Memorabilia

Red Grange Last Game Ticket Stub

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Red Grange took the field for the last time on January 27, 1935, in an exhibition game at Gilmore Field in Los Angeles, a rematch of the NFL Championship game. Here’s a ticket stub from the game.

Mastro sold this example in July 1998, but I found another one offered by SCP Auctions in January 2008.

This graded example sold for $175 before the recent focus on tickets in the hobby and the run-up in their prices.

1982 Jackie Robinson First Day Cover

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The USPS initiated a Black Heritage Stamp Series in 1978. On August 2, 1982, they issued one for Jackie Robinson. This advertisement, from the October 1982 Trader Speaks, is for a pair of 1st Day Covers with a B. Scott Forst stadium exclusive drawing on the left side.

There seem to be a few different 1st Day Covers for the stamp; the one advertised in Trader Speaks appears to be a little more challenging to track down but not any more expensive than the others.

Now, for the stamp specifically, it was painted by Howard Koslow, and 164,235,000 stamps were issued at a postage value of 20¢ each.

1901 Philadelphia Athletics Inaugural Season Tickets

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With the Athletics moving again, I thought it was a great time to share this strip of four regular-season game tickets from the Philadelphia Athletics’ inaugural season in 1901.

This strip was offered for sale in April 2000 by Ron Oser Enterprises.

Now, 1901 wasn’t just the first season for the Athletics; it was the first for the entire American League, too!

$5 Hank Aaron Autographs

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Here’s some hobby-show history from March 1982, when you could get a Hank Aaron autograph for $5!

The advertisement for the “East Coast’s Newest and Largest Show..Sports & Paper Collectible Show and Sale” in White Plains, NY, was scanned from the February 1982 issue of Trader Speaks.

And here’s what may be the coolest Hank Aaron signed items in the hobby: a signed ticket stub from the game where he hit his 715th home run to pass Babe Ruth.

1950’s Wonder Bread Cardboard Ad Sign

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How cool is this giant vintage Wonder Bread cardboard sign? It’s dated to the late ‘50s and pictures eight of the era’s biggest stars in “floating” headshot style, including Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Elston Howard, Warren Spahn, Stan Musial, Paul Hornung, Del Shofner, and Sam Huff.

The December 2001 auction lot described the cardboard display as “thick” and 46 x 34 inches.

Bob Cousy Basketball Shoe Advertisement

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This would be an awesome collectible for Boston Celtics fans, a B.F. Goodrich Bob Cousy “P.F.” Basketball Shoe Advertisement. 

The “P.F.” All-American was B.F. Goodrich Company’s shoe made to compete with Converse’s “Chuck Taylor.” I’m sure having Cousy endorse the product helped; he was one of the most popular players in the 1950s. 

The item was available in MastroWest Auction’s March 2000 catalog and was described as a 22″ x 20″ cardboard piece in Ex-Mt to Nr-Mt condition.