, Sonny Siebert, Reggie Smith, Luis Tiant, Carl Yastrzemski (batting), Carl Yastrzemski (two tone cap), Carl Yastrzemski (Red Sox only, no Boston)

Reds- Johnny Bench, Jack Billingham, Dave Concepcion, Don Gullett, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Pete Rose

Tigers- Ed Brinkman, Norm Cash, Al Kaline, Mickey Lolich

Twins- Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva

White Sox- Dick Allen, Mike Andrews, Stan Bahnsen, Tom Bradley, Ed Hermann, Carlos May, Bill Melton, Ron Santo, Wilbur Wood

Yankees- Felipe Alou, Matty Alou, Ron Blomberg, Sparky Lyle, Bobby Murcer, Graig Nettles, Fritz Peterson, Mel Stottlemyre, Roy White

The Orioles also have Pat Dobson and Merv Rettenmund.

Two more A's

Fantastic! I found a couple of Red Sox after initially making the list, Tony Conigliaro and Bernie Carbo. ETA, your post got me to thinking there should be more A's considering these were made 1972 through 1974, so guess who popped up on WP. There's gotta be Vida Blue and Catfish Hunter out there somewhere. I messed up on the Dick Green before, he is in a couple of those huge lot scans but I mistakenly figured it was the Gene Tenace pin. They made one of Angel Mangual?!?

Checklist updated.

A's- Sal Bando, Bert Campaneris, Ray Fosse, Rollie Fingers, Dick Green, Ken Holtzman, Jim Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Angel Mangual, Bill North, Joe Rudi, Gene Tenace, Dick Williams

Angels- Frank Robinson, Nolan Ryan, Bobby Winkles

Braves- Hank Aaron, Paul Casanova

Brewers- Pedro Garcia, Darrell Porter, Robin Yount

Cubs- Ernie Banks, Ray Burris, Jose Cardenal (CHICAGO completely visible on uniform), Jose Cardenal (closeup, arms not showing), Carmen Fanzone, Vic Harris, Gene Hiser, Burt Hooton (misspelled Houton), Burt Hooton (spelled correctly), Randy Hundley, Fergie Jenkins, Don Kessinger (batting, misspelled Kissinger), Don Kessinger (fielding, spelled correctly), Bill Madlock, George Mitterwald, Rick Monday (bat at top of pin), Rick Monday (closeup, cap at top of pin), Jerry Morales, Rick Reuschel, Ron Santo, Steve Stone, Billy Williams

Giants- Bobby Bonds, Tom Bradley, Ron Bryant, Tito Fuentes, Ed Goodson, Ken Henderson, Dave Kingman, Garry Maddox, Juan Marichal, Willie McCovey, Dave Rader, Chris Speier

Mets- Tommie Agee, Jim Fregosi, Wayne Garrett, Jerry Grote, Bud Harrelson, Cleon Jones, Jerry Koosman, Willie Mays, Tug McGraw, Felix Millan, John Milner, Tom Seaver, Rusty Staub

Orioles- Don Baylor, Paul Blair, Pat Dobson*, Bobby Grich, Jim Palmer, Merv Rettenmund*, Brooks Robinson

Pirates- Roberto Clemente (arms crossed, black box below hands), Roberto Clemente (arms crossed, black box on hands), Roberto Clemente (closeup face), Roberto Clemente ( closeup face, no clear plastic cover), Gene Clines, Dave Giusti, Richie Hebner (mouth open), Richie Hebner (closeup smiling), Al Oliver, Bob Robertson, Manny Sanguillen (batting), Manny Sanguillen (standing with #35 visible), Willie Stargell, Rennie Stennett

Rangers- David Clyde, Fergie Jenkins

Red Sox- Luis Aparicio (batting), Luis Aparicio (closeup face), Rick Burleson, Bernie Carbo, Orlando Cepeda, Tony Conigliaro, Ray Culp, Dwight Evans, Carlton Fisk, Doug Griffin, Tommy Harper, Rico Petrocelli, Sonny Siebert, Reggie Smith, Luis Tiant (RED SOX only, serious expression), Luis Tiant (BOSTON RED SOX, smiling), Carl Yastrzemski (batting), Carl Yastrzemski (two tone cap), Carl Yastrzemski (RED SOX only)

