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#1
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Rhett Yeakley
I have been around this hobby for a long time and this was new to me, so I figured I would share with the collective. I have always liked the 1902-10 W601 Sporting Life Team Composites, as they are rare opportunities to see players of whom cards were never made. |
#2
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Anthony S.
That's incredibly cool. Thanks for sharing. He looks nothing like Burt Lancaster. |
#3
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: boxingcardman
Nice to see something not related to money on here. Old Doc Graham must be looking down today pleased as can be that he is remembered by baseball fans who never even met him. |
#4
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Jodi Birkholm
Oddly enough, his signature brings incredible money. Although he died in 1965, there are precious few holographic examples in existence. I understand that Kinsella (and Lancaster) created an endearing character, but to me it's silly to base memorabilia value on a fictitious persona, even if some of the facts are indeed true. Then again, there would be no market for items dealing with Calamity Jane and other historical figures whose legends are mired in falsehood if this were the case. |
#5
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Rhett Yeakley
Jodi, to be honest I don't find it odd in the least bit. History (and certainly baseball history) is full of similar examples. Does it really make sense that people collect and pay thousands on players like Fred McMullin, Hap Felsh, Swede Risberg, etc? Maybe not to some, but they are novelties in and of themselves. I for one would rather have his signature than 50 other players who had similar death dates but wouldn't mean that much to me. To each his own I guess. |
#6
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: boxingcardman
I think part of the allure of autographs of historical figures, even historical figures whose stories have been mythologized, is that it allows you to prove that they really did exist. Having an autograph from a Wyatt Earp or Calamity Jane is no less puzzling than having one of Cary Grant or Marilyn Monroe. All represent an effort to touch something tangible that belonged to an exceptional member of the human race, one who has achieved practical immortality. |
#7
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Jodi Birkholm
Sorry, perhaps I should have added that I understand and appreciate the allure of a McMullin or a Charlie Faust. These men actually played a role in the history of the game, and that is the reason why they are remembered. Graham is only remembered and revered due to W.P. Kinsella needing a character with a great name to fit his storyline. It is the character that is loved, not the actual person. Ergo, I find it silly that people would shell out four figures to own something signed by a semi-fictitious individual. Just to show my hypocrisy, I'll happily buy any authentic Graham signatures at decent rates to add a few bits to my savings account! |
#8
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Jodi Birkholm
Adam, |
#9
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: john/z28jd
I always find great interest in players who only appeared in one game in the majors,especially if it happened awhile ago. One of my favorite personal autographs I have is from a guy named Ty Pickup who died back in 1974. He played just one game for the Phillies in 1918 and had a 1.000 avg,1 hit in 1 AB. Gotta love the name and that batting average! Usually if you search hard enough you'll find a cool story behind why a guy played just one game,sometimes all you need to see is the stats and its obvious |
#10
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Rhett Yeakley
Jodi, I understand where you are coming from BUT Graham is not a fictitious person. He was a major leaguer and later became a beloved person in his city of Chisholm, MN and was the town Doctor for nearly 60 years. While it was due to the Kinsella book and the later Costner film that brought him from obscurity to a nearly house-hold name, nonetheless he is now a well known part of baseball (and American) history. I see no difference between him and other "novelties" of the game like Faust. Faust merely had a strange life and suffered from mental/behavioral problems, as did Marty Bergen (a gruesome story there), but all these people are what help give the game of baseball some character (although I hope nothing like what Bergen did ever happens again, and wish it never had) |
#11
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Jodi Birkholm
Rhett, |
#12
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Rhett Yeakley
Jodi, He wasn't chosen at random by Kinsella. Regardless, I am hijacking my own thread as this shouldn't have become a debate as to why anyone would care about Archibald Graham. |
#13
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Jodi Birkholm
Yes, I suppose I am to blame for the hijack. Not to take away from your discovery, which is indeed a great find, but this discussion has been far more interesting (to me, at least) than the usual, "Wow, cool piece!". (No sarcasm intended) |
#14
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: MVSNYC
i'll jump in here... |
#15
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Rawn Hill
I recently visited Jimmy Mains' grave along with his father W. E. Mains who played with many of the 1800's greats. I find it rather intriguing to find out about those that only made one appearance in the "show". Those W.E. Mains bats have a great feel to them. |
#16
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Rhett Yeakley
Here's a 1898 Cameo Pepsin Willard Mains. He is among the best minor league players of all time. He was also born, raised, and died in Maine (one of my favorite places I've lived--at least 2 seasons of the year were nice!) |
#17
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Leslie Westbrook
...is that a player that only had a few (or less) at bats deserves some attention just for making it to the Majors. That said, I don't believe an autograph of that individual is worth much monetarily simply for that reason. But, for whatever "mythological" reasons, if a person's identity takes shape as a modern-day character, then why not celebrate the person that gave rise to that character? |
#18
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Brian
Rhett, thanks for sharing. What a remarkable find. |
#19
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Matt
Rhett - that is fantastic!! |
#20
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Chris Counts
Rhett, |
#21
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Tim
Rhett - Thank you for sharing. |
#22
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Bob Manning
Readers might be interested to know that "Moonlight's" younger brother was Frank Porter Graham, president of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for nineteeen years, and first president of the consolidated University system. A distinguished educator, he was defeated for a seat in the US Senate in 1950 in one of the dirtiest campaigns in southern history. I think I'd rather have his autograph. |
#23
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Steve
Fun and significant find for many folks. Thanks for closing the gap on the most popular baseball movie Rhett! |
#24
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Matt
Rhett - Field of Dreams is our family's favorite movie of all time. I showed your find to my wife with only the hint that it was a minor league team because the player wasn't in the majors enough to have a card made and she immediately said "Is that Moonlight Graham?" followed moments later by "how badly do you want that?" Thanks for sharing the image; it gave us a nice moment. |
#25
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: MVSNYC
"Well, you know I... I never got to bat in the major leagues. I would have liked to have had that chance. Just once. To stare down a big league pitcher. To stare him down, and just as he goes into his windup, wink. Make him think you know something he doesn't. That's what I wish for. Chance to squint at a sky so blue that it hurts your eyes just to look at it. To feel the tingling in your arm as you connect with the ball. To run the bases - stretch a double into a triple, and flop face-first into third, wrap your arms around the bag. That's my wish, Ray Kinsella. That's my wish. And is there enough magic out there in the moonlight to make this dream come true?" |
#26
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Darren
Rhett, |
#27
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Jimmy
That is a realy nice item, great history and movie |
#28
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Exciting New Discovery: Archibald "Moonlight" Graham item (Field of Dreams)
Posted By: Bruce Babcock
A great find. Very cool item. |
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