Hidden Gems: Stan Kotzen's "Phillies Memories" Print

Stan Kotzen's "Phillies Memories"

Sleepless nights usually lead to looking for unique Phillies items on the Internet.  In tribute to (and to justify) those moments I am starting a new feature - "Hidden Gems".  There are a lot of interesting, non-commerical items out there and these features will spotlight them.  

Today's "Gem" is local artist Stan Kotzen's 11x17 print - "Phillies Memories".  The print features Phillies players from the first half of the 20th Century - 1950 Whiz Kids (Ashburn, Roberts, Ennis and more), Chuck Klein, Bob Carpenter, and Grover Cleveland Alexander to name a few.  If you are familiar with Kotzen's other work you will instantly recognize the style and quality of the print.  It is a wall-hanging that will stand out in a crowd.  The print is listed for sale on the Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society Gift Shoppe for $24.99.

Go here to view and purchase on the A's Historical Society site.

Go here to view or purchase other Stan Kotzen works. 

Collectible of the Week: Greatest Moments of the Century Poster

Some of the best collectibles were, like this week's spotlight item, stadium giveaways.  As a young fan watching the Phillies during the 1980s - 1990s I always looked forward to the poster days.  Typically the team would have one or two in their annual promotional lineup - highlighted by the "Pride of the Phillies" poster toward the end of the season.  Each season produced an opportunity to cover another space on my bedroom wall with Dick Perez drawn images of Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton - or to cloak my closet door with "Dr. Dirt and Mr. Clean".  As an adult I have seen these posters as not only a way to decorate my Phillies Room, but also a medium to collect signatures of the guys I watched play as a kid.

This week's featured collectible is the Greatest Moments of the Century poster that was given to all fans attending the Phillies game on August 8th 1999.  The poster is made of a heavier stock of paper and measures 11.5"x15.5".  Depicted are 10 of the best moments in Phillies history (through 1999).  The moments included are:

1. 1980 World Series
2. 1995 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies (Schmidt and Ashburn)
3. 1993 Pennant Clincher vs. Atlanta
4. 1980 Pennant Clincher vs. Houston
5. 1987 Mike Schmidt's 500th Home Run
6. 1983 Steve Carlton's 3000th Strikeout
7. 1964 Jim Bunning's Perfect Game
8. 1950 Pennant Clincher vs. Brooklyn
9. 1983 Pennant Clincher vs. Los Angeles
10. 1993 Curt Schilling's Game 5 World Series Shutout

I had never considered getting this signed, but saw an almost fully signed one listed in Hunt Auction's November internet auction and liked the idea.  For the most part the people featured on the poster are still living.  Notable exceptions would be Richie Ashburn, Robin Robers and Dick Sisler from the Whiz Kids and longtime GM/manager Paul "Pope" Owens who died in 2003.  In the end I decided not to bid (and probably won't try to get mine signed).  It sold for $96 - which is a real value considering how much it would cost to build now, and that it included both Owens and Roberts signatures.

If I was putting this poster together today I would probably drop out Schilling's Game 5 gem, and the NL Pennant winning game over the Dodgers in 1983 and replace them with the 2008 World Series win and Roy Halladay's NLDS no-hitter in 2010.  Also, we would need to re-order things a little - and am I crazy or is it a crime that the Whiz Kids pennant clincher is #8?  This was a momentous event, unthinkable at the time - the highlight of two Hall of Fame careers!  In the 1999 version I think it would rank at least as the fifth best moment, maybe higher if you drop the 1995 HOF induction.  

Phillies TTM: Week of 11/14/11

So, a couple weeks ago I laid out my winter plans for TTM activity.  I have been working hard to check a couple items off the list and thought I would share...

1980 Team Photo - Dallas Green signed via his home address last week.  It took about three weeks, and was postmarked from Florida.  I had a couple players targeted (Bowa and Unser), but because of the recent quick turnarounds noted on Sports Collectors Net, I sent to Lee Elia (Third Base Coach in '80) instead.

1977 Team Ball - With regret, I decided to start this project without having a Danny Ozark single-signed ball as my base.  I have been looking for months to find one, but finally gave up and used a new ROMLB.  First request went out to a safe TTM bet - 1967 Cy Young Award Winner, Jim Lonborg.  "Gentleman Jim" was the first to sign my 1976 ball last year, and it seemed fitting to have him kick things off again.  This one went out last week.

