You couldd'a been a contenda! :)

Very true, that 1988 season was brutal for the O's... I forget how many games that they lost in a row, but it was amazing. I was on a business trip to Las Vegas and I remember thinking every day that maybe I should place a bet for them to win, but every dy they continued to lose. Some teams are just plain BAD! ;)

BTW, I never heard Rex Barney behind the mike that I recall, but I understand he was a solid broadcaster. He was considered to be quite a fireballing prospect when he first came up to the majors, but he, like many fastball pitchers, lacked the control to be successful. He did capture lightning in a bottle on September 9, 1948 when he hurled a no-hitter against the NY Giants, prevailing 2-0. Here are two ticket stubs to Barney's 1948 no-hitter from my personal collection.

http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/1080/1577862.JPG

So this is a ticket stub from last night's game that I got signed by Columbus Clippers shortstop Francisco Lindor. Lindor, was the 8th selection in the 2011 draft, and won't turn 21 until November 24th.

Why I wanted to post this... Two things...

Unprepared for this
Lindor was the only one signing and he was working his way to the dugout of about 10 fans after warming up minutes before first pitch. He got to me, maybe the 4th person and I had an index card. He looked at me and said "I can't sign that, I can't sign on white." I've heard of some agents advising their clients/athletes not to sign index cards because of the risk of fraud (I previously wrote about that here).

While I know it's not his fault, he's been advised by his agent so he's listening to what he's told, I was caught off guard and a little unprepared as I had nothing else for him to sign at the moment. Luckily our seats were in the second row so I didn't have far to run, but I had to think quick what else I had.

Making it right
I picked up my sons hat off his head. Nope navy blue, even under the bill was navy blue, that won't work. Light bulb goes off. Ticket Stub! "You have our ticket stubs?" I asked my wife and mom. My mom hands me a ticket. Lindor was somewhat paying attention to me and with him finishing up the 10th person, he came back to me and signed my ticket stub for me (above).

So while I was a little bit flustered he wouldn't sign my index card for me, I wanted to give him props for coming back and making sure he signed an item that I found that he could sign (per his agent).

Glad to add his signature because I think he's the Indians shortstop next opening day and I expect him to get called up on September 1st.

Later in the game with the Mud Hens threatening, Lindor made a hell of a play in the field to end the inning and my son got thrown the ball so that was pretty cool as well.

Here's a recent article on Francisco Lindor from MLB.com: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/cle/...&vkey=news_cle

Neat story, Matt! Thanks for sharing.

BTW, I noticed that all-time IL HR leader Mike Hessman (Mud Hens) went yard again in last night's game (26th HR this season even with trips to the DL).

signing on white
 

Starting a few years back some players won't sign index cards. That is why people bring custom generic cards with light backgrounds of colors and baseball scenes and some won't even sign those

Four additions to my collection this month:
1. A full name check of Monford (Monte) Irvin
2. A TLS with a full name signature of Osborne (Ozzie) Smith on his company's letterhead. I have never seen a letter let alone a full name signature before for him, so I had to pick this up.
3. A TLS of Hank Greenberg on Indians letterhead, Not too hard to find, but one had been on my list for a while.
4. A HNS of Ed Barrow. Again not hard to find, but a nice addition to go along with my Barrow TLS on Yankees letterhead. Interestingly, I remember when this item was last auctioned and I was the under- bidder. Everything always comes around again eventually it seems like in this hobby.

Nice pickups, Kevin!

Thank You Scott

Very nice, as usual

Thanks taz,
Personally, I like the Francisco Lindor autographed ticket and the story behind it. They will remember that forever, sometimes that is much rarer and more valuable than buying an autograph.

Walter johnson
 

Pretty excited to unexpectedly add this one to the collection!
1931 who's who album page (made a slight mistake here... the photo is actually from a 1933 who's who Book)

Why unexpected? u get lucky more times than anyone I've ever seen. Nice

Whoa Dave! Nice!!

Happy to add these 1919 Sox signatures this week...

Ed Cicotte
Harry "Nemo" Leibold
Grover Lowdermilk
Chick Gandil

So absurd. What color do they think a ball is? It would be just as easy to photoshop a signature off a white ball as an index card. Or anyone even slightly skilled in Photoshop can easily remove a background. WHat do they think is going to happen? Someone photoshopping signatures onto checks? Are there any cases of this actually happening?

Since when have professional ballplayers been the sharpest tools in the shed?

Besides, these days players treat "autographs" and "signatures" as two quite different things. An autograph is a highly stylized, completely illegible glyph which they think looks cool. A signature is their actual name, is (at least somewhat) legible, and is used on legal documents.

So what the hell are they worried about?

4 new acquisitions
 

been working for 10 years to purchase these from a friend. Finally succeededAttachment 157938

Walter Johnson-Now Framed
 

My framer (and Friend) turned this one around quick for me... I figured I'd share the finished product...

David,
I completely agree and could not have said it better.

Nice Dave.
How big is it?

HOLY COW!! Nice. You've had some really nice additions recently.

2 more
 

These aren't August acquisitions but am taking them to my safe deposit box
The Dodgers card I've had for a long time. Bad contrast but signed by Jackie Robinson, Koufax, Hodges, Gilliam, Snider, Spooner, Hoak, Alston, Amoros. Have some for some other teams too (not Yankees) but this oe is the bestAttachment 157992

Picked up a Maddux Southland Plastics statue as an addition to my HOF auto collection.

Attachment 157996

This was my end of the win-win trade the Michael mentioned a few pages back.

That is some trade! Congrats to both.

Happy to finally pick up my first Joe D. 132 HOFers and counting... A long ways to go to catch up to most of you guys!

Attachment 158497

Attachment 158498

Attachment 158499

George Sisler
 

Not a pickup from this month, but just got it back from the framer & thought I would share

End the month on a good note.
1.A 1931 GPC signed by Bill Terry. It is the earliest single signed Terry item I have seen, signed at Spring Training March 1931. All of my others are from the 60s, 70s and early 80s.
2. The 1919 Cleveland Indians Team Signed Baseball from Heritage Auctions at The National. I purchased it to get the Ray Chapman signature. I have looked for a Chapman signature for 20 + years and have see none. I have seen this ball sold twice before and figured bid on it and the third time might be lucky. So this is my Chapman until a flat item comes my way.
Happy Collecting.

Nice pickup on the Chapman!

Really like that Bill Terry, great pickup.

FYI, the Don Zimmer above is ghost signed by his wife.

Nice pickups all. Esp like the Chappy, Terry and the Sisler framed. good job

Some more signed cards. Ruffing was through a board trade and is my first signed '33 Goudey HOFer. I'm drooling over the Hornsby, Cochrane, Collins posted earlier.

Attachment 158761Attachment 158766
Attachment 158763Attachment 158762
Attachment 158765Attachment 158767
Attachment 158764

Wilbur Wood TTM:
 

Mr. Wood lives not too far from me, just got it back today!

Andrew,

For years he owned a butcher shop or a similar shop in Belmont. You could walk in and he would be there at the counter. I grew up next town over in Waltham.

wow!!

Great Framed item. Keeping her for now. This is the letter side of it, don't have one pic of whole thing framed w a stat page and photo from a book. looks great. minor glare from where taken

JOHN MORRILL

What a great piece!
He is on my list, but this piece of yours is among the best John Morrill signatures and pieces I have seen.
Congrats and enjoy.

Thank you. my friend did best she could w pc. looks awesome all framed. Need money bad, but this is staying put for now at least.

Beautiful Terry piece - love his signature.