Back in the day ...
I used to deal in baseball cards, and some memorabilia in the
mid to late 1980's. Through an old client I had the opportunity
to sell a very rare piece of baseball lore. The piece that I was
fondest of was a rare document signed by Harry Wright. A
founding father of the game. The document was a contract of some
player that was signed by Harry Wright, the manager, circa 1870.
It was written on Cincinnati Red Stocking's letterhead.
I was impressed. I was so excited to be entrusted with this rare
artifact. I remember saying to myself. "Oh my god. You have got
to be kidding." I was astonished. I was in awe. I felt like I
was let into a special group.
I sold the piece in the range of $10,000 - $12,000 if memory
serves me. But selling the piece did not compare to the dreams I
had about the contract.
Imagine, what it must have been like 130 years ago on the ball
field. The baggy uniforms, and the teeny gloves for the players.
The pitchers, hurling both games of a double header was common
practice and a home run was a rarity. Boy has the game changed.
Handling that document made the early times of baseball real for
me. I visualized those men playing in those old ballparks. I
felt like I was part of that time. I was having a dream. I was
there, back in the late 1800's sitting in the stands. Smiling
and watching baseball - Back in the day.
Handling this artifact was like punching a time clock and never
punching out. I was in baseball memorabiliaville.
I can see why some people are so zealous about baseball
memorabilia. Their baseball fantasy made a lot more sense to me
after I sold this Harry Wright piece.
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