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Thursday, August 21, 2008
DODGERS AND ANGELS MAIL ORDER CATALOGS
DODGERS & ANGELS MAIL ORDER CATALOGS Our good friend Joe Marasco was kind enough to send me some pictures of early 60's catalogs which contain souvenir items for sale of the Dodgers & Angels. Check out the bobbing heads, blow-up dolls and ashtrays being offered. I love this kind of stuff, but always wish that I could travel back in time.  
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Thursday, August 07, 2008
THE 2008 NATIONAL SPORTS COLLECTORS CONVENTION
(Our booth) We just got back the other day from a week in Chicago at the National Sports Collectors Convention. The show was fantastic. Not only did we do some great buying and selling, but we got to see many of the friends we've made throughout the years in the hobby. It was wonderful to see old friends Brian L., Mark M, Charlie B., Noel E. and Bob F. as well as making new friends like Harvey P., Charlie L. and Billy R. The venue in Chicago is perfect. The Donlad Stephens Convention Center was right across the street from our hotel. When the show was over we had a short walk to our room where we could collapse. We ate good too. Gibson's and Morton's Steak houses were right there and were delicious - but I think we've now had our yearly supply of red meat. It's back to the gym to knock-off all the weight we put on. 
(our booth) As usual, most of our sales were vintage figural items. We brought over 300 bobbing heads, Kails statues and Gibbs-Conner banks and the action was brisk. We also bought well and will be featring some of the items in upcoming auctions. 
The other dealers merchandise at the show was outstanding. It seems to get better and better each year. If you've never been to a National Show- please make it your business to get to one. If you buy nothing, the experience of seeing this incredible memorabilia will be worth your trip. One of our favorite moments of the week actually happened at the airport waiting to go home. We got the opportunity to sit next to Ralph Kiner in the waiting area before boarding our flight home. He was kind enough to talk with us for about an hour and told us stories of his days in baseball and as an announcer. He is not only a Hall of Fame baseball player, but a Hall of Fame human being. It was an honor to meet him. Next year's National will be held in Cleveland (a great area) and the following year will be in a new location- Baltimore. Make your plans early and we hope to see you all next year.
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Tuesday, July 15, 2008
YANKEE STADIUM
YANKEE STADIUM Tonight is the All-Star Game and it will be played at Yankee Stadium. The game is bitter-sweet as it celebrates the last year of one of the great stadiums of the world. It has witnessed countless World Championships by the Yankees, majestic home-runs by Babe Ruth, the courageous speech of the dying Lou Gehrig, championship fights, the greatest football game ever played and even masses by Popes. But more importantly to me, was the many times that I visited the Stadium and the memories of my youth. I first entered this "cathederal" in 1959 and like so many before and after me was awed by its size and beauty. The original stadium with its surrounding facade, mounuments in the field and incredible dimensions was a sight to behold. I will never forget going to the games with my parents and my brother and sister. When the games were over, fans were allowed onto the field and could exit out of the Yankee bullpen. My seven year old eyes couldn't believe that any man could hit one over the fence in center as it looked to be a mile away. When the renovation was done to the stadium after the 1973 season, it saddened me, but I grew to love the stadium again as it still was magical. In October (hopefully late October), when the final game is played there, many fans will be saddened again. Sure, we'll grow to love the new stadium, but it will never replace the memories for many of their first game.  On the collectible side- there are many vintage items that show the old ball park. A model kit issued by Superior Plastics is a beautiful reminder of the beauty of Yankee Stadium. Another favorite of collectors, is the board game titled "Challenge the Yankees". It was issued in the mid 60's and the box cover has a fantastic airial drawing of the stadium. Of course, the old wooden seats of Yankee Stadium are always a hot comodity. 
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Tuesday, June 10, 2008
CUBAN BASEBALL STATUES
CUBAN BASEBALL STATUES About 10 years ago, I became acquainted with the Cuban baseball statues. When I saw them, I thought they were some of the most beautiful baseball memorabilia in the hobby. They compare favorably to the Major League banks and statues made by companies like Stanford Pottery and Gibbs-Conner. 
(Havana Leones vase & statues) These porcelain pieces were made in the 50's- the "hey day" of Cuban baseball. There were 4 major teams - the Havana Leanes (Lions), the Almendares Alacrnes (Scorpions), the Cienfuegos Elefantes (Elephants) and the Marianao Tigres (Tigers). There are quite a few variations of styles and sizes theat include vases, statues and wall sconces. They are beautifully hand-painted and incredibly colorful. If these pieces were of American major League teams, they would be sky-high in price. You can still find the Cubans at reasonable prices and once you get one- you'll be happy to display them with the rest of your baseball memorabilia.
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Friday, May 23, 2008
COLLEGE MASCOT BANKS
This weeks topic is the college mascot banks of the 60's/ early 70's. Before we delve into it, for those who would like to read about the history of college mascots- there is a great book on the subject. It's called "Mascots- the History of Senoir/Junior College & University Mascots and Nicknames". It was written by Roy Yarbrough in 2004. I'm not sure if the book is still available, but if you are interested you can contact Bluff University Communications, 630 Park Street, California, Pennsylvania 15419. COLLEGE MASCOT BANKS If you've followed our Blog entries or our auctions, you know that we have a fascination with college mascots. Over the years, there have been hundreds of different mascot figural collectibles issued. Some of the different issues include the Carter-Hoffman wood carved figurines, team decanters and the subject of this Blog entry- the composition banks of the 60's & 70's.   QUINCO GEORGIA BULLDOGS & MISSOURI TIGERS BANKS One of the most attractive series of college mascot banks was issued in the mid 60's by a New Orleans based company named Quinco. They produced dozens of teams with two basic styles. One is their boy faced cheerleader and the other is a fantastic selection of team mascots. There were mascots made for most of the major college football conferences.  
BANTRICO WISCONSIN BADGER & UNKNOWN MAKER OF WITCHITA STATE SHOCKER There were other issues made in similar styling by companies like Buco and Bantrico and even a few unmarked series that are awesome. The best part of collecting these banks is that prices have not yet soared and bargains can be had. They also are made of the same basic composition as the vintage bobbing heads and are about the same size. This makes for a very handsome display.
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Saturday, March 29, 2008
RITTGERS NON-SPORT FIGURINES
REMINDER- Our Spring Sports Memorabilia Auction ends next Friday- April 4, 2008. If you have not yet placed your bids- please do not forget- there are 100 quality pieces in this auction. To view the entire auction, just click on the Auction bar at the top of the screen. *********************************************************************** RITTGERS NON-SPORT FIGURINES If you read our April 3, 2007 Blog entry on the works of L.L. Rittgers, you know how much we love his series of comical sports figurines. What you may not know, is that the company produced and equally creative series of non-sport statue sets that rival the sports series.   These statue sets were produced from the 40's through mid-50's. Some of the sets include a pair of homely tourists wearing bathing suits, an absolutely hilarious "pick-pocket set, a blind man (faker) spotting a gorgeous girl and their famous miltary set. These statues are the perfect compliment to your rittgers sports sets.
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Friday, March 21, 2008
CLEVELAND INDIANS MAZZOLINI "CHIEF WAHOO" STATUE
****We just sent out our catalogs for our next auction - so look for them in your mail box. Remember- the auction ends Friday April 4, 2008. Please get your bids in early**** *********************************************************************** MAZZOLINI CHIEF WAHOO STATUE "Chief Wahoo" of the Cleveland Indians is one of the most popular and recognizable mascots in all of sports. It is also a source of some contraversy. He is considered politically incorrect by some Native American groups and they've lobbied unsuccessfully to have him removed. 
Some of the best figural items revolve around Chief Wahoo. Companies such as Gibbs-Conner and Stanford Pottery made him a focal point in their productions. Another Cleveland based company named Mazzolino made perhaps the finest rendition of this great mascot. It is dated 1947 under the base and apparently was ordered by the Cleveland Indians for distribution. Original statues can sell for up to $1,500, but be careful as there is a later reproduction that is worth about 1/10 of the original.
