Don Miller autograph 1927 Yankee

[jerseygary]

So what would be the ultimate master list for the 1927 Yankees autograph collector? The 25 players who got in a game and the manager and coaches are easy but what about scouts, doctor, etc? And for the record, don't worry, just curious, not attempting to assemble the thing!

I tried finding a 2010 Detroit News article about Don Miller but everything led to a dead link - anyone have a copy of it?

STAFF
Jacob Ruppert - owner
Miller Huggins - manager
Art Fletcher - coach
Charley O'Leary - coach
Eddie Bennett - batboy

CATCHERS
Benny Bengough
Pat Collins
Johnny Grabowski

INFIELDERS
Joe Dugan
Mike Gazella
Lou Gehrig
Mark Koenig
Tony Lazzeri
Ray Morehart
Julie Wera

PITCHERS
Walter Beall
Joe Giard
Waite Hoyt
Don Miller
Wilcy Moore
Herb Pennock
George Pipgras
Dutch Ruether
Bob Shawkey
Urban Shocker
Joe Styborski
Myles Thomas

OUTFIELDERS
Earle Combs
Cedric Durst
Bob Meusel
Ben Paschal
Babe Ruth

[prewarsports]

Some people go for everyone that was in the team picture, so you have got your Spencer Adams, Roy Chesterfield, Don Miller etc. People do care about Doc Woods the Trainer and the front office staff etc too, and like I said before, the batboy.

As far as I know this is the ONLY team people do this with. Even the 1919 White Sox/Reds guys arent that obsessed.

Rhys

[JimStinson]

Agreed, The 1919 Reds & White Sox are almost as popular from a collecting standpoint as the 1927 Yankees but a distant second and/ or 3rd . I think the reason collectors don't obsess so much about the non active players on those teams is because its near impossible just to complete a roster of either of the 1919 teams.

That being said and while it is not debatable the collectability and popularity of the Murderers Row team, the 1927 Yankees MIGHT NOT have been the greatest team ever. Many historians of the game will argue the 1906 Cubs, 1939 Yankees or 1929 Athletics were better teams overall when considering the greatest team of all time. I'd also throw in the 1934 Cardinals, 1986 Mets & 1905 Giants.
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[mschwade]

Originally Posted by JimStinson

Agreed, The 1919 Reds & White Sox are almost as popular from a collecting standpoint as the 1927 Yankees but a distant second and/ or 3rd . I think the reason collectors don't obsess so much about the non active players on those teams is because its near impossible just to complete a roster of either of the 1919 teams.

That being said and while it is not debatable the collectability and popularity of the Murderers Row team, the 1927 Yankees MIGHT NOT have been the greatest team ever. Many historians of the game will argue the 1906 Cubs, 1939 Yankees or 1929 Athletics were better teams overall when considering the greatest team of all time. I'd also throw in the 1934 Cardinals, 1986 Mets & 1905 Giants.
____________________
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Maybe I am biased, but I think the 1998 Yankees should be considered.

[JimStinson]

Originally Posted by mschwade

Maybe I am biased, but I think the 1998 Yankees should be considered.

No you are not biased that was a great team , So was the 1961 Yankees. Bill James puts the 1997 Braves, 1935 Tigers & 1957 Braves in his top 10.

Pictured here is what Braves Johnny Logan had to say about it, Ya Gotta love that guy..
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[Runscott]

Originally Posted by JimStinson

...
1986 Mets & 1905 Giants.
____________________
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Jim, given your thoroughness of thought before posting, I would not question you, but seeing the '86 Mets on your list surprises me. That was a great year for teams almost knocking them off in the playoffs - going in to the playoff I would not have bet on them winning it all.

As far as the teams before them, I doubt any of us fully understand what it took to be 'great' during the deadball era. I read a lot of baseball articles from that period and it's like thinking with a different brain.

[RichardSimon]

I am not putting them up with the greatest teams in history but they were a damn good team,,, 108 Wins and they beat Houston in 6 in the NLCS, Game 6 is considered a classic. They only played one playoff series then.
Las Vegas had them as the World Series favorite.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

I am not putting them up with the greatest teams in history but they were a damn good team,,, 108 Wins and they beat Houston in 6 in the NLCS, Game 6 is considered a classic. They only played one playoff series then.
Las Vegas had them as the World Series favorite.

I thought that with Mike Scott and Nolan Ryan, the Mets had no chance (I watched game 6 in an airport and had to board before it ended)

And of course, without Buckner, they had no chance against the Red Sox. Given all that, I wouldn't even rate them the best of '86. But they did get the job done.

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by Runscott

without Buckner, they had no chance against the Red Sox.

Technically not true. At the time of the Buckner gaffe, the Mets had already tied the game. If Buckner had made the play, the game would have gone into the 11th inning.

