Sports Memorabilia

[JeffL]

Does anyone here know of anyone who'd be interested in a baseball autographed by the 1957 Cincinnati Redlegs? I received the ball as a gift from an elderly friend about 25 years ago, and it's been in our safety deposit box since then.

The autographs are:

Tom Acker
Gus Bell
Rocky Bridges
Smoky Burgess
George Crowe
Jim Dykes
Bob F???
Tom Ferrick
Art Fowler
Alex Grammas
Don Gross
Don Hoak
Hal Jeffcoat
Johnny Klippstein
Ted Kluszewski
Brooks Lawrence
Jerry Lynch
Frank McCormack
Roy McMillan
Wally Post
Frank Robinson
R??? S???
Birdie Tebbetts
Johnny Temple
Bob Thurman
J??? Wendell????



Jeff

[Packo]

Are you selling it or just giving it away? I would love to have it having met and played with a couple of those guys.

Packo

[JeffL]

Packo, I'd like to sell it for some amount, but I'm not out to get rich or rip off anyone. I'm not a great fan of baseball (especially since the players all became crybabies) and I have no connection to the ball other than owning it. I'd rather have it in the hands of someone who would appreciate it.

The lady that gave it to me (after her husband had died) said they got it at a White Sox/Redlegs game in Chicago. She thought it was in 1960, but I've dated the ball for 1957 by its signatures and the team's roster. She has also since passed away. (He was a bigwig purchasing agent for US Steel and had box seats every year.)

It's definitely a collectible, but I don't think it was signed at a "professional" signing session; different pens with differing inks and colors were used, and despite being safely stored all these years, some of the signatures have faded somewhat. It's stamped "Cincinnati Redlegs," but I don't think it's a game ball since no name (i.e. Spaulding) is on the ball. It has not been handled very much.

Send me an e-mail. oldcoastie6468@earthlink.net

[janecallanan]

Why don't you auction it here, Jeff?

[Drywall]

Paco Maris,
I knew you are a fan and have played the game, but you actually played with some of these guys? Did you play minor league ball? There are some pretty famous names on that ball. Frank Robinson, not too bad of a ball player. Some of those guys had sons who played in the bigs. There are some big league managers on there too. It would be quite a nice addition to any baseball collection.
I have a cousin who used to live with us, more like an older brother than a cousin, who made it as far as AAA ball before he hurt his hand. He was in the Yankee system in the early 60's. I have a ball signed by his class C or D team from about 1960-61. Unfortunaly I can't decipher too many of the names to find out if I have anybody who's now famous.
Wasn't there a AAA league in the Carolinas back then called the Sally League? The old memory seems to tell me that he played out there his last year.

[JeffL]

I'm not interesting in starting a bidding war, Jane, and I doubt that such a thing would comply with the rules of this forum.

On the other hand, if someone offers me a cool mil for the ball.....

JUST KIDDING! JUST KIDDING!

It sounds like Packo would enjoy having the ball due to his connections to the game and to some of the players who signed it. Being kinda new here, I wasn't aware that Packo played the game.

Due to my stupidity, I can't master attaching images to my posts here. I have some photos of the ball that I'd post if only I had the intelligence to do so.


Jeff

[janecallanan]

Do you have the images on your computer? I could get you through the posting part.

[Packo]

still exhists.

I played in Hickory, NC, (The Crawdads), Salem Va, and Charleston, WV (AAA). When I went to Pittsburgh, for a very short time, I met Smoky Burgess, former Pgh Catcher and from Asheville, NC, and Don Hoak. Had Bob, (Hoot) Gibson, from St. Louis throw at my head one time in batting practice. I was crowdinig HIS plate. Sounded like a large caliber round passing. He said, "...that's my plate, rookie". I got up brushed myself off and squeaked, "yessir Mr. Gibson". He was a great guy but a bastard the second he put his foot on the mound. He was with St. Louis and I asked him early that afternoon if he could throw a couple so I could try and hit him. (evening game and he wasn't pitching) I moved off the plate and did hit him a couple of times but boy did that man have a heater! Willy Stargell died still owing my ex-wife money on a bet during the KC Royals/St. Louis series in 85 or 86. I never got to play in a professional game. Donny Caldwell, who pitched in Pgh, and was on the 69' Miracle Mets, is still a buddy and comes to play golf here in a celeb golf tourneyment for the Childrens Shelter that I started here. (the golf, not the shelter) Also have Roman Gabriel and a bunch of other former NFL players attend also. Gabe is still good lookin', the women here all love him, and he can still party hearty. Some of the other attendee's are Billy Ray Barnes, Wake Forest Hall of Fame, 60' NFL Champ Eagles, Ed Bradley, Wake Forest Hall of Fame, 2 Steeler Super Bowl rings, Roland Moss, and a bunch of other great guys. The tourny is the last weekend of Feb or 1st weekend in March every year. We are going into almost our 10th year if not mistaken. Missed last year due to hip surgery but will be playing this year for sure.

Jeff, will email you about the ball. Not willing to pay a bunch for it so you might want to try somewhere else also and see what you can get for it. I agree with your assessment on baseball. Still enjoy watching the game now and then and really love going to a park, (next summer going to Atlanta to see game with DMZ Lt), but don't watch as religiously as I used to. It's a shame.

Packo

[JeffL]

Jane, I had the images but must have lost them during one of the several virus attacks I've suffered.

I'll look some more.

EDIT:

I HATE trying to use this friggin' HP digital camera! It EATS batteries, and what I see through the viewer is NOT what I get. Nonetheless, I did take 3 new photos.

Now what, Jane? :cd: I've tried the test site on this forum, but I was never successful in attaching or including an image with a posting.

Packo, I don't think you understand how easy I am to deal with. Catch my drift, partner?

[Andy]

When you came here all the dogs on the street had a low growl, the weather cooled and the stars didn't shine as brightly as usual. I was sure it was just because you were a Rebel. I had someone at my house who talked to Gibson?!? Don't you know what he did to the Red Sox in '67?!? Oh my God!!! I had you and a Bucky Dent lover in my house at the same time. I need to write Keith and see if he can do any holy stuff to take the curse off our house. Don't tell anyone you were here! I've got to re-paint the whole place. Bob Gibson? If Yaz and Jim Lonburg fine out about this I'll be banned in Boston.

Stay healthy, stay home,
Number 19 Andy