Heritage Auctions: 1956 Jackie Robinson Game Used Bat- His Last Gamer?

Heritage Auctions is not only auctioning off some choice items from the recently revealed attic find of vintage Baseball cards called the "Black Swamp Find" (see the Honus Wagner graded 10 card, here), but is also auctioning a spectacular game-used Jackie Robinson bat.

This is a 1956 Robinson gamer and is thought to be the very last bat he has ever used in the Major Leagues.  I'll let the auction description take it over from here.

Jackie's last bat? It's more than just a fair assumption. The sizeable stack of paperwork charting the provenance of this historic lumber tracks the tale back to that final day at Ebbets Field, October 10, 1956, and a New York priest and devout Brooklyn Dodgers fan named Father Jimmy O'Halloran. As the story was recounted by O'Halloran to a friend and fellow Dodgers fan named Ron Allen, the clergyman had begun to pester Robinson for a bat late in the 1956 season. On the final day, after falling to the Yankees by a tally of nine runs to none in Game Seven of the World Series, a dejected Robinson approached O'Halloran and handed him this bat. Touched by Robinson's generosity, Father Jimmy insisted he accept five dollars for the gift, which Robinson reluctantly accepted.

Apparently, a subsequent owner showed the bat to should-be-Hall-of-Famer Buck O'Neil.  Buck had this to say:

"When I placed the bat in Mr. O'Neil's hands, he took a step back and gently rubbed the entire bat. He kept saying 'Jackie Robinson' over and over, almost reverently. When I suggested that he swing the bat, he looked at me and said, 'Son, this bat belonged to the greatest, most courageous man that ever lived, Mister Jackie Robinson. Other than the good Lord himself, there's only been one man ever worthy enough to swing this bat, and that's Jackie. But thank you, son, holding it in my hands now is one of the highlights of my year."

I can picture the Wayne's World guys right now screaming, "We're Not Worthy!"

(Auction Link)

Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 7/18/2012

Here's a nice view of Dee Gordon's thumb.  He had his cast taken off recently, pic via instagram.  Below is Gordon's cast- complete with signatures from a bunch of young Dodger fans.  Check out my short post about a young Dodger fan named Christian who signed Dee Gordon's cast this past Thursday at the open workout.

• I hear beach chair give-away night yesterday was a complete nightmare, via Sons of Steve Garvey.
• John Sickels of Minor League Ball puts together a short report on the recent promotion of Zach Lee.
• Ballpark Beer Review: Dodger Stadium, via NonGraphs (Hat Tip: SOSG)

If you are looking to alter your experience through the use of a society-approved liquid drug, then the stadium is ready to provide. Their prices and sizes are very pocket-friendly: you can get a 24-ounce ‘tall boy’ domestic draft beer for $10.25, which is better value than most stadiums provide. These are large beers for a good price.

• He likes us!  He likes us!  Via Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports:

Ryan Dempster’s first choice is the Los Angeles Dodgers and his second is the Atlanta Braves, according to major-league sources.

• John Hoven at Mayor's Manor speaks with Andre Ethier.

Support for the guys in the locker room. It’s one of the key components LA’s hockey players claim helped them achieve success this season as well. During a rough first half and while steamrolling their way through the playoffs, players never turned on each other inside the Kings locker room.

“That’s the easiest thing to do during the season,” shared Ethier. “When you’re with a group that works so closely over the years, it’s easy to turn on each other. You get sick and tired of each other when you’re (together) for six months. So, it’s something where you can’t turn on each other. When things get tough, you just have to pull for each other even more than when things are going well. That’s something you have to remind yourself of and make sure you’re always available when teammates are struggling.”

• "Five Underrated Baseball Card Products of the 1990's", via Chris Harris at Sports Collectors Daily.
• Dodger blogger, Night Owl Cards, speaks with Phillies blogger, Phungo, about the Dodgers and Baseball cards.
• Thomas Boswell at WaPo briefly discusses the Don Sutton/ Steve Garvey brawls from decades ago.

Q: Tom, in the new book 'The Hall of Nearly Great', there's a brief mention of how a column that you wrote about Don Sutton, in which he was quoted as calling Reggie Smith the team's best player, in part contributed to a locker room fistfight between Sutton and Steve Garvey. Are there any details you can provide?

A: Sure. Sutton saved my career. I was a kid reporter. I quoted him accuracy in a feature on Smith, but the L.A. Times picked up a small part of my story and pushed two Sutton quotes together __making it look like one semi- controversial quote (knocking Garvey as not really the team leader). Garvey brought the L.A. Times story to Sutton's locker. They got in a REAL fight. Black eyes. Busted lips, bloody noses. That night, Howard Cosell __the jackass__ had them both on national TV (seperately), both looking like they'd gone 15 rounds with Ali, and "asked" Sutton, "Don, I've known you a long time. I know you would never say anything like that about Steve Garvey." (That's a paraphrase. Cosell was still a horse's ass.)
I think, "My career is over. Sutton will deny the quote __and he probably should because the LA Times screwed it up. Nobody will believe me. Everybody will believe Sutton, Cosell and the LA TImes."
Sutton looks into the camera: "I said it."
That defines a "standup guy."
There's a Dodger back story, of which I was blissfully unaware at the time, but I still can't tell that, I don't think. But Sutton was a champ in all respects.

• All About Cards writes about the Topps employee cards randomly inserted within Allen & Ginter.  I need to work for Topps!
• Ryan G at This Card is Cool shares some Baseball cards he got in Japan.
• Via Guyism, check out the 24 beach volleyball teams to play in he 2012 Olympics in London.

