Blog Kiosk: 4/10/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

I think Pee Wee missed his calling. He should've hit the gridiron instead. Per the auction description at Love of the Game Auctions. (Auction Link)

Photo of Reese in the Dodger dugout, wearing a football helmet and posing to throw a football ostensibly owned by 1943 Heisman winner Angelo Bertelli.  Bertelli and Reese were stationed together in the Pacific Theater during World War II.  The photo, in FAIR condition due to several pronounced creases and some water staining, was likely taken in 1948, when news accounts indicate the Dodgers resurrected the white satin home uniforms worn by Reese in the photo.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1947 the Dodgers officially announced, during the sixth inning of an exhibition against the Royals, that they had purchased the contract of Montreal Royals infielder Jackie Robinson. He would be the first African-American to be on the roster of a modern Major League club. In 1962 the Dodgers played their very first home game at newly built Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine. There were 52,564 fans on-hand to watch Johnny Podres throw the first pitch to infielder Eddie Kasko -- who promptly doubled in the at-bat. Duke Snider would record the first Dodger hit with a single in the second inning.  Unfortunately, the Dodgers would lose the game to the Reds, 6-3. Reds outfielder Wally Post hit the first homer at the stadium during the seventh inning to lead Cincinnati.
• Happy Birthday, Bob McGraw, Chuck Connors, Lee Lacy, Mike Devereaux, Alberto Reyes, Andre Ethier & Charlie Culberson!

Vintage Dodger Photos on Auction -- Koufax, Ebbets and Ruth... Oh, My!

Even with the national shutdown in effect numerous auction houses continue to operate 'business as usual' -- which should come as no surprise. Items have already been cataloged, so why not have collectors do some bidding. Whether that's wise, considering a potential downturn in values, only time will tell. Thankfully, none of that really matters to us since we can use these auctions as a little respite to change-up the day.

Right now there are two auction houses I wanted to focus on here -- Love of the Game and Hunt Auctions. Both of these companies have some fantastic vintage photographs I wanted to point out to you.

For instance, check out the above Sandy Koufax photo.

How often do you see an action photo of Sandy taking a mighty swing? It was taken by noted photographer Bud Gray and is available through Love of the Game Auctions (Auction Link). Bud had began his career as a photographer for the Navy during WWII, then as a photojournalist for the Herald Examiner and UPI, and a still photographer for Universal.

To the right is another Sandy Koufax photograph. (Auction Link) This time he is photographed during his very first no-hitter, dated June 30, 1962. On this day he struck out 13 hapless Metropolitan batters.

Some Dodger Goodies at Love of the Game Auctions

Here's my newest post featuring vintage Dodgers memorabilia currently available on auction. This time I take a look through the 'Love of the Game Auction' summer premier catalog, and it fortunately doesn't disappoint.

First of all, there's the above 11" x 13" stadium giveaway card that commemorates the 1966 "Salute to the Stars" celebrity All-Star Game. (Auction Link) As you can see, Milton Berle, Pat Boone, Bobby Darin, Phyllis Diller, Annette Funicello, Dean Martin, Mickey Rooney, Dale Robertson, Sweet Lou Johnson, Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale can be seen on the card. Additionally, the auction listing shares a promotion video from the 1966 celebrity game that includes highlights and some snarky commentary by Bobby Darin. You can watch it below.

Some Dodger Heirlooms at Love of the Game Auction

Here's a look at some premium Dodgers-related memorabilia that are currently available at Love of the Game Auctions -- the most notable item being the 1959 Gold Glove Award that was given to first baseman Gil Hodges (seen on right). (Auction Link) Apparently, this is the first time this item has ever appeared on auction.

The oddest and most unique item is the below vintage board game produced by Kamm Games Inc. in 1947. (Auction Link) It is called "Casey on the Mound" and it featured Dodgers star righty Hugh Casey.

A Vintage Dodger and a Negro League Great Found at Love of the Game Auctions

I thought I would share a couple of cool items I ran into when I checked out the current offerings from "Love of the Game" auctions; including an old-tyme Dodger player and a fantastic postcard photo of one of the early great Cuban ballplayers.

Short and stout with a mustache that would make todays hipsters green with envy, Jim McTamany played three years for the Brooklyn Grays (this is the Dodgers, as they were once known) in the mid to late 1880's.  Born a Philadelphia kid, he was known for his defensive prowess in centerfield and soon became well regarded for his ability to get on-base.  Unfortunately, that later skill didn't come until after he played in Brooklyn. 

McTamany recorded over 100 walks for three straight seasons, and lead the league in runs scored and walks in 1890 as a member of the Columbus Solons of the American Association.  Soon thereafter, though, he disappeared from Major League parks.  His batting average quickly eroded til he finally left the game in 1894 at the age of 30. 

Featured above is a 1887 Old Judge N172 tobacco card of McTamany as a member of the Brooklyn Grays.  It is currently on auction at Love of the Game Auctions.  Check it out here.

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The real photo postcard below is just fantastic.  It features Baseball Hall of Famer and Cuban great Jose Mendez in his Sunday best.  Check out the auction here.  I'll let the auction description tell you a little bit about who he was.