Jim Lonborg - 1977 Phillies team ball

1960 Sports Illustrated - Again, I played the hot hand and sent the magazine off to Tony Gonzalez.  Gonzalez is pretty streaky (looking at his return history), and with this recent activity felt it might be a safe bet to try him.  For $5 he signed the cover, bringing me to nine total signatures!  It is off again, this time to Allentown, PA for Art Mahaffey.  Another great TTM'er!

On the fly--Sent a postcard from the 2011 Phillies Fan Appreciation Night card pack to HOF GM Pat Gillick.  Two of my Twitter followers reported returns last week, and I jumped in, too!  I will be excited to get this one back.

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Don't forget to join the conversation: #philliesink

Upcoming Shows/Appearances

Tomorrow will be a busy day for in-person autograph signings.  I have had November 5th marked on my calendar ever since our friends at Poppel.com announced they would be hosting a card show at Oxford Valley Mall back in August.  There is a great mix of guests lined up - many of whom I need for one team-themed item or another.  Some of the guys (Mitch Williams and David West) I saw play countless times growing up - others (Cookie Rojas and Jack Baldschun) I have only ever seen on baseball cards and old photos.  Great thing about all four of these guys is that they are all $22 or less - so, I won't feel (too) guilty  about getting multiple items signed.  I'll be getting my 1993 team ball signed by Williams and West, and have Rojas and Baldschun sign a 1964 team ball and 1964 team photo (check out my progress on the team photo in the Current Projects section).  I was really bummed that Lenny Dykstra chose his celebrity boxing match over his previous commitment to this event - but, I am sure he'll be back around (some day).

Also on tap for Saturday is a pretty big (FREE) signing event with several key members of the current Eagles squad.  Christiana Mall is hosting the Monday Night Football Tour on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday afternoon LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin and Desean Jackson will be signing!  Sunday's events are headlined by Asante Samuel, Ron Jaworski and Harold Carmichael.  All the details can be found on the mall's website.   I'll definitely be checking in on the happenings Saturday afternoon.  Enjoy!

Update: November 6, 2011

It was a little hectic yesterday.  First, Mitch Williams showed up an hour late.  In looking for an ATM machine at about 10:45 I saw him walking through the mall with several bags from Foot Locker (he was scheduled to sign from 10-11).  The promoters were saying he was just "running late".  More like "running errands"....

Space was at a premium because the show was positioned in a small corner of the mall courtyard.  As a result, several autograph guests were positioned at one table (Williams, West, McCarthy and Seanez).  This meant all customers lined up single file in one queued line regardless of whether or not they were getting one, two or all of these guys to sign.  It was great to meet Cookie Rojas and Jack Baldschun.  As long-time Phillies and members of the infamous 1964 team, they are both legends.

So, in the end, all worked out well - added to my 1993 and 1964 collection items.  Check out some of the photos below:

1964 Phillies Team Photo - added Baldschun and Ro

Follow me on Twitter: @philscollector

Phillies TTM: The offseason plan

Without a baseball season to fill the day and nights, the months from November through February can seem to drag (especially the last two).  I enjoy college football and basketball, the Eagles and Flyers and still watch a lot of sports through the winter but there is definitely a void left by baseball's absence.  In recent years I have started a hobby of getting player autographs through the mail to help get me through to  the start of Spring Training.

As a kid I did a little TTMing after getting a prized book of player home addresses from a local bookstore.  I had pretty good success in getting baseball cards signed by some Phillies players from the 1970s and 80s - but soon lost interest and went on to other things in life.  After graduating and getting a job I started to have the means to begin collecting Phillies stuff - especially autographs.  I have really been active in attending card shows over the years picking up autographs here and there - but there was a good 15-year period where I got none through the mail.  Sometime during the winter of 2009-2010 I stumbled onto a website that is essentially the digital version of my old address book.  I was really surprised to see that there were a lot of "quality" former Phillies who were signing for free (or a small fee) through the mail - and it started again.

