Brooks Robinson and the Baltimore Orioles

BaltOrioles · #1 01-04-2020, 10:20 AM

Another area of collecting I love are the team issued postcards the Orioles have been printing since 1954. It is often hard to pinpoint an exact year for some of the older postcards, because the Orioles would print them as needed. Some players weren't printed each year if there were enough left over from the previous season. The Orioles postcards are B&W from 1954-1969 and are in color from 1970 to present, with a few exceptions. Players often used these for autograph requests through the mail, so finding ones that have been mailed are quite common. The more popular a player with fans, the more postcards printed and thus easier to find. Fringe players or players traded during the season tend to be much tougher and on everyone's wantlists.

The first postcards printed of Brooks Robinson were from 1957-59. I just love the team issued stuff.

Mark70Z · #2 01-04-2020, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaltOrioles

Another area of collecting I love are the team issued postcards the Orioles have been printing since 1954. It is often hard to pinpoint an exact year for some of the older postcards, because the Orioles would print them as needed. Some players weren't printed each year if there were enough left over from the previous season. The Orioles postcards are B&W from 1954-1969 and are in color from 1970 to present, with a few exceptions. Players often used these for autograph requests through the mail, so finding ones that have been mailed are quite common. The more popular a player with fans, the more postcards printed and thus easier to find. Fringe players or players traded during the season tend to be much tougher and on everyone's wantlists.

The first postcards printed of Brooks Robinson were from 1957-59. I just love the team issued stuff.

Alan,

Do you have a checklist with all the Orioles team issue postcards? Weren't you working on that project, with pictures included?

When I was young I really didn't know a lot about team issue postcards even though I saw a few back then, but really didn't know what they were. I do have a few now and they are some of my favorite items. The Brooks you pictured, the one with the rookie card photo, I've been looking for an unsigned version for I don't know how long now. I've seen one, but it wasn't available for sale; maybe I'll find one some day. Is the one you listed been sent through the mail? If so, what is the date of mailing?

whiteymet · #3 01-04-2020, 12:40 PM

Here are two 1/1 prototypes of a Brooks Southland statue that was never issued.

First is an unpainted solid resin, the other is a wax statue that was used in the mold making for the statue.

Wish they would have gone ahead and actually issued it!

Mark70Z · #4 01-04-2020, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiteymet

Here are two 1/1 prototypes of a Brooks Southland statue that was never issued.

First is an unpainted solid resin, the other is a wax statue that was used in the mold making for the statue.

Wish they would have gone ahead and actually issued it!

Fred,

I was hoping you would post pictures of your two prototypes of the Brooks Southland statue. I don�t know if you recall, but several years ago you provided pictures of them and I saved them somewhere. I remember those being the coolest items and wondered why in the would they wouldn�t have produced them. They look great! Hey, if you have an opportunity to post a picture of the Brooks prototypes displayed on your shelf with your other figures I�d love to view.

BaltOrioles · #5 01-04-2020, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark70Z

Alan,

Do you have a checklist with all the Orioles team issue postcards? Weren't you working on that project, with pictures included?

When I was young I really didn't know a lot about team issue postcards even though I saw a few back then, but really didn't know what they were. I do have a few now and they are some of my favorite items. The Brooks you pictured, the one with the rookie card photo, I've been looking for an unsigned version for I don't know how long now. I've seen one, but it wasn't available for sale; maybe I'll find one some day. Is the one you listed been sent through the mail? If so, what is the date of mailing?

Ed Allan from Maryland compiled a checklist of Orioles postcards with the help of other collectors, probably 20 years ago, that most people use as the standard. He continues to update it each year with new issues and discoveries of older unknown postcards. To date, I believe there are 2,863
different ones from 1954-2019. Every year we cross our fingers that the Orioles continue to print them. On Mondays and Thursdays, during the season, the Orioles have local old timers (Orioles alumni) signing autographs before the game. Postcards are printed for those players, but they are in a little different format from the regular issue. A lot of the same players appear each year and the Orioles tend to use the same postcard over and over, so there aren't many new alumni postcards each year. Here's a link to Ed's website with some of the recent issues. At one time, he was selling copies of his checklist, including pictures, upon request. I have one up to 2012 and have been adding my own updated pages since then. I don't know if he is still printing the book or not.

http://edallan.atwebpages.com/

Mark,
I'll gladly send you any info you would like or maybe you need to make a trip to Sarasota during spring training for a game and we can catch up then.

The autographed Brooks Robinson postcard is postmarked Aug 14, 1957. It is harder to find than the other pose, in my opinion. Again, that could be that Brooks wasn't as well known early in his career and didn't get the fan mail that some of the others got.

Mark70Z · #6 01-04-2020, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaltOrioles

Mark,
I'll gladly send you any info you would like or maybe you need to make a trip to Sarasota during spring training for a game and we can catch up then.

The autographed Brooks Robinson postcard is postmarked Aug 14, 1957. It is harder to find than the other pose, in my opinion. Again, that could be that Brooks wasn't as well known early in his career and didn't get the fan mail that some of the others got.

When I get a chance I'll request the information on the postcards. I know I still have the information you sent me on some of the Brooks postcards and the slight variations.

I need to get down toe Sarasota to catch some spring training. It's tough with my daughter still doing All Star Cheer and Dance. They have so many competitions that I'm travelling so much and run out of vacation. By the way where are you currently, home (Maine) or are you out and about?

Thanks for the postmark information on the Brooks postcard. That postcard had to be first produced in 1957 and I guess the O's could have kept producing into other years. Is the other Brooks postcard first produced in 1959?

BaltOrioles · #7 01-04-2020, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark70Z

I need to get down toe Sarasota to catch some spring training. It's tough with my daughter still doing All Star Cheer and Dance. They have so many competitions that I'm travelling so much and run out of vacation. By the way where are you currently, home (Maine) or are you out and about?

Thanks for the postmark information on the Brooks postcard. That postcard had to be first produced in 1957 and I guess the O's could have kept producing into other years. Is the other Brooks postcard first produced in 1959?

We are in Sarasota until May. I'm not sure if the Brooks postcard is 1959 or earlier. It is part of the group that is generally classified as 1957-59, since many of the postcards were printed over a range of years and have been found with postmarks from different years. Old time postcard collectors, Dan Even and Bob Thing, kept some records of when they received certain cards from the Orioles, while others as best guess estimates. I don't believe there were any Brooks postcards before 1957, because the style before 1956 was much different (glossy photo postcard).

quitcrab · #8 01-04-2020, 05:12 PM

Just a side note about the Team Issue Postcards. Brook’s middle name is Calbert not Colbert. Those prototypes statues are so cool. It’s a mystery why the manufacture went that far without putting the out.
Also Tim thanks for posting the story about the son going through his fathers Brooks collection after he died. It was a great read.

jb67 · #9 01-04-2020, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaltOrioles

Another area of collecting I love are the team issued postcards the Orioles have been printing since 1954. It is often hard to pinpoint an exact year for some of the older postcards, because the Orioles would print them as needed. Some players weren't printed each year if there were enough left over from the previous season. The Orioles postcards are B&W from 1954-1969 and are in color from 1970 to present, with a few exceptions. Players often used these for autograph requests through the mail, so finding ones that have been mailed are quite common. The more popular a player with fans, the more postcards printed and thus easier to find. Fringe players or players traded during the season tend to be much tougher and on everyone's wantlists.

The first postcards printed of Brooks Robinson were from 1957-59. I just love the team issued stuff.

Alan, I totally agree with you when it comes to the team issue postcards. I absolutely love collecting those. Very under appreciated in collecting world if you ask me.

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