Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame Charter Class (2004)

This is an index to our postings related to the 2004 Philly Sports HoF class.

1952 Topps #216 Richie Ashburn

The 2004 class was the charter class for the Phillies Sports Hall, accordingly it has a lot of big names. 

Richie Ashburn
Steve Carlton
Robin Roberts
Connie Mack
Jimmie Foxx
Mike Schmidt

Tom Gola
Billy Cunningham
Wilt Chamberlain
Julius Erving
Paul Arizin (2001 Fleer Greats of the Game)
 
Chuck Bednarik
Bert Bell
Steve Van Buren
 
Bernie Parent
Bobby Clarke
 
Bill Tilden
Joe Frazier
John B. Kelly, Sr.
Harry Kalas
Sonny Hill
 
Phungo Phillies Sports Hall of Fame Master Index

1952 AL MVP Bobby Shantz Autograph Signing at Shibe Vintage Sports

Last Friday Night Team Phungo checked out a Bobby Shantz Autograph Signing at Shibe Vintage Sports. 
 

1952 Topps #219 Bobby Shantz

This was definitely among one of the best best autograph signings I have ever attended. Bobby Shantz was beyond friendly, he was enthusiastic and funny. He discussed the 1952 Topps Card that I brought to sign and noted that it is one of the most common ones he received in TTM requests. The 1952 AL MVP inscription was his recommendation.

Discussing the 1952 Topps Card with Bobby Shantz (Photo stolen from Shibe Vintage Sports Facebook Site)

 

Shantz and Phungo

That is the 1952 AL MVP standing next to me, I am not that big a guy and he is standing on his tip toes. Shantz is listed as 5' 6" - Hard to believe anybody that size stuck around the majors for 16 seasons and struck out over a 1000 batters. 

Shibe Vintage Sports
Shibe Vintage Sports hosted Shantz as part of their first birthday celebration. Their store may be small but they have lots of great unique items and they have a friendly and helpful staff.

They have Phillies items of course, but they also have shirts and caps from the Philadelphia A's and the Negro League's Philadelphia Stars. Apparel options extend into all sports and they also have items related to historic Philadelphia Beers and Pubs. 

Sources and Links
Shibe Vintage Sports
baseball-ref

Sy Berger 1923-2014

Earlier today we got the news that Sy Berger has died at the age of 91. 

2004 Topps Archives Fan Favorites #137 Sy Berger

To many Sy Berger is considered the father of the modern day baseball card. He came to Topps in 1952 and designed the companies famous 1952 Set. In 2004 the company honored Berger with the above Topps Archives card which is in the 1952 design that he created.

I collect lots of different cards and brands, but Topps was always my first card and I return to it in this blog often. Thanks to Sy Berger for creating and promoting a simple item and hobby that I can enjoy.

2004 Topps Archives Fan Favorites #137 Sy Berger (b-side)

The flip side of the Sy Berger card gives some of the background regarding the 1952 Topps set and Berger's contributions to the hobby.


Card Tributes
Night Owl Cards
Base Set Collecting - Nice Collection of links to other tributes and obituaries
Cardboard Connection
A Cardboard Problem
Dime Boxes
The Topps Archives
Sports Card Info 
Yadier Molina Baseball Cards
1978 the Year it all Began
bdg610s Topps Baseball Card blog
All About Cards (includes embed of Olbermann tribute)

Sports Collector Digest Profile from September 2014

NY Times Obit
ESPNs Sy Berger profile

Sources
ESPN

Philly Show 2014 09 28 - Vintage

Just gonna do some quick Show and Tell from the Philly Show this past weekend. I spent about 3 hours at the show. I was there on Sunday which is a football day in Philadelphia, consequently the floor didn't feel too busy. The autograph guests on Sunday were the weaker of the two days as well - In addition 1960s era Phillies infielder had to postpone his appearance.

I attended the event without a real plan but felt pretty good about the day. The bulk of my time was spent at two tables. If things go well this should be the first of four installments on the show: 1) Vintage, 2) Non-Sports Tobacco Cards 3) Recent AutoGamers 4) Dime Box

Vintage
Today we will start our series by looking at Team Phungo's favorite collecting areas, Vintage Cards.

1952 Topps #223 Del Ennis

The above Del Ennis card at $4 was my favorite buy of the show. Yeah it has some A-side writing, but I can live with that. Rest of card is a bit soft and creased, but good enough for the Phungo Checker.

I picked the 52T Ennis up from Uncle Dicks Cards - One of my favorite vendors at the Philly show. Dick has thousands of vintage cards in my favorite condition - Loved. He also has cards in more pristine condition, but for me his off-condition cards are just fine for my Phils Checker and set collecting needs. He also has an fun crew at his side and there is often humorous banter at his stand. In addition Dick has several collector friendly touches, there are plenty of chairs, he has paint sticks laid out to help as markers for perusing stacks. Everything in his booth is tagged bright green which makes his stand easy to spot.


I also picked up 4 other 1952 Mid-Number cards for $7-$8 each including #270 Lou Brissie.

1960 Topps Hi Number Phillies 

#541 - Tony Curry     
#549 - John Buzhardt
#511 - Ken Walters
#264 - Robin Roberts

Each of the 1960 Topps Cards above went for $2.

1954 Topps #2 Gus Zernial


I checked off five 1954 Topps commons which went for a combined $3.

