Any Item In Your Collection HOF Worthy?

[gingi79]

Re: Any Item In Your Collection HOF Worthy?

Sadly, Steve is no longer a member here but let's get this thread pumping again.

I own jerseys of future HOFers in both Baseball and Hockey and a player whose number is retired by the franchise. I even own a jersey whose only mate is owned by the HHOF but I don't believe I own anything that any sports HOF would be interested in displaying.

[sylbry]

Re: Any Item In Your Collection HOF Worthy?

Hauls of Shame's latest post:

http://haulsofshame.com/blog/?p=12399#more-12399

Bat discussed is own by former GU member.

Babe Ruths very last at bat game used bat; It is important to note this bat is a one-year model 1932 bat. It was picked up off the field by Wally Berger, who upon hearing the Babe utter the imfamous words "I quit". asked Ruth if he could keep tha bat as a momento. Babe replied "Sure kid, keep it." Wally Berger kept the bat as his favorite keepsake until the day he died. His wife ended up giving the bat to Barry Halper, where the bat resided until the famous Halper collection auction of 1999. The fact that the bat is a 1932 model, many historians have argued, that it could have been one of Babe's favorites, and a bat that having been around for four years may have been used to hit a substantial amount of Babe's late home runs. Although that is pure speculation, one has to wonder why Babe would keep a bat around from 1932 and still be using it in 1935....the bat that marked the end of the most hollowed career in baseball history.

[Swoboda4]

Re: Any Item In Your Collection HOF Worthy?

Steve,
Thanks for the compliment on the Stephenson piece. I would donate it to the Hall of Fame for the sole reason of enabling Mr. Stephenson to "make" the Hall of Fame. What's interesting is that he sent the questionaire to a fan long after he retired ,at a time when he could have been bitter at what current players were making and true to who he was,he remained a gentleman athlete in the best sense of the word. Imagine being the quaterback at Alabama and a lifetime .336 major league hitter over 14 seasons, and a precious few knew who he was. I find that amazing. And that's who I admire. The common man who attains great things and remains a common man.
I love baseball letters and notes and the market to my benefit, has ignored them.
Another small piece:


This forum is designed for us to escape the maddening world around us so don't get too riled up on certain contentious issues. I try to attack the issue and not the author (I try!)and that succeeds mostly. Anyway,I suggest a good Coppola Cabernet and a Opus X cigar,enjoy your collection damn it.
By the way,this thread didn't even scratch the surface of what the members of this Forum own privately. I would almost challenge the HOF, Us vs Them. As an example, check out member Seth Swirthy's collection.

http://www.seth.com/coll_histbseballs_tn.html

And member Andy Fogel,the greatest private Met Collection:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/sports/baseball/24cheer.html

I can go on and on. We have a lot of Hall of Fame worthy items.

[suicide_squeeze]

Re: Any Item In Your Collection HOF Worthy?

I thought of loaning or donating one of my Rickey Henderson jerseys for this, his HOF year. However the previous threads regarding loans and donations to the Hall had me concerned as to a potential return if any. So I'm still undecided as to that call.
Regarding an earlier post, those bats pictured, Ruth, Mays, Aaron etc, those are the kind of bats you want to stand near in the HOF and have someone take your picture with them. They're more of an artifact than a collectible or a "piece." Real nice treat it is to view those beauties. Thank you.
Dan

Dan....wow, thanks. Coming from you, I sincerely mean "thanks".

I wouldn't worry about "loaning" anything to the Hall with the worry of not getting it back. As mentioned earlier in this thread, there are forms that accompany any artifact being donated....and I guess that would be the same if it were a loan. They would not "accept" your item if the paperwork wasn't "signed" by yourself. Of course, this would allow you ample time to read all the disclosure and figure out if what you were about to send there way was, in fact, a "loan", or a "gift donation".

It is apparent they do take "loans" for different reasons at times....so you very well may be the go-to guy for Henderson, if they need an authentic jersey of his for a display. Look into it, that would be pretty darn exciting to have one of your items displayed in the Hall of Fame. I know I'd be proud if they ever displayed one of mine.

