Mike,

The design on your Cubs pennant would have made a great pin!

Best,

Paul

Difficult to pick one, but until I see another one, I pick this pin.

Nolan Ryan game used mitt from 1989
 

Congrats to all of you. These are really some terrific collectibles.

Not prewar, but this is still the favorite item in my collection. I have shown this before, but this is HOF'er Nolan Ryan's game used mitt from the 1989 season.
There are many reasons that I love this glove. First, it's the only known game used glove that I have ever seen in the hobby that has provenance tracing it directly to Ryan.

Best of all, The Express used this mitt en route to several career milestones in the twilight of his career:

- Ryan's was the winning pitcher in the All-Star game in Anaheim. Nolan became the oldest pitcher to get the win in the Mid-Summer classic.

- Nolan threw two 1-hitters in 1989. Additionally, he had one game with 15 K's and 2 with 13 K's

- On August 22, 1989 Ryan became the 1st and only pitcher to fan 5,000 batters. HOF great Rickey Henderson was Ryan's 5,000th K victim in front of a sellout crowd in Arlington, TX. Ryan still own this record with 5,714 K's in his career.

- On 9/30/89 Nolan became the 1st pitcher to ever have 6 300 K seasons, ending up the year with 301. Only future HOF'er Randy Johnson was able to come close, tying the record of 6 seasons with 300+ K's.

Some great stuff guys!...David, that 1913 Yanks cap is stunning.

Here's mine...Game Used Mickey Mantle Bat circa 1955-1958.

I have been working on the Topps 40 years of baseball book since 1990. It now has over 660 autographs in it. Some years I get 50+ autographs in it, and some years have been under 10 a year, just depends on how motivated I am that year.

http://s1332.photobucket.com/user/pl...?sort=3&page=1

Paul, sounds great, but no-go on the links.

Wow.
You guys have posted some great stuff.
This is such a difficult question to answer.
I've narrowed it down to 2.

Hand made frame and sig of Lou. Folk art and a nice Lou signature.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...-2130frame.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ameupclose.jpg

1927 type 1 Photo of Lou with Christy Walsh's son. The pics of Lou with kids always get me. There is something so innocent and pure about them.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...styWalshJr.jpg[/URL]


As a real close runner up isn't really memorabilia in the truest sense, but you would have to kill me to take away my Kreindler.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ile_Conlon.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...psbc0d557f.jpg


Ricky Y

Great stuff everyone!!!! Geeez, what a spectacular game-used Mantle bat!!!! Those poor baseballs - ouch!!!

Craig

Paul-what a great project...can you talk about the toughest one to get? Any interesting interactions? Do other players ever comment on all the autographs?

Andrew

Thanks Craig! yes, it's pounded, and has use on both sides of the barrel, since he was a switch hitter.

Incredible pieces. :cool:
Great thread.

David, please sell me that hat.

(I bug David annually to sell it and its just about the 12 month mark)

Very nice Ricky!!

In getting the Topps 40 years book signed I have run into some tough ones to get. Jeffrey Leonard blew me off countless times as the manager of the Modesto A's but I finally broke him down when he was managing in the Western Baseball League against Chico. George Hendrick would never sign for me.

George Brett was doing a animal rescue event for Tony Larussa in Oakland one year and all of his tickets were sold out. I couldn't figure out a way to get one. So when he sat down at the signing table I asked him if he could use a soda or water or something. He asked for a Diet Coke. I went to the concession stand, got them to give me a soda for Mr Brett and handed it to him through the drapes of the signing table. I then asked if he could sign my book when he was done. He said pass it up right now and he took care of in right away. That was cool.

Meeting Joe DiMaggio with my wife was fun. Recently got Travis D'Arnoud on the same day that Zack Wheeler blew me off multiple times.

I love getting the older guys because they don't mind signing all of their cards in the book. Many of them see former teammates on the cards and start to tell stories.

Mine would have to be this 1880's bunting bat.

John

i am pretty sure i was punished with something that looks a lot like that!!!!

One of my favorites is my Jimmy Austin White Sox jersey.

A gentleman in the UK is writing a book about the only three Welsh born players in baseball history and is using my jersey in the book. I'm not sure who the other two Welsh players were, but Austin was born in Swansea. The proposed title of the book is ‘Dragons on the Diamond’, as the dragon is one of Wales’ national emblems and features prominently on the country’s flag.