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Monday, March 10, 2008
JOE LOUIS MEMORABILIA
*** We would like to thank everyone who showed up at the Reading Show last week. It turned out to be a great show for us and hopefully all that attended had a good time. It was good to see some of our regular customers and it was a pleasure to meet some new ones. We hope to see you all again there in October. *** *********************************************************************** JOE LOUIS MEMORABILIA If you haven't yet seen the HBO Special on Joe Louis, it's a must see. As a boxing lover I was rivited, but I think it will appeal to almost everyone. Joe Louis led an interesting life and was a national hero when this country needed one most. His over-whelming defeat over Max Schmeling in their second fight, lifted the spirits of our nation and was a cause of embarrasment for the Third Riech of Germany. Louis was a man who gave a lot to this country during the war. He was generous to the war effort, but the government turned its back on him after the war demanding large sums of back taxes. He died in relative poverty.     As would be expected of any athlete of Louis' popularity, he was widely used as a sponsor. There are many pieces of memorabilia that had Joe Louis' image including clocks, lamps and ashtrays. They are some of the most popular figural boxing items in the hobby.
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Friday, February 29, 2008
KAIL BASKETBALL PLAYER
***Just a reminder to all those in the Reading Pa area- we will be setting up from February 29-March 2 at the Greater Reading Expo Center. We will be bringing hundreds of figural items for sale. We'll also be looking to buy. Our booth number is 402. We have also just posted our latest auction which will end Friday April 4, 2008. Clcik on the Auction button above to see all the items.*** ********************************************************************** KAIL BASKETBALL PLAYER If you've read this Blog, you know that we love the works of Fred Kail. His series of NFL team statues are incredibly detailed and much sought after by collectors. We recently obtained a nice sized collection of them, and plan on auctioning them off over the next few auctions. You also may know that to a much lesser degree, there was also a line of Kail Major league teams. These statues can and usually do sell in the thousands of dollars. We have only seen original 60's examples of the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates. We believe there may be other teams made.  Now, what you may not know. The company producing the Kail figurines in the 60's also made a generic basketball player. He has the same style face and body type as the football abd baseball figures. We've only handled one in over 20 years in the hobby. Pretty cool- right?
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Friday, February 15, 2008
BABE RUTH CLOCK RADIO
*** We would like to thank everyone who participated in our February 8, 2008 auction. We hope all the winners are happy with their new additions. We will be setting up at the Reading Pa. Sports Memorabilia Show from February 29 through March 2. The show is located at the Greater Reading Expo Center, 2525 n 12th St in Reading Pa. We will be bringing hundreds of figural sports items including vintage bobbing heads, Hartlands, Gibbs-Conner banks and much more. We will also be looking to purchase like memorabilia. Please come visit us at Booth 402. *** ********************************************************************** BABE RUTH CLOCK RADIO In light of the recent Congressional hearings about steroid use in baseball, I thought it was good timing to write a little bit about Babe Ruth. As most of you already know, Ruth may have single-handidly saved the game of baseball after the scandal of the infamous 1919 Chicago "Black" Sox. After "throwing" the 1919 World Series, 8 members of the Chicago White Sox were brought before a commitee, much like Roger Clemens was the other day. Although they were exonerated after this hearing, the lords of baseball and more importantly Judge Landis, banned them from the game for their association with gambling. The game was reeling and in jeapardy of losing its fan base until the Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees after the 1919 season. Ruth captivated the country with his home run rampage of 1920. He belted 54 homers in his first year with the Yankees- which was more then every team in the American League that year. His exploits took fans minds off the scandal and is credited with saving the game. We can only hope that todays steroid scandal will not affect baseball's popularity- as I don't see another Ruth on the horizon. Because of his massive popularity, Ruth memorabilia is still one of the most popular among collectors. He endorsed everything from underwear to cigars and his image is still used in marketing today. If you decide to collect Ruth, there is a seemingly endless amount of memorabilia to find. 
We recently obtained a very popular piece of "Ruth-abilia"- the clock that was issued shortly after his death in 1948. The clock is electric and sits on top of a wooden base. On the top mantle of the clock are three simulated bronze pieces. One is a bust of Ruth. Next to the bust are two baseballs with his lifetime home run stats engraved on each ball. This clock is a little different variation than most seen. It also contains a built in radio. This is the first one of this variation that we've seen in over 25 years in the hobby. We will be offering this piece in our Spring 2008 auction. BABE RUTH FACTS - Ruth holds the single season slugging average with an amazing .847
- Babe Ruth led the American league in home runs 12 times.
- In his 15 years with the Yankees, Ruth averaged almost 44 home runs per year.
- After being traded from Boston, Ruth out-homered the entire Red Sox team in 10 of the next 12 seasons.
- In 1927 when ruth hit 60 home runs, it was about 14% of all the home runs hit in the league. If a player today were to match that percentage, he would need to hit more than 300 home runs in one year.
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Friday, February 15, 2008
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Monday, February 04, 2008
N.Y. GIANTS #1
WOW! I can honestly say that of all my years of watching sports and my passion for my teams (Yankees, Rangers, Giants)- yesterday's game has to be put right on top of the list. The Giants battled enormous odds throughout the play-offs and slew all the dragons. They beat a team that was destined to be the greatest team of all time. The proved almost every expert wrong. I, like every other Giants fan, am very proud today. I would also like to apologize to Eli Manning. Throughout the year, I (along with many others) would have ridden him out of town on a rail. I beat him up verbally, questioned his talent and his ability to win a big game. I was wrong and will be eternally grateful to him for the memories of this play-off season. He was awesome! I would like to dedicate the below poem to Eli Manning. I think it sums up his N.Y. Giants career. "IF" by Rudyard Kipling If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!" If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
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Wednesday, January 30, 2008
ANRI WOOD CARVED COLLEGE MASCOTS CATALOG
*** Just a quick reminder that our first auction of 2008 will end Friday February 8. There are 100 quality lots of vintage sports memorabilia. if you have not yet viewed the auction or if you want to place your bids, just click the Auction button at the top of the screen. *********************************************************************** ANRI WOOD CARVED COLLEGE MASCOTS CATALOG Our December 31 entry concerning the Carter-Hoffman & ANRI wood carved mascots brought us a number of emails concerning the differeneces between the two and how to tell the difference. The simpliest way to detect the difference is that it appears that all Carter-Hoffman statues are stamped with the company name somewhere on the bottom of each piece. For the most part, the ANRI pieces are unmarked. On occasion we have seen them stamped "Italy" on the bottom. Since they really do resemble one another, the only other thing that we can say, is that the ANRI pieces are generally slightly larger and not quite as detailed as the Carter-Hoffman mascots. We were lucky enough to acquire a copy of an ANRI catalog. We're sorry about the quality of the scans, but we think you'll get the idea. The catalog is fascinating. The company not only made the traditional mascot statues, but also bottle stoppers, letter openers, book ends, pins and cigarette boxes- all incorporating the wooden statues. The price for the standard statues were $21 per dozen. Below are copies of 6 pages of the 15 page catalog. Enjoy!   
  
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Wednesday, January 30, 2008
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Monday, January 21, 2008
GO BIG BLUE!
There's not much for me to say today- except that I'm shocked, surprised, elated- but most of all proud to be a N.Y. Football Giants fan. Now if they can win one more game this year- it will be the "icing on the cake". GO BIG BLUE!
