Louisville Redbirds - MiLB

1989-July-30

In 1982, the St. Louis Cardinals moved their Triple-A team of the American Association (AA), the Springfield Redbirds, from Springfield, Illinois, to Louisville, Kentucky, where they became the Louisville Redbirds. They played their home games at Cardinal Stadium, which previously hosted the Louisville Colonels from 1957 to 1972:

Louisville Bats (2002–present Cincinnati Reds)

Louisville RiverBats (1999–2001 Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds)

Louisville Redbirds (1982–1998 St Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers)

Memphis Redbirds - MiLB

1998-May-28

2000-Oct-08 Memphex

The Memphis Redbirds were created as an expansion franchise of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in 1998. Initially. While a new ballpark, AutoZone Park, was being constructed for the team, they played their first two seasons (1998–99) at the city's Tim McCarver Stadium.

St Louis Cardinals - MiLB Affiliates

1993-March-28 Glens Falls

1993-Jun-17 Glens Falls

Phil Pepe -(1935 – 2015) was an American baseball writer and radio voice who spent more than five decades covering sports in New York City

Sparky Lyle - American professional baseball pitcher who spent sixteen seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1967 through 1982. He was a relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago White Sox

Skylands Park management business envelope, handwritten on the bottom 26/100 Opening Night - Cards v Hudson Valley

The team's origins began in 1981 as the Erie Cardinals, a St Louis Cardinals' affiliate which played at Ainsworth Field in Erie, Pennsylvania from 1981–1987. The Erie Cardinals were then relocated to Hamilton, Ontario to become the Hamilton Redbirds, the team remained as a Cardinals' affiliate. The team played in Hamilton, Ontario from 1988–1992. In 1991, the Redbirds were sold and relocatd to Glens Falls for the 1993 interim season before moving to Augusta, New Jersey

New Jersey Cardinals (1994–2005)

Glens Falls Redbirds (1993)

Hamilton Redbirds (1988–1992)

Erie Cardinals (1981–1987)

St Louis Cardinals

1950-Oct-21 Mound City Stamp Club, St Louis, MO

Commemorative cover honoring the 1950 St, Louis Cardinals.
The Cardinals finished the 1950 season in 5th place in the National League with a record of 78-75. The team featured Del Rice - catcher, Rocky Nelson -first base, Red Schoendienst - second base; Marty Marion - short stop; Tommy glaviano - third base; Stan Musial, Enos slaughter Bill Howerton -outfield.
On the bench were Joe Gargiola, Peanuts Lowrey, Johnny Lindell.
Pitching staff - Howie Pollet, Max Lanier, Harry Brecheen, Gerry Staley

1991-May-12 St Louis MO - 25th Anniversary

Busch Memorial Stadium (Busch Stadium II) was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri, that operated for 40 years, from 1966 through 2005. Built as Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium, its official name was shortened to Busch Stadium in January 1982.

The stadium served as the home of the St. Louis Cardinals National League baseball team for its entire operating existence, while also serving as home to the National Football League's Cardinals team for 22 seasons, from 1966 through 1987, as well as the St. Louis Rams during part of the 1995 season.

The St. Louis Stars of the NPSL and later NASL played at the stadium from 1967 to 1974; the team later used the stadium for select matches up through the 1977 season.

1992-Apr-06 St Louis MO - Cardinals 100th Anniversary

April 2007 St Louis

Opening Day postmark when the Cardinals faced the New York Mets at Busch Stadium

The Mets would defeat the Cardinals 6-1.

The Mets received RBIs from Paul Lo Duca (3), Carlos Delgado (2) and Carlos Beltran. Tom Glassine earned the Win

The Cardinals lone RBI was credited to David Eckstein, Chris Carpenter took the loss.

Two days later after the World Champion Cardinals received their World Series rings (2006 Cardinals defeated the Detroit Tigers  4-1) The Mets went on to defeat the Cardinals again 4-1 to start the season at 2-0, while the Cardinals started at 0-2.

The Mets would receive RBIs from Orlando Hernandez (2) and Carlos Beltran, with Hernandez earning the victory.

The cardinals would get their RBI from Scott Rolen with Kip Wells taking the loss.

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Cardinals business envelope - 1942

slightly cleaned from internet image for presentation purposes

1948-Mar-22

1953 - See the Cardinals

1957 - See the Cardinals for Thrills! Action! Suspense!

