Legendary Auctions: Stuff From Chuck Connors

Before you knew him as The Rifleman he was a Brooklyn Dodger first baseman trying to stick with the big club. Heck, before that he was a forward for the Boston Celtics. Chuck Connors was a man who could do anything. He was athletically gifted and had a flare for acting. His hit show, The Rifleman, ran 1958 to 1963.

Legendary Auctions current offering includes various items bearing his name. Below is his 1948 Montreal Royals (the Dodger AAA Minor League club at the time) Governor's Cup Champions ring. It sold for $2,200.00.

Auction Link: Ring:

This is the neatest item of all. Below is a George Sosnak painted ball featuring Chuck Connors. Now you should know why Sosnak artworks are highly prized within the collector community. This ball is stunning. It sold for $4,000.00.

Auction Link: Chuck Conner Sosnak Ball:

eBay: Dodger Stuff

Here are some great Dodger items I found on eBay recently. Below is a UPI Press Photo of Preacher Roe being congratulated by his Dodger teammates after winning the 2nd game of the 1949 World Series against the Yankees.

eBay Auction: Roe Photo:

In my opinion, the best vintage photos you can get come directly from the fans. Below is a fan created photo of Brooklyn Dodger first base coach Jake Pitler. With the palm trees in the background I would be willing to bet that this is a Spring Training photo. He was a coach for the Brooklyn team from 1947 to 1957 (their last year in the borough). Later on he continued his employment with the Dodgers as a scout.

eBay Auction Link: Pitler Photo:

I have never played or even heard of this vintage Baseball card game. It is called Big League Manager and below is the team set for the 1957 Brooklyn Dodgers. I love the cartoon drawing of the old Brooklyn "Bum."

eBay Auction Link: 1957 Brooklyn Big League Manager Game:

Has anyone ever heard of the Pepsi Dodger Fan Club? Below is a patch celebrating this group in 1972.

eBay Auction Link: Patch:

Sports Collectibles Makeover

As a sports collector geek I find this intriguing. Unfortunately, I live on the West Coast and I rent currently so this announcement is lost on me, but I'm sure there are some worthy folks out there who could use some organization and makeover help. I believe this show may coincide with the National Sports Card Collectors Convention being held in Baltimore next year. From an email I just received from The National.

The HGTV Network is looking to power up with some strong "male" dominance by picking a sports super home to do a fabulous TV "Make Over". Do your sports collectibles grow like weeds instead of flowers? Is it one mess from the doorway to doorway? Then you might be the lucky person who becomes a hero to your wife and family, as HGTV comes in and gives you the ultimate home makeover.

Turn your collection into a true sports presentation. HGTV is casting for families in NY, NJ, CT, PA, MD, MA and other Northeast locations.

Email us about your situation at home, what you've got, where you live, etc. and we will turn all emails over to the casting director of HGTV. This is the real deal! Be on TV and get your sports stuff looking GREAT!

Send all emails to: nicole.ford@leopardfilms.com

All e-mails must be received by 12/31/09 to be eligible.

Card of the Week: Who Me?

Above is this weeks "Card of the Week" and it features a surprised Torii Hunter. The card is a 2008 Topps Heritage card that borrows its designed from the vintage 1959 Topps set. In this card, Torii Hunter looks as shocked as anyone as he pulled off a double-whammy of season ending awards. He took home his 9th consecutive Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger Awards this past season.

Blog Kiosk: 11/15/2009

Only 3 1/2 months til Spring Training.

• Lemke shows off his recent creation of a 1969 Steve Garvey rookie card.
• How did I miss this? Night Owl Cards made a great post back in August celebrating Hideo Nomo's birthday. He shows off a bunch of Nomo cards. It's awesome.
  
• Sully writes a great story featuring unlikely pitchers to finish a World Series.
  
• Follow GCRL as he tries to complete a signed 1978 Dodgers Topps team set. He just received a signed Elias Sosa card.
• Here is a video of the Twins new ball field, Target Field.
  
• An amazing turn of events. After a 53 year run, Topps will no longer be making football cards. They recently lost their license with the NFL Players Association.
  
• Check out some of these great photos on Boston.com from Veterans Day.
  
• In honor of Veterans Day, ESPN is running a series of articles featuring prominent athletes who also served in the Armed Forced. Ralph Kiner writes about his own experiences.
  
• Rinku and Dinesh, winners of the $1,000,000.00 Arm in India and subsequent professional contract with the Pirates, returns home for the Winter to rousing applause. Check it out here. (Hat Tip: Baseball Musings)
  
• Pigeon Impossible.

YouTube Link:
Hat Tip: The Big Picture:

• The video below is some funny and entertaining stuff.

YouTube Link:
Hat Tip: Big League Stew:

Hunt Auctions: Dodger Art and History

Hunt Auction is once again holding their 6th Annual Live Auction at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory this month. There are some "doozies" here including a complete run of autographed & game-used Baseball All-Star jerseys (including Dodgers Broxton, Billingsley & Hudson) from 2009 and Curt Flood's personal collection of memorabilia and drawings.

In fact, I am going to start this post by featuring a one-of-a-kind drawing from Curt Flood of Tommy Lasorda. As some of you know, Flood is an accomplished artist. He initially started painting for other ballplayers, but soon became well known outside that community. A look through this catalog online or in book form will give you a nice peek at some of his work. Check out this incredible painting of Bob Gibson.

(Auction Link: Lasorda Drawing by Flood)

Another very popular Baseball artist is George Sosnak.

Self-taught as an artist, Sosnak (1924-1992) had devoted his life to the game as a fan, player and minor league umpire, even when that meant holding a day job as well. His best-known works are actual manufactured baseballs intricately decorated for a special occasion with India ink and then hand colored.

He painted about 800 baseballs. Below is something a little different from him. It is a 5x8 envelope that has been converted into a canvas and then subsequently mailed in 1988 to a relative. It is a great painting featuring Kirk Gibson's game winning home run blast against Dennis Eckersley during the 1988 series.

(Auction Link: Sosnak 1988 WS Drawing)

The final two items are just incredible. Being made available for the first time are a pair of game-used vintage jerseys from the 1948 Brooklyn Dodger season that were worn by Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson. They came directly from a former coach of one of the Dodger farm teams. Apparently, at the end of each season the big club would hand down old jerseys, pants and caps. Then, they would have the minor league coaches wear them when meeting new incoming players. Afterwards, everything was either sold or just given away.

Below is Pee Wee Reese's jersey. Click on the photo to see a larger view.

(Auction Link: PeeWee Reese Jersey)

Here is Jackie Robinson's jersey. Click on the photo to see a larger view.

(Auction Link: Robinson Jersey)