On the Card side, they have this thread going... "Show Your One Of A Kind Items"

[Exhibitman]

Benny Leonard cigar box. I've never seen another full box, though I have seen a label or two:




This is an 1897 woodcut of Corbett/Fitzsimmons used as a printing block for a publication of some sort:



Sid Luckman signed this note for my father in 1946:



Promotional poster for my cousin:

[aquarius31]

Wow, some really nice items. Adam, that boxing woodblock is fantastic and I hope at some point that you come across the associated publication.

The below woodblock has nothing to do with sports but was very intriguing to me given my interest in woodcuts. It depicts a French statesman by the name of Eugene Rouher. The detail on this piece is truly incredible and it was later used in an 1840's Police Gazette (still searching for the exact publication date).

The second piece is not necessarily 'one of a kind' but I have yet to see another example come up for auction. It's an 1874 Daily Graphic woodcut depicting the Philadelphia Atheltics. The woodcuts of McBride and Battin are referenced in this REA auction as the basis for the 1874 "Golden Ball' cigar box label.

[Bugsy]

I have posted these before, but they truly are one of a kind.

This looks like an insignificant pitcher, but this is actually the championship trophy that was awarded to the 1920 St. Paul Saints. The fob was given to their manager, Mike Kelley, in recognition of winning the 1919, 1920, and 1922 championships.

[Runscott]

A lot more possibilities in this thread

Rob asked about this yesterday, so just for grins, here's a page from a 1911 scorebook where a town ball team in Iowa played the Kansas City, KS Giants. One of the players listed, Ashes Jackson, also went by 'Arthur Hardy'. I recently picked up a signed letter by him and would love to see more items related to this team.

[ramram]

Thanks for posting Scott. Looks like "Home Run" Johnson had two more taters in that game!

Rob M.

[Runscott]

Rob, If you are interested, I have been accumulating the stats for some of the 1911 players, including Johnson. Impossible to do a complete job, as many newspaper accounts simply had a line score, misspelled names, etc., etc., but I'm getting a clearer idea of their skills.

Much of it is here: http://t206themonster.com/Research-Page.html

[packs]

June 15th, 1926 last pitch baseball from Rube Walberg's estate. This was the last pitch from a game against the Indians. Looking at the boxscore it appears that HOFer Joe Sewell made the last out. Walberg's 15th career win on a 5 hit shut out.




Likely one of a kind Grover Cleveland Alexander and Babe Didrickson-Zaharias signed baseball. This baseball comes from a House of David game while the two briefly played for the team together. It was purchased from the original owner who attended the game in Colorado with her father.

[whitehse]

How can a guy compete with Munson game jerseys and the rest of the stuff posted here? That Cubs pennant is killer as is everything else that has been posted.

I have shown this before but the only one of a kind item I have (except for the two others I sold 20+ years ago which I am sure are cut up now) is a 1954 Cubs spring training sign up sheet that is signed by the whole team. The players had to sign this to receive their weekly meal money. Included on this sheet is a rookie Ernie Banks and some guy named Kiner.

I obtained this from the files of the former team traveling secretary Bob Lewis when his files were tossed back in the early 80's.

[CarltonHendricks]

Jimmy, Good thread..."one of a kind" is an interesting decree to bestow on something....To be able to say something is one of a kind or at least "never seen another", the person saying it would have to have spent considerable time in the hobby...So pretty much everything in this thread would be posted by veteran collectors with considerable windshield time looking for this stuff...Phew! man I feel I've paid my dues...Especially after I just got back from another 700 mile road trip down your way last weekend...to the All American Collectors Show in Glendale CA and the Long Beach Flea. Picked up something that should fit one of a kind status...





Antique exercise rowing machines seem to surface at antique shows somewhat regularly....I've seen quite a few kinds over the years....they're usually interesting...and big....but I never saw one that hit the gotta have it level till last Sunday...The photos don't do it justice, more impressive in person...Weighs a ton, mostly from the arm swivel fittings. Fortunately the arms slide out easily...I managed to carry it out to the gate in two trips from about dead middle the show....



I don't recall ever seeing one made of wood...it's not burl but same color and look as with black painted trim...In untouched condition it looked great but I expect once I get it polished it'll really pop...the handles were another thing that had me....the wound thread grips seem to say 19th century. I'm surprised such a work of art has no maker label....looked all over it, nada. The look and great original condition was what sold me....The guy had $345.00 on it..and I was thinking he'd be anxious to move it it was so heavy....no such luck....he came down to $300.00 and that was it!...I hit him at $200.00...then $250.00 and he wouldn't blink...nice enough guy but wouldn't budge off the $300.00...So after walking around a while I went back and caved. The thing was so impressive, as I sat there mulling it over, passersby were continually stopping to look it over and paw it....it was stopping a lot of people.

[mjkm90]

This isn't the only one ever manufactured, but it is the only example known to me or my fellow pennant collectors.

[Scott Garner]

Carlton, Carlton Carlton,

Your collection is just nuts! I can't believe the items that you unearth that fit beautifully into that collection of yours.

I love the "hunt" stories that accompany each one of them...

This thread rocks, BTW, Jimmy!

[CarltonHendricks]

Originally Posted by mjkm90

This isn't the only one ever manufactured, but it is the only example known to me or my fellow pennant collectors.

Man that's nice....and I'm not even a pennant guy

[batsballsbases]

Jimmy,
Just for you . I posted this before Only one that I know of Munsons 1977 World Series Jersey used in game 2,5,6 of the 77 series game 6 was the Jackson 3 HR game. Photo matched by one of our board members Brock L Thanks Brock !

[ibuysportsephemera]

An autographed piece of stationary (probably from some kind of banquet) with a wide array of sports stars including: Gil Hodges, Joe Paterno, Rex Barney, Frank Frisch, Dick Doheny, Arnold Galiffa, Myles Lane, Bob Lemon, Bucky Walters, etc.

The best part of this piece is that it was a real bonus. It was tucked inside a book that was part of a large collection that I purchased.

[Jlighter]

Originally Posted by batsballsbases

Jimmy,
Just for you . I posted this before Only one that I know of Munsons 1977 World Series Jersey used in game 2,5,6 of the 77 series game 6 was the Jackson 3 HR game. Photo matched by one of our board members Brock L Thanks Brock !

Holy crap, I love it!!!!!

[Lordstan]

One of my all time favorites.

Picture is 1929 Penn State Blue band at Yankee Stadium 1929.
It is signed by a bunch of guys we all know and love. Signatures are a little difficult to see in pictures, but I think you can get a decent view.
I have no idea when exactly it was signed, but obviously some were added later, like Berra, Durocher and Dimaggio.











The story for why the Penn state band is at Yankee Stadium is explained in the 2 pictures below. They are excerpts from the book about the Big Blue Band.





The glass broke when we moved and I was waiting for the basement to be finished for me to replace it.

Great stuff everyone.
Best,
Mark