Scott Vieira wore this jersey during Chicago Cubs spring training from 1999 to 2000. It has been signed by a number of former MLB players after the fact, and we will examine it in detail this week.
Category: Other
Vintage Item Spotlight-Richard Nixon Bill Signer Pen
By David G. Firestone
We have discussed so called “bill signer” pens a couple of times, and for this article, we will shift gears. Richard Nixon’s entire Presidency can be summed up with the word Watergate. Prior to that, he was a popular president, who did a lot for the country.
On October 20, 1972, while the scandal was beginning to heat up, and with the elections in sight, President Nixon was in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, and while at Independence Hall, signed “H.R. 14370 To provide fiscal assistance to State and local governments, to authorize Federal collection o£ State individual income taxes, and for other purposes.” He did so using this custom Parker 45 pen.
The pen is blue in color, and has Richard Nixon’s signature on the side of the blue plastic. 
The pen shows heavy use, with cracks on the blue plastic. The tip is also destroyed. Given what was going on in Washington at the time, that makes sense. Just 10 days earlier, the FBI had announced that the Nixon re-election committee had been involved in a huge ring of illegal spying and surveillance. Nixon had to be on edge, and it is very likely he very aggressively signed his name on the document. 
The pen still has the original pen box, customized with the Presidential Seal and Nixon’s signature emblazoned in gold on a white background. The inside has red felt, and holds the pen very snugly.
Accompanying the pen is a card the length of the pen box with a description of the signing in blue script on a tan background. 
It was one of the last moments of pride for a presidency that would see its end in scandal less than two years later. It did change our society, but the man who used the pen would also change our society.
DGF2099 Productions-Introduction to Sports Memorabilia-Vintage Game Used Cubs-Style Baseball Jersey
This week, we will analyze another vintage baseball jersey, this one is a Chicago Cubs style jersey from the 1970’s.
Vintage Item Spotlight-Lyndon Baines Johnson Bill Pen…Part 2
By David G. Firestone
As you may remember, a few weeks ago, we discussed a Lyndon Baines Johnson Esterbrook pen, used to sign S. 510 in 1965, well we will take a look at another pen used by LBJ to sign legislation, but this pen is completely different.
On August 1, 1944, The Warsaw Uprising took place. The Polish Resistance Home Army launched Operation Tempest to combat the Nazi occupation, and to establish sovereignty before the Soviet Red Army arrived in Poland. For 63 days, the Home Army fought against the Nazis. Tragically, due to a lack of outside support, and lack of supplies, the Warsaw Uprising failed.
20 Years later, on July 31, 1964, President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed Proclamation 3603, which states:
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Whereas August 1, 1964, marks the twentieth anniversary of the historic uprising of Polish patriots to liberate their capital, the City of Warsaw from the Nazi occupation; and
Whereas the bravery of the Polish people demonstrated their determination to achieve liberty and independence; and
Whereas the American people regard the action of the Polish patriots in the Warsaw uprising as a great manifestation of bravery and devotion to home and country; and
Whereas this historic effort should serve to inspire people everywhere to rededicate themselves to the cause of freedom and justice:
Now, Therefore, I, Lyndon B. Johnson, President of the United States of America, do hereby designate August 1, 1961, as Warsaw Uprising Day.
I invite the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities, and I urge them to mark this event as an exceptional demonstration of man’s courage and devotion in the long and continuing struggle for human freedom.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed.
DONE at the City of Washington this thirty-first day of July in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and sixty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and eighty-ninth.
LYNDON B. JOHNSON
By the President:
DEAN RUSK,
Secretary of State.
For that event, Lyndon Johnson used this pen to sign the proclamation.
It is an Eversharp 45, which was the predecease to the Parker 45, which became a staple for most political bill signer pens, presidential and governor alike. It has been mounted in a shadowbox with the pen box, a picture of Johnson signing the proclamation, a portrait of Johnson,
and a plaque stating when the pen was used.
This is an example of an item that has changed the United States. This pen, which is made of plastic, metal, and felt was used by a President to sign a proclamation that did in fact change our world forever. While the Warsaw Uprising was in the end, a failure, it has a legacy left that tells the story of those who stood and fought for what they believed in.
DGF2099 Productions-Introduction to Sports Memorabilia-Vintage Game Used Baseball Jersey #14
This week, we will analyze another vintage baseball jersey, this one from the 1950’s-60’s.
DGF2099 Productions-Introduction to Sports Memorabilia-Vintage “State” Game Used Baseball Jersey #20
The 10th Season Premier of Introduction to Sports Memorabilia starts with two episodes, each focusing on a college jersey from the late 1950’s to Early 1960’s.
DGF2099 Productions-Introduction to Sports Memorabilia-Vintage “State” Game Used Baseball Jersey #11
The 10th Season Premier of Introduction to Sports Memorabilia starts with two episodes, each focusing on a college jersey from the late 1950’s to Early 1960’s.
Vintage Item Spotlight- 1931 Armour Institute of Technology Baseball Uniform
This week on Vintage Item Spotlight, we will look at one of the rarer items in my baseball collection, a 1931 Armour Institute of Technology baseball uniform.