[mr2686]

Originally Posted by JimStinson

Agreed, The 1919 Reds & White Sox are almost as popular from a collecting standpoint as the 1927 Yankees but a distant second and/ or 3rd . I think the reason collectors don't obsess so much about the non active players on those teams is because its near impossible just to complete a roster of either of the 1919 teams.

That being said and while it is not debatable the collectability and popularity of the Murderers Row team, the 1927 Yankees MIGHT NOT have been the greatest team ever. Many historians of the game will argue the 1906 Cubs, 1939 Yankees or 1929 Athletics were better teams overall when considering the greatest team of all time. I'd also throw in the 1934 Cardinals, 1986 Mets & 1905 Giants.
____________________
jim@stinsonsports.com
web site
stinsonsports.com

As much as I love and collect those great teams (Black Sox, 27 Yankees, 34 Cards, 60 Pirates, 61 Yanks, etc etc), for my money I think the 98 Yankees could give anyone a run for their money. Also, those 70's Reds teams didn't exactly suck either.

[PhilNap]

Originally Posted by jerseygary

So what would be the ultimate master list for the 1927 Yankees autograph collector? The 25 players who got in a game and the manager and coaches are easy but what about scouts, doctor, etc? And for the record, don't worry, just curious, not attempting to assemble the thing!

I tried finding a 2010 Detroit News article about Don Miller but everything led to a dead link - anyone have a copy of it?

STAFF
Jacob Ruppert - owner
Miller Huggins - manager
Art Fletcher - coach
Charley O'Leary - coach
Eddie Bennett - batboy

CATCHERS
Benny Bengough
Pat Collins
Johnny Grabowski

INFIELDERS
Joe Dugan
Mike Gazella
Lou Gehrig
Mark Koenig
Tony Lazzeri
Ray Morehart
Julie Wera

PITCHERS
Walter Beall
Joe Giard
Waite Hoyt
Don Miller
Wilcy Moore
Herb Pennock
George Pipgras
Dutch Ruether
Bob Shawkey
Urban Shocker
Joe Styborski
Myles Thomas

OUTFIELDERS
Earle Combs
Cedric Durst
Bob Meusel
Ben Paschal
Babe Ruth

All of the players you listed are in the photo below except for Walter Beall (though he is sometimes identified as the player top row far right next to the trainer, that player is actually Joseph Styborski). In addition to those on your list I personally added Exec. Ed Barrow, traveling secretary Mark Roth, Trainer Doc Woods, head scout Paul Krichell, and clubhouse attendant Fred Logan. I limited myself to the players who appeared in a game or are pictured in that photo. I personally didn't feel the need to chase the spring training hopefuls.

[David Atkatz]

What about Pete Sheehy? He began his clubhouse career in 1927.

[PhilNap]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

What about Pete Sheehy? He began his clubhouse career in 1927.

Sheehy definitely has his place in Yankee history. While I wouldn't mind adding his signature to my collection, I didn't think it necessary as part of a 1927 Yankee project. He was actually someone I was on the fence about. I passed on him for two reasons. First, although it marked the begining of his very prominent Yankee career, his role in the clubhouse was likely very limited in 1927. Second, for my 1927 Yankee project the goal was to find all vintage fountain pen signatures. So, I guess the door remains open in the event that a period payroll check should surface.

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by PhilNap

... his role in the clubhouse was likely very limited in 1927.

True. But less limited than the roles played by Miller and Styborski!

[PhilNap]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

True. But less limited than the roles played by Miller and Styborski!

Not sure I agree with that. Miller tossed BP in the World Series. Pete was probably sweeping floors and cleaning toilets. But in the end, for me it wasn't the contributions of Miller and Styborski that led me to include them. It was the fact that they are in the team photo. Had Sheehy ( or for that matter, anyone else) been asked to pose that day he'd be on my list as well.

That's the beauty of collecting. There's no wrong or right answers. Like I said, I find a vintage fountain pen signature of him and my mind is easily changed.

[mr2686]

You're right there is no right or wrong answer on team collecting. A lot of the fun comes from finding people of interest involved with a particular team to collect. I know as I came to the end of my 1960 Pirates collecting, I took a look at their team picture and realized there were a few extra people there. I would normally never collect a traveling secretary, but Bob Rice was there and turned out to be an easy autograph to get. George Sisler was also there as Assistant to the manager, and that was an easy decision to add a HOF'er to the display. Another place I fortunately or unfortunately found was the team yearbook. I found out that Bing Crosby was part owner so I added him (although if it was Joe Blow I probably wouldn't) and also Virgil Trucks was their batting practice pitcher so I added the two no-hit pitcher as well.
At some point though, especially if you're working on a matted display, you have to draw the line or else you'll never complete the project.