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Sunday, January 20, 2008
KAIL BASEBALL FIGURINES
*** I just got back from a week in Florida. Although the weather was not terrific, it sure does beat the freezing weather we came back to. The best part of the vacation was watching the Giants beat the Cowboys with my brother. This victory will go down as one of my favorites of all time. Watching "T.O." cry after the game was the "icing on the cake". ***Our Winter auction is up and running. You can check it out by clicking the Auction button on the top bar of this page. ********************************************************************** KAIL BASEBALL FIGURINES Most collectors of figural sports memorabilia associate the name Fred Kail with his fabulous series of football statues. The NFL series consist of 5 different pieces for each of the early 60's NFL franchises. There is a large and small size of both the standing lineman and down-lineman. There is also an ashtray with a stadium and small standing lineman for each team. But there is also a much limited series of baseball statues that many collectors do not know about. We have only handled a handful over the last 20 years. Many years ago we  sold a large Philadelphia Phillies and a smaller sized N.Y. Yankees that came on an ashtray. A few years back we had a large sized  Baltimore Orioles statue that was made specifically for the then Orioles pitching ace- Milt Pappas (most famous for being traded for Frank Robinson). It was an early statue and was made of solid chalk-ware. We have seen only one other Kail baseball statue- it's of a large Pirate and it came with an attached ash tray. To say these statues are rare would be an under-statement.   Just as a footnote, there are generic Kail basketball statues too. There is also a relatively common series of bowlers.
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Sunday, January 20, 2008
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Wednesday, January 09, 2008
SPALDING TROPHIES
**** We want to announce that our first auction of 2008 is now open for bidding. We had originally scheduled to open the bidding on 1/21, but after numerous requests to start the auction early we decided to open it up early. So, please take a look at the 100 items we have by clicking the Auction button on the top of the screen. We will be on vacation from 1/12 through 1/19, but will be happy to answer all your questions after we return.**** **** I'll be away in Florida this weekend, but you know that I'll be rooting "Big Blue" onto victory over the Cowboys. ********************************************************************** SPALDING TROPHIES Did you ever wonder how Major League ball players could sell off their old trophies? I've seen numerous times where an athlete will sell off his Gold Glove trophy or a champioship ring and wonder- why? It's probably as simple as us tossing away an old bowling trophy- it becomes a dust collector- so why not turn it into cash.      Now, the Spalding Trophies of the 20's/30's are much more than dust collectors- they are pieces of art. They feature different poses of baseball players that are simply incredible and very hard to come by. We have seen these trophies fetch as much as $3,500 each. I doubt if any of us had been given one of these, we would be quick to get rid of them.
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Saturday, January 05, 2008
STANFORD POTTERY PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS BANK
**** Just a quick note- our first auction of the year has been posted for preview. There are 100 quality items in the auction. The auction will officially open for bidding on January 21 and will end on Friday February 8. We are trying something a little new for this auction. We will not be sending out reminder catalogs, but will notify all of those with emails on file about the auction. If you are not currently on file, or have changed your email address you can easily register or adjust your personal information Online. ********************************************************************** STANFORD POTTERY PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS BANK Stanford Pottery has long been recognized as one of the leading producers of porcelain sports banks. There works spanned a time frame from the late 40's through the early 60's. They are most famous for their series of baseball team mascot banks. There are known examples of the Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Braves, Detroit Tigers, N.Y. Yankees, Boston Red Sox and the topic of this week's Blog entry- the Philadelphia Athletics.  
The A's bank is very rare, but also very unusual in that there are at least two different sizes and a number of different variations. As you can see from the pictures above, the center bank is slightly taller than the other two. Also notice the hat variations, the two on the sides have a "P" on the hat and the center bank has an "A". The large bank also just has an "A" painted on the chest. The two side banks have "Athletics", but one is in script form and the other block letters. It was not unusual for Stanford Pottery to have different paint schemes on their banks- as they were all hand-painted and depending on the artist, subject to their interpretation. In any event, the Philadelphia A's bank is extremely rare. We have not seen one offered for sale in the number of years and prices have been known to eclipse $5,000 for minty examples. They really are gorgeous.
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Monday, December 31, 2007
CARTER-HOFFMAN VS ANRI - WOOD CARVED COLLEGE MASCOTS
*** Before we get into this week's topic, we would like to wish you all a very Happy & Healthy New Year! ****We have started to post our next auction (tentatively scheduled for early February). You can preview the auction while we build the site by clicking the Auction button at the top of the screen. Please note that the lots are subject to re-ordering and changes. ********************************************************************** CARTER-HOFFMAN VS ANRI - WOOD CARVED COLLEGE MASCOTS It's never too late to learn something in this hobby. We think that we've finally solved the mystery of the wood carved college mascots that resemble the works of Carter-Hoffman. They were made by a company named ANRI that was based in Europe. The company has been around for a long time (probably the turn of the 20th century) and has made wood carved figurines of all sorts. They are best known for their religious statues, but also made a series of corked bottle tops for wine. They also made a series of college mascots that are so close in resemblance to the Carter-Hoffman figurines, that many collectors have been fooled. the ANRI figures are slightly less detailed and the lettering is a little cruder. Like Carter-Hoffman, they made a number of different sizes and many of the schools are repeated. In actuality, we are not sure who copied who- as the ANRI company certainly pre-dated Carter-Hoffman. What we do know, is that the workmanship of both companies is spectacular and that both series of figurines can be easily displayed together.  
The first picture is of a standard sized Dartmouth Indian and two mini sized (Harvard & Princeton) ANRI figurines. please note that they are not as detailed as the Carter-Hoffman series and that the lettering is hand painted as opposed to decaled. The second picture shows a ANRI Cornell Bear bottle stopper and a Carter-Hoffman Stanford Indian Bottle Pourer. One sure fire way to tell the difference between the two companies is that Carter-Hoffman statues all appear to be stamped with the company name somewhere. Occasionally the ANRI figures will be marked "Italy".
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Monday, December 24, 2007
JUST ADDED SOME NEW BOBBING HEADS TO THE ONLINE STORE.
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Monday, December 24, 2007
CHRISTMAS BONUS PICTURE - RARE WEIRDO BOBBING HEAD
Happy Holidays to all the readers of this Blog. As a little bonus and quickie posting on Christmas Eve, I would like to share a picture that I found in our files of an extremely rare bobbing head doll. It is part of the highly sought after L.A. Dodgers Wierdo series of the 60's. We have seen only this example of this doll. It is of a Dodgers player with a "fly-swatter". Oddly, this doll nods at the waist- not the head. Pretty cool- right? 
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Thursday, December 20, 2007
RITTGERS COVERS
*** If you know me, you know I can't stand the Boston Red Sox or their fans. But in fairness, I have gained some real respect for them after watching what they did during this particular singing of our National Anthem. Click here to check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhcZRFcjbhw ********************************************************************** RITTGERS COVERS  
I was going through some old photo files and I found these two great booklet covers that feature Rittgers statues. i thought you guys might get a "kick' out of them. If you have any old programs or magazines that feature figural sports memorabilia, please send scans to us so that we can share them with other collectors. Happy holidays!
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Tuesday, December 18, 2007
HARTLAND BOXES & TAGS
****SAD NEWS: As reported by Sports Collectors Digest, long-time baseball card collector/ dealer Larry Fritsch passed away on December 8, 2007. Although we never met Larry in person, we often spoke on the phone about his other interests in the hobby- figural memorabilia- in particular bobbing heads and Kails. He was always a pleasure to deal with. He will be missed. Our condolenses to his family and friends. Below is the SCD notice of his death.
