I finally finished my late 60s Topps empty wax box run and The Babe Ruth Foundation Sportsmanship Aw
Stone193
Posts: 24,438 ✭✭✭✭✭
Hi everyone
I'm really behind in some of the things I want to post - for one I haven't updated my thread on collecting in the 90s for some time - I apologize.
First off.
I finally finished my run of empty boxes with stars on them from the late 60s. I've been working on it since 1993 - just a bit slow I guess. Then, again, I'm probably the only person on the planet who's been working on a 67 card set since 2004!
The last one that I just picked up is the 65T box which is in Vg condition with some tape/tape residue but for the dough looks very nice.
The first one I picked up was in 1993 - Mark Murphy - BaseballCardKid auction - I probably overpaid - I think it was $125.
1965 Topps
1966 Topps
1968 Topps
1969 Topps
and now:
I’m hardly well read on the life and times of Babe Ruth.
So I sure hope some will enjoy this as much as I did researching the award that I found on ebay by accident.
I believe he spent his childhood in an orphanage which is probably the reason he was so enthusiastic about helping children and signing anything placed in front of him.
The Babe’s on and off the field ‘heroics’ is well documented. But, there’s one legacy that’s worth discussing.
His devotion to helping children couldn’t be better illustrated than by the fact that in May of 1947, he established and made the first contribution to the Babe Ruth Foundation, Inc.; an organization whose resources were to be devoted to the interests of unprivileged youth. A large chunk of his estate went to the foundation when he died in 1948.
In fact, in September of 1947, he returned to Yankee Stadium for an Old-timer’s Day Game. It included such immortals as Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, Cy Young, George Sisler, Waite Hoyt, Bob Meusel and Chief Bender. With the Babe looking on (very ill with cancer), the vets played a two inning game. The entire day’s receipts were turned over to the foundation.
In the early 50s, the foundation created the Babe Ruth Foundation Sportsmanship Award. Over 2000 schools around the country participated. One girl and one boy were selected by the school to receive the award. The main purpose of the program was to promote good sportsmanship and honesty around the country among children. I’m assuming that the foundation felt kids needed this type of encouragement, which emphasized strong family ties e.g.
The winners of the award were given a medallion, manufactured by Balfour, and their names were placed on a plaque which was displayed in the school.
I’ve included a copy of a newspaper article and a photo from another paper showing two youths receiving the award.
Here's a copy of the plaque:
Here’s a scan of the award in its original box. The seller wanted a buck and a quarter for it – too much IMO.
Here’s the medallion I picked up – it was awarded to L. Hackett in 1954.
I’m sure there are tons of these around the country and may have little popularity. My interest was mainly historical. I never heard of the foundation that Ruth started and I believe it’s noteworthy to highlight a “true” legacy of the Bambino.
and last:
Here's the other medal that I found on the net.
Babe Ruth Foundation Children's Cancer Fund
Issued by the Newark News.
Other than their sale on ebay - every "keyword" I used resulted in zilch on this "issue."
My guess? The Newark News ran a 'drive' to collect money and gave contributors this medal?
Just another example of the legacy that is Ruth.
I'm really behind in some of the things I want to post - for one I haven't updated my thread on collecting in the 90s for some time - I apologize.
First off.
I finally finished my run of empty boxes with stars on them from the late 60s. I've been working on it since 1993 - just a bit slow I guess. Then, again, I'm probably the only person on the planet who's been working on a 67 card set since 2004!
The last one that I just picked up is the 65T box which is in Vg condition with some tape/tape residue but for the dough looks very nice.
The first one I picked up was in 1993 - Mark Murphy - BaseballCardKid auction - I probably overpaid - I think it was $125.
1965 Topps
1966 Topps
1968 Topps
1969 Topps
and now:
I’m hardly well read on the life and times of Babe Ruth.
So I sure hope some will enjoy this as much as I did researching the award that I found on ebay by accident.
I believe he spent his childhood in an orphanage which is probably the reason he was so enthusiastic about helping children and signing anything placed in front of him.
The Babe’s on and off the field ‘heroics’ is well documented. But, there’s one legacy that’s worth discussing.
His devotion to helping children couldn’t be better illustrated than by the fact that in May of 1947, he established and made the first contribution to the Babe Ruth Foundation, Inc.; an organization whose resources were to be devoted to the interests of unprivileged youth. A large chunk of his estate went to the foundation when he died in 1948.
In fact, in September of 1947, he returned to Yankee Stadium for an Old-timer’s Day Game. It included such immortals as Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, Cy Young, George Sisler, Waite Hoyt, Bob Meusel and Chief Bender. With the Babe looking on (very ill with cancer), the vets played a two inning game. The entire day’s receipts were turned over to the foundation.
In the early 50s, the foundation created the Babe Ruth Foundation Sportsmanship Award. Over 2000 schools around the country participated. One girl and one boy were selected by the school to receive the award. The main purpose of the program was to promote good sportsmanship and honesty around the country among children. I’m assuming that the foundation felt kids needed this type of encouragement, which emphasized strong family ties e.g.
The winners of the award were given a medallion, manufactured by Balfour, and their names were placed on a plaque which was displayed in the school.
I’ve included a copy of a newspaper article and a photo from another paper showing two youths receiving the award.
Here's a copy of the plaque:
Here’s a scan of the award in its original box. The seller wanted a buck and a quarter for it – too much IMO.
Here’s the medallion I picked up – it was awarded to L. Hackett in 1954.
I’m sure there are tons of these around the country and may have little popularity. My interest was mainly historical. I never heard of the foundation that Ruth started and I believe it’s noteworthy to highlight a “true” legacy of the Bambino.
and last:
Here's the other medal that I found on the net.
Babe Ruth Foundation Children's Cancer Fund
Issued by the Newark News.
Other than their sale on ebay - every "keyword" I used resulted in zilch on this "issue."
My guess? The Newark News ran a 'drive' to collect money and gave contributors this medal?
Just another example of the legacy that is Ruth.
Mike
0
Comments
Good stuff!
<< <i>The boxes are really cool. The Ruth story is freakin' cool.
Good stuff! >>
Thanx!
<< <i>Mike any 67 topps box? >>
Hiya George
The tops of these involves stars on the box - the 67T box appears to be a generic ball player. I will be moving around looking for other boxes over the years with actual stars. But, as you know, I've got plenty of stuff to keep me busy - and they don't come any slower than I.
Great collection. Thx for sharing. You bring up a good point of common vs star players on the boxes that I've never thought of. About how many different boxes are produced every year? 1-2 or 6-7? Approximately. I just figured back in the 60s they just made a single variety with the stars at the time on them. Did they change them when the series changed? Are you trying to get the diff series, are they discernible? All very interesting.
Thx
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
<< <i>Hi mike,
Great collection. Thx for sharing. You bring up a good point of common vs star players on the boxes that I've never thought of. About how many different boxes are produced every year? 1-2 or 6-7? Approximately. I just figured back in the 60s they just made a single variety with the stars at the time on them. Did they change them when the series changed? Are you trying to get the diff series, are they discernible? All very interesting.
Thx >>
Some great questions Rob.
Have no idea how many variations per year - within the same year, there's boxes with different promotions in them and even different tops. So, I'm not sure.
The only thing I'll be checking is which boxes other than the late 60s run have "named" baseball players on them.
Everyone else: thanx!
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.