Reds- Johnny Bench, Jack Billingham, Dave Concepcion, Don Gullett, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Pete Rose

Tigers- Ed Brinkman, Norm Cash, Al Kaline, Mickey Lolich

Twins- Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva

White Sox- Dick Allen, Mike Andrews, Stan Bahnsen, Tom Bradley, Ed Hermann, Carlos May, Bill Melton, Ron Santo, Wilbur Wood

Yankees- Felipe Alou, Matty Alou, Ron Blomberg, Sparky Lyle, Bobby Murcer, Graig Nettles, Fritz Peterson, Mel Stottlemyre, Roy White

So if I calculated correctly, there are 8 teams which thus far have no representatives in this set. Phillies, Dodgers, Cardinals, Expos, Indians, Astros, Royals and Padres.

^^^ Quality control wasn’t a strong suit of this set, huh? :p

But it doesn’t really make sense. Since the pins are stamped with MLBPA, it would seem all teams would have been included. What we see are some teams heavily represented, some sparsely, and some not at all. Maybe the teams heavily represented came out first for whatever reason, and then the whole project fell apart during the next wave and before some teams were even made.

I noticed that too, but those same teams are barely represented or not at all in the 1969 MLB and 1971 studio backdrop pin sets.

There is a Catfish Hunter. Im fairly certain I have one. I'll search for it later and post a photo.

Washington Pins
 

In honor of the World Champion Nationals, here is my current collection of D.C. pins, original American League franchise (1901-1960) only and downsized considerably from what it was several years ago.

1969 MLB Pins
 

I looked everywhere I could think of but could not find a scan of a 1969 MLB Pin Jerry Koosman B&W, but it would make sense because many of the Mets have a color and a B&W.

There is a 1969 Willie Horton pin on eBay. This is the first Tiger that I’ve seen.

That makes #100 on the 3.5” checklist.

pins
 

OKAY....who won that willie horton pin?

The "quality" of these "black box" pins is all over the place. Most Giants are head shots but some (e.g. Marichal) are waist up. Also, some say SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS while others say San. Fran. Giants. The Bradley is ALWAYS under-exposed. Oddly enough, the two HOF-ers are the hardest to find.

You are correct, sir.

Interesting Clemente variant
 

Not sure how this fits in to the puzzle, but the more common of the Clemente pins comes comes with the black box in 2 different placements over the photo - 1 - the most usually found Clemente with the box over his arms. The other with the black box below his arms!

I think that's just a reflection of the iffy "quality control."

It's at the very least clearly 2 different print runs. It's not just the image set differently in the pin (in fact the image is set almost exactly the same in both) - it's the black box positioned differently in the printing. I wonder if these were printed over a couple of different years. Anyone know the printing and distribution story of these? Any other players with this type of variation?

The only similar ones I know of are Jose Cardenal, Burt Hooton, and Rick Monday of the Cubs, although one of the Hooton’s is misspelled Houton. The only teams that apparently had different pins of the the same players are the Cubs, Pirates, and Red Sox.

A black box button of Dick Allen with the Cardinals sold last week on eBay, so you can add that to the list. It also suggests the set came out earlier than 1972 since Allen only played with the Cardinals in 1970.

Hmmm, the first Cardinal and a timeframe of 1970. These proofs of Yaz and Culp have a 1970 copyright so it's entirely possible that some were made in that year.

Checklist updated.

A's- Sal Bando, Bert Campaneris, Ray Fosse, Rollie Fingers, Dick Green, Ken Holtzman, Jim Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Angel Mangual, Bill North, Joe Rudi, Gene Tenace, Dick Williams