While I always keep a log running of what I send and receive back (see the Mail Bag tab on our site) - I have decided to detail the daily comings/goings here on the blog and through my Twitter account (shameless plug: Follow me @philscollector).  My hope is that some of you will gain valuable knowledge and further (or start) your own TTM hobby - AND that you will be able to help me take my collecting to the next level!  I look forward to hearing about what other collectors are sending!  Below are a couple TTM projects I am looking to either begin or add to this winter:

Ongoing projects "hit-list" - a couple guys who I would like to sign items I am currently working on:

• Phillies Manager single-signed balls - Lee Elia, Nick Leyva, Pat Corrales
• 1980 Team Photo - Dallas Green, Del Unser, Larry Bowa, Herm Starrette, Lee Elia
• 1960 SI Cover - Art Mahaffey, Clay Dalrymple, Dave Philley, Al Neiger

New projects:

• 1977 Team Signed Ball
• 1965 Team Signed Ball
• Something for 1993 Team
• More to come.  Stay tuned...

Collectible of the Week: 1975 Phillies Team Signed Ball

     

Up for bid is...
This week's spotlight collectible is a vintage Phillies logo ball signed by 18 members of the 1975 team.  In many ways the 1975 Phillies with a 86-76 record were (at the time) a disappointment after finishing in second place, and compared to the teams that succeeded them ('76, '77 and '78 NL Eastern Division Champions, '80 WS Champions) they were, er, less memorable.  Starring two future Hall of Famers in Steve Carlton and Mike Schmidt, and stars such as Dick Allen, Greg Luzinski, Larry Bowa and Dave Cash these Phillies were definitely "on their way."  While many fans will point to 1976 as the pivotal season for this core group of players - it was during the 1975 season that those players took on Dave Cash's "Yes We Can" attitude and began their assent.

As I have mentioned before, I am always on the look out for partially signed team balls that can be filled out with additional living team members.  They are great because they take some of the work (and expense) out of collecting a team ball.  I hit TTM (through-the-mail) pretty hard during the offseason, and love sending out team balls to get signed.  It's a good way to get free autographs, and a ball like this would make a great project for November - March.  When considering a partially signed team ball purchase I make a mental pro/con list.  Here are my thoughts on this item:

Pros:

• There are 18 total signatures - that is a real good start
• One of those signatures belongs to Hall of Famer Steve Carlton - $40 savings
• Five of those signatures belong to deceased members of the team (Cox, Oates, Beringer, Twitchell and Hoerner) - I would never get another chance to get these guys if I started from scratch (obviously)
• Condition looks good, signatures look strong
• Notable team because of the things I mentioned above
• Good TTM stats for members of this team on Sports Collectors Net, so there is an opportunity to add to the existing base

Cons:

• Of the 18 signatures, the ball does not currently have any of the following key ones:
• Danny Ozark - MGR (deceased)
• Mike Schmidt - HOF - $60-70 at a show
• Dick Allen - $40-50 at a show
• Tug McGraw - deceased
• The cost - considering the omissions listed in the first con, I would never be able to get the "full" team to sign (and hate not having the manager on a ball) - and it would cost at least an additional $100 to add Schmidt and Allen (must haves).
• It would probably be worth a chance to contact the seller and offer $50; that is more along the lines of a "fair price" for this ball.

Anyway, here are the complete stats and link to the item on eBay.  Keep your eyes open for other partially signed balls - and always do the mental (or physical) pro/con list...

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter: @Philscollector

Players on the ball:

Ron Schueler, Mike Rogodzinski, Tim McCarver, Jim Lonborg, Johnny Oates, Larry Cox, Bob Boone, Greg Luzinski,

Wayne Twitchell, John Montague, Tommy Hutton, Joe Hoerner, Steve Carlton and Jay Johnstone.

Coaches on the ball: Bobby Wine, Billy DeMars and Carroll Beringer

Bid Here

Collectible of the Week: Phillies tickets

The postseason is a great time for adding new items to your collection.  At the least there are programs and pennants that are produced in limited quantities for each round and World Series appearances can yield t-shirts, pictures and various trinkets for years after.  Some items like last year's 1st edition NLDS program are only available for sale during one game and will continue to demand prices two and three times. Others are mass produced to the point where retail value doesn't hold beyond the close of the series. Win or lose, one postseason collectible that is sure to stay in your collection is your game ticket.

