Dodgers Blue Heaven: Larry Sherry

Showing posts with label Larry Sherry. Show all posts

Monday, March 30, 2015

Larry Sherry's 1959 Hickok Award Belt Buckle at Huggins & Scott Auctions

Larry Sherry had a pretty good rookie year in 1959. He joined the club in July and had some marginal success as a staring pitcher; going 1-2 with a 3.62 ERA in five starts. It was as a reliever, though, where he really excelled on the mound. In 14 relief appearances that season, Sherry won five games and recorded a 0.74 ERA with three saves and 26 strike outs in 36.1 innings.

But that's not all. Larry Sherry had an even better postseason. Against the Chicago White Sox, Sherry finished all four Dodger victories. He recording two wins, two saves and a 0.71 ERA, and was awarded the World Series MVP by the press. Furthermore, he also won the October 1959 Hickok Championship Belt Buckle given to the best athlete in any sport for that month, and you can see photos of it in this post.

It is currently for sale at Huggins & Scott Auction. Check it out here.

BTW, this isn't the first time I've mentioned this award. Last year I shared a vintage press photo that I had added to my collection featuring Sandy Koufax winning a similar award. He had won the S. Rae Hickok Professional Athlete of the Year Award (Hickok Belt) in 1963. The Sherry award is only for his exploits during a single month in 1959. You can check out that old post here.

(Auction Link)

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Tuesday, June 24, 2014

The 1962 Union Oil Dodgers Player Portrait Set - A Newly Completed Set for My Collection

WooHoo! There's nothing like the joy of a completed set.

Last week, I was able to finally finish off another Dodgers Union Oil Player Portrait set. This time I was able to complete the 1962 Union Oil Dodgers Player Portraits set, and I have scanned it in its entirety in order to share. Earlier in the year, I snagged a 1969 Union Oil set for a bargain of a price. This time, I had to build this set from several large lots I was able to find on eBay.

As you know, these portraits feature drawings by noted artist Nicholas Volpe. The 1962 set consist of 24 different sheets, and measure 8 1/2" x 11". I am not entirely sure if these were given out by select Union Oil gas stations or were a giveaway at games at Dodger Stadium. My trusted standard catalog doesn't provide any clues about that, but it does mention that it has been reported that as many as 200,000 copies of each portrait was produced. I know that sounds like a lot, but considering the passage of time it's likely a vast majority of them are long gone. Still, it's a gorgeous set that tends to command a premium when in great condition.

Check out the entire set below. Click on any pic to embiggen.

BTW, I've got only the 1964 set remaining to complete, and I only need 3 more sheets - Willie Davis, Joe Moeller and Lee Walls.

Larry Burright