TOP STORY HOBBY PIONEER, LARRY FRITSCH DIES
 It's probably a good lesson for those involved in buying and selling baseball cards: the man with the largest, most comprehensive collection ever accumulated was the largest dealer in America and, conversely, wasn't really even a dealer at all. Larry Fritsch, 71, of Stevens Point, Wis., died Dec. 8 at the Aspirus Wausau Hospital in Wausau, Wis. Fritsch will be remembered in a special section of the Jan. 4, 2008, issue of SCD, mailed to subscribers on Dec. 17. ********************************************************************** HARTLAND BOXES AND TAGS We thought it might be of interest to show some of the most sought after items in the hobby. Of course, we all know how terrific the Hartland baseball statues are, but their complimentry boxes and tags are also terrific and not easy to find. There are several styles of boxes including the original with a wrap-around baseball litho. These boxes came in two sizes. They also came with different styles- some have player photos on the smaller sides of the box. The later boxes that were issued for some of the statues of the early 60's were a slick looking box that had a punch out panel that could be used as a window display.     The neck tags can be a real challenge to collect. Although there were 18 player statues  originally issued, only 17 tags were produced. For some reason, Hartland did not make a Roger Maris tag. As is the case with the Dick Groat statue, the Groat box and tag are the most difficult to find. We have seen the Groat tag sell for several thousand dollars. Not too shabby if you happen to own one. There is a caveat to collecting the tags- there are some very good reproduction tags floating around. For the novice collector, it is very difficult to decipher the difference. That is why we always urge collectors to buy from dealers they know and trust.
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Monday, December 10, 2007
BROOKLYN DODGERS CHINAWARE
Before we get into this week's Blog entry, we would like to thank everyone who participated in our December 7, 2007 Holiday Auction. There were some amazing prices paid, but some of the pieces were extremely rare and may not be offered for sale again for a long time. Some of the highlights of the auction were a 60's Washington Redskins Kail ashtray ($4,183), a Gibbs-Conner promotional Cleveland Indians statue ($3,328), a 1955 World series pennant ($3,141) and a Carter-Hoffman large sized Minnesota Gophers ($2,860). You can view all the prices realized by clicking the Auction Results button on the top of the screen. ********************************************************************** BROOKLYN DODGERS CHINAWARE If you are a collector of vintage sports memorabilia, you probably already know that Brooklyn Dodgers items are some of the most highly sought after in the hobby. Record prices are usually generated with their pennants, statuary, cards, programs, pins and virtually any other Dodgers items. The team has attained "cult status" by old-time fans of the team and baseball historians.   One of the most popular and hard to find collectibles were two separate set of Dodger chinaware that date back to the early 50's. The easiest to date is the 1952 National League Champions set. This set included coffee mugs & saucers, dinner & desert plates and a trivet. each piece proclaims the dodgers 1952 N.L. Champs and shows the flags of other Dodger pennant winning teams. It is assumed that this china was given to players, coaches and team employees. They are rich in color and very hard to find in any condition.   The second set is even more sought after and much more difficult to find. It is a player set that actually pictures individual players in the center. These were also produced in  the early 50's and again it is assumed that they were issued to team employees. The same pieces appear to be made for this set- with several differant styles of mugs. Most of the star players were made including Reese, Campanella, Snider, Hodges, Furillo, Erskine and Cox ( we belive there is a Robinson, but we've never seen one) They are simply awesome and bring "big bucks" in auctions. If you are lucky enough to own any, you know just how "sweet" they are.
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Monday, December 03, 2007
VINTAGE WOOD CARVED COLLEGE MASCOTS
**PLEASE REMEMBER, OUR AUCTION ENDS THIS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2007. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET PLACED YOUR BIDS, PLEASE HURRY. WE HAVE ALSO ADDED MANY NEW ITEMS TO OUR ONLINE STORE. *********************************************************************** VINTAGE WOOD CARVED COLLEGE MASCOTS .jpg) .jpg) .jpg) Todays topic has been a mystery to collectors for along time. These statues are made of wood and finely detailed & hand painted. There is no known manufacturer of these large sized(about 14" tall) mascots. It is generally assumed that they were made in the late 40's/ early 50's- about the same time that the Carter-Hoffman Company was producing their line of wooded mascots. They are rarely seen offered for sale. They are some of the best looking figurines in the hobby. .jpg)  .jpg)
If any of our readers has more information about them, please contact us.
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Tuesday, November 27, 2007
TEX COULTER BOBBING HEADS
In the November 23 issue of Sports Collectors Digest, it was reported that Tex Coulter had passed away on October 2 of this year. Although he was a great athlete, those in the hobby know him for his artistic talent and his early marketing of souvenir dolls known as bobbing heads. Tex Coulter was an All- American offensive tackle who played on Army's 1945 National Championship team. He would go on to play for the N.Y. Football Giants from 1946 through 1952 and in fact was a Pro-Bowler in 1948 and 1949. When he was released from the Giants, he went north to Canada where he starred for the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL from 1953 through 1956. 
(CFL program picturing Coulter marketed dolls) But the hobby will always remember him for his post-playing days. Following his career as a player, Coulter used his artistic talents. He was an accomplished illustrator who often did cover work for college and professional football programs. He also was an illustator for his home town Fort Worth Star Telegram. Figural collectors should know him for his marketing of the earliest NHL and CFL bobbing head dolls. He formed a company named Tex Coulter Enterprises Inc which handled a series of Canadian Football League dolls and the NHL dolls that we call the "High Skate" series. They happen to be some of the finest made dolls in the hobby. If you would like to view pictures of some of his dolls, please visit our friend joe Marasco's Hockey bobbing Head web site at: http://www.frontiernet.net/~hknodder/Index.shtml
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Friday, November 16, 2007
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY- THE YANKEE PROMO BOBBING HEAD DOLL
*** We have just sent out our reminder catalogs for our upcoming auction that ends Friday December 7, 2007. If you are not already on our mailing list and would like a copy, please contact us with your name and address at: sharlou28@aol.com . The auction is now open for bidding. ***Joe Marasco, our good friend and a bobbing head expert, sent us this You Tube video that may give you a few laughs. Just click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCBLYDTX-rA ********************************************************************** THE YANKEE PROMO BOBBING HEAD It's been a little more than 6 years since I blew the opportunity to own one of the rarest sports bobbing head dolls in the hobby. It's the Yankee Promo doll that was made in the early 60's to promote the very first baseball series of bobbing heads. We've had a number of the NFL Promos over the years, but this is the only known baseball promo. It was advertised in an auction that ended October 24, 2001. Although I still regret not being more active in bidding for it, our minds were still on the disaster of 9/11 and at that time, this doll held little importance. The auction description described it as 14" tall with only 3 light hairlines on the lower  part of the face. My recollection is that it sold for about $3,500. This was a nice price for the time, but in today's strong market, my guess is that it would bring 4 to 5 times that amount. It wasn't the first mistake I've made in the hobby and it certainly won't be my last, but it may be the one that I regret the most.
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Wednesday, November 14, 2007
CARTER-HOFFMAN PROGRAM
** We've been posting many new items for Direct Sale in our Online Store. Please check it out by clicking the Store button at the top of the page. Don't forget- our Holiday Auction is now open for bidding (ends Friday December 7, 2007) *** I know you guys are on "pins & needles" wondering about my shoulder surgery, so here's the update. It went better than expected. The surgery was a "piece of cake". The re-hab, now that's a different story. I've gone two times and I'll admit, I'm a bit of a baby. It feels like the Spanish Inquisition. My physical therapist got his degree in torture. I would give up government secrets while he's stretching my arm. I scream like a woman. Anyway, I went ot the doctor today to get my stitches out and he said I can't do anything with this arm for 6 weeks. I guess that gets me out of some household chores (he he)- maybe I can "milk" this a little while longer. ********************************************************************** CARTER-HOFFMAN PROGRAM COVER Here's a quickie for this week's blog entry. This Ivy league program is from 1954 and shows the entire Carter-Hoffman Ivy League series. They are listed for sale on the inside cover. Pretty neat- right? 
