Vintage Orioles mitts and autographs and a Babe Ruth signed radio contract are among the items up for bid at Schulte Auctions.
Several vintage game-used fielders gloves and a collection of autographed baseballs dating back four decades are among the featured items in Shulte Auctions’ latest event, which is now live.
The gloves, baseballs and several other lots are from the collection of Vincent Greco, a fixture on the Baltimore sports scene during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Greco, born and raised in Baltimore during the early 1930s, was a pioneer in the game of baseball. Already a professional photographer while in his early forties, he was approached by Orioles management in the late 1950s as the club began thinking about filming games and practices to evaluate players' performances.
Greco was the first photographer to take a position in the stands with his Bell and Howell Super 8 camera. His commitment and passion paid dividends for the team and especially for the coaches and individual players who could now witness their mechanics on film for the first time. Greco never was compensated by the Orioles but eventually started trading his spare film and equipment to the team for multi-signed baseballs he would receive during Spring Training and the end of the season.
The avid fan had a very close relationship with all the Orioles players spanning the 60's, 70's and 80's, often hosting barbeques. Greco would provide the players and coaches with great pricing on camera equipment and they would reciprocate by giving him game used equipment such as fielders gloves, bats and quite a number of team signed baseballs from various years. Vince expanded his workload providing the Baltimore Colts, Baltimore Bullets and John Hopkins lacrosse with his film expertise.
"My father was a real visionary, not only concerning the videography but he kept everything (memorabilia) and told us the items he was accumulating would be valuable one day,” said Chele Greco-Nutter, daughter of the late photographer.
Included in the collection were 35 game-used gloves from players such as Brooks Robinson, Davey Johnson, Mark Belanger, Paul Blair, Jim Palmer, Boog Powell, Doug DeCinces, Al Bumbry and others. While some have already been sold, others are now being offered at SchulteAuctions.com. Currently posted on the on-line auction platform are game used gloves from Eddie Murray (circa 1977-79), Jim Palmer (Spalding Model 4220), Mike Cuellar (circa 1969-71), Tippy Martinez (circa 1978-79), Dave McNally (circa 1965-68), Paul Blair (Wilson Model A 2000-1465) and Mike Flanagan (circa 1980), to name a few.
"This is one of the finest and most significant game-used finds that I have ever witnessed, said Dennis Esken, an expert on game-used fielder's gloves. Not only were there thirty-five (35) game-used fielder's gloves but they are still in the condition from when the players used them."
The auction also features many multi-signed team baseballs from the Greco Collection including past Orioles teams dating back to the 60's and 70's.
Schulte Auctions provides a letter of authenticity for each game-used glove auctioned signed by Esken and Chele Greco-Nutter. Each multi-signed team baseball from the Greco Collection comes with a letter of authentication from James Spence Authentication.
A 1943 Babe Ruth signed NBC radio contract is also among the top items in the auction, which closes November 30.
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Vintage Orioles mitts and autographs and a Babe Ruth signed radio contract are among the items up for bid at Schulte Auctions. 
Greco was the first photographer to take a position in the stands with his Bell and Howell Super 8 camera. His commitment and passion paid dividends for the team and especially for the coaches and individual players who could now witness their mechanics on film for the first time. Greco never was compensated by the Orioles but eventually started trading his spare film and equipment to the team for multi-signed baseballs he would receive during Spring Training and the end of the season.