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...]
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 photo has emerged showing Johnson in promotional mode at the annual American Toy Fair in New York City. The 6 ½” x 8 ½” Underwood … [Read more...]
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...]
Ball Signed by Walter Johnson (and Walter Jr.) in New Mile High Auction
You're probably well aware of Walter Johnson but did you know the Big Train had a son who also pitched? The story of Walter Johnson Jr. actually came to a sad, premature conclusion but fans of baseball history will appreciate an item in Mile High Card Company’s current auction that pairs father and son. The newly launched Extra Innings auction includes an American … [Read more...]
Packed with History and Intrigue, 1924 Babe Ruth Home Run Bat Now at Auction
No matter how many stories have been spun about Babe Ruth, there always seems to be another one waiting to be told. Here’s one with an intriguing history. The bat used by Ruth when he hit his first home run of the 1924 season was awarded to a high school senior who won a batting title in the Los Angeles area. The bat was an heirloom that was bought by a relative when the … [Read more...]
Photo of the Day: Walter Johnson Gets Calvin Coolidge Autographed Ball
He was a fan like every other resident of Washington, D.C. News accounts of the 1924 World Series reported that President Calvin Coolidge didn't just sit and politely applaud the hometown Senators, either. Coolidge may have had his share of trouble on the job but in the ballpark, he let loose with the best of them, chomping on a cigar, standing to applaud, … [Read more...]
Two Near Mint Mantle Rookie Cards; Historic Memorabilia Part of Goldin Auction
A pair of 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle cards, both in near mint condition, drew bids of over $50,000 each in the first 24 hours of bidding at Goldin Auctions. One card is rated SGC 84 (7) while the other is a PSA 7. Among the 470 copies recorded in SGC's census reporting, just 20 have been placed at a higher tier than the one in the auction. Just over three … [Read more...]
5 Keys to the E91 American Caramel Set
The 1908-10 E91 American Caramel set features generic pictures of players but real names. So while the poses are used for more than one player, the values of the individual cards still vary depending on the name on the card. In all, the set consists of three 33-card subsets, known as E91A, E91B, and E91C. The E91C subset, however, contains the majority of the big … [Read more...]
Baseball, Football Players Highlight 1937 Kellogg’s Pep Cereal Stamps Set
Pep Cereal was a long-running Kellogg's brand that was produced from the 1920s into the 1970s. Mostly, it was viewed as a competitor to Wheaties. In 1937, Kellogg's created a unique 'stamps' set for the product that featured a variety of athletes. Here's a closer look at the pre-war 1937 Kellogg's Pep Cereal Stamps set. 1937 Kellogg's Pep Cereal Stamps Basics The 1937 … [Read more...]
V117 Maple Crispette Set Brought Major League Baseball To Canada
In 1923, the Montreal-based Maple Crispette Company produced a set of baseball cards. With the sport still growing in Canada, the set featured American major league players instead of locals. Here's a closer look at this rare set. V117 Maple Crispette Basics The 1923 V117 Maple Crispette set featured 30 major league baseball players. The issue had a clean look with … [Read more...]