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Monday, November 05, 2007
COMPANY CATALOGS
***Our latest auction is now open for bidding and ends Friday December 7. There are 150 lots of vintage sports memorabilia. Just click on the Auction button on the top bar of the screen to view all the items. It's fast and easy to register & bid. If you have previously registered and forgotten your User Name or Password, you can either obtain it online or by contacting us. ***We are re-vamping our Online store and have added many new items. Please check out the different categories by clicking the Store button on the top of the screen. ** Well- tomorrow's my big day. I'm having right shoulder surgery and will be out of commission for awhile. My right arm will be in a sling for a couple of months. I've been practicing doing things with my left hand- with little success. I never realized how "right-handed" I am. I tried shaving today with my left hand and nearly cut my ear off (what a mess). I combed my hair and came out looking like Albert Einstein. And typing- forget about it. Ordinarilly, I only use two fingers, but now my typing will really be slow. It took me 20 minutes to type my name. Oh well, I'll survive ( if my wife doesn't kill me). ********************************************************************** COMPANY CATALOGS As a follow-up to last weeks Blog entry, here's another interesting thing you can collect. Company catalogs are fascinating. They sometimes picture the figural items and show their original pricing. Check out a few that we think are pretty interesting. 
This is an early 60's catalog from a bobbing head distributor. Please note that the Mays doll has a green base. As far as we know, this color base was never issued. 
This is a partial copy of a Hartland Plastics brochure. Check out how they picture Mantle & Ruth with white hats. 
This is a partial brochure from Carter-Hoffman. the rest of the brochure lists many of the teams that were produced. This catalog was from the early 50's. These pieces were not cheap.
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Tuesday, October 30, 2007
ADVERTISEMENTS
Hi Everyone! Sorry that I have not posted in awhile, but I've been really busy. A renovation to my basement made it neccessary to pack up all our merchandise and put it in storage. We have done two shows- one in Reading Pa and a Toy Show in St. Charles IL. The next thing on my agenda is shoulder surgery next week. Get this, this 55 year old idiot still thinks he can play ball. So my apologies and hopefully I'll get back on track now. By the way, I am also re-stocking our Online Store. I'm starting with the Bobbing Heads and will work my way through the other categories over the next few weeks. also, please check out our latest auction that opens for bidding on Thursday November 1 and will close Friday December 7th. It's a good one! ********************************************************************** ADVERTISEMENTS Have you ever gone through old issues of Sports magazines and noticed the ads for some of the memorabilia? It really is incredible that some of the collectible treasures of today were sold so cheaply back in the 50's/60's. Take a look at this great ad for Fred Kail statues. It was sent to me by my close friend Mike Hattley of Touchdown Treasures. Check out his auction site at: http://touchdowntreasuresauction.com/CATALOG.ASPX . 
Here's an ad out of a 60's sport magazine. Look at the Mantle Hartland lamp and the Hartlands for sale. Oh- to go back in time just for an hour. This ad was sent to us by Hartland expert Fred McKie. 
Lastly, this hockey ad was from a 1971 issue of Hockey Illustrated. It was sent to us by long-time friend Joe Marasco. 
If you have any interesting ads you've found, send them to us at : sharlou28@aol.com.
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Thursday, September 13, 2007
SYRACUSE DOG QUESTION
****We recently were asked a question about a Syracuse dog doll (see picture below) that was bought with a Syracuse bobbing head. Does anyone know the deravation of this dog? We know that originally the Syracuse Orangemen were known as the Saltine Warriors, but because of political correctness- changed their name and mascot. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks! 
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Wednesday, September 12, 2007
NON-SPORT BOBBING HEADS
**Just a quick note to all of you who check our Online Store on a regular basis. I apologize for the delay in posting new items for sale. I am doing a renovation in my basemant and have packed up the dolls until the end of September. Hopefully, I will be able to post items on a regular basis starting in October. ***Reminder- we will be setting up at the 98th Philadelphia Sports Card & Memorabilia Show from Friday October 12 through Sunday October 14. The show is actually at the Greater Reading Expo Center- 2525 N 12th Street in Reading Pa. We will be bringing several hundred bobbing heads, mascot banks, pennants, hartlands and other miscellaneous memorabilia. If you are around, please come visit us at Booth 402. ********************************************************************************** NON-SPORT BOBBING HEADS For those who have collected bobbing head sports dolls over the years and are alomst complete with our collection, there's another area of dolls that may be of interest to you. Welcome to the wonderful world of the non-sport bobbing heads. These dolls can be a terrific addition to your collection. They span many different categories that include political, celebrity, comic characters and advertising. There are enough in each category to keep your collecting needs going for a long time. .jpg) Political- there are a number of fantastic dolls that poke fun of some of the main leaders of the world in the 60's. Dolls of John Kennedy, Castro, Mao Tse Tung and Kruschev head the list. There are three different dolls of JFK, three of Kruschev and two of Castro. All are great fun. Celebrity- There are also quite a few celebrity dolls of both T.V. and Movie stars. Early 60's television personalities such as Dr. Kildare, Ben Casey, Dobie Gillis, Maynard G. Krebbs, Roy Rogers and Charlie Weaver were made into dolls. Comic Characters- These dolls are some of the most collectible in the hobby. There is an incredible series of 6 dolls that are of the Peanuts characters Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Schroder, Pigpen and of course Snoopy. There is another series based on the Warner brothers characters that include Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Daffy Duck, Tweety, Foghorn Leghorn, Speedy Gonzales, Wilie Coyote and Yosemite Sam. There are some individual dolls that are extremely scarce. Popeye, Dick Tracy and Mr. Magoo dolls can easily sell in the $5,000 and up range. Batman and Robin dolls are so scarce that the sky is the limit on the price. Advertising- These dolls are very interesting and can be a challange to find. Resturaunt dolls of Bob's  Big Boy, Tom Pouce (Canadian hamburger joint) and Kentucky Fried Chicken's Colonel Sanders head the list. There are also dolls of the Phillips 66 Cowboy, Red Goose Shoes mascot, the Poll parrot and Weatherbird Shoes (rooster).Some of the rarer advertising dolls include the Natural Gas Genie, Knotts Berry Farm and K.C. Piston. There are really too many dolls to list, so you'll have a fun time adding these to your collection.For a more detailed look at these dolls, you can always pick up our Bobbing Head Field Guide. It is available to all our readers for only $14 which includes Priority Mail shipping in the U.S. It's 500 pages of color pictures, prices and collecting tips.
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Saturday, September 01, 2007
COLLECTING GOLF FIGURALS
**We would like to thank everyone who participated in our Summer Extravaganza Auction which ended August 24. It was one of our most successful auctions. We tried to bring in a more diverse selection of memorabilia and based on the amount of bids and phone calls we received, it appears that most were satisfied. We are hoping tentatively scheduling our next auction for early December and have already obtained a number of quality pieces. ************************************************************************************ GOLF MEMORABILIA As summer nears its end, I have finished another season of softball. At age 55, I made the mistake of thinking that I was in good enough shape to play on 4 different teams. It seems that I was playing almost every night and my body went into "shock". This year I tore my rotator cuff, dislocated a finger and pulled muscles I never knew I had. It's made me think over my future in sports. With all the softball that I played this summer, I was still able to squeeze in a new sport for me. I had played a few rounds of golf in previous years, but this year it became a passion. Unfortunately, my play has been just a tad better than horrible. Getting out on the course is a little different than the golf I was used to. These courses have no windmills to hit under or clowns that give you an extra game for a "hole in one". I have truly gotten my money's worth on each course that i've played- based on the amount of shots that I've taken. Thank god they don't charge by the stroke. In any event, the game has become my latest passion. It's a fun game and my only golf injury so far is to my ego. This leads me to this week's subject- golf collectibles. There are a lot to choose from. Advanced collectors may collect vintage golf equipment such as clubs and balls. Of course, there's the usual collections of autographs, but for this blog entry, we concentrate on golf figural items.   At one time, I had counted over 25 different vintage golf bobbing heads (and I'm sure there are .jpg) .jpg) more). That in itself can be a lifetime venture with many rewards. There are also a number of comical statue sets with golfing themes. My personal favorite is the two piece set issued by L.L. Rittgers in the 40's. Go to any "flea market" and you might find advertising figurals , trophies and other statues that will add to your collection. You'll have fun with these and for the most part they do not command the kind of prices that the other sport figurals do.
