Thursday, February 11, 2010

Goodwin Auction: A Silk Masterpiece

Goodwin & Co. always seems to have some incredible vintage Baseball collectibles and their current auction is no exception. Just check out the couple of items I've highlighted below.

This is a very rare 1911 S81 Silk premium of Brooklyn Dodger pitcher Nap Rucker. These pieces measure 7" x 9" and were produced by Helmar Cigarettes. With a redemption of 25 gift slips packaged within Helmar's Turkish Trophies tobacco products you receive your choice of a silk premium. With regards to the Nap Rucker item, I'll let the auctions own description to speak.
You can feel the energy as Rucker stands poised to rocket into his windup. Upward arcing lines sweep along his back, as twisting flannel twirls beneath his outstretched left arm. Darkness hides the pitcher’s eyes from both the batter and the viewer, to provide mystery as to the upcoming pitch. Shadows cascade down the Dodger blue of Rucker’s socks, as his legs begin their push toward a homeward kick. We believe there are few better examples of the art of the pitch than what was created for this silk showpiece.
I don't think I could have said it any better.

This postcard is just incredible. Below is 1907 postcard featuring a very young Walter Johnson. As you may know, Johnson played in Southern California as a young boy in the city of Fullerton at the turn of the century. Even then he was a great pitcher. One afternoon, for Fullerton High School, he struck out an astounding 27 batters in a 15 inning performance. Later on, his family moved to Weiser, Idaho were he continued to impress fans in the Idaho State League. Soon, they started calling him the "Weiser Wonder"- as can be attributed in the below postcard. This card is the true rookie card of this Baseball legend and is one of only two known to exist. What's even better is that the postcard below was once owned by Walter Johnson. It was mailed to him by a fan and he happily kept it in his own collection.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The Breakfast of Champions

Here is something unusual I came across on eBay recently. Below is a store advertising placard featuring Wheaties brand cereal. The prominent spokesman is Pee Wee Reese. He proudly exclaims, "I eat Wheaties- how about YOU?" It measures 17" x 9" and was in pretty rough shape.

I've never seen such a specimen before so I am uncertain about it's legitimacy. Considering it sold for only $43.01 causes me to think it may be a fantasy piece and not a true vintage item. There are more than enough vintage Dodger collectors out there who would have gladly bidded this up significantly if it was well known. (Remember, it's important to do research first before placing a big bid on a memorabilia item like this placard. Now that I look closer, I see that it is coming from Indiana which causes me to pause. As many vintage memorabilia collectors know plenty of fake/fantasy memorabilia items have been known to come out of Ohio and Indiana- for some reason.) Nevertheless, it's a pretty cool looking.

Monday, February 08, 2010

Dodger Hat Logo Cards

2010 Topps boxes also include hat logo cards and there are plenty of Dodgers to chase. It includes some current Dodgers; like Manny, Kemp and Kershaw. See them below.
It also includes some past Dodgers who you wouldn't expect like Eddie Murray and Ricky Henderson.
Of course, no Dodger set would be complete with some old-time stars. Below are hat logo cards for Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Johnny Podres and Duke Snider.
Topps even went the extra mile by releasing a LA and Brooklyn patch cards for some players. Notice that the Duke Snider card above is a LA Dodger patch while the card below has a Brooklyn logo.
Podres also has two different patches. Here is his LA logo patch.
Here are the Carl Erskine Brooklyn and LA Dodgers hat logo card side-by-side.

Sunday, February 07, 2010

Blog Kiosk: 2/1/2009

  • He is a true Dodger fan! Via Tommy's Twitpic.
    I met this guy at a disabled vets event. He lost his eye and replaced it with a Dodger eye!
  • My First Cards interviews Jerry Reuss.
  • T. S. O'Connell does a great job of writing about the implications of the upcoming legal fight between Upper Deck and MLB. This really does go much further than just Baseball cards.
  • Beckett has some early pics from Topps 2010 National Chicle set that includes a Manny card and a sweet looking Roy Campanella.
  • Dodgers Blue Blog visits Hollman Park in Nahua, NH- former home of the Dodgers Class A farm team that hosted Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe.
  • Sunshine had a great time at the Dodger Caravan.
  • Former All American Girls Professional Baseball League Catcher Norma Metrolis passed away recently, vis Cooperstown Chatter.
  • Are you a fan of Lost? Then checkout Trader Crack's gallery of Lost: Season 1 to 5 Rittenhouse autographed insert set here.
  • Those crazies from the Westboro Baptist Church decide to protest a hockey game?
  • Former eBay employees blogging about eBay in a story by AuctionBytes.
  • If filmmakers directed the Super Bowl.

Video Link:
Hat Tip:The Big Picture:

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Ethier Puck Drop

I had been looking for this photo all day yesterday. Below is a pic from Ethier's visit to the Staples center for the ceremonial puck drop. A bunch of photos showed up today on the Dodger Website featuring this event and other events during the Dodger caravan. Go here to check them out.
(Jon SooHoo/ Los Angeles Dodgers)

Huggins and Scott: Modern Dodger Cards

Huggins and Scott's March auction is up for viewing and it includes some nice modern day Dodger cards. Check them out below.

Regardless of your politics, you have to admit that the below card is pretty sweet. After all, the 2009 Topps American Heritage booklet card featuring autographs of Barack Obama and Jackie Robinson is historically appropriate. Both men broke barriers.

Here is a lot of 6 different 2008 Topps Sterling booklet cards featuring some old-time Dodgers. Click on the photo for a larger view. Duke Snider is featured on 3 of the booklets; including a couple with autos. Roy Campanella and Jackie Robinson have their own booklets as well. Finally, both Campy and Jackie share a booklet.

(click photo to enlarge)