Sunday, December 8, 2019

Cracker Jack Classic - Old-Timers Day


The New York Yankees held the first ballpark celebration to honor their former colleagues, the first being in 1939 in honor of Lou Gehrig. A tradition was born - The Old-timers Game, a celebration to give the fans an opportunity to cheer on there heroes from the past.

From 1982-1985, an Old-Timers Classic was sponsored by Cracker Jack, being played at RFK Stadium, Washington DC. The inaugural game was played on July 19, 1982, featuring players that included Hank Aaron, Warren Spahn, Luke Appling, Johnny Mize, Stan Musial, Don Newcombe, Enos Slaughter, Bob Feller, Ralph Kiner. The tradition old-timers day as started by the Yankees was a 2-inning event where the players had fun, and provided an exhibition for the fans.  the Cracker jack game, was a 5-inning game following the traditional rules. The games were broadcast on ESPN
The game had the support of the Association of Professional Ball Players of America, but not from Major League Baseball.  Players were simple American or National uniforms without any MLB logos

Subsequent games were played on July 18, 1983; July 2, 1984 and July 1, 1985

Marty Appel


Friday, December 6, 2019

1984 - Mike Witt - Perfect Game

Sep 30, 1984 Arlington, Tx
California Angels v Texas Rangers

Mike Witt played for the California Angels (1981-1990) and the New York Yankees (1990-1991, 1993). He was a 2x All-Star with a career record of 117-116, 3.83 ERA and 1,373 strikeouts

On Sep 30, 1984 Mike Witt pitched the eleventh perfect game in major league history. Earlier in the season Witt struck out sixteen abasing the Seattle Mariners in a complete game 5-hitter. In the final game of the season Witt threw 94 pitches against the Texas Rangers for a perfect game. 
The Angels scored only 1 run on seven hits, for the 1-0 victory. Reggie Jackson picked up the RBI, scoring Doug DeCinces. Bob Boone was the catcher.
Charlie Hough picked up the loss for the Rangers
Witt finished the season with a 15-11 record

On April 11, 1990 Witt pitched 2 innings in a combine no-hitter, with Mark Langston, who pitched 7 innings for the win, against the Seattle Mariners in a 1-0 victory. Witt in relief earned the save. Dante Bichette pricked up the lone RBI in the 7th inning

Elected to the Angels Hall of Fame - 2015

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Seattle Mariners

April 1, 2002 Seattle, Wa - Safeco Field
Seattle lost their home opener 6-5 to the Chicago White Sox
Mark Buehrle earned the Sox win, Freddy Garcia takes the loss
Chicago RBI: Sandy Alomar (2) Paul Konerko (2) Jose Valentin, Carlos Lee (home run)
Seattle RBI: Carlos Guillen (2), Edgar Martinez (2) Mike Cameron (home run)

-------

1991 - Helmet Weekend
2010

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Dick Howser


Kansas City Royals honored Dick Howser July 3, 1987

Dick Howser was a shortstop, coach and manager who is best known for guiding the Kansas City Royals to the franchise's first World Series in 1985.

Howser was an All-American shortstop at Florida State University, setting a school record with a .422 batting average in 1956.

Signed by the Kansas City Athletics, joining the club from 1961-1963. He moved to the Cleveland Indians during the 1963 season until 1966. Joined the New York Yankees 1967-1968

Howser stayed with the Yankees as third base coach from 1969-1978. He managed one game for the Yankees between the Billy Martin-Bob Lemon managerial change.

