365 Days of Roberto Clemente

[docpatlv]

Those are great busts Mike! That's another item I don't have...sigh.

Day 4

I first saw this item around 1994 at the Fort Washington show. The dealer only had the single Clemente and was asking $900. I was still in school at the time so that was a little too rich for my blood.

Thanks to the Mile High find, I was able to add this next item to the collection. I posted a couple of scans to better show the detail. Some don't think they resemble the players well, but I think, at least in this instance, Roberto is accurately portrayed.

1968 Topps Plaks: Carl Yastrzemski-Harmon Killebrew-Roberto Clemente

[Empty77]

Very cool off-the-beaten-path stuff, fellas. I myself currently stick to the master list, which is daunting enough on it's own, and now to recognize how much else has come about over the years that are not so easily categorized is truly something...

[hcv123]

Those Plaks were practically non existent before the Mile High find. There are 3 different 3 player sprues with Clemente 1) Yaz - Killebrew-Clemente, 2) Wynn - Clemente - Santo and 3) Yastrzemski - Killebrew - Clemente


There are also 3 versions of the busts- The originals were done in 1973 (that's the one you have), They were recasted in gold in 1988 (I think) and then done again in color - I forget the year. The originals are super tough!

Anyone know how to easily resize an image? Please PM me - I have a lot of images - most of them too big to upload.

Check out this SUPER rare 1956 Pirates team issued 5x7.

[docpatlv]

Howard,

That is a great photo! I like to think that I have seen most Clemente items, but I have never seen that photo before.

[docpatlv]

Day 5

This is one of the other Plak panels that Howard was referring to above. There is one other panel combination that I don't have and that is the Kaline-Clemente-Yastrzemski. One interesting thing is how they changed Roberto's name on each of the base plates. The panel I posted on Day 4 has Roberto Clemente, this next one has his name as Robert Clemente, and the last has his name as R. Clemente.

I was able to pick up this panel on eBay about a year after I purchased the first one. You can tell that there were some modifications made between the panels (notably in the shoulder area). I'm assuming that the Mile High find consisted of prototypes. The Plaks that made it out to the public also seem to be on thicker sprues.

1968 Topps Plaks Panel: Wynn-Clemente-Santo

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by docpatlv

Day 5

This is one of the other Plak panels that Howard was referring to above. There is one other panel combination that I don't have and that is the Kaline-Clemente-Yastrzemski. One interesting thing is how they changed Roberto's name on each of the base plates. The panel I posted on Day 4 has Roberto Clemente, this next one has his name as Robert Clemente, and the last has his name as R. Clemente.

I was able to pick up this panel on eBay about a year after I purchased the first one. You can tell that there were some modifications made between the panels (notably in the shoulder area). I'm assuming that the Mile High find consisted of prototypes. The Plaks that made it out to the public also seem to be on thicker sprues.

1968 Topps Plaks Panel: Wynn-Clemente-Santo

Interesting - I knew about the "Clement" and "Clemente" differences, never realized the "R" and "Roberto". I had such a hard time spending "real" money on these as they are so darn ugly!! I still only have 1 single (from before the find) and 1 3 player sprue (and I'm done with them at that).

The photos I am posting today I know little about and have been unsuccessful in getting any information about them. If anyone has any please do share. The person I purchased them from said they were acquired during spring training 1960. They are on a medium weight cardboard stock and are about the size of 1975 topps mini's. As you can see they appear to be hand cut. I have not had them authenticated, but believe the signatures to be legit.

[irv]

Originally Posted by docpatlv

Day 3

I purchased this photo in 1996 from Ed Dolan's Baseball Fanatic Super Store in New Jersey. When I brought it home later that day I remember my girlfriend (now my wife) saying..."You spent HOW much on that photo?!?!?"

But to me, it was well worth it, as this might be my favorite Roberto item. Nice, large signature which is much more bold when viewing in person. Not sure why the sig appears lighter in the photo. Personalized "To Dick", unfortunately that's not my name although I'm sure I've been called one on more than one occasion

1960s Roberto Clemente signed photo.

That photo would fit in most peoples collection, including mine.