In general I don't consider myself a ticket collector - but, like most people I have a box with ticket stubs from games I have attended.  The "collection" spans three decades, and many tickets are from games whose scores I don't remember, that featured players who I have either forgotten, or wish I could (the late '90's were brutal).  Others instantly trigger memories such as the one from August 13, 1993 that ended with Kim Batiste's 9th inning grand slam or April 27, 2003 when Kevin Millwood pitched his no-hitter against the Giants.  Among the most memorable are the playoff tickets that I have accumulated over the years.

Through the years, although postseason appearances have been sparse, the Phillies have produced memorable tickets for their Playoff and World Series games.   The team seemed to sense the ticket's place in the collectibles world making sure to feature unique designs and logos.  A well designed ticket from a memorable/meaningful postseason game can hold value on the secondary market or find a place as a display piece for years after the event.  Unfortunately, like their play on the field, the Phillies' design for this season's playoff tickets were bland, and non-distinctive.  If only I could stuff the memories of the NLDS into that box of old tickets, too.

Memorable dates in Phillies history worth collecting:

No-Hitters -

• June 21, 1964 at NYM – Jim Bunning
• June 23, 1971 at CIN – Rick Wise
• August 15, 1990 at PHI – Terry Mulholland
• May 23, 1991 at MTL – Tommy Greene
• April 27, 2003 at PHI – Kevin Millwood
• May 29, 2010 at FLA – Roy Halladay
• October 6, 2010 at PHL – Roy Halladay

History Making Accomplishments -

• Steve Carlton’s 3,000th Strikeout – April 29, 1981
• Pete Rose Breaking the NL Hits Record – August 10, 1981
• Steve Carlton’s 300^th Win – September 23, 1983
• Mike Schmidt’s 500^th Homerun – April 18, 1987

Pennant Clinching Dates -

• October 1, 1950 at BKLN
• October 8, 1983 at PHL
• October 12, 1980 at HOU
• October 13, 1993 at PHL
• October 15, 2008 at LAD
• October 21, 2009 at PHL

World Series Winning Dates - 

• October 21, 1980 at PHL (Game 6)
• October 29, 2008 at PHL (Game 5)

Collectible of the Week: Veterans Stadium Mike Schmidt Retired Number Banner

Amid an ice storm, remnants of Veterans Stadium were sold and auctioned off as part of the Phillies Charities "Final Pieces" memorabilia auction and sale on February 6, 2004.  The event promised to offer Philadelphia sports fans a unique opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind items from the stadium.  There were a range of both low and high ticket pieces available for sale and signing appearances from both current Phillies players, and some greats who played at the Vet.  The highest profile items, however, were reserved for the auction portion of the day.

Mike Schmidt Retired Number Banner from Veterans Stadium

The pages of the auction preview booklet were filled with things like lockers from both the home and visitor locker rooms, game used equipment, Executive furniture and signs/flags from various parts of the the stadium.  From time to time over the past few years a couple of the pieces from the auction have shown up in online auctions, often fetching much more than the sale price realized that winter day.  This week auction item #206 from the Final Pieces preview booklet joins that list.  "Mike Schmidt Retired Number 20 Banner" is now auction item #11 on Hunt Auction's (Exton, PA) current internet auction.

Description on Hunt Auction's site: Mike Schmidt's retired number banner from Veterans Stadium (EX). 89"x91" vinyl banner that was displayed in Veterans Stadium. Banner reads "Mike Schmidt 20" in red against a white background with red pinstripes. Exhibits typical wear from being exposed to the weather: EX


These banner were an iconic part of Veterans Stadium.  By the final season, the Schmidt banner was one of seven retired numbers hung against a black tarp above the outfield wall.  Added to the collection on May 26, 1990 - the Schmidt banner would certainly be a nice addition to any Phillies fan's collection (if you can find a place big enough to hang it!).  Bidding is currently at $316, and the auction bidding period ends 10 PM on Wednesday, September 14th.   