2012 Allen & Ginter: Dodgers Autographs & Relics

Here are the "Big" Dodger hits that can be found in 2012 Allen & Ginter.  To see the Dodgers base cards or other inserts go here and here. 

There are a bunch of Dodger relics/ game-used memorabilia cards. See them all below.

AGR-CBI Chad Billingsley

AGR-JR Jackie Robinson

AGR-JL James Loney

AGR-MK Matt Kemp

AGR-SK Sandy Koufax

UPDATE:  Thanks to Greg at Plaschke, Thy Sweater Is Argyle I find out that the Russell Martin relic card also shows him as a Dodger.  I totally missed that.  Thanks Greg.  See it below.

AGR-RMA Russell Martin

Here is a look at the Autograph insert cards.  There is also a Kemp and Koufax autograph, but redemption cards are inserted instead of the actual card.

AGA-CK Clayton Kershaw

AGA-DG Dee Gordon

AGA-NE Nathan Eovaldi

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Garvey & Cosmo

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

This is a very light weekend for autograph events in the southland.  I do not know of any signings, but there are a couple of events worth checking out.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.

UPDATE: I just added a Maury Wills signing in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, below.  Also, former Angels pitcher Chuck Finley is scheduled to sign free autographs in Santa Fe Springs on Saturday.

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Enjoy an evening out with Steve Garvey at the San Manuel Casino.  This PrimeTicket TV event includes a fully catered meal and interview session.  It is happening tomorrow, Wednesday, July 18th, and cost $40.00 per person.  Go to this link for more information.  


San Manuel Casino
777 San Manuel Blvd.
Highland, CA 92346 (map)

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If you're in Las Vegas maybe a trip to the ballpark should be in your plans.  The Las Vegas 51's are hosting Cosmo Bobblehead Night on Saturday against the Reno Aces.  Only 2,500 bobbleheads will be given out.  Go here for their promotion schedule.

Cashman Field
850 Las Vegas Blvd. North
Las Vegas, NV 89101 (map)

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UPDATE:  Via Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy.

Maury Wills be at the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes game on Sunday, July 22nd.  It is a 5:00 PM game.

Epicenter/Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
8408 Rochester Avenue
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730

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UPDATE II: via the comments section: Larry in the comments.

Chuck Finley will be hanging out at Mike Thompson's RV Superstores in Santa Fe Springs on Saturday, July 21, 2012 from 12:00 pm- 2:00 pm.

Santa Fe Springs
13940 Firestone Blvd.
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
(562) 921-0955

Welcome to the Blue, Stephen Fife

The Dodgers bring up Stephen Fife from AAA (Albuquerque Isotopes) to pitch tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies.  This will be his Major League debut.

Fife was place onto the roster after Chad Billingsley was sent to the DL over a sore elbow.  Via a Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today placed right-hander Chad Billingsley on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation (retroactive to July 8) and recalled right-hander Stephen Fife from Triple-A Albuquerque to make tonight’s start against the Phillies.

A second MRI showed no major damage to his elbow, so I would expect that this will be a short stay on the DL for Billingsley. He is slated to come back on July 23rd.

Stephen Fife was a 2008 3rd round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox.  For a closer look at Fife check out this recent video that features him.  I think this was put together by his college alma mater, the Utah Utes.

Video Link:

Also from the Dodgers press release:

 Fife, who will wear No. 56, is set to make his Major League debut tonight and has gone 7-5 with a 4.53 ERA in 18 starts with Triple-A Albuquerque this season. The 25-year-old has turned it on in his last eight starts and is 4-1 with a 2.78 ERA (14 ER/45.1 IP) since May 30, the fifth-lowest ERA in the Pacific Coast League in that span. Fife last pitched on July 6 against Round Rock (Rangers), allowing just two hits in 7.0 scoreless innings in the Isotopes' 10-1 win.

Hake's Auctions- Some Dodgers Negro League Rarities

Last week I featured a vintage Willard Mullin Brooklyn "Bum" drawing available through Hake's Auctions.  This time around, I focus on some vintage Dodgers to share. All of these items look back at these players careers in the Negro League or Cuban Leagues. 

Below is Acme Newspictures press photograph of Roy Campanella.  He is in  a familiar pose- in full catcher's gear looking up to catch a ball. It is dated to August 1942.  Campy was a member of the Baltimore Elite Giants in the photo.

(Auction Link)

The next two auction items were a part of the collection of Negro League collector Richard Merkin.  Merkin was a American painter and illustrator who taught his craft for over 40 years at the Rhode Island School of Design. His own works reside in the Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian Institution. He also wrote for Vanity Fair and illustrated the book "Leagues Apart: The Men and Times of the Negro Leagues."

Below, is a very young Chuck Dressen.  He was the Dodgers skipper from 1951 to 1953.  This is 1924-25 Aguilitas Baseball card that features Dressen as a player in the Cuban Professional League.  It was not uncommon for American ballplayers to play in Cuba; especially during the off-season. 

(Auction Link)

This photo is phenomenal.  Here is soon-to-be Dodger hurler Joe Black wearing a homemade "Champion Pitcher" crown shortly after the end of the 1951-1952 Cuban League season.  He finished the year leading the league in wins and strike outs, no doubt proving to the Dodgers that he was ready for the show.  That upcoming Spring he would join the Brooklyn squad for his rookie season. 

(Auction Link)