Regards,

Steve

[joelsabi]

Re: Any Item In Your Collection HOF Worthy?

(cont.)

Steve,

did the writer of the book Smithsonian Baseball ever ask you to be a part of his book. You have one of the nicest collection I have seen.

Thanks for sharing

[Danny899]

Re: Any Item In Your Collection HOF Worthy?

I thought of loaning or donating one of my Rickey Henderson jerseys for this, his HOF year. However the previous threads regarding loans and donations to the Hall had me concerned as to a potential return if any. So I'm still undecided as to that call.
Regarding an earlier post, those bats pictured, Ruth, Mays, Aaron etc, those are the kind of bats you want to stand near in the HOF and have someone take your picture with them. They're more of an artifact than a collectible or a "piece." Real nice treat it is to view those beauties. Thank you.
Dan

[suicide_squeeze]

Re: Any Item In Your Collection HOF Worthy?

suicide_squeeze,

Just wondering how much Mays got from you to sign and inscribe? Last i saw he wanted $500 for regular bats. Thanks.

For respect to Willie Mays, whom I worked very hard to accomplish this feat, I would rather not say at this time. However, if you email me at suicide_squeeze@roadrunner.com with a phone number to call you, I would be happy to share that info with you on a one-on-one basis.

I hope you understand, I respect the fact that Willie signed and inscribed the bat for me and to be honest, I just don't want to give off a wrong impression about the man. I will forever be greatful for him oblidging my request. What it has done, is it has given the collecting world of baseball a Willie Mays item that is incomparable in provenance. I don't know if Willie 500th home run bat is in the Hall of Fame or not, but if it is, it is probably not signed, and definately not inscribed as such, as it is my understanding, from Willie Mays himself, that this ("will be")....and now is, the ONLY signed and inscribed home run bat of his in existence.

Suffice it to say, he was aware of it's value. He was also aware that if he refused to sign game used items, the word got out there that if you shoved enough "Benjamins" in his face, you could eventually, maybe, if you could prove what you were asking for was legit.....get your item signed. But the one thing I respect most about Willie is this: He cares enought to make absolutely certain that what he signs is correct. If he can't verify it, it won't happen for ANY amount of money. I learned that in a painstaking way.....even upon presenting all the proof in the world, from HIS OWN HAND, he still wouldn't do it at first. It took a couple of meetings, and some cohersiveness from the fine support staff sitting next to him to talk him into doing it.....but make no mistake about it, I had to pay handsomely for it. Let me end in saying this....$500.00 would have been an insult to him. I started multiples higher than that. And the first time around, he only "signed" the bat. It was at a whole later signing, in May of this year, where I was finally able to get the inscription part done. And I thank the nice gentleman sitting at the end of the table (at the actual signing table Willie was sitting at) who spoke to Willie about all the corresponding supporting provenance that came with the bat, including the signed letter from Willie himself on Giants stationery....whom I actually credit as breaking Willie down to the point where he blurted out "I know exactly what that bat is, and where it came from! O.K., how much did you say you would pay me to add that inscription?"

That was a moment I will never forget.....and neither will my heart.

[cmw2ward]

Re: Any Item In Your Collection HOF Worthy?

suicide_squeeze,

Just wondering how much Mays got from you to sign and inscribe? Last i saw he wanted $500 for regular bats. Thanks.

[suicide_squeeze]

Re: Any Item In Your Collection HOF Worthy?

Steve,

That's an awesome collection of vintage bats! The Willie Mays bat is a gem!

Also, I'm curious, what did Nolan Ryan say when he was presented the Hank Aaron bat to sign?

Thanks, Bobby

He flat out refused. He said it would be a "cold day in hell before I ever sign a bat used to deposit one of my fastballs in the seats!!" So, I pulled out my 9mm Glock and said "I've got a snowball here that ain't meltin', Express.......Now....sign the freakin BAT!"


Bobby.......I wish I knew. The bat was already signed by both at the time I won it. I'm sure there's a fairly interesting story behind it, but if you're gonna get dinged by a heavy hitter, even if you're the all-time strike-out KING in MLB.....I can't think of a finer gentleman than Hank Aaron to have the honors.