El Diamante Negro ("the Black Diamond") is a legend in his home country of Cuba, one of the players inducted into the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame's inaugural class in 1939.  Mendez rose to worldwide fame after throwing 25 consecutive shutout innings in three appearances against the Cincinnati Reds, including a one-hit complete game shutout.  Soon after, he pitched two more shutouts, racking up 43 consecutive scoreless innings.

An arm injury in 1914 caused Mendez to move to shortstop, where he played with the Detroit Stars and Chicago American Giants of the Negro Leagues, ultimately landing with the Kansas City Monarchs as player/manager, winning three consecutive pennants between 1923-25.  In the first Negro League World Series in 1924 against the Hilldale team, he appeared in four games, posting a 2-0 record including a shutout victory in the final game. 

No less a baseball mind than John McGraw called Mendez "sort of Walter Johnson and Grover Alexander rolled into one."

(Auction Link)

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A Vintage Card Auction: Jim Gilliam & the Bridegrooms

Love of the Game Auctions has a couple of great Dodgers related collectibles I wanted to share with you.

Below is a relatively unknown vintage Puerto Rican Winter League Baseball card of Dodger great Jim Gilliam.  This set was issued from 1950-51 by Toleteros in Puerto Rico, and are fairly scarce.  It has really only been in the last decade that the collecting world has taken notice of this set. 

One of the great things about this and other sets from the island is that it includes many Negro League players who do not appear in any other card set.  In fact, this particular set includes the only known Josh Gibson card in the hobby.  It is the Holy Grail of Negro League cards, and it's value matches its rarity.  There are only about a dozen known Gibson cards.

The below Gilliam card, although not as scarce as the Gibson card, is a tough find and counts as one of his earliest issues.  As you can see, he played for Cangrejeros de Santurce in Santurce, San Juan.  They currently play at Hiram Bithorn Stadium.

UPDATE:  I've always thought there was something strange about this card, and now that I look at it again I can't help but think that Toleteros used the wrong photo.  The photo they used just doesn't look like Jim Gilliam.  Am I wrong?

(Auction Link)

The next item below is super rare.  It is a 1898 Cameo Pepsin pin of the Brooklyn Bridegrooms.  The Dodger team of that era, according to lore, were dubbed the Bridegrooms due to a large number of players who were wed at the same time.

This Cameo Pepsin pins measures 1 1/4" in diameter and still retains the original advertising insert on the reverse.

(Auction Link)

(Auction Link)

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Love of the Game Auctions: War Bonds Jubilee and Joe DiMaggio

With the 2012 Baseball season officially at a close, I think I will spend this moment to focus on a couple of great vintage memorabilia items I ran into at a Love of the Game Auction online.  They are not Dodgers related, but do include some great items featuring a few old-time Hall of Famers.  Take a look below.

(Auction Link)

With Major League Baseball recently honoring ballplayers who have served in the military, I thought these items would be great to take a look at.  First, above is a vintage 1943 RPPC (Real Photo Postcard) of Joltin Joe DiMaggio playing ball in front of a large crowd of military personnel in Camp Cooke in California.  Camp Cooke is now called Vandenberg Air Force Base.  His swing is unmistakable in the photo as he looks up to sky in search of the ball that he just hit to deep left field.  This postcard did not sell, but I think the opening bid of $1,500.00 had a lot to do with that. 

(Auction Link)

Here is another military related memorabilia item that was on auction.  Here is a vintage photo from 1943 featuring 7 of 12 living and 3 future Hall of Famers at the War Bonds Jubilee on August 26th at the Polo Grounds. From the top row, left to right: Duffy Lewis, Eddie Collins (HOF), Roger Bresnahan (HOF), Connie Mack (HOF), Bill Klem (HOM), Red Murray, George Sisler (HOF), Honus Wagner (HOF), Frankie Frisch (HOF), Babe Ruth (HOF), Walter Johnson (HOF), and Tris Speaker (HOF).  From the auction description about the event: 

In 1943, New York Journal-American reporters Max Case and Bill Corum had the idea of assembling a team of All-Stars from the New York Yankees, Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants to play against a team of All-Stars from the US Army.  Hosted at the Polo Grounds in upper Manhattan, the "War Bonds Jubilee" became a massive event, featuring actors, singers, comedians and dance bands, and was capped by an exhibition of baseball's all-time greats.

After the New York All-Stars beat the Army's New Cumberland Reception Center team (a team that featured future Hall of Famers Hank Greenberg and Enos Slaughter) 5-2, the all-time All-Stars took the field.  Sid Feder of the Associated Press chronicled the event as follows:

"There were still 35,000 lumps in 35,000 throats around the village Friday, all because a dozen old men walked out on a ball field.  As they spread out on their regular spots on the field, the lump you got in your throat and the moisture in the eyes of some of the most blasé baseball writers in the press coop were more than enough to prove that the baseball fan is at least part elephant.  He never forgets.

"It didn't matter that in fielding some of Babe's "practice shots" Murray fell down, Speaker was practically decapitated and Collins was all but carried into right field by a line drive.  The folks had a look at 'em, and the Babe finally parked one.  That was the icing on the cake."That home run, which the mighty Ruth served up against the great Walter Johnson, would be the last home run Babe Ruth ever hit in a major league ballpark.

The Jubilee would help sell a staggering $800 million in war bonds to help fund the American war effort.

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