OBSERVATIONS OF ITEMS ON EBAY
Three things of note viewed in the last week regarding the last 25 years:
Another one of the year tagged 1983 Wilson salesman’s samples has been put up for bid, again misadvertised (likely through lack of knowledge) as game-used. The item was one of the maroon BP jerseys the Phillies ordered from Wilson that year, and reflecting Pete Rose’s identity. Of course, the two consistent telltale signs of a 1983 Wilson tagged sample are present: the presence of a box tag with an embroidered “83” inside, placed on the tail. I can never recall seeing a team-issued Wilson Phillies BP top (1979-86) that carried any tagging other than the collar-located manufacturer label (correct me if I am in error, Howard). Second, all Phils BPs from this time frame had NOBs, whereas this one didn’t…normal for this unusual tagged genre when the real, team issued designs carry a NOB. These samples can throw novice sellers and/or collectors, most of whom are satisfied seeing tags, and not schooled enough to know what else is out of place.
On a 2000 front, while spring training of that year was the debut of the MLB logo on the back of a jersey neck, it looks as if a scant few 2000 spring-worn items may be bereft of this new addition. Recently offered were two Colorado Rockies BP tops that had the 2000-present Majestic sleeve logo. While one was a star, the other was a lesser-known player (OF Derrick Gibson) who was cut before the Rox headed northeast to Denver. Neither carried the MLB logo, even though the sleeve logos on both were the style first introduced in 2000. This anomaly likely is limited in examples to be found, but it apparently does exist, albeit in very limited fashion.
Finally, an email pal from Game Used Forum was curious about a 1994 Frank Thomas White Sox game-used batting helmet that bore the image of a flag on the back. The flag wasn’t of the USA, nor Canada, nor any of the Central or South American nations sending players to the Majors. Ditto for the Caribbean islands…not from there, either.
The flag was white, with a blue horizontal stripe running across both the top and bottom, with four red stars between them. After viewing it, I knew what I was seeing immediately. The flag was the city flag for Chicago. I don’t remember all the details of the 2 stripes/4 stars design, but do recall that the four red stars represented major moments in Chicago history, two of which were the Chicago fire (the real one, not the MLS or WFL teams) and the Columbian Exposition of 1892. Still, it was the first time I had seen a city flag on a Major League wearable…can anyone share other examples?
OVER-RESTORED FLANNELS
One major auction, recently completed, had two perfectly legitimate flannels, one with advertised restoration, and both actually were not offered the way they originally were due to to too much being on the jersey
First off, there was a 1969 Athletics home flannel of Bert Campaneris with acknowledged restorations of the front logo and the MLB100 patch. Problem is, the 1969 jerseys had just the large A on the front, while the 1970 styles added the ” ‘s ” to the big A. This 1969 jersey was restored with a 1970 front logo. This means one of two things: either the jersey is an improperly restored 1969 vest, or it’s a vest recycled for 1970 (which Oakland sometimes did) that had the NOB removed and not restored. I cannot say for sure either way, as I’m going on photos, not a hands-on inspection…wonder which of the two it was?
Second, a 1969 Wilson Seattle Pilots road flannel of an unknown player was offered. The front, back and tag were all as they were back in 1969…but a MLB100 patch (100th Anniversary of Major League Baseball) was added to the left sleeve…something none of the four expansion teams of that year (also including the Expos, Padres and Royals) wore on their spring flannels. A bonus in a way, bu still not part of the original package that was incorrectly added.
OBITUARIES
John Karras, University of Illinois rushing star who played one season with the NFL Chicago Cardinals, died of liver failure. He was 80.
Bob Jeter, an 11-year veteran in the NFL who started in both Super Bowls 1 and 2 for the Packers, fell victim at age 71 to cardiac arrest. Jeter was also on the 1965 pre-Super Bowl NFL Championship squad, putting in 8 seasons (1963-70) with the Pack, followed by three years (1971-73) with some mediocre Bears teams.
Pete Newell, the renowned coach of the big men in basketball, died at age 93. In addition to his tutoring of Shaquille O’Neal and others, he coached the NCAA California hoops team to the 1959 National Title, followed by a gold medal winner with the US Olympic team in 1960.
Last, but not least, the former president of the Carolina League, Jim Mills, passed away November 14 after suffering a stroke roughly two months earlier. His tenure (1977-83) saw the advanced Class A league gain a large upward spike in attendance, as well as returning Carolina League baseball to Durham, North Carolina (think of the movie Bull Durham).
DOES ANYONE REALLY WANT THE NFC NORTH TITLE…ANYONE?