1958 Topps #314 Dodgers; Boss & Power Duke Snider - Walter Alston

Picked up this manager/player card for my HoF collection. This card came in at $8 which was probably an overpay judging my recent ebay auctions.

More September 2014 VF Show 
The Phillies Room (including Darren Daulton Autograph Session)
Brad's Blog (Lots o 1962-65 Topps Phillies Cards)
Allen Ginter's Originals
Phillies
Dime Boxes
Auto/Gamers


Sources  & Links
ebay 

2014 03 08 Card Show Valley Forge PA: 1952 Topps HOF Larry Doby

Last week as part of the Year of the Horse series we profiled Ellis Valentine and his famous half face mask card. One of the interesting things that was noted in a linked Jeff Pearlman interview is the an early mentor of Valentine was Larry Doby. 

1952 Topps #243 Larry Doby

In 1947 Three months after Jackie Robinson debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Larry Doby became the first African-American player in the AL. On July 5, 1947 Doby pinch hit in the 7th inning of a game between the White Sox and Indians.

A year later Doby was a key member of the Indians squad that won the 1948 World Series. During the series he led the team in hits and batting average. 66 years later it remains the Indians most recent World Championship.

Larry Doby would go on to lead the AL in Home Runs twice (1952, 1954). His 1954 performance was good enough to place him 2nd in the MVP voting (Yogi Berra). Doby led the league in WAR in 1952 and oWAR in 1950. The MVPs those years went to Phil Rizzuto (1950) and Bobby Shantz (1952). It should be noted that Shantz's pitching WAR did outpace Doby 9.6 - 7.0.

For the Collector
I picked this card up at the Valley Forge Card Show for $8.  A 1952 Topps card of an Iconic Hall of Famer for $8 stinking bucks. That is my victory of the year.

2014 03 08 VF Card Show
1952 Topps #243 Larry Doby
1969 Topps #6 LL HR Dick Allen McCovey Banks  
1973 Topps #503 Phil Niekro
  
Sources
Baseball-ref
baseball Hall of Fame

Phun Cards 1952 Topps #216 Richie Ashburn

I am a little bit amazed that I have really not given a lot of ink to Richie Ashburn on the Phungo Pages.  Although his playing career was long over before I was born, Ashburn was a large part of the Phillies experience for any fan of my generation.  He was the color analyst for Harry Kalas from the time I started watching the game until his death in 1997. 

Despite ranking up more hits then any other player during the decade of the 1950s and 2574 for his career Richie Ashburn was dropped from the Hall of Fame ballot in 1982.  Eventually he would enter the Hall in 1995 as a selection of the Veterans committee.  Ashburn led the National League in Batting average twice (1955,1958) and OBP 4 times (54, 55, 58, 60).  He was a 6 time all star selection and was a member of the 1950 Whiz Kids.  His #1 is one of 5 numbers retired by the Phillies. 

1952 Topps #216 Richie Ashburn

1952 Topps #216 Richie Ashburn (b-Side)


For the Collector

 

This is the 2nd Topps card issued of Richie Ashburn.  A recent ebay auction of a rough conditioned 52 Topps Ashburn finished at $9.62.  The Hi auction for a slabbed PSA 9 Mint card was $1710.32.  6 auctions of cards in pretty good condition concluded between $26 and $43. 

The above '52 Topps Ashburn was procured for the Phungo collection off an ebay auction for $18.97 in July of 2009.

More Richie Ashburn
1950 Bowman #84
1952 Topps #216

1959 Topps #317 (with Willie Mays)

2009 Phungo #1

1955 Topps Cards that never were (link to Bob Lemke Custom Card)
 

Phun Cards 1952 Topps #158 Eddie Waitkus

What would you pay for a vintage baseball card of the player that inspired Bernard Malamud's classic novel "The Natural"?  What would that card be worth to you if it was from the classic 1952 Topps set?

1952 Topps #158 Eddie Waitkus


Without much effort you can get this card for under $10.  Unfortunately this particular card has a huge TW stamped on the back, but it has a fine looking front and minimal wear.  Really it is a beauty for any 1952 card, but this is a 52 Topps of a noteworthy player.


Yes, Eddie Waitkus is the inspiration for "The Natural".  The novel was of course turned into the classic film by Robert Redford who also starred in the titular role.


Check the back of the card, which goes into a lot more detail about Waitkus then a contemporary card likely would (click to enlarge):

1952 Topps #158 Eddie Waitkus (b-side - Image swiped from Baseball Card Database)




There it is the Eddie Waitkus story.  Really not the entire story that we know from "The Natural", but the crazy woman and the shooting is all there. There is also the mention of Waitkus' military service.


Near as I can tell Waitkus career didn't have a Knock out the Lights moment.  He was a member of the 1950 Whiz Kids and did get to represent the NL in the World Series.  Waitkus played 11 seasons in the majors.  During his tenure he collected 1214 hits of which only 24 were homers.

Finally
And Yes, I finally did it, I sponsored a Baseball-Reference page.  I figured for the amount of enjoyment and information  that I have gotten from the site, I was overdue for a sponsership.  

Only 2 people like the Eddie Waitkus Baseball-Reference Page.  That is ridiculous.  Go and Like his page.

Phun Cards - The Essential Collection

Phun Cards is basically my version Cardboard Appreciation.  For all the reasons documented above, I deem the 1952 Topps #158 Eddie Waitkus card a member of the Phun Cards Essential Collection.