Another piece I love is this signed meeting notes set by AJ Reach and Ben Shibe + others....picked this up from Jim Stinson with the hopes that Reach lands in the HOF one day!! http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/20/7usebydu.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/20/u3u7u9en.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/20/uda8ujys.jpg

Beautiful jersey, Mike! :cool:

Here's another piece I would have a real hard time ever letting go of. The first sentence of the letter really sums up why I think it will always be the 'Walter Johnson' example in my handwritten letter collection:

A very heart rending letter from one friend to another. I'm not surprised that Milan kept it.

Amazing letter, Scott. I have one from Walter to Hazel in which he talks about the death of their baby daughter, Elinor. Really makes you tear up, like this one. You can tell he's still in shock by the fact that he signed "Walter Johnson" to his best friend. He was probably answering a stack of sympathy cards and signed this one like the others without thinking.

Scott,
WOW! What an incredible letter!! If I owned it I wouldn't consider giving it up either.
Thanks for sharing that with us.

Sept.5,1889 Game Ball
 

Mine would be my Game Ball from a game played between the Detroit Police and the Cleveland Police on Sept. 5, 1889.

Gorgeous ball, and the Walter
letter is a Killer. what awesome stuff all

I've had this about 15 - 20 years. Circa 1870's football players. The earliest football image I have seen thus far and the only football tintype that I have seen.

Attachment 111102

That football looks HUGE!

Nice stuff everyone!

Is that a football or a watermelon!:)

Wow, just wow. What a heartbreaking letter for him to haven written. Ignoring the fact that this is Walter Johnson, it's a beautiful letter in its own right.

Memorabilia - Loosely Defined
 

Dick Perez Original - Eddie Collins

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...s5dfc8c27.jpeghttp://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps1d374b1c.jpg

Loving Cup from 1921 for the University of Wisconsin Football Team

Inscripted with

University of Wisconsin
Football Team
MOST USEFUL MAN
1921
Guy M. Sundt

Did a little research on Guy and he was a All Big Ten FB for Wisconsin in 1921 and honorable mention All- American. He later served on the coaching staff of the Basketball and Football teams, was the head coach of the Track team and was the Wisconsin athletic director for Wisconsin until his untimely death in 1955 from a Airplane Crash

http://wisconsincenter.org/walkoffame/126


Never seen a College Football trophy like this so early and still cannot find any info on it or anything similar. Hit a dead end. Too bad not an iowa trophy and the dreaded Badges but still pretty cool. Believe it to be the Team MVP trophy. Any help, additional info, or evidence of similar items from the time period are greatly appreciated

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...psd533bac2.jpg

Exhibit Card Venders
 

A great grouping of ESCO coin-op machines - one of my favorite groups.
Jerry Sage

Jerry, Awesome

Great stuff, Jerry. I would love to have a couple of those but my apartment space is too limited........

Exhibit Machines
 

They do not take up much room: cool:
You can email direct jssage24@yahoo.com
Jerry

This is my most prized.

my favorite is my 1910 phila athletics world series cabinet photo with a letter from sid c keener director of the baseball HOF

My most cherished item is a jersey that my dad wore as a kid when he played for his "town team" in the late 1940's. That FRENCHVILLE jersey hangs proudly between my SI posters of Bill Mazeroski and Gene Alley in my man cave.
:D

Maybe the best baseball piece today.. haha

1906 Chicago White Sox Imperial Cabinet

Small chip in the left edge.. photo itself flawless!! MINT?

http://oi44.tinypic.com/2hph890.jpg


Regards,

aL

Jeremy....sweet piece!!

My April 1902 photo of Matty at the Polo Grounds

Awesome photo Greg!

Superb!!

Greg- that is an amazing photo. i can smell the grass, and hear the crack of the bat in the background...stunning.

Greg,
I love it ! Beautiful picture!

In the words of Jeff Spicoli "Awesome! Totally awesome!"

Chris,
Style points for the Fast Times at Ridgemont High reference!
One of my all time fave movies from the 1980's. You gotta love Spicoli, Mr. Hand and Judge Reinholdt's character... Classic!

I never really made it much past the Phoebe Cates scene coming out of the pool :D

Thanks all for the nice comments on the photo, but I have an equally nice one coming soon, will post when I receive it.

Since you brought that up, I think you owe us a photo.