The Seamless Baseball

Here is a interesting photo from the Shorpy photoblog from 1925 featuring a seamless baseball created by inventor Samuel Castle and patented in 1883.

The lack of seams is achieved by repeated dipping in gutta percha (a natural latex) which builds up a durable leather-like surface.

Apparently, the ball was found in the archives of the patent office while they were doing some housecleaning. Below is a copy of the patent. If you click the photo it will take you to more patent information.

Old Judge: Brooklyn Rarities

Lew Lipset, proprietor of the Old Judge Auctions, is currently running his April offering. Lew is one of the old sages of the vintage card hobby. Few people have as much knowledge and experience with old cardboard as this man. He was the writer of The Encyclopedia of Baseball Cards that originally came out in 1983 that focused on pre-WWII Baseball cards and, subsequently, ran the Old Judge Newsletter for 10 years beginning in 1985 that updated information from this volume.

Enough of the hero worship, though, below are a couple of nice Brooklyn Dodger items. The T3 Turkey Reds set is one of the more gorgeous of pre-WWII cards. You have to see one for yourself to truly appreciate the artwork. A couple of years ago at the National Convention in Anaheim I had a chance to see proofs in mint condition of the original set and they blew me away. Those cards truly deserve to be hung on the wall of a museum. This lot consist of 3 Brooklyn teammates: Bill Dahlen, Tim Jordon and Matty McIntyre. I have yet to ever add one of these cards to my collection, but I do have a handful of the boxing version of these cards- known as T9's.

Auction Link: T3 Turkey Reds Dodgers:

Here is a cabinet card produced by Joseph Hall Studios in Brooklyn that features the 1890 Brooklyn Bridegrooms (Dodgers). These rarely ever come up for auction. 17 different players are featured.

Auction Link: 1890 Joseph Hall Cabinet of Brooklyn Team:

Upper Deck Hates the Dodgers

Who knew that Baseball cards could be filled with such wanton hate. To align the power and mysticism of the "Great Dodger in the Sky" with such blasphemy is worthy of derision. Tommy Lasorda would put a hex on them. That grand "Baseball Wizard" would curse at you like he did to those pesky reporters after Reggie's 3 bombs in the World Series. To see that a child's pastime could be emblazoned with the sign of Satan has me worried for the future of us all. Of course, maybe I'm overreacting.

The post by the Garvey Cey Russell Lopes blog had me saying to myself, "that's pretty hilarious." Not that I like Satan or anything, but you gotta admit it's pretty funny.

From 1989 to 1993 Upper Deck routinely put a Dodger player on card number 666. Yhea, that's right. Upper Deck thinks the Dodgers are the devil. Check out the Garvey Cey Russell Lopes blog for more; including pics of the other cards.

Tommy Defends Piazza

As some of you know Mike Piazza has been fingered as a steroid user in an upcoming book by Jeff Pearlman. When I first heard of the book my initial reaction was, "I wouldn't be surprised." After all, it seems like many of the superstars from the 90's have been stained by pharmaceutical enhancements. Those superstars who haven't seem to be shrinking in size day by day. So, the allegation of a juiced up Piazza is something I've been expecting to hear for a long time.

Still, I hope it isn't true. Piazza was one of my favorite players and his homeruns were like exploding fireworks with a blueish hue in the deep dark sky.

Coming to his defense, expectedly, is uncle Tommy.

"I don't believe that at all," said Lasorda, the longtime Dodgers manager . "He worked so hard. I saw him in the weight room working out all the time. Whatever (is in the book) is hearsay. I just don't believe it. He comes from a family that's full of good people.

"I wouldn't comment on it if I didn't feel strongly about it. He has too much to lose. And he's such a nice young man. He goes to church, he's got a nice family. I know him. I know what kind of man he is and I just don't believe it."

Unfortunately, my better judgment tells me otherwise.

Blog Kiosk 3/29/2009

Opening Day is on the way.

• More Goose Joak originals from Garvey Cey Russell Lopes blog. This time it's of Dodger catchers. Check the rest of them out here. Go here to see the entire complete set.
• Diamond tells us that the Inland Empire 66ers will be having their own Manny Ramirez bobblehead night on July 17th a few days before the Dodgers have theirs. Apparently, it will be exactly the same as the one being given out at Dodger Stadium, but will be sponsored by a different company.
  
• FanGraphs ranks the Dodgers.
• Must watch the Dodger Dugout podcast featuring the Tivens brothers more regularly.
  
• A Babe Ruth rookie card, 1914 Baltimore News with him playing for the Baltimore Baseball team of the International League, is for sale through Memory Lane Auctions. It's already up to $114,000.00. Only 12 examples are known to exist.
• As some of you know, John Wooden is recovering from a serious illness. Unfortunately, this has caused the request for his autograph to increase greatly. He has always been a very willing and accommodating signer, but his recovery and increasingly debilitating arthritis make it impossible to continue his kindness. Please stop sending him request to sign anything- he just can't do it anymore. The man is 98 years old for goodness sakes.

  ``We hope everyone understands and respects our request,'' Muehlhausen said. (Wooden's daughter)``It is painful for Dad to sign items and he needs to continue to rest and regain his strength after his stay in the hospital.''

• Keith Olbermann, an uber Baseball collector and hardcore fan, is now blogging about Baseball. It is called the "Baseball Nerd." Hopefully he shares some of his collection. He is known to have one of the finest Baseball card collections out there.
• The Big Lebowski original card theme is catching steam. Check out the Achiever Card Blog as he collects even more submissions from all over the web.
• AZ PBS tour of Camelback Ranch.

YouTube Link: AZPBS:
Hat Tip:Vinny Is My Homeboy:

eBay: Snapshots, Trophies and Bobbleheads

More eBay wonders featuring the glory of the Dodgers.

Original fan photographs from the 50's are rare and becoming more collected. There is no better way to capture the charm of the game than to view it from the perspective of the fan. Below is a June 22, 1955 snapshot of Ebbets Field.

eBay Auction Link: Ebbetts Field Snapshot:

Here is a fan snapshot of Joe Black at Vero Beach, March 2, 1953. Notice the background. I'm pretty sure these are the old barracks that players stayed in at Dodgertown.

eBay Auction Link: Joe Black Snapshot in Vero Beach:

Charlie Dressen managed the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1951 to 1953. In fact he was in the dugout when the Giants staged their improbable comeback in 1951 that was capped off by the now infamous "Shot Heard 'Round the World." Below is a holiday photo card featuring Mr. & Mrs. Chuck and Ruth Dressen with a ring of flowers. It measures 5 x 7 inches and is on thick cardboard stock.

eBay Auction Link: Dressen Holiday Card:

I know I'm gonna regret posting up this auction because I do not like to highlight items of questionable authenticity. Needless to say, this is not Jackie Robinson's actual MVP trophy from 1949. The real one sits comfortably on the mantle of Mrs. Rachel Robinson's home. Nevertheless, this is a pretty nice looking copy of the real thing. At it's current price on eBay of $510.00 I think it's already a bit rich though.

eBay Auction Link: Jackie Robinson MVP Trophy:

The 1960's was a great decade for bobbleheads. They had just come into existence and were showing up in souvenir stands everywhere. Some of the rarest bobbleheads from the era include this "Crybaby" Dodger from the "Weirdo Series." Go here for a little more info. It measures 7 inches tall a features a crying Dodger. On the base of the bobblehead are the words, "the kids back home usta give me four strikes!" At the time of this post it was already priced at $230.27.

eBay Link: Screaming Dodger Bobblehead: