Daily Conlon: 199 through 207

Back in the saddle again.

After a brief respite from scanning and posting about the Conlon set, I am back (hopefully) with a fervor. Check out todays Daily Conlon cards numbered 199 through 207. To see my past entries featuring this set go here. 8 of the cards shown takes a look at early Baseball history by focusing on the unassisted triple play. And as you can imagine, a Dodger would have to be a part of this history lesson.

On the middle row, far left is former Dodger Clarence Mitchell. He hit into a unassisted triple play on October 10, 1920. Yes, that was during the 1920 World Series, the only time that has ever occurred. It happened during Game 5 of the Fall Classic against the Cleveland Indians. The play was performed by Bill Wamby (Wambsganss) whose own card about the event is on the top row at center. Wamby describes it as such:

"Well, Jim Bagby was pitching for us, as he served up a fast ball that Mitchell smacked on a rising liner toward center field... I made an instinctive running leap for the ball, and just barely managed to jump high enough to catch it in my glove hand. One out... as I continued to second I saw Pete Kilduff still running towards third... so I kept right on going and touched second with my toe (two out) and looked to my left. Well, Otto Miller, from first base, was just standing there, with his mouth open, no more than a few feet away from me. I simply took a step or two over and touched him lightly on the right shoulder, and that was it. Three out. And I started running in to the dugout."

Click any pic to embiggen.

Blog Kiosk: 8/19/2011

Thank you Miss Rossi for being True Blue. (Pic via twitpic@thebrettrossi)

• Check out the first class of the ESPN Los Angeles Hall of Fame, here.
  
• Sinatra family, as a season ticket holder, seeks to be represented in the Dodger BK, via Bloomberg.
  
• LFP always finds a way to make pictures out of words. This one hits it right on the head.
  
• Has anyone seen this yet? Former Dodger Jerry Reuss has a bunch of photos up on flickr. Check them out here.
  
• With the season quickly coming to a close Topps starts to focus on their 2012 card offerings by unveiling their design for next years base set. See it below.
• Foul Bunt shares some of his photos of World Series pins taken during his trip to Cooperstown.
  
• What's better than finding out that the Angels have a oxygen tank in their clubhouse? Finding out that Torii Hunter got trapped in it. Via Deadspin.
  
• Us geeky collectors strive to be hip, via Cardboard Junkie.

A Last Look at the National

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend the National Sports Collectors Convention this year, and probably won't be able to attend one in the future unless it comes back out west. Fortunately, the wonder of the internet allows me to enjoy the show like I was there. Still, most of what I had seen in photos so far was lacking. Sure, I liked seeing some of the give-aways and modern cards available in Chicago, but how about the vintage stuff. Does anyone have pics of the really old stuff?

Yes, after a couple of weeks those photos are starting to crop up and they truly show why the National is a must for serious collectors and sports history buffs.

First, check out this story from Bill Simmons as he puts together a nice 16 part photo gallery essay about the show, here. I suggest taking a look at all 16 pages.

Then, you have to check out Carlton Hendricks of Sports Antiques.com for his spread of 444 photos focused primarily on sports memorabilia from the National. Go here now. You won't regret it. To wet your whistle check out a couple of photos below.The above press photos come from the Sporting News Archives collection. Below is a case filled with the kind of stuff I like to see. Here are some late 19th century/ early 20th century Baseball artifacts. I believe on the top left are some postcards made of leather (circa 1910's) and on the bottom left are some 1880's Victorian Baseball themed trade cards. Of special note are the very scarce Sporting News issue with the yellow bottoms. I really love those cards and regret not buying a large lot of them several years ago in a Lew Lipset Auction.

Hunt Auctions: Some Dodger Goodies

Hunt Auctions just recently closed their most recent online offering and it included several nice Dodger related items. Below are just a handful I thought stood out.

Back in 1999 the Dodgers held a fan voting contest naming the greatest Dodgers of the past. Then, artist Paul Rogers was commissioned to create a series of murals of those greatest Dodgers to be placed on the outfield walls of Dodger Stadium. (If anyone has photos please pass them along.) Soon thereafter, the Dodgers released a group of patches based on those drawings, 23 in all, that were worn by players and coaches on their uniform sleeve. Better yet, each individual had the opportunity to choose for themselves who they wanted on their uniform. The Dodger sold very limited quantities to fans, so they are fairly scarce. On top of that, Sandy Koufax refused to license his image for the project. As a result, less than a dozen are believed to exist anywhere. Below is a framed display of 17 of those patches that sold at Hunt's for $228.00. Strangely, it once belonged within the personal collection of Curt Schilling.

(Auction Link)

Here is a Tommy Lasorda plaque that was personally signed and given to fellow Hall of Famer Robin Roberts. It includes the following note,

"To Robin - you and the Dodgers are both great. Your friend Tom Lasorda."

It Sold for $200.00.

(Auction Link)

This is clearly the best item available in this auction. It is a used ticket and program from Sandy Koufax's 4th no-hitter against the Chicago Cubs on September 9, 1965. It sold for an astounding $6,905.00.

(Auction Link)

Group Break Winnings

This post is coming several weeks late. Last month I participated in a Group Break put together by Nachos Grande. It included a whole bunch of different boxes; including 2006 Bazooka, 2003 Fleer Showcase and 2001 Topps Archives. Check out the booty below. Click any pic to embiggen.
The 2006 Bazooka cards above takes a look at a better time in the Dodger franchise. The Dodgers were to make the playoffs for the second time in three years. Andre Ethier would establish himself as a everyday outfielder and a future star on the team. We would be introduced to Matt Kemp, Russell Martin, James Loney and Chad Billingsley that year. The future was bright. Heck, mix in some stable and productive veterans like Nomar and Jeff Kent and a championship was sure to be around the corner. Man, that was a long time ago.
The below cards are what I was really hoping for. Here a bunch of Dodgers from the 2001 Topps Archives set. I had heard of the set and seen plenty of pictures, but this is the first time any of them have been added to my collection.
My one hit isn't even a Dodger. As a consolation each participant was given a second team in the group break and my team was the Diamondbacks.

Blog Kiosk: 8/17/2011

Will Smith with Wango Tango at Dodger Stadium in 1999, via LADodgers Twitter: yfrog Josh Rawitch.

• Best Plascke take-down ever, via Barstool Sports.

  Oh, I get it. He’s another one of these pedantic, mealy mouthed kooks jumping behind the wheel of the Pussification of America bus and stepping on the gas. Kids competing against each other? Some failing, others succeeding? Only one winner and everyone else loses? Oh, the horror! These kids will be scarred for life! They’ll never be able to get over the pain! It’s child abuse! Child abuuusse!

• Ted Sobel speaks with Justin Sellers.

  Sellers was coming off of last night’s cloud 9 game when he collected his first big league hit and today he topped that by sending Houston starter Jordan Lyles to the showers with his first major league homer.

  (Hat Tip VSIMH)
  
• Dodgerbobble takes a look at bobbleheads from the California League.
  
• GCRL reminds us that today is the 19th anniversary of Kevin Gross's no-hitter.
  
• Are you ready for the Yu Darvish insanity tour, via Yakyubaka? He has hired American agents. (Hat Tip: Baseball Mussings)
  
• Howard Cole of the OC Register speaks with Baseball Reliquary's Terry Cannon.
  
• Best list ever! Top 5 athlete movie/tv appearances, via Deadspin.
  
• OK. This is just plain awesome. Check out a a 360VR interior view of the Space Shuttle, here.
  
• This is an epic marriage proposal. Complete with the San Diego Comic Con as a backdrop and Patrick Stewart saying, "engaged."
  

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