Sports Memorabilia

Even today’s modern kids who might not even watch baseball or be able to name one single player have heard the name Joe DiMaggio. His name is synonymous with baseball and sports, as he was part of the game during its glory days, when it seemed every American boy dreamed of seeing the Yankees or the Dodgers play ball in their home stadium and win the World Series. He played for the New York Yankees during his entire pro baseball career, something rarely seen today.

Joe DiMaggio was born in 1914 in Martinez, California, the 8th child of 9 born to Sicilian immigrants. His family moved to San Francisco a year later. His father wanted him to be a fisherman like he and his father before him, but the smell of the boat made Joe nauseous, so he had no desire to walk in his father’s footsteps. Joe played semi-pro ball until 1934, when he tore some knee ligaments and the Seals, the team that wanted to sell him to a pro team found themselves with an injured player that no one would pay for.

The Chicago Cubs wouldn’t even allow Joe to try out because of the injury, but the New York Yankees’ scout was impressed and bought his contract, for a quarter of the prices the Seals had hoped to get. He stayed with the Seals for the next season, and became their Most Valuable Player, before the switch was made to the New York Yankees. Joe DiMaggio batted for the first time in the major leagues in 1936, right before Lou Gehrig’s turn at bat.

DiMaggio did something no one else had done before by getting 75 home runs in his first two major league baseball seasons. They won the first 4 Fall Classics after bringing Joe onto the team, and ending up winning 9 titles over the next 13 years. Joe DiMaggio was often compared to baseball greats Babe Ruth, Joe Jackson and Ty Cobb by sportswriters, also earning him the nicknames Joltin’ Joe and The Yankee Clipper. Several years after his retirement in 1951 he was voted the greatest living baseball player by a poll of pro players in 1969.

Throughout his career, Joe DiMaggio won three Most Valuable Player awards and was an All-Star 13 times. He still holds the distinction of the being the only baseball player in history who was an All-Star every season in which he played. He set a record with a 56-game hitting streak, and managed to hit in 72 out of 73 games, an impressive achievement. Just two years before his retirement, in 1949, he was regarded as the best baseball player, but injuries and the pain they caused led to his retirement just two years later. He entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955.

Popular Joe DiMaggio collectibles are baseball jerseys bearing his retired #5, New York Yankees sports memorabilia that’s tied to DiMaggio, particularly from his early career, and autographed items.

Originally posted 2008-11-15 14:13:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Sports Memorabilia -> Fan Apparel & Souvenirs -> Baseball-MLB

Baseball fan love everything about the game—the atmosphere, the rules, the players, the equipment, and especially the collectible memorabilia like baseball jerseys, the older, the better. Major League Baseball produces tons of memorabilia like bats, balls, caps, cards, logos, banners, and almost any kind of souvenir and collectible item you can think of. This merchandise is available in a variety of places. Some brick and mortar stores specialize in sports memorabilia—even furniture bearing team logos, like a Cardinals couch. Online stores offer a wide variety of products, too, and of course, online auctions are a great place to find anything you’re looking for, including sports memorabilia.

If you’re looking for collectible baseball jerseys, auctions are a great place to look. Often, teams and other organizations will offer old jerseys for auction to raise money for charity. Often these items are signed, or have special significance. This isn’t a discount way to buy the items, but at least the money spent goes for a good cause. Stores that specialize in sports merchandise carry just about every kind of jersey and every other item you could want, too.

If you can purchase memorabilia like baseball jerseys and take it to an autograph signing (or purchase it there, as things like that are typically offered for sale specifically so you can have them signed) then you have a one-of-a-kind piece of sports memorabilia made even more special if the athlete uses your name. The ones bearing only a signature will fetch a much higher price should you decide to sell the item at auction—if your buyers can be convinced the signature is real, that is.

When purchasing baseball jerseys online or just about anywhere, the first thing you want to do is make sure the tag is intact. It’s a common trick among those who try to sell “official” merchandise to cut the tag out so you can’t verify the manufacturer. Chances are fairly high that if the tag’s gone, the item isn’t genuine. These days, with a good printer and software almost anyone can produce sports t-shirts, jerseys, baseball caps, and virtually anything that mimics the look of official merchandise. Look for the MLB tag on the item to ensure that you’re getting a genuine baseball jersey.

When it comes to buying autographed baseball jerseys, there are a number of things you can do to ensure the item is genuine. While it’s always best to get the autograph yourself so there’s no doubt, if you do want to purchase one, ask if any pictures were taken at the signing. All autograph dealers don’t do this, but some very reputable ones will show a picture of he celebrity or athlete signing the item.

Look at the athlete’s autograph from other sources. Make sure the autograph you’re looking at is genuine, and compare the photos carefully. Remember, though, a talented forger can do wonders, so you at least understand the risk when purchasing autographed baseball jerseys from dealers and other sources.