Angels- Frank Robinson, Nolan Ryan, Bobby Winkles

Braves- Hank Aaron, Paul Casanova

Brewers- Pedro Garcia, Darrell Porter, Robin Yount

Cardinals- Dick Allen

Cubs- Ernie Banks, Ray Burris, Jose Cardenal (CHICAGO completely visible on uniform), Jose Cardenal (closeup, arms not showing), Carmen Fanzone, Vic Harris, Gene Hiser, Burt Hooton (misspelled Houton), Burt Hooton (spelled correctly), Randy Hundley, Fergie Jenkins, Don Kessinger (batting, misspelled Kissinger), Don Kessinger (fielding, spelled correctly), Bill Madlock, George Mitterwald, Rick Monday (bat at top of pin), Rick Monday (closeup, cap at top of pin), Jerry Morales, Rick Reuschel, Ron Santo, Steve Stone, Billy Williams

Giants- Bobby Bonds, Tom Bradley, Ron Bryant, Tito Fuentes, Ed Goodson, Ken Henderson, Dave Kingman, Garry Maddox, Juan Marichal, Willie McCovey, Dave Rader, Chris Speier

Mets- Tommie Agee, Jim Fregosi, Wayne Garrett, Jerry Grote, Bud Harrelson, Cleon Jones, Jerry Koosman, Willie Mays, Tug McGraw, Felix Millan, John Milner, Tom Seaver, Rusty Staub

Orioles- Don Baylor, Paul Blair, Pat Dobson*, Bobby Grich, Jim Palmer, Merv Rettenmund*, Brooks Robinson

Pirates- Roberto Clemente (arms crossed, black box below hands), Roberto Clemente (arms crossed, black box on hands), Roberto Clemente (closeup face), Roberto Clemente ( closeup face, no clear plastic cover), Gene Clines, Dave Giusti, Richie Hebner (mouth open), Richie Hebner (closeup smiling), Al Oliver, Bob Robertson, Manny Sanguillen (batting), Manny Sanguillen (standing with #35 visible), Willie Stargell, Rennie Stennett

Rangers- David Clyde, Fergie Jenkins

Red Sox- Luis Aparicio (batting), Luis Aparicio (closeup face), Rick Burleson (error, photo Butch Hobson), Rick Burleson (correct photo), Bernie Carbo, Orlando Cepeda, Tony Conigliaro, Ray Culp (BOSTON RED SOX), Ray Culp (RED SOX only), Dwight Evans, Carlton Fisk, Doug Griffin, Tommy Harper, Butch Hobson (error, photo Rick Burleson), Butch Hobson (correct photo), Rico Petrocelli, Sonny Siebert, Reggie Smith, Luis Tiant (RED SOX only, serious expression), Luis Tiant (BOSTON RED SOX, smiling), Carl Yastrzemski (batting), Carl Yastrzemski (two tone cap), Carl Yastrzemski (RED SOX only)

Reds- Johnny Bench, Jack Billingham, Dave Concepcion, Don Gullett, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Pete Rose

Tigers- Ed Brinkman, Norm Cash, Al Kaline, Mickey Lolich

Twins- Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva

White Sox- Dick Allen, Mike Andrews, Stan Bahnsen, Tom Bradley, Ed Hermann, Carlos May, Bill Melton, Ron Santo, Wilbur Wood

Yankees- Felipe Alou, Matty Alou, Ron Blomberg, Sparky Lyle, Bobby Murcer, Graig Nettles, Fritz Peterson, Mel Stottlemyre, Roy White

Very interesting - the images of the 3 players you show are the same image, just cropped very differently. Looking carefully at the 2 Clemente's - they ARE cropped ever so slightly differently!

With the 1970 Copyright date, I would say they have to have been done in 1970 - now the question is were they done again in years after? I don't know players playing years really well - Any team/player combo on the list that COULDN'T be from 1970?

The absence of Senators players would seem to mitigate against a 1970 date of issue, and the presence of the Rangers would indicate 1972 or later.

"Any team/player combo on the list that COULDN'T be from 1970"

Many of the players joined their teams after 1970, such as Dick Allen, who first played for the White Sox in 1972, and Rusty Staub, who joined the Mets the same year. Allen also has a button with the Cardinals. Frank Robinson didn't join the Angels until 1973.

Larry, do you think that was a good price for the Horton? I never seen a Tiger before and had a bid of $60 on it when I left for work. When I came home from work and checked eBay only to see that it went for twice that amount.

Attachment 380468


Picked up this nice Al Kaline pin today.

There is a 1969 MLB Al Kaline.