My Collecting Story: Making a connection to Robin Roberts

When Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts died in May 2010 Phillies collectors lost a great friend of the hobby.  Roberts not only made appearances at countless card shows across the country - he also was a dependable target for fans who solicit autographs through the mail.  Last spring when Hunt Auctions put Roberts personal collection "on the block" we also learned that "Rapid Robin" was a huge collector himself.  While looking through the various lots up for bid I was really surprised how much stuff he saved.  There were obvious items like his 1950 NL Championship ring and a personal-sized Hall of Fame plaque presented at his Cooperstown induction in the summer of 1976.  But also included were Hall of Fame weekend passes for 30+ induction ceremonies and treasure troves of scrapbooks and game used baseballs among other things.

Being a mid-level collector, I knew I would not be in the bidding for his rings or uniforms and set my sites on less expensive, one-of-a-kind collectibles that link directly to the best right-handed pitcher in Phillies history.  I described one such lot to my wife as "a grab bag".  It contained a scrapbook from "his early career" and a pile of "personal" paper items.  My hope was to find something interesting and create that link to Robbie.  I ended up winning the lot without really knowing that I bought much more than the scrapbook.  It ended up yielding a couple nice additions to my collection:

• The "early years" scrapbook which included newspaper clippings from Roberts' high school baseball and basketball career, his first collegiate victory and two years of independent ball.
• An envelope labeled - "Newspaper clippings from Grandma Kalnis" which contained articles and photos related to the pitcher - spanning from his first season with the Phillies to his last as a coach with the Cubs and eventual induction into the Hall.  I turned these clippings into a full 30-page scrapbook chronicling his Hall of Fame career.
• An envelope labeled "1950 World Series" which contained full newspapers from the last weekend of the 1950 season and through the '50 World Series.  Though the Phillies eventually lost to the Yankees 4-0, Whiz Kids collectibles remain highly valuable.  I hope to have these personal keepsakes from an original Whiz Kid turned into a scrapbook, too.

Also in the box were random letters to Roberts, various sports articles that he had saved for one reason or another and a number of photographs.  Tucked within this pile was an award dated April 25, 1957 and stated - "This certifies that Robin Roberts has been voted the first honorary member in the Overbrook School for the Blind Groundball Hall of Fame."  Being unfamiliar with the Overbrook School for the Blind I Googled the school's name and Robin Roberts.  I was surprised when a video match was found - an edition of "Behind the Pinstripes" from June detailed Roberts visit to the school and showed him receiving the award I now held.  It was really fun to discover the origin of the certificate - and was touching to see that the great pitcher retained it for 50+ years.  After watching the video I thought it may mean more to the school than it does to me and plan to return it to them in the near future.  

Overall this experience demonstrates what I feel is great about collecting.  It is the excitement of finding something interesting within your financial means, and the fun of researching and fitting it into your personal collection.  Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose - but, there is no buyers remorse in this collector for this purchase.  

Collectible of the Week: Early Bird Gift - Dick Perez, 2009 World Series Lithograph

The Phillies don't have any problem selling tickets these days, but for most of the 80s and 90s they searched for ways to get season ticket holders, and to encourage those customers to pay for their tickets as early as possible.  For years the team has employed sports artist Dick Perez to create unique, and appealing "early bird" lithographs for this purpose.  While Phillies fans are most familiar with Perez's work from 1983 Nostalgia Postcards and Pride of the Phillies posters he is recognizable to sports fans across the country and his artwork graces the walls of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY and the Hall of Fame Club at Citizens Bank Park.

Over the years Perez has painted numerous Phillies stars for the early bird gift lithographs - Cole Hamels, Mike Lieberthal, and most recently 2010 Cy Young Award Winner Roy Halladay.  This week's collectible discussion will focus on the 2010 offering which depicted the team announcements before Game 3 of the 2009 World Series.  The Series switched back to Philadelphia on Halloween Night - October 31, 2009 and this lithograph shows Phillies manager, Charlie Manuel shaking hands with Yankees skipper Joe Girardi.  The 18"x25" poster is individually numbered XXXX/1200 and signed in pencil by Perez.

I had not seen one of these lithographs until last spring and picked it up for $20 on eBay, but recently saw a few pop-up over the past two weeks.  I have started getting my poster signed by members of the 2009 NL Champions - and have received a lot of good comments from fellow collectors at either CBP or  the card shows when I get it signed.  Be on the look-out for these - a great addition to any Phillies room.

Upcoming Shows/Appearances

Phillies Alumni Weekend is a busy time for former Phils who are in town for the festivities at Citizens Bank Park.