1969 - Come Fly With Us

1972

For Sports Entertainment - At It's Best - See Cardinals Baseball

1977

Home Run Special - Omaha, Nebraska

#1 Babe Ruth - August 1983

#2 Roberto Clemente - August 1984

#3 Lou Gehrig - March 1985

#4 Enos Slaughter - August 1985

#5 Dizzy Dean - April 1986

#6 Johnny Mize - August 1985

 #7 Bobby Doerr - March 1987

#8 Mickey Mantle - March 1987

#9 Eddie Mathews - August 1987

#10 Stan Musial - February 1988

#11 Billy Herman - August 1988

#12 Harmon Killebrew - August 1988

#13 - Luke Appling - February 1989

#14 - Lou Gehrig first day cover - cachet show a image of Jackie Robinson "Sliding Home"

The Gehrig estate required a payment to use the likeness of Lou Gehrig on any merchandise that would be used to make a profit. For this reason the Omaha stamp club may have chosen not to use Gehrig's likeness on the cachet - June 1989

#15 - Lou Boudreau - March 1990

#16 Don Drysdale - March 1990

1983 cancel - generic cachet

1985 postmark on a generic cover with a Darryl Strawberry rubber stamp signature

Bull Durham - Crash Davis commemorative with the 1988 postmark

Hank Aaron - Ron Alexander cachet

Charleston Alley Cats

April 15, 1996 Charleston, WVa - Opening Day

1997 Opening Day postmark

The Charleston Wheelers won the Class A South Atlantic League title in 1990, while affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. In 1993 the team was purchased by a conglomerate ownership and the name was changed to the Charleston Alley Cats in 1995.

In 2001 the team was again sold and changed their affiliation to the Kansas City Royals, 2001 Toronto Blue Jays, 2004 Milwaukee Brewers and in 2005 they changed their name to West Virginia Power to reflect the area as a leading energy provider to the country.. 

Billy Martin Returns - New York Yankees

April 12, 1983 Yankee Stadium

Billy's Back

The feelings between Yankee owner George Steinbrenner and Yankee Manager Billy Martin are well documented and utilized for great Yankee public relations drama...

Between 1973 and 1990 Steinbrenner hired 19 managers...

Billy Martin had played second base for the Yankees from 1950-1957, finishing his career with the Kansas City Athletics, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Red, Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins (1957-1961)...

Martin would take charge of the Yankees in 1975, after experiences managing the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers... in 1978 Matin would be replaced by Bob Lemon after an incident with Reggie Jackson during a game at Fenway Park. Martin learned that Steinbrenner was looking into a deal that would trade Martin for Lemon who was managing the White Sox. Martin issued a statement regarding Jackson and Steinbrenner stating  They deserve each other. One's a born liar (Jackson) and the others convicted (Steinbrenner for illegal campaign contributions to Richard Nixon)...

Martin resigned the following day before he could be fired. Lemon was fired by the White Sox one month prior and hired immediately by Steinbrenner...

At the 1979 Old-Timers Day at Yankee Stadium an announcement was made that Martin would return in 1980 to replace Lemon as the Yankee manager. However due to a poor start in 1979, Lemon would be fired by Steinbrenner and Martin brought in early than anticipated. Following the 1979 season an altercation with a fan landed Martin in trouble and Steinbrenner fired him, bringing in Dick Howser for the 1980 season.

Martin would return to the Yankees 3-times more in 1983, 1985 and 1988 never lasting the complete season...

In 1983 the Yankees promoted Martin's return with "Billy's Back" campaign showing Martin pointing to his #1 jersey.

 1983 Yankee souvenir program

1985 Sports Illustrated

George Brett - Pine Tar Game

"The bat handle, for not more than 18 inches from the end, may be covered or treated with any material (including pine tar) to improve the grip. any such material, including pine tar, which extends past the 18-inch limitation in the umpire's judgement, shall cause the bat to be removed from the game. No such material shall improve the reaction or distance factor of the bat."

Rule 1.10(b) Official Rules of Baseball, 1983

Jul 24, 1983 the Kansas City Royals trailed the New York Yankees 4-3 with 2-outs in the top of the ninth at Yankee Stadium. George Brett stepped to the plate and hit a 2-run home run off of pitcher Goose Gossage to give the Royals the lead.

Before Brett could cross home plate, Yankee manager Billy Martin came charging out of the dugout ordering the umpire to check Brett's bat. The umpire did so and determined that the pine tar extended beyond the 18-inch rule and nullified the home run and ejected Brett from the game for using an illegal bat. Brett's reaction has become a baseball legend...

The Royals filed a protest and the American League president Lee McPhial upheld their protest and ordered the game to be resumed on Aug 18. Kansas City would hold their re-instituted led and defeat the Yankees 5-4...

MiLB - Shreveport Captains

poor copy of the Feb dated postmark

1990-Feb-25/16

1989-June-11

1990-Sep-25 Red River Stamp Club - Shreveport, La

the postmark was used in February and was mistakenly labeled "Sep"

The club thought the postal service device would not arrive in time, so they ordered another. The club's device had the date within the baseball. the postal service device had the date under the Shreveport banner.

The club used their device on show covers, while the postal service used their device for mail-in requests. Those covers postmarked for mail-in requests had the mistaken September date - Sports Philatelist International

1991-Feb-23 Red River Stamp Club - Shreveport La

The Shreveport Captains, were a AA-team, that played in the Texas League from 1971-2000. In 2001 the team was renamed the Swamp Dragons.
The team was affiliated with the California Angels (1971-1972) Milwaukee Brewers (1973-1974, Pittsburgh Pirates (1975-1978) and the San Francisco Giants (1929-2002)
After the 2002 season the team was relocated to Frisco, Texas...