Posted by esiason14 :: Posted in Custom Cards, TTM Autographs, vintage autographs :: 
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Billy Raimondi never had an at bat in the major leagues, but Billy is what baseball is all about…playing for the love of the game. Billy was a catcher in the minor leagues from 1931 through 1952, which was longer than any other position player in Pacific Coast League history (Herm Pillette pitched 23 seasons). He is probably best remembered as a member of the PCL Oakland Oaks. I won’t rehash his career here as it has already been written about, but I encourage you to read his story.
Billy Raimondi biography
Billy Raimondi stats
Billy’s PCL HOF page
Billy’s brother Ernie Raimondi who was a WWII hero.
Billy is now 97 years old. I recently wrote to him and included 3 different photos with duplicates for him to keep. Today I received a package, which included a letter from his son, Billy Jr.
Billy Jr. said,
“My father appreciates that you are interested in his baseball career and that he is still remembered…..his handwriting isn’t as good as it used to be, but he still managed to sign your pictures. Thanks very much for the duplicates and your kind words…”
Full note
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Billy in 2007 at the PCL Reunion
Thanks Mr. Raimondi!
Tags: Billy Raimondi, Minor leagues, Pacific Coast League
Posted by esiason14 :: Posted in Unsigned Stuff, Vintage baseball items :: No Comments Yet
I picked up a few cool vintage items today. To view full-sized images, just click on the thumbnails!
Cuban baseball identification card from the “ASOCIACION NACIONAL DE PELOTEROS PROFESIONALES DE CUBA”, and signed by the Association President Orestes “Minnie” Minoso. ID card is dated Diciembre 10, de 1959
1951 Cuban baseball “Guia de Fanatico” (Fan Guide). 40 pages of photos, records, statistics, and advertising
1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, and 1938 Sporting News Record books
Dizzy Dean on front cover
Hank Greenberg on front cover
Joe McCarthy on front cover
Ducky Joe Medwick on front cover
1949 Pacific Coast League News, Vol. 2, No. 9. 12 pages of photos and news. Front features PCL legend, Billy Raimondi, as well as Jack Graham, and Hillie Layne
1946 Winning Baseball by Ethan Allen Instructional Book. This is the 1st actual picture analysis of baseball fundamentals demonstrated by players like Al Lopez, Billy Herman, Ducky Medwick. There are 66 pages and contains a ton of old player photos.
Book Front
Book Back
Original 1947 Youngstown, Ohio Baseball team player release form. This was for a player named Patrick Aucoin. It is signed by Youngstown team president William J. Koval on the front and by Aucoin on the back.
1953 Baseball Major & Minor League Handbook. 14 page handbook includes all 1952 final standings for the Majors as well as the Southern, Texas, International, and Pacific Coast Leagues. Team photos for the Yankees and Dodgers along with complete 1953 schedules for all teams, major & minor and bio pages for 1952 MVP award winners Hank Sauer and Bobby Shantz
Tags: Billy Raimondi, Cuban baseball, Ethan Allen, Hank Greenberg, Joe McCarthy, Joe Medwick, Minnie Minoso, Pacific Coast League, record books, Sporting News
Posted by esiason14 :: Posted in 1962 Topps, Multisigned, vintage autographs :: No Comments Yet
Today was a great week. I was able to purchase many cards that I needed for my 1962 Topps set. After this weeks’ haul, I currently have 405 from the set. Here are the latest additions:
Joe Torre (future HOF)
AL Batting Leaders (Signed by Cash, Kaline, Piersall) (HOF)
Don Drysdale (HOF)
Tony Kubek
Elston Howard
Billy Williams (HOF)
Ken Boyer
Hoyt Wilhelm (HOF)
Norm Cash
NL Batting Leaders (signed by Moon and Pinson)
Casey Stengel (HOF)
Dick Howser
Billy Martin
Tim McCarver
Johnny Temple
Matty Alou
Al Scholl
Deron Johnson
…..and saving the best for last. This is my second Maris autograph for the set. This one is part of the “In Action” subset, which is titled “Maris Blasts 61st”. This card commemorates his record breaking HR feat in 1961. Maris signed in blue ballpoint pen.
Maris Blasts 61st.
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Tags: 1962 Topps, Billy Martin, Billy Williams, Casey Stengel, Don Drysdale, Elston Howard, HOF, Hoyt Wilhelm, Joe Torre, Ken Boyer, Multisigned, Norm Cash, Roger Maris, vintage autographs
Posted by esiason14 :: Posted in 1962 Topps, Multisigned, vintage autographs :: No Comments Yet
I picked up a new addition for our 1962 Topps set. This is one of my favorites so far. The card features Roger Maris and HOFer Orlando Cepeda. This card is extra special because it commemorates Roger’s feat of clubbing 61 HR in ’61 (on the back of the card). Maris and Cepeda signed beautifully in blue sharpie.
Once I actually receive the card, I will post a better scan.
AL & NL HR Kings (Maris and Cepeda)
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Tags: 1962 Topps, Orlando Cepeda, Roger Maris, vintage autographs
Posted by esiason14 :: Posted in vintage autographs :: No Comments Yet
I picked up a neat piece today. Not the biggest name player. In fact, he only played in four Major League games. The cool thing is that he played for the 1897 Louisville Colonels, which were part of the National League at the time. This team had three future Hall of Famers: Rube Waddell, Fred Clarke, and Honus Wagner.
Win Clark went on to manage in the minor leagues for 22 seasons between 1900-1939. He later went on to become the Secretary of the Association of Professional Ball Players of America.
The APBPA currently gives out the “Win Clark Award”, which goes to the first year player who had the most outstanding season. Previous winners include: Lee Walls, Willie Davis, Johnny Callison, Jim Lefebvre, Ron Fairly, Tim Wallach, Mark Grace, Jeff Cirillo, Steve Kemp, Tony Gwynn and Jay Gibbons.
1947 APBPA Membership Card
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