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Monday, August 13, 2007
I'M A GRANDPA
*** The following is a comment from long-time customer and friend Frank Parrella about our National Blog entry. I read your blog and have a comment to make about your observation relative to the gate. I believe the prepay package contained a daily entrance fee of $15.00. If you did not purchase the package your entrance fee at the door was $17.50 according to the daily add I saw in the Cleveland newspaper. This is pretty steep for even a large show such as the National. This may he a contributing factor to lower attendance. You probably will get the same die hard collectors to attend. But at those prices it may be hard to attract new collectors. At home I do not even attend these Sports shows (they are about one-one hundredth the size of the National) anymore (even though the entrance fee has been reduced from $2.00 to zero for the past several years) because of the quality of the product for sale and the lack of dealer participation. The card hobby especially has taken a dive because the market place had just been flooded up until last year with more cards than one could collect even if he had the time and resources. The card companies ruined the card portion of the hobby. I agree that we must continue to support the hobby but from my perspective it may very well be thru telephone purchases with reputable dealers such as yourself. ***** I haven't been able to make an update to either the Blog or our Online Store. The last few weeks have been pretty hectic. We were at the National in Cleveland for over a week. On Friday August 3, 2007, I became a grandpa for the first time. My son and daughter-in-law presented us with a new baby grandson name John Raymond Criscione. We rushed to get home from the National and I met him for the first time on August 6. He's a beauty and the love of my life already, so please excuse me for a little while as I am walking in the clouds. I'll get back to regular posting soon. 
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Tuesday, August 07, 2007
THE NATIONAL SPORTS COLLECTORS CONVENTION - 2007
**** We just got back from this year's National Sports Collectors Convention and we are happy to report that the show went smoothly despite the absence of Mr. Mint. We realize that we are "small potatoes" in the hobby, but we considered the show and overwhelming success. Our sales were brisk and we made some very nice purchases. But more importantly, we were able to "smooze" with long-time friends and hopefully made a few new friends along the way. We put faces to voices of customers we have known for years only over the phone. We had a great time visiting the booths of dealer friends like Mike Lipka, Gene Haas, John Kanuit, John Collins and the boys from Lelands (there are really too many more to list). We also had quite a few laughs with our good buddies Les Wolff and Mike Hattley of Touchdown Treasures. We hope all that attended had as good a time as we did. As mentioned, we did make some nice purchases and saw some incredible memorabilia. We bought a large sized Muhammad Ali chalk ware statue dated 1972. It was the first one that we had ever seen and it was amazing looking. It was the equivelant size of the large Babe Ruth statue that we have had several times. Because of its size and fragility, we decided to display it at the show and it lasted all of about ten minutes before it was purchased by a collector. We did not make all that much on it, but we were glad we didn't have to pack it up. It weighed a ton. There was the usual fine array of bobbing head dolls, Hartland statues, Kails and other figural memorabilia. The show really did have a little bit of everything. There were a few dissapointments and concerns about the show. Although sales were more than satisfactory for us and dealers we spoke to, the overall consensus was that the gate was relatively small compared to past Nationals. The trend has been a downward spiral over the last several years and it would be a shame if it continues. We have already experienced the loss of most of the local shows and the hobby has suffered because of this. We realize that internet buying is easier and less work, but it can never compare with the experience of buying a piece in person. We urge all collectors to support the shows (both large and small) for the good of the hobby. We would like to thank all of you who stopped by our booth to say hello. We hope those who bought from us were happy with their purchases. For those who have never experienced a National, please try to make it to just one. If you buy nothing, it will be worth your time to see some of the most amazing sports memorabilia the hobby has to offer. We'll be there at the National in 2008 (Chicago) and we look forward to seeing you all again. Lou & John ***Just a quick reminder- the flyers for our August 24 auction will be mailed sometime this week. You can register, bid and view all the items in the auction by clicking the Auction button at the top of each screen.
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Wednesday, July 25, 2007
SPORTS RELATED RECORD ALBUMS
**** WE WILL BE SET UP AT THE NATIONAL SPORTS COLLECTORS CONVENTION NEXT WEEK FROM 8/1 THROUGH 8/5. This year's convention is in Cleveland at the I-X Center. You can go to the shows web site at: www.nsccshow.com for directions and show hours. We are bringing several hundred bobbing head dolls, Gibbs-Conner pieces, Kail and Hartland statues, mascot banks, pennants and much more. Please come by and say hello. We will be at booths 1901/2000. We will also be looking to purchase, so if you have anything you are looking to sell or trade we would love to see it. COMMENTS: I would just like to comment on a few things that have appeared in SCD (Sports Collectors Digest) over the past few weeks. One was a wonderful article about one of our favorite sports artists Fred Kail. The article gives a brief background to his start as an artist and his passion for sports. We would like to think that we were instrumental in helping with his recent popularity. Ten or fewer years ago, most collectors did not know of the works of Mr. Kail. The more we saw of his NFL figurines and banks, the more we pushed our loyal customers into collecting them. It would be fair to say, that they are now a mainstream collectible. My second comment revolves around the front page of the 8/3/07 issue of SCD. Al Rosen (aka Mr. Mint) writes a heart warming editorial on his decision not to participate in this and future Nationals. He feels slighted because he felt he wasn't treated fairly by the committee at last year's National. His complaint revolves around where his booth was situated in relationship to the front door. "Poor baby!" I will agree that Mr. Mint has done a lot to promote the hobby, but he isn't the only one out there who has worked hard. His motives are purely selfish. There are hundreds of other dealers who are not afforded his privledges at shows. These are the dealers who toil through the whole show- not leaving after a few days when their opportunities to buy seem exhausted. These are the dealers in the back rows who are involved in the hobby not only for the financial rewards, but because they really do love the memorabilia. It's time that these dealers are rewarded with some pampering too. Sorry Mr. Mint, you'll be missed by some, but the show will go on without you (and so will the hobby). ********************************************************************************** SPORTS RELATED RECORDS For those of you who are old enough to have owned a record player, you know how great some of the old albums were. We had something to open, to look at, to read while listening to our favorite groups. Today, thousands of songs can be stored in an IPOD for fast easy listening. Almost everyone on the street is seen with something hanging in their ear.Maybe it's me and my old fashion ways, but it just doesn't seem as much fun as slipping one of those vinyl discs onto the turn-table and blasting some tunes in your room.I guess someday I'll enter the 21st century- but I am fighting it. Anyway, this brings to to some pretty amazing sports collectibles. You might not know it, but there are hundreds of record albums available that relate to sports. They are not only great to listen to, but they  make for some terrific display. Just about every major league team put out an album- either about their players or a particular season. You can listen to old play-by-play of some of the most historic events in sports history or listin to a great player giving instructions on how to play his game. The best part of collecting sports related record albums- is that for the most part- they are still relatively inexpensive. Many are priced in th $20- $50 range, with very few topping $100. Some of our favorites invlove Hall of Fame players such as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle and Joe  DiMaggio. The records are not limited to baseball- there are numerous albums about NFL teams and games, the NBA and the NHL. There are even records concering boxing, golf and horse racing. It pretty much runs the gamut of collecting. So the next time you are at a garage sale or flea market and you see a bunch of records- leaf through them. you may just find a sports treasure.
