One man was a one-armed curiosity in the major leagues during World War II. Another was the first baseball player to hit more than 60 home runs in two different seasons. And a third was never much of a player but became the Western Hemisphere’s most famous revolutionary. It would seem unusual to lump Pete Gray, Joe Hauser and Fidel Castro into the same category, but all … [Read more...]
“California at Bat” Exhibit to Feature Historic Items from Stephen Wong Collection
Eighty items from the collection of baseball historian and author Stephen Wong are the focal point of an upcoming display at The California Museum in Sacramento. “California at Bat: America’s Pastime in the Golden State” will open on Sun., July 29. The all-new exhibit chronicles California’s baseball history from the Gold Rush to present. Featuring more than 200 rarely seen … [Read more...]
1948 Signal Oil Set Featured Powerful Oakland Oaks Squad
The 1948 Oakland Oaks were a powerful team in the Pacific Coast League, and the West Coast circuit made a strong bid for major-league status several times. That was thwarted when the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants moved to California, but in the late 1940s the Triple-A PCL had some strong squads. Consider that the Oaks, while going 114-74 seventy years ago, won the PCL … [Read more...]
Photo of the Day: Signed, Sealed and Delivered
Joe DiMaggio was young and playing ball on the other side of the country but he was no secret. The New York Yankees caught wind of the speedy outfielder from northern California who had incredible coordination, speed and a little power to boot. By the late summer of 1935, the San Francisco Seals gave their native son a proper send-off. Now, a long-lost news … [Read more...]
Home Run Legend’s Jersey Finds a Home
Sometimes the best memorabilia—and the best stories—have nothing to do with what we often consider the best players. You won’t find Neill “Wild Horse” Sheridan’s plaque in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He spent 11 years (1943-54) in the Pacific Coast League, playing in 1,446 games, driving in 516 runs and hitting a respectable but hardly eye-popping 94 career … [Read more...]
Newly Discovered 1935 Pebble Beach Clothier Postcards at Auction
There was a time when postcards were a cool way to communicate with friends. Lush, exotic photographs of landmarks and hotels, or stunning views of nature were common on the front, with some space on the backs to jot a note — “having a wonderful time, wish you were here,” or something like that. Celebrities and athletic heroes found their way onto postcards too, particularly … [Read more...]
Annual St. Leanders Show Promotes Cards and Camaraderie
If you’re lamenting the good old days of sports card shows — where everybody knew your name, and items for sale were secondary to the conversation and the camaraderie — the St. Leanders Sports Collector Show in northern California is a place to rekindle old memories. The show returns to Ryan O’Connell Hall at St. Leander Church on November 26. It will be held in the parish … [Read more...]
Pacific Coast League Baseball Exhibit
Not that you ever needed an excuse to visit San Francisco... … [Read more...]
Lelands catalogs getting fatter
Lelands purchased a mammoth collection of photographs from the archives of a San Francisco newspaper. Now, the historic pix are being mixed in with the company's auctions. … [Read more...]