A Ty Cobb Type 1 Vintage Photo From Ty Cobb's Own Collection? Hell Yes!

My love of Type 1 Original Photographs continues to be strong and a primary driving force behind my collecting. I check a few sources often and when a beautiful vintage photo pops up that also aligns with one of my player PCs, I make a concerted effort to lock it down. Today's featured photo fits that bill and I was absolutely thrilled to scoop it up off of eBay a couple of years ago.

Tyrus Cobb is in the building! This stunner was available online for some time before I pulled the trigger. I wanted it from the beginning but it was pricey and I was hoping there might be a price reduction from the seller if it sat long enough. Eventually I rationalized that the small amount it might be discounted did not outweigh missing out on it entirely.

This circa 1927 image of Cobb as a member of the Philadelphia Athletics is extra special because of the man he is standing near and what he signifies in relation to the Georgia Peach. The other man is Fielding H. Yost, head coach of the Michigan Wolverines football team who led the school to six National Championships.

Yost and Cobb are together in this photo because the A's were in Detroit for Ty's first game back after leaving the Tigers. It was a true celebration on "Ty Cobb Day" and Yost is sporting a ribbon on his jacket with that phrase. I love the photo itself, the story behind it, and the Philadelphia elephant mascot on Cobb's uniform being prominently displayed.

The other draw to this photo that certainly played a role in the amount of cash I had to shell out is that Cobb actually owned it. The photo comes with a letter of provenance from a woman whose grandfather was a close personal friend of Ty after they met as teenage teammates. He gifted his friend the photo and it eventually made it down to the young lady. Owning a piece of Cobb history from Cobb himself was just too good to pass up!

(Zack) Wheat Wednesday: A Stunning Spooner & Wells Vintage PSA Photo!

I search for Type 1 Photos of my main collecting interests of the vintage persuasion at a fairly decent clip. I really have fallen head over heels for the amazing photography, vintage origin, and relative affordability. The fact that these photos are often truly unique one of a kind pieces or one of just a handful adds to the thrill of the hunt. At a certain point with vintage guys not named Ruth or Cobb you run down your needs list to the truly holy grail-esque items. Type 1 Photos have done a wonderful job of filling that gaping hole.

(Phrasing, boom)

This gorgeous circa 1910-11 photo of my main man Zack Wheat was an auction house victory that was way more reasonable than I anticipated it being. I believe it came from Lelands if memory serves and it is an extremely early career shot of Wheat, coming from his first or second full season in The Show.

I was instantly drawn to the low-angle portrait of Zack, the clear Brooklyn B on his cap, and the blurred stands behind him. As always, the editorial markings on the back and the stamp from Spooner & Wells are interesting touches that make this a tremendous addition to the Wheat PC!

Anybody else out there collect vintage photos?

Zack Wheat and The Brown Brothers!

Some people love the Blues Brothers but as a Type 1 Photo collector my jam is the Brown Brothers and their excellent group of photographers who covered many an incredible baseball moment and player. I am always happy to add one of their pieces to my collection and this time it overlapped perfectly with one of my longtime collecting interests: Zack Wheat.

This beautiful specimen came from an auction house win (Lelands, I think) and features an early career shot of Zack. The bat on shoulder pose is simple but striking and I like that the handful of players behind him are somewhat obscured by blurriness. The old-timey stands being clearly visible is also a nice touch.

The editorial markings and Brown Bros stamp on the reverse are super cool and interesting to look at. I strongly prefer my photos to have them as opposed to a blank back. This was already slabbed upon purchase, an added monetary benefit.

Does anyone have any photos within their player PCs?

(Zack) Wheat Wednesday: A Gorgeous PSA Type 1 Photo, Circa 1913!

Here's another excellent addition to a pair of PCs, my Zack Wheat and Type 1 Photo Collections. It was an auction house victory in 2022 and while it went for a bit more than I had anticipated it was already slabbed and my view on Type 1 Photos is you're much more likely to find a card you need than a unique photo.

Clear portrait vintage photographs are quite hard to beat, although I love me a great action photo, so maybe I have a problem above everything else. I totally dig the visible Brooklyn B on the cap; the old-school Brooklyn uniform with the vertical wording (can we bring them back for a throwback night?); and Wheat's contemplative look with hands on hips.

Pure perfection!

A Stunning '50s Type 1 PSA Slabbed Photo: Roy Campanella & Gil Hodges!

I genuinely think I may collect Type 1 Photos and little else for the foreseeable future as I keep finding amazing pieces to add to my budding collection of vintage photography. Today's featured art was an eBay purchase:

Click on the above photo to open it up and see it in all its glory. Roy Campanella is mid-swing during batting practice at a Vero Beach Spring Training outing as newly-minted Hall of Famer Gil Hodges looks on, smiling ear to ear. I literally absolutely adore all aspects of this badass photo!

Here's the back -- I dig when the paper caption remains intact. This one is a 1952 offering from International News Photos and makes for a swell score for my Campy PC on top of being another photo addition.

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!

A Beautiful Babe Ruth Type 1 Photo!

My love of vintage Type 1 Photos is a relatively recent occurrence (late 2021 to early 2022) but it is a love that has grown strong and firmly wedged itself in my collecting heart. The newest addition to that collection was purchased from a dealer's website after a small discount and then sent to PSA to be re-slabbed as the photo was tilted and the holder was scratched.

While there was a wait to get it back, it was worth the trouble as it looks absolutely splendid in a fresh plastic tomb without its previous crooked ways. The photo itself hails from 1923 and features Hall of Famers Babe Ruth and John McGraw posing on the top steps of a dugout during a benefit game.

The photo was snapped by legendary photographer George Grantham Bain, whom I discussed in my previous Type 1 Photo post. I really dig everything about the photo -- a handful of bats strewn about in front of two legendary HOFers; McGraw in a suit and overcoat with a fedora; the well-dressed fans blurred behind our two subjects; and last but most certainly not least, The Great Bambino himself!

I also love that this passed through Culver Pictures, Inc. as I grew up and spent almost three decades living in Culver City, California.

Anything vintage Ruth, anything at all....I want for my growing collection of the best to ever play. I have a bunch of Type 1s to grade and showcase moving forward.

Zack Wheat c. 1916 Type 1 Photo: George Grantham Bain, PSA Authentic!!

Today's musings will be the first of many to delve into a new-ish collecting love: Type 1 Vintage Photos. I always tell myself I collect too much and then can't help but jump in when I come across some category or player I gravitate towards. Type 1 photos, like tickets/stubs, were easy to learn to love as they combine my love of sports with my love for history and odd momentos from the past.

This beauty is a 1916 Type 1 of my main man Zack Wheat. Snapped by the "Father of Foreign Photographic News" and noted New Yorker George Grantham Bain, it's a simple posed shot of Wheat by the cages, hand on hip. I love how visible and bold the Brooklyn B is and the clarity on Wheat is incredible. I think it was an auction house win, although the last few years has truly destroyed my memory.

One thing I really enjoy about Type 1s (and any vintage photo, really) is the reverse and all of the fun and interesting info/writing you'll find on the lesser side of the item. This is a true piece of history and it serves as the first official entry into my Type 1 Photo PC, which can now be found catalogued here.