Making its first appearance in the market, a pair of historic New York Yankees items sold for over $1.1 million combined as SCP Auctions closed out its Winter Premier Auction early Sunday morning. The top-selling item was a game model bat from late in Lou Gehrig's career that had been consigned by descendants of his former teammate Earl Combs. Rated 10 by … [Read more...]
Upcoming Exhibit Tells Polo Grounds Story Through Memorabilia
The Polo Grounds will come alive again through an upcoming exhibition located in the shadows of where the extinct sports venue once stood in New York City. “Home Plate: A Celebration of the Polo Grounds” will open at the Morris-Jumel Mansion on August 22 and run through January 5, featuring memorabilia from moments associated with the historic stadium. The … [Read more...]
Photo of the Day: Willie Mays Image from 1952 Topps Card at Auction
It doesn’t get the attention—or the price—of Mickey Mantle’s iconic card from the same set but who wouldn’t want to own the first Topps card of Willie Mays? Like Mantle, Mays was at the dawn of a Hall of Fame career and his appearance in the most popular of all post-War sets is just another element to its stature. Now, RMY Auctions is giving collectors something … [Read more...]
Groundskeeper’s Son Consigns Plate from Thomson’s Homer
The search for the ball Bobby Thomson hit to famously win the 1951 pennant for the New York Giants has been the subject of tavern gossip, news stories—even a book and short film--but what happened to it likely will never be known. The same for the uniform he wore on that early October day. His bat is the Hall of Fame. His cap sold for $173,000 in an auction … [Read more...]
5 Bobby Thomson Cards to Honor the ‘Shot Heard Round the World’
Unless you’re a real historian, you might not realize that Bobby Thomson hit game-winning homers off Ralph Branca in two games of the special 1951 National League playoff. It was Thomson’s two-run blast off Branca in Game 1 that gave the New York Giants a lead in the series. Of course, the one that’s been immortalized happened on October 3, 1951 when Thomson … [Read more...]
Remembering “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World” With 5 Great Bobby Thomson Cards
Sixty-five years ago Monday, New York Giants outfielder Bobby Thomson hit one of baseball's most iconic home runs. Thomson's October blast--forever known as the 'Shot Heard 'Round the World' off of the Brooklyn Dodgers' Ralph Branca--clinched the 1951 National League pennant for the Giants. While they went on to lose the World Series to the New York Yankees, few can argue the … [Read more...]
Ramblings: Post-Season Moments That Begged for Baseball Cards
Do you ever get flashbacks? Well I sure did in those last few innings of the Angels and Rangers game 161 last week. Nothing like being one strike away, again only to see what seemed to be an insurmountable lead evaporate over an excruciating half hour or so. But on the bright side, the Rangers were still guaranteed a post-season berth so at least there was always tomorrow. Of … [Read more...]
Story of Bobby Thomson Home Run Ball Comes to TV
On October 3rd, 1951 New York Giants third baseman Bobby Thomson hit "The Shot Heard Round the World" - the walk-off home run against Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca clinching the National League pennant and achieving one of the most dramatic moments in baseball and American sports history. But the central artifact of the game - the home run ball - landed in the … [Read more...]
Has Bobby Thomson’s 1951 ‘Shot’ Jersey Already Been Found?
Dan Scheinman lives in San Francisco so it wouldn't be a shock to know he's in the tech industry. It also wouldn't be a surprise to know he has a vintage Giants jersey in his collection of baseball memorabilia. It will definitely open some eyes to know that he might just have one of the post-War game's most valuable artifacts hanging amid the rest of his stash. He can't be … [Read more...]
Holy Grails of Baseball Memorabilia
Some phenomenal pieces of baseball memorabilia have emerged from America's closets over the last few decades. T206 Wagner cards. Babe Ruth minor league cards. Papers from some of the earliest games ever played. The whereabouts of others, though, remain a mystery. Strange as it may seem in an era when virtually every moment is not only documented, but authenticated, … [Read more...]