Collection: N28 More Billiards

Here are some more vintage Allen & Ginter N28's from my set. These are the remaining 6 billiards & pool players that I have. Click on them to enlarge. They had all been graded by SGC when I purchased them as a lot on eBay some 5 to 6 years ago. I remember it being a pretty good deal at the time. (I usually could care less about card grading, but If I had to use those services then SGC is always my first choice for vintage cards.)

Funny thing, though, is that now that I review my set I find that I am missing 1 billiards player, named J. Schaefer. I had originally thought I had all the non-Baseball players in my set, but, alas, this apparently is not true. Fortunately, it shouldn't be very costly to pick one up in decent shape. So, this leaves my current set just 8 cards short of total completion.

Jackie on the Dirt

Here is an interesting 1951 press photo showing Jackie Robinson laying prone on the infield dirt. Monte Irvin of the New York Giants looks over his right shoulder towards Jackie as he heads onto second base. I'm not sure if Robinson snagged the ball, or dove and missed. All I know is that my imagination is running wild. Maybe Irvin hit a liner to the gap for a double and Jackie is snagging an errant throw from right fielder Carl Furillo. Who knows? This great photo was found on eBay.

(eBay Auction Link)

Uncle Robbie and his Dogs

Dated a little over a year before he passed away, Wilbert "Uncle Robbie" Robinson sits on his porch with his trusted dogs below. It is a Wide World Press Photo from 1/7/1933. By this time he had retired from the game. Robinson managed the Brooklyn team from 1914 to 1931, and was so beloved they nicknamed the team the Robins in his honor. He was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1945.

(eBay Auction Link)

“Pistol” Pete Reiser Collection

The recently opened Huggins & Scott Auction includes a massive collection of "Pistol" Pete Reiser cards and memorabilia. Peter Reiser was one of the more heralded rookie ballplayers to ever put on a Brooklyn uniform in the early 1940's. He could hit for average, had some power, would play the outfield with speed and determination, and could swipe a few bases when desired. Pete was a 5-tool player.

Unfortunately, Pistol Pete was also very unlucky. As Vin Scully mentioned last night during the game against the Giants, Reiser was accident prone. I'll add that he was probably a little reckless too.

Reiser gave great effort on every play in the field, and was therefore very injury-prone. He fractured his skull running into an outfield wall on one occasion (but still made the throw back to the infield), was temporarily paralyzed on another, and was taken off the field on a stretcher a record 11 times. Pete was once given his last rites in the ballpark.

He either had balls of steel or knocked too many marbles around in his noggin. Anyway, here are some pics from the auction that includes 55 different vintage and scarce Pete Reiser cards.

(Huggins&Scott Auction Link)

Broxton: One of the Best Fastballs

Coming out soon, in Sports Illustrated newest issue, is a players poll asking "which pitcher has the best fastball."

Not surprisingly, Jonathan Broxton is second on the list. Sure, he has had some issues lately, but with a ERA of 2.50 and a phenomenal walk/strike out ratio of over 6 to 1, I think it is overkill to claim he isn't the right man to be the Dodger closer.

Housework!?!

Here is a great eBay find of a vintage 1960's stadium give-away of a Dodger apron. A lovely lady fan proudly wears her cap and holds her flag declaring her devotion. She has decided to take the afternoon off and go to the game. It reads, "The heck with housework... Let's see the Dodgers play!" I've seen this great item in the past, but never in this condition.

(eBay Auction Link)