The story of Armour Institute of Technology is an interesting one, and it starts in 1890. Frank Gunsaulus wanted to found a university where students from all backgrounds would be admitted. Meat packing magnate Philip Armour, Sr. supported the idea, and donated $1 million in 1890 to support this endeavor. Thus the Armour Institute of Technology was born. It ran until 1940, when due to finanical constraints was merged with the Lewis Institute. Thus the Illinois Institute of Technology was born.
Most colleges in the United States have sports, and Armour Tech was no exception. Baseball was the most popular sport in the United States and so Armour Tech had a baseball team. This is an example of the uniforms the Armour Tech players wore.
The collar has a vintage Spalding Brothers Company tag, and the remains of where a second tag was removed.
The ARMOUR name is sewn in dark blue felt lettering into the heavy gray flannel. The dye from the felt lettering has stained some of the fabric aroun the lettering. The buttons are all present and in good condition.
The bottom of the front of the jersey has some staining present.
In addition to a really nice cuff design, there is some light staining on the right sleeve.
Possibly from the lettering, the left sleeve has some blue stains present.
Since uniform numbers were not introduced in baseball until 1929, and did not catch on immediately, it makes sense that this uniform does not have a number.
Turing to the pants. There are stains on the front of the legs, as well as the back seat area. 
The cuffs show a lot of wear as well.
The buttons are in good condition as well.
A vintage Spalding tag, with a 34 size indication is sewn into the waist. The name SOMMER is written in fountain pen next to the size tag. Using the TechNews archives, I was able to discover that Sommer, who’s first name I was never able to find, was a center fielder from 1931-1934, eventually becoming a captain in 1934.
A pair of blue stirrups accompanies the uniform.
MEARS has authenticated this uniform as authentic, and it is a very impressive vintage piece. In fact, it may be the only example of its kind in existence, not just in this form, but in ANY form. This is a true example of a well-preserved vintage baseball uniform.
Vintage Item Spotlight: Lyndon Baines Johnson Bill Pen…Part 1
By David G. Firestone
It dawns on me I should use this blog more often. So what I’m going to do is every other week, I will take a vintage item, and analyze it up close. The Driver Suit Blog will be for racing items, this will be for everything else.
For the first part of this new blog, we will take a look at a Lyndon Baines Johnson bill pen, used to sign a legislative bill in 1965.
The pen is an Esterbrook crystal fountain pen, which, in addition to LBJ was used by John F. Kennedy, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. This particular style was used for a number of high profile bill signings, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963. This particular pen was used to sign S. 510, “An act to extend and otherwise amend certain expiring provisions of the Public Health Service Act to community health services, and for other purposes.”
The pen is clear, with THE PRESIDENT THE WHITE HOUSE engraved on the side.
The steel fountain pen tip has ink remnants from that signing still present on the pen over 49 years later, which adds to its mystique. This 49 year old ink on this 49 year old pen changed the United States of America and affected all of the citizens within it.
Pens such as these are highly desired by collectors…but how do collectors get them? Here is a simplified version of how a bill signing works in the United States: The House and Senate pass the bill, and the bill goes to the President who signs the bill. In a media ceremony, the President signs a number of copies of the bill, each with a different pen, and then gives the pen to individuals who helped pass the bill, Senators, Representatives, and private citizens alike. These pens are treasured by the recipients, but often times, after the recipients pass away, or if they need some extra money, they will sell them to collectors.
Many examples of “bill signer” pens exist on eBay and other collector sites where it is unclear if it was used to sign legislation. Those pens that actually have signed legislation command a much higher price, and are very highly desired by collectors. Benjamin Franklin once said “The pen is mightier than the sword,” and this pen is a perfect example of that.
My Trip to U.S. Cellular Field
By David G. Firestone
On Monday, I had the opportunity to go to a Chicago White Sox game, and since I hadn’t been to a baseball game in quite a while, I figured that it would be fun. I got to U.S. Cellular Field before the game, and had my ticket ready. The first thing that I noticed was that it was “Dog Day at the Park.” so there were a lot of fans who took their dogs to the game.
I go up to section 514, I had the entire section to myself. A buddy of mine canceled at the last minute, so I was on my own. I went and had a hot dog before the game, and enjoyed a nice fall night at the stadium.
The Sox were taking on the Minnesota Twins, and the seats that I had were not great…
but I settled in, took a picture of my 1954 White Sox Stirrups
, and waited for the game to begin. As I did, I looked around the stadium. The full moon over the stadium caught my attention, and I also noticed the scoreboards. For those who don’t know, the White Sox have the “exploding scoreboard” installed by Bill Veeck in 1960, which had a series of lit pinwheels that light up when a home run is hit. The scoreboard has become part of Sox lore, and when it was time to play ball, the scoreboard came to life.
The Twins did not fare very well. The bottom of the first inning alone saw a total of 7 runs, 1 of which was walked I. I had a great view of the Twins bullpen, and saw that they had two pitchers warming up during the bottom of the first.
In the bottom of the second, a home run was disallowed on a video review, much to the chagrin of the fans.
The game went along until the bottom of the 4th, when Adam Dunn hit a home run, causing the scoreboard to light up…the very next pitch was to Dayan Vicideo, and he homered, causing the scoreboard to light up
. At this point it is 9-0 White Sox.
The Twins did manage to score a run the top of the 8th, but it was too little too late, as the White Sox would win.
Had a great time, and I will go back later in the year.
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