The signs in Jeff Martin’s office at his law firm in the Washington, D.C., area turned heads for years. He displayed one of the finest collections of baseball advertising, and now some of them are on the auction block. Martin is offering 32 valuable pieces from his "Capital Vintage Baseball Advertising Collection" in SCP Auctions' current catalog, some of them dating back to … [Read more...] about Baseball Advertising Collection at Auction Traces Game’s History of Endorsements
Walter Johnson
Baseball Cards of Some Greats Who Made History on Opening Day
Opening Day is a time of renewal for baseball fans. Winter is over, and as John Fogerty sang in his 1985 hit, “Centerfield,” “We're born again, there's new grass on the field.” “You always get a special kick on Opening Day, no matter how many you go through,” Yankees Hall of Fame outfielder Joe DiMaggio said. “You look forward to it like a birthday party when you’re a kid. … [Read more...] about Baseball Cards of Some Greats Who Made History on Opening Day
Signed Walter Johnson Game Ball from 1924 World Series Coming to Auction
His career had started in 1907 at age 19 and when the 1924 season began, Walter Johnson had accomplished just about all there was to do in baseball...except get to a World Series. In an era where there was no prize for finishing second, The Big Train's season had always ended before October. Finally, the Washington Senators snared a pennant in 1924 and now an important … [Read more...] about Signed Walter Johnson Game Ball from 1924 World Series Coming to Auction
Original Photo of Baseball’s 1st Presidential First Pitch Up for Auction
He'd been to three games the season before, but William Howard Taft made history 111 years ago Wednesday. The portly president started a tradition that would continue into the next century when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Washington Nationals' Opening Day game. Now, what appears to be the lone surviving original photo from that day is on … [Read more...] about Original Photo of Baseball’s 1st Presidential First Pitch Up for Auction
Photo of the Day: Walter Johnson Debuts His Board Game
When an athlete’s name was attached to a baseball board game, the manufacturer simply paid for the player’s endorsement and the use of his image. Walter Johnson was willing to sit down and play it with a youngster or two. A mid-1920s image showing Johnson in promotional mode at the annual American Toy Fair in New York City is the RMY Auctions Photo of the Day. The 6 … [Read more...] about Photo of the Day: Walter Johnson Debuts His Board Game
“Dear Friend Walter:” Letter from Cy Young to Walter Johnson Coming to Auction
Walter Johnson and Cy Young have 928 career victories between them, and each was dominant pitchers in their eras. As Johnson was winding up his Hall of Fame pitching career in 1927, the Washington Senators decided to have a day to honor the “Big Train,” who joined the squad in 1907. On Aug. 2, 1927 — 20 years to the day after he made his major league debut — Johnson was … [Read more...] about “Dear Friend Walter:” Letter from Cy Young to Walter Johnson Coming to Auction
Congrats and Good Luck, Walter: Johnson-Ruppert Photo from 1925 Opener
It had been a long time coming but on Opening Day, 1925, Walter Johnson came to Yankee Stadium as a World Series champion. News photographers were there on April 14, 1925, capturing a pre-game handshake between the great pitcher and Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert. There's no doubt Ruppert coveted Johnson, who had been a thorn in the Yankees' side for years and … [Read more...] about Congrats and Good Luck, Walter: Johnson-Ruppert Photo from 1925 Opener
Notes: Johnson, Young Photos Top Auction; 1956 Football Pack Rip
If you've seen his 1914 and 1915 Cracker Jack cards, now you know what the actual photo to make them looked like. Heritage Auctions sold an original copy of the early 1910s image of the Big Train in its latest photo auction, which closed Saturday night. The Type I image netted $28,800. In all, five photos sold for over $10,000. A unique 1902 Carl Horner … [Read more...] about Notes: Johnson, Young Photos Top Auction; 1956 Football Pack Rip
Prices for Cards of Baseball’s First Hall of Famers Have Soared
Baseball's first Hall of Fame class is unrivaled and the first induction included only five players. However, the players that were inducted were Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Honus Wagner, and Christy Mathewson, making for as star studded a group to be found. Several other years have also had loaded rosters but none will ever top baseball's inaugural class. Prices for … [Read more...] about Prices for Cards of Baseball’s First Hall of Famers Have Soared
Photo of the Day: Walter Johnson Throws a Silver Dollar Across the Rappahannock River
It started out as part of a tree planting ceremony to honor George Washington’s birthday but by the time February 22, 1936 came around, Walter Johnson was back in the national news, nine years after his last big league pitch. The Big Train came down from his Maryland farm to Fredericksburg, VA at the request of city leaders who planned to plant 400 cherry trees and wanted to … [Read more...] about Photo of the Day: Walter Johnson Throws a Silver Dollar Across the Rappahannock River