Became Head Coach of Florida State, 1979, only to return to the Yankees as manager for the 1980 season. Howser would move onto the Royals office from 1981-1986

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Monday, November 18, 2019

Grenada - 1988 Baseball Series I

Jackie Robinson, Dwight Gooden, Brooks Robinson
Nolan Ryan, Mike Schmidt, Gary Gaetti
Nellie Fox, Tony Gwynn, Dizzy Dean
 George Brett, Joe Carter, Frank Robinson
Mel Ott, Benito Santiago, Teddy Higuera
Lloyd Moseby, Bobby Bonilla, Warren Spahn
 Mickey Mantle, Roger Clemens, Rod Carew
Ryne Sandberg, Mike Scott, Tim Raines
Willie Mays, Brett Saberhagen, Honus Wagner
 Ernie Banks, National League, Julio Franco
Jack Morris, Fernando Valenzuela, Lefty Grove
Ted Williams, Darryl Strawberry, Dale Murphy
Roberto Clemente, Cal Ripken Jr, Bob Feller
George Bell, Mark McGwire, Alvin Davis
Pete Rose, Dan Quisenberry, Babe Ruth
Produced clearly to capture the dollars being spent on the baseball card boom, Grenada issued 5 sheets of stamps featuring major league players. Pete Rose was featured in the lower corner of the yellow bordered stamps. Major League Baseball had given permission to Philatelic International to use the Major League logos for use on these issues. The stamps were issued a few months after the decision to ban Rose from baseball for gambling infractions. The stamps were prepared and printed well in advance of the decision. After the stamps were released, the representatives of Major League Baseball asked for the Rose stamp to be removed. Philatelic International complied and re-printed the yellow border sheet and removed the image of Rose

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Montreal Expos

April 13, 1984 Montreal - Olympic Stadium
Opening at home after a 5-4 road start, the Expos faced the Philadelphia Phillies with a 5-1 victory
Charlie Lea earn the victory while Jerry Koosman took the loss
Expos RBI: Tim Raines (2) Gary Carter, Bryan Little
Phillies RBI: Bo Diaz
In his first home game for the Expos Pete Rose hit a double for his 4,000 career bhit

 1971
1974 - Team Up with Us!
 1976 Olympics meter
1987

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Pinch hitting

Baseball cachets are often used in relation to the stamp being issued

The ever-popular Pete Rose on a Rose first day cover
Cardinal first day, with Upper Deck holofoil sticker
Wildflowers - Collins cachet
reminiscent of a child playing ball in their backyard and hitting the ball into mom's flower garden
Celebrate the Century - Women's Rights - Collins cachet
Honoring the introduction of girls into Little League Baseball in 1974

Friday, November 15, 2019

Lou Gehrig - Huskies Cereal

1937 - General Foods Corporation, New York
Lou Gehrig advertising meter slogan promoting Huskies whole wheat flakes

Huskies Whole Wheat Flakes advertisments


Wednesday, November 13, 2019

A.G. Spalding & Bros Sporting Goods

1964 meter cancel - Chicopee, Ma

Spalding is a sporting goods company founded by Albert Spalding , Chicago, Ill 1876. The company specializes in all sports, but is known for it's basketball balls, and pink rubber ball found in many inner cities

Spalding is credited with standardizing the modern baseball bat

A.G. Spalding & Bros. stationery 1898, advertising their line of Bicycles on the back

Masthead from the A.G. Spalding & Bros stationery 1880s

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Waterloo Diamonds


April 6, 1990 Waterloo, Ia

Waterloo had a team that played on the minor league circuit from 1895-1993, before relocating to Springfield, Ill. During it's tenure the Hawks won 12 championships while participating in the Mississippi Valley League (1922-1932), Western League (1936) Illinois-Iowa-Indiana League (1940-1942) Midwest League (1958-1993). During this time the team was affiliated with the Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres. 

During it's incarnation the team operated as the Microbes (1904-1906) Cubs (1907) Lulus (1908-1909) Boosters (1910-1911) Jays (1913-1915) Shamrocks (1916) Lions (1917) Reds (1937) Red Hawks (1938-1939) White Hawks (1946-1956) Hawks (1922-1932, 1936, 1940-1942, 1958-1969) Royals (1970-1976) Indians (1977-1988) Diamonds (1989-1993) 

The team played at Municipal Stadium, built in 1946 and renamed Riverfront Stadium. The Waterloo Bucks started playing at Riverfront in 1995

Ballpark Series


Ballpark Series from Zaso Silk