Baseball
(and other cool stuff)
By Andrew Linker
The Daily Pitch
Pic of the Day
Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium under construction in 1970. The stadium, then the latest in baseball’s multi-purpose, cookie cutter ballparks, opens in April 1971 at the cost of more than $50 million. Original projects call for the stadium to cost $25 million, but that price doubles due to construction delays and a raise in material prices. The Phillies play 33 seasons at the Vet before moving after the 2003 season into a new ballpark constructed in a neighboring lot east of the Vet.
Limited offers (for those who need that little extra something)
Today’s exercise in downsizing brings some hard-to-find items that you may want to add to your collection … and, of course, you do!
First, a rare 1995 Philadelphia Daily News poster signed by Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn. The poster — measuring approximately 10.5 x 13 inches — was limited in production and commemorated Ashburn’s 1995 induction into the Hall of Fame. Please check out the Merch Stand for more details. Price: $85, including shipping. SORRY, THIS ITEM IS SOLD OUT!
Second, a team-signed baseball by the 1998 Arizona Fall League’s Sun Cities Solar Sox. The ball from the prospect-oriented fall league is loaded with 27 signatures, including those of Mark DeRosa, Michael Barrett and Randy Wolf, as well as manager Fredi Gonzalez and pitching coach Darold Knowles. The ball is in outstanding condition with the signatures clear and bold. Team-signed baseballs from the AFL are hard to find, especially one from 25 years ago. Price: $32, including shipping.
Third, an Eastern League baseball signed by Tommy John, the 288-game winner in the major leagues who was Harrisburg’s pitching coach during the 2002 season. While there are tons of Tommy John-signed baseballs on the market, there are precious few Tommy John single-signed Eastern League baseballs available. Price: $65, including shipping.
Also available is a limited 1982 Hall of Fame metallic card signed by long-ago Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees infielder Joe Sewell. The card and signature are graded a mint 96 by SGC. Beautifully signed in black Sharpie. The special gold anodized aluminum card is the same size as a standard baseball card and features a replica of Sewell’s Hall of Fame plaque. Only 1,000 of them reportedly were made from 1981-89 and initially sold only through the Hall of Fame. Price: $32, including shipping.
For more information on ordering and to see other items, please check here. Hundreds of more items may be found on the website’s eBay page. Thanks for looking!
A Look At Harrisburg’s Rich Baseball History
( just click the arrows on the left and right to see the caption for each photo)
City Island in the early 1900s.
Albert "Chief" Bender pitched in Harrisburg in 1902 before joining the Philadelphia Athletics.
1907 Harrisburg Senators.
The 1908 Harrisburg Giants with outfielder Spottswood Poles (seated, second from right).
Island Park in the early 1900s.
1915 Harrisburg outfielder Jim Thorpe.
Remembering the Giants.
Harrisburg Giant star Oscar Charleston.
1924 Harrisburg Giants.
1928 player-manager Glenn Killinger.
New York Yankees exhibition game 1928.
City Island during the 1936 flood.
City Island reopens for the Senators in 1940.
Managers Connie Mack and Les Bell before 1940 exhibition game.
"Clown Prince of Baseball" Max Patkin has start on City Island.
Willie Mays homers on City Island in 1950 for Trenton.
Eleanor Engle signs in 1952 to play for the Senators.
Shortstop Al Isreal in 1952.
City Island toward the end of the Senators' run in 1952.
Brooks Lawrence, Harrisburg's first Black pitcher who became an All-Star.
Hall of Famer Satchel Paige was a City Island regular.
RiverSide Stadium under construction in early 1987.
David Ellis purchases the first tickets in 1987 return.
City Island on Opening Day 1987.
Opening Day program 1987.
Jim Neidlinger delivers the first pitch in 1987.
RiverSide Stadium bleacher view 1987.
1987 Eastern League champions.
1988 Pittsburgh Pirates exhibition game.
Afternoon game on City Island in the late 1980s.
Late 1980s look inside RiverSide Stadium.
Senators batting practice in late 1980s.
Future All-Star Moises Alou in 1989.
Randy Tomlin and third baseman John Wehner in 1990.
Future major leaguer Matt Stairs in 1991.
Preseason flood 1993.
Future major league All-Star Cliff Floyd in 1993.
Eastern League MVP Cliff Floyd in 1993.
Game 5 lineup card 1993 EL finals.
Celebrating 1993 Eastern League title.
1993 Eastern League championship trophy.
Filming "Major League 2" in 1993.
Mark Grudzielanek in 1994.
Vladimir Guerrero in 1996.
Vladimir Guerrero in 1996.
Celebrating 1997 Eastern League title.
Geoff Blum in 1998.
Michael Barrett in 1998.
Celebrating 1998 Eastern League title.
Milton Bradley's title-winning slam in 1999.
Celebrating 1999 Eastern League title.
Milton Bradley at 2000 FanFest.
Filling the manager's office in Reading, 2000.
Cliff Lee in 2002.
Cliff Lee in 2002.
Boxscore from Sueng Song's 2003 no-hitter.
Ryan Zimmerman in 2005.
Wilmer Difo in 2015.
Austin Voth in 2015.
City Island today.