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Friday, July 13, 2007
BROOKLYN DODGERS MEMORABILIA
**** We have just opened our Summer Extravaganza Sports Memorabilia Auction for bidding. The auctions ends Friday August 24, 2007. We are featuring 200 quality lots of vintage memorabilia. This auction is a little more diverse then past ITPC auctions. We have a number of autographed pieces including a single signed Babe Ruth ball, advertising die-cuts, a Yogi Berra Yoo-Hoo clock, Brooklyn Dodgers memorabilia, pennants, decanters, Hartland & Kail statues, Bobbing Head dolls and much more. Please click on the AUCTION button at the top of the page to view all the items. **This week's Blog entry concerns the Brooklyn Dodgers and their memorabilia. It is inspired by the fabulous HBO 2 hour documentary that aired for the first time this past Wednesday night. If you have not yet seen it, we strongly advise that you do- it is magnificent. It deals mainly with the "Golden Age" of the Brooklyn Dodgers- from 1947-1957. The film clips and narration is first class. You'll feel the heartbreak that the loyal Dodger fans felt when they learned that their "bums" would be leaving them. ********************************************************************************** Brooklyn Dodgers Memorabilia .jpg) Was there ever a team that was more beloved by the city they played in than the Brooklyn Dodgers? It would be hard to imagine. The other night I watched the HBO special on this wonderful team. It showed the joy the team brought to this community and ultimitely the heartbreak when they packed their bags and left for Los Angeles. Growing up and living just 15 miles from the Brooklyn border, I still hear stories about the glory days of Brooklyn's "bums". For those left who remember, it was the best & worst of times. This year marks the 50 anniversay of the Dodgers last year in Brooklyn. Believe it or not, they have actually played more games in L.A. than they did at Ebbets Field. All that being said, Brooklyn Dodgers memorabilia still remains one of the hottest and most desirable pieces in the hobby. The team has taken on "cult status" as both young and old treasure this teams memorabilia. There are so many different categories of Brooklyn Dodgers memorabilia to collect and all seem to go up in value each year. From pennants to pins, statues to Ebbets Field artifacts, autographs to wire photos- both dealers and collectors can't get enough of this legendary team. We (ITPC) have been lucky enough over the years to have bought and sold quite a number of incredible Dodgers pieces. Our next auction which ends on August 24, 2007 will feature a number of  fine items. One piece that we have was prominently featured on the above mentioned HBO special. It's a pinback that dates back to the Dodgers last year in broollyn that reads "Keep the Dodgers in Brooklyn". If you watch the special, you will even see it worn by the hated Walter O'Malley in one clip. These pins are super rare and highly desired. Another piece that is featured in our auction is held in high regard by Brooklyn  Dodgers fanatics. It's the 1955 Schaeffer Team Photo plaque. This plaque is die-cut card-board and is highlighted by a 3-D looking team photo of the entire team. Throughout the years we have had a number of different Dodger pennants. Some are still relatively inexpensive, but all look great. Pennants really can dress up the walls of your hobby room. If you want to get a little more exotic and historic, a  stadium seat from Ebbets Field is always a favorite. Even though the bulk of the seats are buried under the housing project where Ebbets Field once stood- there are still a number that are available. Can you imagine the historic games that those seats witnessed? If you love the Dodgers, what better collectible is there than something related to Jackie Robinson. Advanced collectors would be happy to own the dolls, banks, pennants, pins and even "T-Shirts" that bear his likeness. They are some of the finest peices in the hobby. Again, we implore you to watch the HBO special and learn the history of this proud franchise. You too, may be tempted to fill your collections with their memorabilia.
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Tuesday, July 03, 2007
SPORTS RELATED BOARD GAMES
**Thanks to everyone who participated in our June 29, 2007 auction. The action was fast and furious and it made for a very successful auction. We hope all the winners will be happy with their new additions to their collections. If you would like to view all the Prices Realized, just click on the Auction Results button at the top of the page. Our next auction is tentatively scheduled for August 24, 2007. Please keep an eye out for our preview in a couple of weeks. It promises to have something for everyone. **We will be leaving for this year's National Sports Collectors Show in Cleveland at the end of this month and will be set up there between August 1 and August 5. We will be actively looking to buy any sports memorabilia and we'll also have our usual selection for sale. If you are planning on going, please make sure to stop by our booth to say hello. We look forward to seeing you all. This week's Blog topic is about sports related board games. There is a terrific book authored by Dr. Mark Cooper titled "Baseball Games- Home Versions of the National Pastime- 1860's-1960's". The book was published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd. in 1995. There are close 160 pages filled with pictures, text and a price guide. If you get a chance to purchase this book, we feel it will be a great addition to your library. ********************************************************************************** SPORTS RELATED BOARD GAMES As a kid growing up in the 50's/60's in the Northeast, playing board games occupied a good portion of our free time, especially during the cold winter months. Many of the games were based on T.V. shows of the time or had themes relating to war or finance. But our favorite board games to play were always the ones related to sports. These games could be strategy baseball games like Stat-O-Matic or APBA or more skillful games like Electric Football or Nok-Hockey. They were a great source of killing time and staying out of trouble.   If we forward time 40 years, we find that many of these games have become popular with collectors- and for good reason- many of these games are stunning. The covers of the boxes may show actual athletes, teams or have graphics that are very displayable. Sports board games were produced from the late 1800's right up to present day. Some of the early games can bring thousands of dollars in auction. Price is determined by condition, the looks of the boxes & accessories and of course the rarity. Although there are some great looking football, hockey, basketball, horse racing and boxing games, as usual the baseball board games are the most highly sought after. There are some amazing player  endorsed games. Some of the early endorsed games come from Hall of fame  greats like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson. Baby Boomers will probably remember games endorsed by Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Roger Maris and Sandy Koufax.  
One of my personal favorites (I wonder why?) is a game called Challenge the Yankees. The game is just a masterpiece to look at. The box cover has an incredible litho of the old Yankee Stadium and shows action scenes of stars Mickey Mantle, Elston Howard and Tom Tresh. As great as the box cover is, the game pieces are equally impressive. There are 50-player picture cards- 25 Yankees and 25 All-Star players from 1964/65. The cards by themselves can often bring high prices from card collectors. Other game pieces include a playing field (with the Yankee logo) and a scoreboard. It is one of the most asked for games by collectors. So, take a look in your parents attic or basement, they may have saved one of these fine games. We think you'll find that not only do they display well, but they also play well too. It's a nice way to pass time on a cold winter's day.
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Wednesday, June 20, 2007
WHAT IS THIS?
****HEY FOLKS- DON'T FORGET, OUR AUCTION ENDS NEXT WEEK- FRIDAY JUNE 29, 2007. THERE ARE 125 QUALITY LOTS OF SPORTS MEMORABILIA. YOU CAN VIEW ALL THE LOTS BY CLICKING THE AUCTION BUTTON AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE. IT'S FAST AND EASY TO REGISTER & BID AND REMEMBER- WE CHARGE NO BUYER'S PREMIUM! *********************************************************************************** WHAT IS THIS? This Blog is designed to give collectors an education on sports memorabilia. This week's entry is a little different. We are turning the tables and asking you for help in solving a mystery we're struggling with.  A few years back we bought this incredible statue of an American Indian sitting on a baseball(see pictures). It is of chalk ware composition. On the front of the ball is engraved "Reds" and on the back is the artist's name and the date(Claudell Ottman - 1910). We have racked up hours trying to find out what team this mascot represents. We have showed this piece to some of the most knowledgible dealers and collectors with no help.   Although it says "Reds" on the ball, we are fairly confident that it does not mean the Cincinnati Reds. We also doubt that the mascot is of the Cleveland Indians. It may be a minor league team of the time, or an amatuer team and maybe even a college or high school team. Does anyone out there in cyber-space have an answer for us? C'mon guys- get to work and - hit the reference books and find us a clue. Thanks in advance for your efforts!
