Collection: 1984 Union Oil Most Memorable Moments: Dodger Infield

Here is my third installment of 1984 Union Oil's Most Memorable Moments sheets. Go here and here for the past 2 episodes.

Who can ever forget the beauty and majesty of this Dodger infield. They were so perfect together. So perfect, in fact, they ended up setting a record. From June 23, 1973 to the end of their World Championship in 1981 they never stayed apart. Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Ron Cey will forever be regarded as Dodger heroes.

Artwork by James Zar.

Check out the rest of the set here in my photoalbum.

Get the REA Catalog

Several of the big collector blogs have been writing in awe of the current REA auction. I'm not surprised. This offering is one of the best I've seen (next to the Halper auction in 1999), and is definitely the most comprehensive auction of the year. Mario at Wax Heaven first posted up a link to get your very own catalog. I suggest that if you want to see photos and descriptions of some of the most incredible Baseball cards and memorabilia in the hobby you should request a catalog too. It is almost 2 inches thick. Go here to REA's website to make a request.

While your at it, check out Night Owl Cards post. He just received his catalog and shares some of the items that has his mind swirling.

UPDATE: Welcome Wax Heaven readers. Be sure to check out my previous post about this auction by clicking the label below called REA. I've been excitedly writing about this auction and plan a couple of more post soon.

UPDATE II: If you want to see a catalog worth every penny check out the auction catalog featuring the Barry Halper collection from 1999 that was sold through Sotheby's. Here is one on eBay.

REA: Odds & Ends

Here are some more great REA items up for auction.

This poster just makes me laugh. Wasn't it Barnum who said "There's a sucker born every minute." Well this sucker is absolutely smitten with this piece. Below is a 29" x 19.25" poster advertising "Mooney's Giants- The Famous Elephant Baseball Team." This poster is very rare and I suspect it will sell for a tidy sum.

Auction Link: 1913 Barnum & Bailey Baseball Elephants Poster:

There is nothing better than a photo featuring the stars of the Negro Leagues. Here is a 1916 panoramic team photo of the Chicago American Giants. It goes without saying that vintage negro league memorabilia is exceedingly rare.

This incredible panoramic photograph captures Rube Foster's Chicago American Giants posing together on field during a barnstorming trip to Vancouver, Canada, in 1916. The significance of this rare photo lies in the fact that some of the game's greatest stars, for which few images exist, are on this historic team. Rube Foster (elected to the Hall of Fame in 1981), who was the owner of the Chicago American Giants, is prominently pictured in the center, nattily attired in a three-piece suit and sporting a fedora. He is flanked on either side by twelve members of his club, including shortstop John "Pop" Lloyd (third from the right; considered by many to be the greatest all-around player who ever lived, Negro League or otherwise, elected to the Hall of Fame 1977), outfielder Preston "Pete" Hill (first from the left; one of the greatest outfielders of his day, elected to the Hall of Fame in 2006), first baseman Leroy Grant (fourth from the left), outfielder Jude Gans (fifth from the left), catcher Bruce Petway (sixth from the left; one of the top catchers in Negro League history), third baseman Bill Francis (sixth from the right; ranked among the top third baseman in the League during the early 1900s), pitcher Bill Gatewood (fifth from the left), and first baseman/catcher Pete Booker (first from the right).

Auction Link: 1916 Chicago Americans Giants Team Photo:

Have you ever wondered what the mythical founder of Baseball looked like? Well here he is- Abner Doubleday.

Auction Link: 1865 Adner Doubleday CDV:

This is probably my favorite non-star 1952 Topps card. What's even better is that this auction lot consist of a group of 6 color-process proof cards. How freaky it must have been for kids in the 50's to see all those Baseballs clinging to the bat like that.

Auction Link: Gus Zerniel 1952 Topps Proof Cards:

Below is a true rarity. This is Joe DiMaggio's true rookie card. It is a 1934 Zeenut PCL card of DiMaggio playing for the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League.

Auction Link: 1934 Joe DiMaggio Zeenut:

My First Online Trade, Part 2

(click any of the photos to enlarge)

This is a great set. It is from 2008 and is designed after the 1888 N28 Allen & Ginter set. For nearly a decade I've been working on putting together the complete set of these. I'm only 8 cards shy, but I'm missing some of the more expensive cards from the set. Considering the economy it might take another decade for me to complete it. Ike's Cards was kind enough to send me a whole bunch of Dodgers from the set. He even included a group of mini inserts (the 3 cards above) that are of the same size as the original vintage set.