My FanFest Day

The Dodgers FanFest on Saturday was quite a day.  The weather was gloomy, but there wasn't a rain storm in sight.  It was like the clouds decided to disappear over Dodger Stadium to give us the best weather a wet and stormy weekend could provide.  For several hours, we were spared from the rain, and many of the Dodger faithful came out to the stadium in celebration.

It was estimated that 21,000 fans came out regardless of the threat of rain.  How's that for sports fanaticism? 

Several other bloggers have already provided their highlights from the event.  Check out 'LA Inspirations' story here as he snagged a signed Magic Johnson autographed Baseball, Dodgers Familia with his autographed gets, and Arno at 'I'm Ballsy' who met up with a bunch of other bloggers.  For a bunch of great photos check out what Jon SooHoo has posted up on his blog.  He is the Dodgers official photographer.

As for me, I had initially hoped to get a bunch of Dodgers to sign a Dodgers book for me.  Unfortunately, when I got to the parking lot the line for autograph wristbands was a mile long.  Literally!  It started at the front of the FanFest gates and went all the way back toward the outer gates.  Then, it did a 180 and curved all the way back towards the entrance.  It would take hours to get a wristband, and after over an hour of waiting, I could have no more.  I decided to leave the line and go to the FanFest to enjoy the other events.  Below is a look at the queue. 

There were some great speakers; including Tommy Lasorda and Vin Scully.  I'll have a post up momentarily featuring some videos from the day that I found on eBay.  Ned Colletti (pictured in the photo below on the left) also spoke.

A great sideshow to the FanFest was a tent fileld with Baseball history.  Super collector, Gary Cypres, brought out some of his stuff from the Sports Museum of Los Angeles.  The display had a little bit of everything.  There were some vintage Baseball cards and memorabilia, as well as, a historical look at  Baseball equipment from the 19th bentury.  I took a bunch of pictures here, so check them all out below.  Click any pic to embiggen.

Below is a little bit of American folk art.  An enterprising craftsman put together a bench made with (what looks like) game used Baseball bats.

On the left below is a late 19th century 'bib' style Baseball jersey.  On the right below is a large grouping of 1911 T201 Mecca Double-Folders Baseball cards.

Below are some vintage Baseball sweaters.  On the left is a 1920's NY Yankees field sweater, in the center a 1920's St. Louis Cardinals outer jacket, and on the right is a 1910 Chicago Cubs field Sweater.

Displayed were a bunch of different fielders gloves used during the games early years.  Below are fingerless gloves, which were the first gloves used in the game before the 1880's.

Below are workmen's gloves that were first used in the 1880's.

Here are some more early style Baseball gloves.

The below item was a real treat to see.  It is a birdcage catchers mask- the first mask in Baseball.

Below are a couple of vintage advertising posters.

A whole bunch of vintage tobacco cards were up on display.  Below are 1911 T205 Gold Bordered tobacco cards.  In the bottom right photo is a Ty Cobb card, at center.

Here is a large grouping of 1909-1911 T206 Baseball cards.  Cypres didn't show off his Honus Wagner card, but he just about shared everything else.

These next group of cards were great to see.  These are 1887 Old Judge's. 

On the top left in the photos below is Bob Carouthers, and on the top right is Hall of Famer Tim Keefe.  The bottom left card is of Old Hoss Radbourn (and no, he is not sticking out his middle finger), and on the bottom right is Brooklyn Grays (Dodgers) 1st baseman Bill Phillips.

Also on display were some great old Baseball games.  Below are some pinball and board games.

Here are some standup pinball games.  Unfortunately, they weren't in operating condition.

These next two items are really cool.  On the bottom left is a 1905 Edwards Big League Table Base Ball Game.  There is a knob behind home plate, that when turned, moves the runners around the bases on a chain driven mechanism.  On the bottom right is another table game.

Here is a huge advertising display along with some more Base Ball themed table games.

Below are some early 19th century Baseball bats.  At the top left in the photos below are some flat bats, and on the top right is a mushroom bat.  As you can see the handle part of this bat is shaped loke a elongated mushroom.  The remaing bats are other 19th century examples.

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