Daily Conlon: #173 Rube Bressler - Three Dodgers on Third Base

Here is today's Daily Conlon card numbered #173 of former Brooklyn Dodger Rube Bressler as he describes one of the goofiest Dodger mishaps to ever happen.

"Do you remember the time three Dodgers would up on third base? It started out with Babe Herman up at bat with none out and the bases loaded. Hank DeBerry was on third, Vance on second, and Chick Fewster on first. Babe hit a ball out to right field and it was hard to say whether it would be caught or would hit the wall. Turned out it hit the wall, and DeBerry came home from third easily. Vance held up so long on second, waiting to see if the ball would be caught, that he could only make it halfway to home- so at the last minute he decided to play it safe and scampered back to third. Chick Fewster kept on going from first and made it to third, so that as Vance came back to third Fewster was already there, standing on the base. And Babe Herman just kept on going as fast as he could, without looking up at anything. So as Vance slid back to third, and Fewster stood on the base, Babe slid into third from the second-base side!

"The third baseman tagged all three of them."

"The umpire finally declared Fewster and Herman out."

Sounds like a circus on the base paths.

Hunt Auctions: Tootsie's Dodger Collection, Part 2

To follow up on yesterday's post featuring items from Margaret "Tootsi" Chandler's collection, here are more items she stashed away. Along with the Jackie Robinson bat she also received a game used Carl Furillo bat. It sold for $1,300.00.

(Auction Link)

This is a great game used bat of Stan Musial. It sold for $6,500.00.

(Auction Link)

Here is a great Baseball signed by 13 National League umpires from 1947. It sold, for what I thought, was a very affordable price- $125.00.

(Auction Link)

This is a Spalding Sports Show program signed by Babe Ruth on the bottom right. It sold for $1,900.00.

(Auction Link)

How great would it be to be able to get an autograph from one of the original greats? This is a autograph from Honus Wagner. It sold for $550.00.

(Auction Link)

Daily Conlon: #172 Hans Lobert - The Horse Just Did Beat Me In

Here is today's Daily Conlon card #172 of Hans Lobert as he speaks about how "The Horse Just Did Beat Me In."

This is a great story... especially when you consider the Daily Conlon card from just a few days ago about how great a manager John McGraw was. Check this out.

"The mayor (McGraw) asked me if I would race a horse around the bases that afternoon."

"'Lord,' I said, 'I'm not here to run horses around the bases. I'm here to play baseball.'"

"But he wouldn't take no for an answer, and McGraw finally talked me into agreeing to it."

Bill Klem was to be the referee and we were ready to go. A pistol started us , and off we went. I led at first base by at least five feet, and by the second base I had picked up and was a t least ten feet ahead. I was in perfect stride, hitting each bag with my right foot and going faster all the time. But instead of the horse keeping his distance, he crowded me between second and third and I had to dodger to avoid being knocked down. I broke stride, and that was the end. I was still in front as we rounded third, but not by much ad on the home stretch the horse just did beat me in. I still think I would have won if I hadn't been practically bowled over at shortstop.

"Bill Klem said the horse won by a nose."

John McGraw was the master. Can you imagine a manager today convincing a player to do such a thing?

Hunt Auctions: Tootsie's Dodger Collection

Within the confines of old Ebbets Field it wasn't unusual for the fans to build a close relationship with the ballplayers. Sometimes, they new them by name, like Hilda Chester, or heard them from the stands, like the Sym-Phony Band. Other times, a fan becomes so trusted they end up being your child's babysitter. That's what happened to young teenager Margaret Chandler.

Margaret was a born and raised Brooklynite who ventured to games during the golden era of Brooklyn Baseball. She would travel via the subway and would be sure to miss the trolleys as they passed. Eventually, she became a trusted babysitter for Dodger first baseman Ed Stevens and even earned a nickname from the team. Margaret was better known as "Tootsie" due to her Tootsie Pops gifts to players after home games.

What a charmed life she lived as a child as her connection to the team led to a treasure trove of goodies. At the recently completed All-Star Game in Phoenix, Hunt Auctions held their annual live auction at the All-Star FanFest that featured a small lot of memorabilia items from Ms. Chandlers collection. Below are just a couple of things that really stood out to me.

Here is a group of vintage Dodger snapshots taken by Tootsie. Many are autographed. There were 88 photos in the lot and I'd love to see the rest of them. It sold for $500.00.

(Auction Link)

This is definitely the prize of Margaret's collection. Here is a 1947 rookie year game used bat from Jackie Robinson. Along with the bat was a team signed get well card from the Dodgers to Tootsie. It sold for $85,000.00.

(Auction Link)

Daily Conlon: #171 Chief Meyers- Ball Players were a Rowdy Bunch

Here are today's Daily Conlon card numbered #171 of former Brooklyn Robins catcher Chief Meyers. He chats a bit about how "Ballplayers Were a Rowdy Bunch" and how much the game has changed.

"In those days, of course, baseball was different than it is today. I don't mean as a game, although that was different, too. I mean it was not well thought of, like it is today. Ball players were considered a rowdy bunch. We weren't admitted to hotels, that is first-class hotels."

Just check out @OutHossRadbourn on twitter for a taste for how crass those guys got. On the game:

"Nowadays, the pitcher waste so much time out there it's ridiculous- fixing his cap... pulling up his pants... rubbing his chin... wiping his brow... pulling his nose... scratching the ground with his feet. And after he does all that he looks all around at the outfield, and then he st-a-a-a-res in at the catcher giving the sign. Why, he's afraid to throw the darned ball! And with this modern jackrabbit ball, I don't know as I blame him."

2011 Allen & Ginter- Dodgers Inserts

Following up on yesterdays post featuring Dodger base cards to the 2011 Allen & Ginter set, here are some of the inserts you can find.

The next two cards are RIP cards within the set. They are limited in production (the Andre Ethier below is numbered to 50), and contain a hidden mini card inside of it. All you have to do is pull on a tab on the reverse to reveal the hidden treasure. Over time, some of the cards get "ripped" while other remain in its original prestine shape, so prices can vary widely depending on if your a betting man or not. One thing is for sure, most of the mini cards within RIP cards are much scarcer and therefore worth more than your average card. Anyway, there are 3 Dodger RIP cards available- see two of them below. I have yet to find a Clayton Kershaw to show you.


This is an example of a mini Kershaw card that can be found within a RIP card. Notice that it uses a different photo than the normal base card.

The Hometown Heroes insert set is one of the more common sets in Allen & Ginter. Three Dodgers are represented. See them below.

Andre Ethier, Hometown Heroes, #38

Clayton Kershaw, Hometown Heroes, #37

Matt Kemp, Hometown Heroes, #84

I know of only two Dodger relic cards within this years set. It includes a uniform piece of Ethier and a bat cards of James Loney.

Framed Relic #AGR-AE, Andre Ethier

Framed Relic #AGR-JL, James Loney