BC Collectibles will have three 1993 NL Champions appearing on Saturday, August 13th:

• Jim Eisenreich - Moorestown, NJ location - $8 per
• Ricky Jordan and Tommy Greene - Manoa Shopping Center location - $10 for both!

Upcoming Shows/Appearances

There are several area appearances planned for current and former Phillies in August.  I am looking forward to the next Poppel.com show in Bucks County on August 13th and "The Vanimal", Vance Worley at AB Sports in Concord Mall (DE) on August 27th.

Poppel.com line-up:
Scott Mathieson
Michael Stutes
John Mayberry, Jr.
Milt Thompson
Costen Shockley
Jim Bunning
Fred Wenz
Dave Hollins
Denis Menke
Johnny Briggs

In addition to Larry Bowa on August 6 and Placido Polanco on August 27 - Carl's Cards has pulled in a huge fish with the announcement that new Phillies right fielder, Hunter Pence will be in-store signing on August 15th.  Get you tickets early!!

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with any of these merchants - merely a fan who hopes to get the word out to interested Phillies fans.

Collectible of the Week: Connie Mack Stadium Final Game Program

On October 1, 1970 the Montreal Expos were in Philadelphia to play the final series at Connie Mack Stadium.  Fans attending the finale received a free booklet detailing the storied history of the stadium, a print of the 1909 Inquirer front page from its first Opening Day and a "I Was There" certificate.  Copies of the complete trio are fairly difficult to find in top condition.  The actual game day program featured a black and white photo of Expos star, Rusty Staub surrounded by the colored logos of the National League teams.

A very popular collectible, regular season programs are a staple of the flea market/yard sale circuit - with those pre-1960's ranking as the most popular and valuable.  As with any paper based collectible, condition is a paramount determinant of value - as are scarcity and cover subject.  Generally speaking, collectors prefer to have an "unscored" program.  This is one of the few exceptions where having a program fully scored may increase the program’s value since there is was no "final edition" printed specifically for the game.  The Staub program was used over the weekend series, and scoring can assure it is from the October 1st game.  Over the past few years I have sold two separate copies of the game day program (in excellent condition) for between $25-30 each.

Collectible of the Week: Pete Rose Game Used Bat- circa 1980-83

This week's item was found by browsing through closed online auctions managed by Hunt Auctions in Philadelphia.  It is a Pete Rose game used H&B Louisville Slugger, circa 1980-1983.  There are a couple reasons I decided to write about this item - first, it provides an example from which to talk a little bit about one of the hardest things to do in the memorabilia market - authenticating and dating a game-used bat (Note: There should be no concerns with authenticating items from Hunt Auctions - they are a reputable auction house), and second - what a great deal it was.   

A game used bat is just that - a professional model bat that was used by a player during a Major League Game.  Game used bats are created to a specific players requirements and are generally identified by a stamp of the player's signature, the name stamped in bold black letters or by a uniform number written on the handle. One look at this item and you notice the "Pete Rose" signature on the barrel, and as the description states  - "Vintage "14" is written in black marker on the knob end..."  Next you should consider the model specific clues that are available through the photos.  Hillerich and Bradsby (H&B) Louisville Slugger bats were and are a very popular choice of  Major League players.  They also are one of the easiest to date.  First look to the model number...

• Pre-1943 - Bats did not contain a model number
• 1943 - 1975 - The model number was stamped on the bat knob
• 1976 to present - The model number is found on the barrel above the player's name

You will also want to take note to the model number itself - it should be a letter followed by three or fewer numbers.  In the case of this bat, we can see that the model number "S2" is stamped on the bat barrel above Pete's signature.  That tells us it is a 1976 or later professional model bat.  During this examination, let's also look at the trademark.  H&B began branding the number "125" below the slogan "Louisville Slugger" in 1918.  If the bat you are researching has any number other than "125" in this area - it should be considered a store model.  

Lastly, consider the condition of the bat itself.  Is it cracked?  Does it have a lot of game use evident?   The auction description states the bat "shows evident use including ball marks, stitching impressions, rack marks, and pin tar residue on the handle"...This sounds perfect!   The Hit-King probably knocked a few of his historic hits with this piece of lumber.  Historically, un-cracked, game used bats have been much harder to obtain than the cracked variety.  While both certainly have value in today's marketplace, the un-cracked are much more desirable; in fact, the severity of a crack in a bat is a large determinant of how it will be priced.

