Wednesday, January 11, 2017

St Louis Cardinals

Oct 21, 1950 Mound City Stamp Club, Saint 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

Apr 6, 1992 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.

July 30, 1989 Louisville, Ky
Baseball Card show commemorative cancel "Be a Bird Watcher"
October 8, 2000 - Memphex 2000 show postmark

1982, the St Louis Cardinals moved their AAA American Association team, the Redbirds, from Springfield, Ill to Louisville, Ky. During the 1982 season the Redbirds broke the minor league attendance record by drawing 868,418 fans. 1983 the Redbird brought in over 1 million fans
Glens Falls Redbirds - March 1993
Glens Falls Redbirds - June 1993
1998 Redbirds commemorative postmark

1998 the American Association folded and the Redbirds moved to Memphis...

1994 New Jersey Cardinals were a short season A-level minor league team in the St Louis Cardinals organization, participating in the New York-Penn League. The team played at Skylands Park, Augusta, NJ from 1994-2005

A special postmark was available on opening day, and these 3 business envelopes were available for purchase at the game. The above New Jersey Cardinals business envelope, signed by announcer and former Major League pitcher Sparky Lyle

Barnstorming - New Jerseys Baseball magazine, signed by legendary New York area sportswriter Phil Pepe
Skylands Park management business envelope, handwritten on the bottom 26/100 Opening Night - Cards v Hudson Valley
Cardinals business envelope - 1942
slightly cleaned from internet image for presentation purposes
1957 - See the Cardinals for Thrills! Action! Suspense!
1972
For Sports Entertainment - At It's Best - See Cardinals Baseball
1977

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

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

Monday, January 9, 2017

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.. 

Sunday, January 8, 2017

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...

Saturday, January 7, 2017

Shreveport Captains

poor copy of the Feb dated postmark
used Feb 25-16, 1990
Sep 25, 1990 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

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...

Friday, January 6, 2017

Stamp Show - Iepex : Spokane, Wa

May 24, 1986 Iepex Sta, Spokane Washington
Wm Roy Rice Linoprint cachet
The cancel commemorates the 100th anniversary of baseball in Spokane, Wa
Inland Empire Philatelic Society

Thursday, January 5, 2017

Delaware Sport Card Show

May 3, 1986 Dover, De
First Blue Hen Mall Baseball Card show
signed by Forrest Jacobs and Dick Hall

The Blue Hen Mall opened in 1968 and closed in 1991 when it was converted into a corporate center. It was the main mall in Dover until the Dover Mall opened in 1982.

Forrest "Spook" Jacobs - second baseman playing for the Philadelphia Athletics, Kansas City Athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1954-1956. Born in Cheswold, De - 1925
Jacobs worked with cachet producer Herman McNatt, together they produced a line of first day covers "Baseball Parade" that honored the stamp issue, but also featured Jacobs and autographed.



Dick Hall - pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Athletics, Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies from 1952-197. He compiled a W-L record of 93-75, with a 3.32 ERA.
2-time World Series Champion and an inductee into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame