Japanese planes would attack the United States seven years later, but in November of 1934, American baseball players were treated like heroes as they arrived in Tokyo for an 18-game barnstorming trip around the country. There were plenty of ominous undertones during the visit, but goodwill surrounded the 12-city tour. Hundreds of thousands of people jammed the streets in the … [Read more...]
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Photo of the Day: Rare Image of The Babe
You have to get to the ballpark early to watch the visiting team take batting practice but sometimes the road team has a must-watch kind of player. Prior to the homer-happy modern era, no one made BP appointment viewing more than The Babe. A snapshot of one such moment, taken in the stands in Cleveland 85 seasons ago, has made its way to market, complete with … [Read more...]
Photo of the Day: Surrounded by Tobacco and Memorabilia, The Babe Turns 46 (Not 47)
He'd been retired for six years but life went on for Babe Ruth in the winter of 1941. He turned 46 years old in February and although the sports pages had turned most of their attention to Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Hank Greenberg, Bob Feller and the other current stars of the day, Ruth's birthday was still worth a mention...and a photograph. Newspapers throughout the … [Read more...]
The Wayback Collector: Skepticism Should Usually Follow Big Finds
This week, a man was reported to have possibly found a rare Babe Ruth E121 Shotwell baseball card. If real, the card would be quite a find. The story has been appearing on newscasts in Fresno and elsewhere. Part of the reason for that is because Dale Ball of Visalia, Calif. says he purchased the card at Action Sports Cards and Coin in Sparks, NV for the staggering … [Read more...]
1924 Postcard Dates to Babe Barnstorming Stop at Ballpark That’s Still Standing
It was a last minute stop. Babe Ruth and teammate Bob Meusel were touring the west coast in 1924, when agent Christy Walsh struck a deal with city leaders in Dunsmuir, CA, a tiny berg near the Oregon border. The $1,000 asking price had been met and The Babe and Bob would pay their visit, put on their uniforms and play a seven-inning game against local … [Read more...]
Cards of Roger Connor, Baseball’s First Home Run King, are Scarce
Ask collectors about the first prolific home run hitter and Babe Ruth will often be the answer. But before the Babe, there was Roger Connor. Now, Connor didn't slug home runs with the proficiency that Ruth would later do. Not even close. After all, the most Connor managed to hit in a season was 17, a number topped by even average players today. But when Connor last played … [Read more...]
Mysterious Indiana-Sport-Avion Set Includes Babe Ruth and American Football
International pre-war sets aren't always easy to get a handle on. And that's the case with a mysterious issue from France that is believed to have been printed in the 1930s. Indiana-Sport-Avion Set Basics This black and white set includes real images of its subjects. In that way, it was sort of a precursor to American gum card issues that came shortly after it, including the … [Read more...]
Bargain Hall of Fame Cards of the 1930s (Part IV of IV)
Many collectors don't realize how affordable some vintage baseball cards truly are. Collectors don't even have to settle for cards of lesser known players, either. While many issues depicting Hall of Famers are pricey, plenty of bargains exist, too. Over a four-part series, I wanted to take a look at some of the more affordable pre-war Hall of Fame cards available to … [Read more...]
Bargain Hall of Fame Cards of the 1920s (Part III of IV)
Many collectors don't realize how affordable some vintage baseball cards truly are. Collectors don't even have to settle for cards of lesser known players, either. While many issues depicting Hall of Famers are pricey, plenty of bargains exist, too. Over a four-part series, I wanted to take a look at some of the more affordable pre-war Hall of Fame cards available to … [Read more...]
There’s Now a Giant Baseball Card Mural in Arkansas
The city that bills itself as the “Birthplace of Spring Training” has erected a 160-foot full-color mural showcasing baseball cards of five legends who honed their craft in the area. The mural on the wall of a building in downtown Hot Springs incorporates a T206 Honus Wagner, 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth, 1953 Topps Jackie Robinson and a '53 Topps Satchel Paige. A … [Read more...]
