Brooks Robinson and the Baltimore Orioles

[BaltOrioles]

I just saw where Len Johnston passed away at 95 years old. Len was in the Orioles minor system for 43 years, serving as a manager, coach and administrator. He spent 2 years managing the Miami Orioles and one year with the Hagerstown Suns. The majority of his tenure with the Orioles was spent as a coach with the Bluefield Orioles (Appalachian League) team in Bluefield, WV.

For many years, I would see Len at the Orioles minor league camp during spring training. He was also great to talk with and signed this team issued photo for me. He was quite surprised that one even existed.

Len Johnston 8x10 Photo

Johnston, Len 1.jpg

[roarfrom34]

I started corresponding with Len's son (Kevin?) in the late 1980's and acquired some nice memorabilia from him.....

One of the teams Len managed was the '84 Hagerstown Suns (Bill Ripken was one of the players):

[Chstrite]

Day 352 – 17 December 2024
For the next three days I will show you my PSA Graded 1967 and 1968 Coca Cola Soda Caps with the various variations, which Brooks Robinson appeared on. Before I discuss what I have on hand, some background. The Coca Cola Soda Caps come in various flavors or sizes, such as Coca Cola, King Size Coca Cola, West Virginia Tax Mil, Sprite, King Size Sprite, Tab, Fresca, Root Beer Fanta, Orange Fanta, and Grape Fanta. There are two different years for the Team Coca Cola Bottle Caps that is distinguishable by the position appearing or not appearing to the right of the face. Coca Cola had Bobble Caps for many of the players for each team. The Oriole Players are identified by an “O” followed by a number to the left of the face. With Brooks Robinson, he was #10 in the set preceded by an O (i.e., O10). If the position appears at the right of the face, that is a 1967/68 Coca Cola Cap. Technically, I believe the Coca Cola Caps were produced in 1967 but PSA grades them as 1967/68. If no position to the right of the face, the Cap is a 1968. This was only true for the Team Coca Cola Caps. You know it is 1967 when you see #O10 with position / “IF” for Brooks. In 1968, a cap was produced for the teams without the position to the right. PSA often times marks the 1967 and 1968 wrong. If you are confused, it gets worse. You also have the All Star Set with a number to the left of the face and a Star to the right of the face. There were 35 different caps from Coca Cola, Tab or Fresca. Brooks Robinson is #3. The other variation is the AL and NL All Star Set, which would have “A” for American League and “N” for National League. With this set, Brooks Robinson is A21. I believe to have all the variations of Caps you would need over 500. I will not begin to describe the regional caps outside of what I have for Brooks Robinson such as the WV version.
Today, I will show you the 1967/68 Brooks Robinson from the from the All Star Set depicted with the number “3.” In the picture provided, you will see a Fanta Orange, Fanta Root Beer, Coca Cola WV, Coca Cola, Sprite, Tab WV, Tab, Tab and Fresca. These are all part of my PSA Master Set except the Coca Cola WV Bottle Cap; I have not added it yet. The WV Tab and WV Coca Cola Cap is impossible to find and the Fanta Versions are hard to find, too. I Found a near set of the West Virginia Bottle Caps (minus Mantle and someone Clemente) including two of Brooks I bought from a guy for $2,500 and had the HoF’ers graded and made a profit of $5,000. Based on what I learned from a few big dealers, I sold the big name players from $500-$800 each. I sold them with no real negotiation. My Brooks would likely fetch $600-$800. Selling is not my thing but to get the two WV Brooks caps, I had to do it!!!

[Chstrite]

Day 353 – 18 December 2024
Today I will show you the Orioles Team Brooks Robinson Bottle Cap. It is marked as #010 with the position right of the face from 1967/68 and the version without the position right of the face from 1968. Here, you will see Coca Cola, Coca Cola King Size, Fanta Orange, Fanta Root Beer, Fanta Grape, Sprite, Fresca, Sprite and Tab. As mentioned yesterday, several are marked incorrectly based on the year (with or without the position to the right of the face). I have a 7 of them in my PSA Master Set marked wrong and at some point, I will get them relabeled. All of these are part of my PSA Master Set. Some, once the label is corrected, will be doubles.

[Chstrite]

Day 354 – 19 December 2024
My last day with the Coca Cola Soda Caps. Today is the American League or National League All Star set. You know it is the AL or NL All Star Set based on the Star to the Right of the Face and the Number preceded by a “A.” Brooks was on the American League version. Here, Brooks Robinson is number is A21. I am showing you a Sprite, Tab, Fresca, King Size Coca Cola and Coca Cola. I have a Gold Version PSA does not recognize (bottom right); I believe these came from the Philadelphia, PA area. All of these minus the “gold” version are part of my PSA Master Set.

I am showing you a picture of all of my PSA Graded Brooks Robinson Coca Cola Bottle Caps in one larger picture. In the Brooks PSA Master Set, there are 22 different bottle caps and 13 of the ones I am showing you are highest graded.

[Chstrite]

Day 355 – 20 December 2024
Today, I would like to show you some of my post cards featuring Brooks Robinson. Today’s Post Cards will be ungraded. I will show you more tomorrow, but graded. At the top left, you will see my 1957-1959 Brooks post cards looking to the left and right. These are variations. I am missing the 1958-60, 1961, 1961-64, and 1962 Post Cards. I have some doubles if anyone has any of the missing ones to trade or sell. Would love to find them. Next you will see the 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967-69 (two variations). Moving to the next row or page you will see the 1969 borderless colored post card, 1970, 1971 (font centered), 1972 (font close to top), 1973/74, 1975, 1976, 1977 (dark), 1977 (light), 1977, 1987, and 1947-66 Exhibit Stat Back. Next row or page you will see the 1950-80 J.D. McCarthey and an assortment of other post cards, both newer and older ones.

[Chstrite]

Day 356 - 21 December 2024
Today, I am showing you my graded post cards. Unfortunately, PSA will not accept all of the post cards as part of the Master Set. I have tried but have fallen short with PSA to add more. You will also notice several post cards are graded incorrectly. One of my rarer post cards is at the top left PSA Authentic / Auto PSA 10 circa 1960 Don Wingfield featuring Brooks Robinson. This post card is addressed on the back by Brooks. This is part of the PSA Master and the only one graded. The next is the 1957-59 looking left post card. This one is not part of the Master. You then see the two Exhibit Post Cards Graded as PSA 8s (blank back and stats back). Next is the 1971 PSA 6 graded incorrectly (should be a 1972), which is part of the Master. Then, you will see a 1971 PSA 8 graded incorrectly (should be a 1972), which again, is part of the Master. Next you will see a PSA Authentic Signature from 1973/74 not part of the Master. Next, you will see a 1972 PSA 6 incorrectly graded as a 1973, which is part of the Master. Next row, you will see the 1969 borderless post card graded as PSA Authentic Signature, which is not part of the Master. The 1976 Post Card is a PSA 10, 1977 Post Card PSA 10 Light Background / PSA 10 Dark Background are all part of the Master. The 1979 Coral – Lee and bottom Post Cards are not part of the Master.