Happy Birthday, Ty Cobb! A Gorgeous Type 1 Photo with Joe DiMaggio!

Ty Cobb, the asshole that he was, was born on this day. As I go through the ton of stuff I have never posted and look for inspiration on what to post when, stumbling upon somebody's birthday makes for a perfect excuse to write about the item. Although, when the item is as awesome as this 1957 PSA Authentic Type 1 International News Photo of two legendary players in a wacky situation, there really isn't a need for any other reason.

Cobb and Joe DiMaggio are appearing for this fun photo at an Old Timers' Game between their respective teams at Yankee Stadium on July 27th of 1957. The Georgia Peach is living up to his name as he feeds Joltin' Joe a peach. Cobb in a suit and Joe in full uniform makes for fun imagery.

I really quite like the vibrant red Brown Brothers sticker on the back and I dig how the reverse of vintage photos have so much life to what otherwise can often be an insignificant part of so much of what we collect in this hobby. The back also notes in someone's writing the aforementioned info about why they are together for this glorious image to exist at all.

This is a most welcome and weird add to my Cobb Collection.

Here's A Happy Birthday To You -- A Damn Fine Joe DiMaggio Type 1 Photo, Stolen From Sleeping eBayers!

Today's featured collectible is one of the best deals/steals I've ever gotten since entering the hobby....an appropriate post for Black Friday. I was surfing eBay one day and stumbled upon a really cool Type 1 Photo that was already authenticated by PSA (a full letter, no slab). I won it for only $50 or so and when it arrived I was ready to send it for slabbing when I noticed it looked slightly different than the picture on the letter showed it to be.

One management review later and my fears were allayed as the inspection revealed nothing to be wrong and an updated letter was created. I decided to get it slabbed while it was in the New Jersey facility and adding on that $30 yields me a beautiful 1930s Type 1 of Joltin' Joe DiMaggio for under a c-note.

The jumbo holder continues to come through and never disappoint. William C. Greene was the photog responsible for this funkily-cut masterpiece. He photographed many New York sports moments and was the Press Photographers Association President after serving in WWI.

I did not intend for this to be a birthday post when I wrote it up but while reading about Joe I saw he was born on November 25th. A happy coincidence indeed.

A truly fantastic addition to my ever-growing Type 1 Photo PC!

Joe DiMaggio and Jake LaMotta Pickups

I've always enjoyed the 1951 and 1952 Berk Ross sets. The checklist features a wide variety of athletes and anything oddball vintage tends to spark an interest in my collecting adventures. A 1952 Berk Ross Roy Campanella was the first card I ever purchased after working at the card shop before PSA, and it was bought on my first day working there. Neither issue happens to be a set I chase religiously but every once in a while you can get a star at a nice discount compared with the mainstream issues like Topps and Bowman.

I was able to snag these two 1951 Berk Ross cards from my old job on one of my trips back to Los Angeles since my move. Yes, the Joe DiMaggio is half a card....but at least it's the good half, and it's a more than welcome and quirky addition to my Vintage Collection.

Jake "Raging Bull" LaMotta was an easy add. It's a really cool posed shot and one of those random boxing cards I can't help but picking up here and there.