I was really struck with how this bat - which received a pre-auction estimate sale price between $1000-1500 - sold for $300.  You can go onto ebay, or other popular sites and find bats of much less important players for two, three times this price.  Of course, "value" is only really what a person will pay for something - which will vary from person to person.  I haven't seen anyone bid on that $2500 Chase Utley used bat yet, but someone, someday  might think it is worth that amount.  If anything, it re-enforces the lesson that as a collector, you cannot rely solely on one source when adding to your collection.  There are a lot of online auctions run by outfits like Hunt's, check them out, have fun and dream that you could find a nugget like this!

Collectible of the Week: Lenny Dykstra Sports Impressions 7" Figurine

Established in 1987 and widely considered the pre-eminent producer of porcelain figurines during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, Sports Impression figurines are still coveted in the memorabilia today.  There are generally two different sizes of figurines created by Sports Impressions – 5” mini, and a 7” regular - though Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton both represented the Phillies with a 10" version.  

This week we are looking at the rarest of the Phillies player figurines to be created by the company, the 1991 version of Center Fielder, Lenny Dykstra.  Dykstra was coming off his breakout 1990 season, and collectors were taking notice.  Sports Impressions produced a limited number of both the 5" mini (2,950 figures) and the 7" regular (1,990).  Because of financing problems and the growth of competitors in the market, the company did not always produce the full number of figurines that were intended.  While it is not definite, this seems to be the case with the Dykstra figurine, which is rarely seen at shows or online.  Figurines when found on the market range in price from $75-125.

Collectible of the Week: 1950 Philadelphia Inquirer Color Photos

This week's item was a lot of 16, 1950 Philadelphia Inquirer color photos found on eBay.  Part of a total collection of 25 5"x7" player photos, those included in this lot were still in original uncut condition.  The seller noted that all were in good shape, with the exception of Bob Miller's picture which contained a white stain.  Notables included as part of the 16 were Richie Ashburn, Robin Roberts, Curt Simmons, Granny Hamner and Ed Waitkus.  The lot sold for $58.77 with 13 total bids.

Overall, I really like this set and think the buyer got a pretty fair price - though, I'd prefer to have the complete set over the portion offered in the sale.  You don't see these come up for sale that often, and rarely in the original condition. The set is attractive for several reasons, first the limited availability and condition issues for those photos that are found.  60-year old newspaper does not hold up that well...We also find that it is rare to find straight edges and even margins since many of the photos were clipped by young fans during the 1950 season.  Another reason the set is desirable lies in the fact that it features one of the most-loved teams in team history - The Whiz Kids.  Our staff has seen complete sets of all 25 players for $100+... If found singularly, non-starters would fetch $5 each, while the regulars such as Ashburn and Del Ennis may go as high as $10-15 apiece (more if they are signed).  

Below is a complete list of the set:

Richie Ashburn

Jimmy Bloodworth

Ralph Caballero

Milo Candini

Bubba Church

Blix Donnelly

Del Ennis

Mike Goliat

Granny Hamner

Ken Heintzelman

Stan Hollmig

Ken Johnson

Willie Jones

Jim Konstanty

Stan Lopata

Russ Meyer

Bob Miller

Bill Nicholson

Robin Roberts

Andy Seminick

Ken Silvestri

Curt Simmons

Dick Sisler

Eddie Waitkus

Dick Whitman

The spring edition of Hunt Auction's Philly Show at the Valley Forge Convention Center will again feature several former Phillies.  Scheduled to appear during the three-day show are (check out the site for times):

Friday, March 11, 2010

Mickey Morandini (1990-1997, 2000) - All items $15

Saturday, March 12, 2010 - 

Von Hayes (1983-1991) - All items $15

Dickie Thon (1989-1991) - All items $15

Bobby Shantz (1964) - All items $15

Jim Bunning (1964-1967, 1970-1971) - 

Flats/Balls - $45

Equipment (bats/jerseys) - $65

Inscriptions - $10 extra

For a limited time MAB is currently offering 15% off the Bunning prices.  Tickets must be bought in advance through their website, but can be picked up at the Convention Center on Saturday.