Baseball Memorabilia

What is baseball memorabilia and why do we collect it? It is defined in the dictionary as, "...things that are remarkable or worthy of remembrance. Things that stir recollection or are valued or collected for their association with a particular field or interest."

Baseball Memorabilia got a big boost in 1935. An old, torn, dilapidated baseball was discovered in a farm house attic in Fly Creek, New York. Fly creek is just a few miles from Cooperstown.

The story had always been that Civil War officer Abner Doubleday had shown "his" game of baseball to some kids in Cooperstown. One thing led to another and baseball was born. Of course, now we know that Alexander Cartwright is the man most responsible for giving us the game we know.

The discovery of that old baseball somehow proved the Abner Doubleday legend. At least it did to the Stephen Clark. Clark was the owner of the Singer Sewing Machine Company in Cooperstown. He bought that old baseball for five dollars and put it on display in a small restaurant called the Village Club.

Now, Clark and a man named Alexander Cleland already had the idea for a baseball museum. Which makes the discovery of the old baseball in the attic pretty coincidental to say the least. People began to come from nearby counties to see the baseball. Soon Clark and Cleland had gathered other "memorabilia" from players around baseball. Now an entire room at the Village Club was devoted to their museum which was growing fast. It was also a room that you had to pay to see.

In 1936, with the help of National League president Ford Frick, the National Baseball Hall Of Fame was born. The Baseball Writers Association Of America voted for many players that were on the ballot. Only five got the 75% of the 226 votes needed to get elected. Ty Cobb received the most with 222 votes. Honus Wagner and Babe Ruth both got 215. Christy Mathewson had 205 votes and Walter Johnson ended with 189.

By now, collecting baseball memorabilia was not only a hobby, it was getting to be big business as baseball fans came long distances to see the new Hall of Fame and museum.

So, back to my original question. What is baseball memorabilia and why do we collect it? Part of the reason, I think, is because it connects us to the past. Maybe when we were kids and the game seemed simpler and grander.

I, for example collect Roberto Clemente memorabilia. I have since the 1970s. I have books, films, videos, cereal boxes, magazines, photos, even a beer can. Is it for the money they might be worth? No. I wouldn't part with any of them. It's because I grew up idolizing Roberto Clemente.

Many years ago, a friend of mine knew a guy who played minor league baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates. This guy had gotten hold of an original Roberto Clemente game used jersey. The old sleeveless Pirates jersey. I almost passed out when I saw it.

When we were kids, if we were lucky enough to actually get an autograph from a Major Leaguer, we would never think of selling it. When I was around twelve years old, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Chris Short came to our Little League banquet. Wow! Sitting there, right there, was a guy who played for the Phillies! We all got his autographed photo and sat there with our mouths hanging open as he told baseball stories.

Who is your favorite, all time Major League player? As adults we still act like kids sometimes. Remember when we wore our hero's number on our uniforms? I play in what's called the Men's Senior Baseball League. It's a Nation wide league with a bunch of old guys who love to play the game. I still wear number 21. Our third baseman Mike, proudly displays number 8 on his back because he is a Carl Yastrzemski fan.

Not all baseball memorabilia is something that actually belonged to a player. Just us "over the hill" guys wearing our favorite player's number is kind of memorabilia. As I said, I have a lot of Clemente items. But none of it is anything that actually belonged to him.

The value of the baseball memorabilia we own is only as much as it means to each of us. Sure, we might pay a lot for baseball memorabilia, but once we own it, it becomes part of our collection. We brag about the Brooks Robinson autograph we got or the hand painted Hank Aaron Ball baseball we bought. (Back in 1975, my brother and I each got a signed Willie Mays photo from the Sey Hey Kid himself...for free!)

There are two pieces of baseball memorabilia that I wish I still had. I played two seasons in the Philadelphia Phillies Minor League system. My first year, the club house man threw me a uniform. Inside the waistband of the pants was embroidered "Schmidt #20". These pants were hand me downs from the big club and I got Mike Schmidt's!

The other treasure I would give my eye teeth for is one of my bats. We got to order bats to the specifications that we wanted. On the barrel of each one of my Louisville Sluggers was burned "Genuine Ramer Model" (that's my last name). You would think I would have had enough sense to pack one up and mail it home, but I didn't.

Some time ago my wife Robin and I had the chance to meet Hall Of Fame pitcher Bob Feller. I had created one of my Great American Baseballs just for him. I was a nervous wreck to say the least. This guy threw eleven one hitters in the big leagues and was in the Hall Of Fame. He absolutely loved the baseball we gave him and was a very nice guy. Mr. Feller autographed a photo of himself for me. This experience alone was baseball memorabilia to me.

My friend, Joe, from the Philadelphia Athletics Society presented me with this framed photo of the former Phillies ball park, Connie Mack Stadium. I'll treasure it for the rest of my life.

So, you see, baseball memorabilia can be just about anything related to the game as long as it means something to us.

If you look in the photos section of this website, you'll see some great shots of my wife, Robin and me with some ball players. This to me is baseball memorabilia too.

Even if it's a hand painted baseball of our hero that we will put in a display case and never allow anyone to touch it! Especially since it's the only one of it's kind.

Maybe it's just a memory of shaking hands with and briefly meeting an old ball player many years ago. Somehow, we "are somebody" when we tell our baseball buddies that we met this guy, or have that ball.

So, the next time you are thinking about a piece of original baseball memorabilia for yourself or for a friend, please consider my Great American Baseballs. They are original and one of a kind. No one else will ever own another like it.



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Own an original brick from Connie Mack Stadium

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