Photo Credits: ewen and donabel

Originally posted 2008-10-18 05:00:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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When asked to list some of baseball’s greatest players, many people would list Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Ty Cobb, but no list would be complete without Mickey Mantle. The Oklahoma native was born to a father who was already a huge baseball fan and actually named his son after Mickey Cochrane, a Hall of Fame catcher in the sport.

Mickey Mantle was an athlete through high school and college, and because of his college football career he developed osteomyelitis, a potentially fatal condition that had only recently been researched enough to find that penicillin could stop its progress. The disease was a crippling disease that could have cost him his leg, if not for proper, quick treatment. Because of this condition he couldn’t serve in the military and some baseball fans looked down on him for not serving in the Korean War instead of playing baseball professionally, as he did.

He was spotted by a Yankees scout when he was just in high school. The scout came back on the day Mantle graduated high school and signed him to the minor league team. He played for the Yankees in 1951 in his first World Series game, then replaced Jo DiMaggio in 1952 after his retirement. Mickey Mantle held the record for the most runs scored and the most runs batted in during the World Series, as well as the most World Series home runs.

Mickey Mantle also was known for hitting the longest home runs, with some estimated at having traveled between 550 and 650 feet. Though Ruth, DiMaggio and two other ball players had been paid more during their careers, in 1961 Mantle became the highest paid active player, with a contract for $75,000.

Mickey Mantle often battled injury during his career, with knee problems and frequent pain. He hit his last home run in 1968 and retired in 1969. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974, and the Yankees retired #7 in his honor. Mantle admitted alcoholism late in life and underwent treatment at the Betty Ford Clinic in 1994. In 1995 after the bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal building he worked to raise money for the victims and their families. Soon after, he received a liver transplant to replace the one ravaged by alcoholism and hepatitis. This caused controversy because of how quickly and easily he received an organ when others had been on a waiting list for months and years.

He also created the Mickey Mantle foundation to raise awareness about the need for organ donation and to help families struggling while waiting for an organ for a loved one. Despite the transplant, he died about two months later because the liver cancer had spread before the transplant.

Mickey Mantle memorabilia can be found in shops dedicated to sports memorabilia or in online auctions, where a huge variety is available. There is usually a lot of competition for these items, so be sure to research what’s most valuable at the time before placing your maximum bid.

Soon you can expect to see old fashioned bats considered collectibles, once only BBCOR certified baseball bats are available.

Originally posted 2008-12-13 05:00:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Ken Griffey Jr is a baseball player from Cincinnati who has played for the Cincinnati Reds, the Chicago White Sox and the Seattle Mariners. The 39-year-old Griffey is a center fielder, and known for his home-run hitting power. He ranks fifth in home runs, and is tied for first place on the list of those who’ve made home runs in the most consecutive games. In late 2008, Griffey became a free agent. His father was baseball player Ken Griffey Sr. who played for Cincinnati.

Ken Griffey Jr started his career with the Seattle Mariners and played there for 11 distinguished and successful seasons. Not known for just home runs and his effortless swing, he was also lauded as a great defensive player, able to dive and slide when necessary and make difficult catches, often leaping high to catch a ball before it could become a home run.

The Seattle stadium that was built to replace the Kingdome, known as Safeco field, is often referred to as The House that Griffey Built. He was an all-star, won numerous awards and made numerous lists of all-time great baseball players while he played for the Mariners. He was even named to the All-Century team in 1999. That same year Ken Griffey Jr. asked to be traded to the Cincinnati Reds, the team his father played for, so he could live closer to his relatives.

He began playing for the Reds during the 2000 season, but with less impressive numbers than his previous years with Seattle. Frequent injuries caused problems for Ken Griffey Jr and slowed him down on the field. In 2004, he became the 20th player ever to make 500 career home runs. In a fitting moment, he made that home run on Father’s Day, with Ken Griffey Sr. watching from the stands in a hit that also tied him with his father’s career hits record of 2, 143. But he finished the year on the injured list.

Despite injuries that benched him throughout the years, Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 600th home run, making him one of only 6 players in baseball history to do so, on June 9, 2008. In July, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox, and by September, had added to his home runs to his 611, making him 5th on the all time list. In October, the Sox declined his expensive contract option, and he became a free agent.

His memorabilia is popular among baseball fans, especially those who are still watching and waiting to see what team he’ll play for next. Petitions were signed by fans who wanted him back to his original baseball home with the Seattle Mariners. Autographed photos of him as well as jerseys and caps are popular items you can find places like eBay. Just be sure to compare the signature with one you know to be authentic to avoid buying a forgery. A photo, signature, or ball hit by Ken Griffey Jr could be the crowning jewel in a baseball collection

Originally posted 2008-12-27 10:23:52. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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