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Monday, June 11, 2007
RITTGERS KNOCK-OFFS
*** DON'T FORGET- OUR LATEST SPORTS MEMORABILIA AUCTION ENDS IN A FEW WEEKS- FRIDAY JUNE 29, 2007. WE WILL BE SENDING OUT REMINDER FLYERS AND EMAILS THIS WEEK TO EVERYONE ON OUR MAILING LIST. YOU CAN VIEW THE ENTIRE AUCTION BY CLICKING THE "AUCTION" BUTTON ON THE TOP OF THIS PAGE. RANT: Okay, this is a little off the topic, but did you happen to catch the last episode of The Sopranos. What a disappointment? I followed this show religiously for 8 years and the ending left me no closure. As a matter of fact, when the ending was a blank black screen, I thought my T.V. broke just as Tony was going to get "popped". I'm mad- and if they decide to bring back the show or make a movie, I'm not watching. Well- maybe I'll watch- okay I will watch- but under protest. God, I miss those guys already. Today's Topic: We are going to delve into knock-off pieces. We are only going to discuss knock-off's of the works of L.L. Rittgers (see Blog entry), but we know that other great artists have been copied including Fred Kail and the Carter-Hoffman company. Somehow, these knock-offs never compare in quality to the originals. **************************************************************** RITTGERS KNOCK-OFFS
If you read our Blog entry about the works of L.L. Rittgers, you know that we believe they are some of the best figural sport and non-sport figurines in the hobby. Because of their popularity back when they were made, they spawned numerous knock-off or copycat pieces throughout the years. The companies making these pieces did nothing to disguise their imitations and some of the themes are almost exact copies. All that being said, these pieces are still highly desirable and terrific looking. The most copied theme of Rittgers is that of his 3-piece baseball set. The set consisted of two arguing baseball players and  a very indignant umpire. We have seen ceramic statue sets and even salt and pepper shakers with virtually the same theme and positioning.   .JPG)  Probably the most obvious copycat pieces of Rittgers are a series of black(African) figurines that copy Rittgers to a "tee". We have seen these statues as baseball players, football players, basketball players, boxers, golfers and even bowlers. They do have a cross-over collectible effect as collectors of both sports figurines and "black" memorabilia seem to gravitate to them. Although prices for knock-offs tend to be slightly lower than the original Rittgers, some can go for hefty prices. They are a wonderful addition to any collection.
  
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Tuesday, June 05, 2007
ITALIAN BASEBALL FIGURINES
****I blew my chance at stardom! I was contacted (along with other local dealers) to be a part of a movie titled "Diminished Capacity" starring Mathew Broderick, Alan Alda, Virginia Madsen and Ernie Banks. Part of the movie will take place at a Baseball Card Show and they wanted dealers to set up booths and be extras. I thought about it- the pay was lousy, the hours were long and I just know I would have ended up on the "cutting room floor"- so I declined. But what if- I was discovered and became a Hollywood star- nah- wouldn't happen. I've been told that I have a face for radio. Oh well- another dream shattered- I'm still waiting for the Yankees to call. ********************************************************************* ITALIAN BASEBALL FIGURINES  
Today's topic is about a series of Italian made baseball figurines that were issued in the 40's. I first noticed them about 15 years ago at Atlantique (Atlantic City) and I knew  they were right up my alley. They are some of the craziest figurines you will ever see. There are two teams (red and blue) and several that include umpires. They are made of paper-mache and the tallest figure stands about 4 inches tall. Each figure is posed in a different comical baseball scene. The fielders make hysterical errors, the batter whiffs and the umpires are priceless. They remind us of the works of L.L. Rittgers in that some of the players are almost ogre-like. As far as we can tell there are 9 differnt players of each color(the players are repeated in each color) and at least two umpires. The batter is the only black player made. These figurines display beautifully in any figural collection. Because of their fragility, there are usually some condition problems. Even with their flaws, they still look great. We have featured them in several of  our auctions (see our June 29 auction) and they seem to be catching on fast with collectors. We think you'll enjoy the challenge of collecting them.
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Monday, May 28, 2007
NFL PROMOTIONAL BOBBING HEADS - by John Pergine
Memorial Day message: Today we celebrate Memorial Day in the United States. Many of us will usher in the unofficial beginning of summer with barbeques, picnics and visits to the beach. It would be nice if even for just one minute we pause and remember the real reason for this holiday- to honor those who have served this country and given their lives to help protect our freedoms. This Blog centers on figural items but let us never forget that there is a very important and special statue that we all should be thankful for- the Statue of Liberty. ***** This week's Blog entry was written by John Pergine. John has been a loyal customer and great friend for many years. He has amassed what could arguably be the finest AFL/NFL collection of bobbing heads and Kail statues in the world. John's collection includes several extremely rare variations and one of a kind pieces. This article concentrates on his NFL Promotional doll collection. Most collectors would be lucky to own just one of these incredibly rare dolls, but as you will note, John currently has six. John has also started to sell framed pictures of his collection. He can break it down into teams or series. He made us one of our favorite team (the Giants) and it proudly hangs in our office. It shows all the Giants dolls including his Promo Giants. Thanks John! **************************************************************** NFL PROMOTIONAL BOBBING HEADS - by John Pergine .JPG)
My journey into collecting vintage football bobbing head dolls started quite innocently. About ten years ago, my Mom had been bugging me to help her clean out her attic and I did everything possible to avoid this ugly task. One day  she cornered me and I reluctantly went upstairs to clean. As we were rummaging through all kinds of family treasures, I found a Gold Based Philadelphia Eagle bobbing head doll. Seeing that doll brought back memories of going to my first Eagles football game with my Dad back in the late 60's. He bought that doll for me as a souvenir of that game. Over the years it has been fun to collect many Eagles dolls (see picture). A couple of months later I went to a yard sale and found another old football bobbing head among the treasures of that day. Since I love football, these bobbing head dolls were a "natural" for me to collect. It started to spark my interest in finding out more about these dolls and more importantly - how to get more. There wasn't a yard sale or flea market that I would pass up, always with hope of finding another addition for my collection. My favorite pieces however, are the Promo dolls. They are called Promo dolls because they were given out as a  promotion to stores to help sell the very first NFL series- the Square base dolls of the early 60's. They stand a whopping 13.5" tall without a base. The team nickname is on the chest. All the NFL teams were made, except the Vikings (although there are rumors that one may exist). The Eagles are the most unique because there are two variations of them. There is the standard and very rare Eagles with an embossed winged helmet. Because they won the NFL Championship in 1960, the producers thought it a good idea to repaint other team promotional dolls with the Eagles colors. They simply painted many of these dolls in Eagle green and hand painted Eagles across the chest. The helmet is solid green with no wings. Instant Eagles! If you find one that has cursive "Eagles" on the chest you know that there is another team underneath. I have the original Eagles doll with block lettering on the chest and silver wings on the helmet. It is the only one I have ever seen. Several years ago, I purchased a Cleveland Browns promo from ITPC. They had found a repaint Eagles and found some orange paint under the lip of the helmet. Upon further examination, they noticed the faint outline of the "Browns" decal on the chest. They sent the doll to the late Larry Reed (the Bobbing Head Doctor), who was able to strip the green paint off the doll and restore the doll to its original form. As far as I know, this is the only known example and one of my prized dolls . My entire collection has grown to over 250 pieces. I am still looking for a number of dolls to complete my sets, but I realize that this may be a life-long avocation. If you have any unusual or rare dolls, please contact me at: johbar@comcast.net.
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Monday, May 21, 2007
HOFFMAN HELMET DECANTERS by Matt Reading
REMINDER: Our first Summer Sports Memorabilia Auction is now open for bidding. We have added some new things to the auction site to make your visit easier and faster. Please check out the new Search features. You can plug in a word (i.e. Braves) and after hitting the Search button, only Lots with the word "Braves" will appear. If you want to check items by category- that option is also available. Remember- if you have any suggestions on how to make the site better we would love to hear your ideas. **** Matt Reading wrote this week's Blog entry. Matt has been a good customer and friend for a number of years. His collection of decanters is incredible and we thank him for sharing some of his pictures and thoughts. We're sure you'll agree that these decanters would make an awesome addition to any colle | |