Cy Young, Eddie Plank, Rube Waddell, and “Big George” Mullin are legendary names that belong together. Um, hold on a minute there. Sure, the first three are the winningest American League pitchers of the 1901-1909 era. But George Mullin? Who is George Mullin? Born in Toledo on the Fourth of July, 1880, George Joseph Mullin was a gregarious and handsome man, blessed with a … [Read more...]
Helmar’s Card of the Week: Claude Rossman, 1909 Detroit Tigers
We've teamed up with Helmar Brewing Company, makers of some of the hobby's most iconic art cards, for the "Card of the Week". This is the second installment in the series as we again feature one of the company's original, unique creations--and the story behind it. Learn about the cards, the series, the history and how you can own them through these weekly tales from the … [Read more...]
2014 Leaf History of Baseball Cut Signature Box Break
The newly released 2014 Leaf History of Baseball Cut Signature edition is the latest in the company’s line of autograph buy back products. Selling for $40 at Target and Walmart stores, the blaster-style boxes offer one encapsulated autograph of a subject who had an impact in one way or another on Major League Baseball. The product made its debut in 2012. The signatures … [Read more...]
Rare 1913 Ty Cobb Photo Generating Interest
The reason for the photo shoot has been lost to time but it wouldn’t have been unusual for photographers to want to snare a few minutes with the often cantankerous and sometimes violent Ty Cobb. A superstar of the first right who was just entering his prime at age 27, Cobb managed a slight smile for the camera one day in 1913. While other images from this same photo … [Read more...]
Club Official Helps Tigers with Autograph Requests
Hundreds of them pour into the Detroit Tigers offices each week. Autograph requests for players, coaches and manager Jim Leyland. They’re not unlike any other big league team in that regard, but the Tigers try to take an organized, positive approach to those letters and packages with baseball cards, photos and other items sent in by fans around the world. It helps that the … [Read more...]
Ernie Harwell Auction in Detroit
One of baseball's greatest broadcasters--and an almost saintly figure in Michigan--Ernie Harwell was also a collector. He saved virtually everything from his many years as a professional broadcaster. Newspapers, scorecards, programs, autographed baseballs he accumulated and other items that didn't have anything to do with sports. His papers and many other pieces of … [Read more...]
Sharp Dressed Men: 1909 Tigers Team Photo
Getting the boys together for a team picture was an occasion to dress the part of a professional, even if most of mainstream America still had a less than honorable view of ballplayers. Like many photographs of the day, a 1909 Detroit Tigers team gathering was taken in photographer's studio. Captured for eternity are some of the game's all-time greats during their … [Read more...]
Ty Cobb Uniform from 1922 Heads for Auction
A Detroit Tigers uniform worn by Ty Cobb in 1922 will be on the auction block next month. Heritage Auctions says the grey flannel it’s offering in its Nov. 10-11 auction was worn by Cobb in 1922. Consigned by a private collector, the Cobb road set was worn during a year in which he surpassed the .400 mark. “Only two Ty Cobb Detroit uniforms are known to have survived to … [Read more...]
Tigers Now Selling Game Worn, Game Used Items
The Detroit Tigers have opened Game Day Authentics, a store inside Comerica Park that is selling items worn and used by players. Following the lead of several other big league teams using MLB Authentication, the club is keeping a close eye on what comes out of the clubhouse. Each item is tagged and eventually winds up inside the shop. Like most other big league team … [Read more...]
Signed Game-Used Cobb Bat Enters Hobby
On a rare day off in the heat of a 1925 summer, Ty Cobb and his Detroit Tigers teammates were en route from New York to Boston when they stopped at Lake Oscawana, a popular resort area. Exactly what happened that day has been lost to history, but Cobb made a friend in local resident Al Johnson. Now, the bat the often cantankerous Cobb signed and gave away in return for the … [Read more...]