Friday, June 30, 2017

New Britain Red Sox - Pawtucket Red Sox

April 22, 1983 New Britain, Ct
New Britain Red Sox inaugural game.
unknown reason why a Jackie Robinson cachet was used...
April 13, 1984 New Britain, Ct
cancel commemorates opening day and the Red Sox as Eastern League Champions
Hardware City Stamp Club cachet
The team was led by a young pitcher named Roger Clemens
350th Anniversary of Connecticut
Commemorating Red Sox tradition in Connecticut

August 29, 1992 - 10th Anniversary

The Boston Red Sox moved their AA-affiliate franchise to Bristol, Ct, the team was known as the Bristol Red Sox. The team played at Muzzy Field from 1973 - 1982. Prior to the 1983 season the team moved to New Britain. The team played at Beehive Field.

As Beehive Field became outdated, the team faced the decision to build a new stadium or move the franchise. In 1994, the owners of the team decided to keep the franchise in New Britain, but the Red Sox pulled their affiliation and teamed with the Trenton Thunder.

The New Britain team would change their name to the Hardware City Rock Cats and the team would play the 1995 season in Beehive Field. The team would move into New Britain Stadium in 1996. The team was affiliated with the Minnesota Twins.

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Ted Williams

Sep 38, 1981 Philadelphia, Pa - Gateway Silk cachet
40th anniversary of .406 batting average in the 1941 season
In the final game of the season the Red Sox lost to the Philadelphia Athletics at Shibe Park
Williams had 2 hits in 3 at bats
May 29, 1984 Boston, Ma
Red Sox retire Williams' jersey #9
Dec 1, 1984 King of Prussia, Pa
15th Delaware Valley Sports Collectors Show
Zaso Silk cachet - signed by Ted Williams
Sep 28, 1991
50th Anniversary BA .400

June 17, 1994 Cleveland, Oh
500th Home run Anniversary


Kelly Armstrong cachet

Ted Williams is considered one of the greatest players in baseball, not just for his hitting but also his fielding. He played for the Boston Red sox from 1939 - 1960, only missing time to serve as a pilot in the US Navy and Marine Corps during World War II and the Korean War.

Nicknamed "The Kid", "The Splendid Splinter", "Teddy Ballgame", "The Thumper".

Williams was a 19-time All-Star, 2-time American League MVP, 6-time AL batting champion, 2-time Triple Crown winner. Finished his playing career with a .344 batting average, 521 home runs. 

Inducted into San Diego Hall of Champions 1954
Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame 1966
Retired Red Sox Jersey #9 1984
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George HW Bush, 1991
Inducted into Red Sox hall of Fame 1995
Selected to Major League Baseball All-Time Team, 1997
Selected to Major League Baseball All-Century Team 1999


Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame, opened in Hernando, Fa, 1994 and closed in 2006. The Museum would find a new home as part of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays

Ted Williams mourning envelopes
 Bernard Goldberg hand colored cachet

Friday, June 23, 2017

Cleveland Indians - official business

October 31, 1934 Washington DC postmark
March 1931
March 1948
December 15, 1948  - Follow the Indians
May 31, 1955 
October 10, 1957  - Play Safe Drive Safe
April 1963
Dec 1963
March 1968
April 11, 1972 - Order your Indians Tickets by mail
July 31, 1974
August 1974
February 1977
August 1980
June 25, 1981
September 1984



Several meters taken from Sports Philatelist International - Journal of Sports Philately



Cleveland Indians



July 31, 1992 30th Anniversary of the Inaugural game played at Cleveland Municipal Stadium
The Indians lost to the Philadelphia Athletics 6-4. The previous day the Indians defeated the Boston Red Sox at League Park
October 3, 1993 Last Game played at Cleveland Stadium
Gateway cachet

April 4, 1994 Opening Day
April 4, 1994 Opening Day, Findlay Oh
Carlos Delgado ACE 20 (AFDCS Art Cover Exchange member)
Indians defeat the Seattle Mariners 4-3
March 1, 1997 Winter Haven, Fl
Spring Training Home of the Indians
Wild Horse cachet
April 11, 1997 Jacobs Field, Cleveland, Oh
Indians defeat the Anaheim Angels 15-3
Chad Ogea picked up the win, Mark Gubicza the loss
Indians RBI: Omar Vizquel 4, Kevin Mitchell 3 (home run), Manny Ramierez 3 (home run), Jim Thome 2, Marquis Grissom 2, Julio Franco 
Angels RBI: Jorge Fabregas 3
October 21, 1997 Cleveland Indians World Series
The 1997 Indians finished with an 86-75 record, finishing first in the Central Division. They would defeat the NY Yankees in the Division Series and the Baltimore Orioles in the ACLS.
The Indians would become the first team to lose the World Series to the Florida Marlins after leading in the ninth inning of the seventh game. The Marlins would tie the game and win on an 11th inning run by the Marlins.

April 10, 1998 Home Opener
After 8 games on the road compiling a 7-1 record the Indians opened at Jacobs Field against the Anaheim Angels.
The Indians would defeat the Angels 8-5, with RBIs from Jim Thome, Omar Vizquel, Shawon Dunston, David Justice and Travis Fryman. Jim home hit a 3-run home run in the 10th inning.
The Angles scoring came from RBIs by Cecil Fielder, Garret Anderson, Norberto Martin and Jim Edmonds.
Eric Plunk took home the win and Troy Percival the loss
February 28, 1998 Winter Haven, Fl
Spring Training pictorial postmark
March 13, 1999 Winter Haven, Fl
Spring Training pictorial postmark
April 14, 2000 Cleveland, Oh - Opening Day
Texas Rangers defeat the Indians 7-3
April 2, 2001, Cleveland, Oh - Opening day
Cleveland home opening day postmark, designed by Carlos Delgado, ACE 20 - hand made envelope, photocopier print.
Chicago White Sox defeat the Indians 7-4

Nov 17, 2001 Elyria Oh
Black River Stamp Club Local Post
100 Years of Baseball in Cleveland

Cleveland Indians - have a long standing history going back to 1894 when the Grand Rapids Rustlers were formed in Michigan as part of the Western league. In 1900 the team moved to Cleveland and played as the Cleveland Lake Shores. When the American League formed the team was renamed the Cleveland Bluebirds. The name was often shortened to the Blues, and the players unhappy with the name tried to have the team renamed the Cleveland Broncos, in 1902, which did not stick.
When Napoleon Lajoie left Philadelphia to play for Cleveland, the team name became the Cleveland Napoleons (shortened to the Cleveland Naps).
After Lajoie left the team in 1915, the team was renamed the Indians, a reference to the Cleveland Spiders (1887-1899) who were called the Indians when Louis Sockalexis, a Native American played for the team