Glad you enjoyed......thanks for the question.

[gameused]

Re: Any Item In Your Collection HOF Worthy?

Steve,

That's an awesome collection of vintage bats! The Willie Mays bat is a gem!

Also, I'm curious, what did Nolan Ryan say when he was presented the Hank Aaron bat to sign?

Thanks, Bobby

[suicide_squeeze]

Re: Any Item In Your Collection HOF Worthy?

Swoboda4,

I would say that the type of items you have shown, and this one in particular, is what makes baseball collecting so special. These are pieces that belong in the Hall of Fame. You have exposes the single most important aspect of what is so intriguing about the "old guys".

And it is also a statement about the class of today's athletes, and could be used as evidence in a case study of how money infects an otherwise good fellow human being and citizen. It's a bit obvious that todays athletes take their fans for granted, and do very little to "give" back to the game that made them so rich and famous.

I will always be drawn to items such as what Swo has shared with us here, and the thank you letters from the players who unknowingly, unexpectaingly, and without asking, received shared monies from the profits of the sale of the great book "The Glory Of Our Time". It just shows a whole other level of character of a generation lost, and what all of us true baseball historians long for again.

Maybe a new baseball Commissioner can work towards that goal....to create an atmosphere that would bring a new kind of "closeness" between the players of this game and their fans.

I'm sure not going to hold my breath, but it's a nice thought. Thanks for sharing Swo......super nice items.

Sorry for butchering the name of the book in my haste to type quickly....

Should have read "The Glory Of Their Times".

[suicide_squeeze]

Re: Any Item In Your Collection HOF Worthy?

mark17, Ritter brought to our attention that great players,after their playing days assimilated back into society and lived in our midst with most of us not knowing that the quiet gentleman down the block or on a farm up the road,was once a superstar. Now mind you the lack of payment from owner to player kind of forced that issue,but I still admire the player that came back to live a normal life. Case in point:

HALL OF FAME WORTHY?(correspondence to a fan). Riggs Stephenson. MLB 1921-34. Unniversity of Alabama quarterback. 14 yrs in majors. Highest lifetime average of someone not in the HOF,.336!






In a day and age when athletes and their brokers keep fans at arms length it was refreshing to know there was a time when players used to write back when receiving a request. This item,is an example of a questionaire that used to be sent to players and surprisingly many were returned to the fan completely filed out and signed. This questionaire cost about $35 dollars on e-bay and then I bought a frame,mat and typed the rest on the computer. I rather own this than a $150 scribbled ball from Steiner.
There should be a corner in the HOF that shows this past interaction between fan and player.

Swoboda4,

I would say that the type of items you have shown, and this one in particular, is what makes baseball collecting so special. These are pieces that belong in the Hall of Fame. You have exposes the single most important aspect of what is so intriguing about the "old guys".

And it is also a statement about the class of today's athletes, and could be used as evidence in a case study of how money infects an otherwise good fellow human being and citizen. It's a bit obvious that todays athletes take their fans for granted, and do very little to "give" back to the game that made them so rich and famous.

I will always be drawn to items such as what Swo has shared with us here, and the thank you letters from the players who unknowingly, unexpectaingly, and without asking, received shared monies from the profits of the sale of the great book "The Glory Of Our Time". It just shows a whole other level of character of a generation lost, and what all of us true baseball historians long for again.

Maybe a new baseball Commissioner can work towards that goal....to create an atmosphere that would bring a new kind of "closeness" between the players of this game and their fans.

I'm sure not going to hold my breath, but it's a nice thought. Thanks for sharing Swo......super nice items.

[Masimen]

Re: Any Item In Your Collection HOF Worthy?

Wow! Suicide, that is simply breathe taking. Very very nice!
Steve

[MLB_Authentic]

Re: Any Item In Your Collection HOF Worthy?

Speaking of flush, I did poop a little when I saw those.

[worldchamps]

Re: Any Item In Your Collection HOF Worthy?

Well Suicide Squeeze just laid down the Royal flush.

Turn in your cards and thanks for playing.