When thinking about the greatest shrines devoted to baseball, and the greatest collections of baseball memorabilia, one first thinks of Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame. There is another museum, near the Ohio River in Kentucky, though—one with a specific focus—that baseball fans and collectors should not miss.

It’s not hard to find the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, which still crafts the official bat of Major League Baseball. Just look for the big bat, or more precisely, the 120-foot, 68,000-pound replica of Babe Ruth’s preferred bat, a 34-inch Louisville Slugger.

The Louisville Slugger Museum is collector friendly, and the staff there recognizes and encourages interaction with collectors.

“We have found that working with the private collectors has made us a better museum,” said Anne Jewell of the Louisville Slugger Museum. “Collectors have been so generous loaning us artifacts and their expertise, because some of them know more about our bats—the very fine, fine points of our bats—than we even do. We rely on collectors as a resource, and they rely on us, as well. It’s been a really good partnership and one that we hope will continue for many years.”

Jewell said the connection with collectors first started when the museum decided to host its own auction on site some four years ago. When the news of that auction got around, baseball memorabilia collectors from all over the world flocked to Northern Kentucky. Among the items put up for bid was one of the two Ty Cobb bats the museum owned. The winning bid for the Cobb bat was the princely sum of $125,000.

Early Louisville Sluggers now command tens of thousands of dollars from collectors. A Shoeless Joe Jackson Black Betsy model was sold a few years ago for well more than a half-million dollars.

The inner sanctum of the museum—the place any baseball fan would love to get into—is the temperature- and humidity-controlled vault, where hundreds of original bats are kept to preserve the bat’s weight and shape. Resting on racks that span from floor to ceiling are the prototypes, made to each player’s specifications, to be used when making their individual supply of bats.

“This is the model that when Babe Ruth played, this is what we used to turn his bats,” said Danny Luckett, holding the original Ruth 34-incher. Luckett has been working in the factory 39 years, hand turning white ash and maple into the clubs Major Leaguers wield when they step into the batter’s box. “When Ruth ordered them, this is what he sent us to start with, and this is what we made his bats off of for the rest of his career.”

The Louisville Slugger Museum offers more than bats, though. The museum includes a wall composed of the signatures of the thousands of players who signed contracts with Louisville Slugger over the years. These are the signatures that were branded into the barrel of the bat. Then it’s on to the company’s private collection of memorabilia, including experimental bats, as well as interactive exhibits and the history of baseball and Louisville Slugger going back to the day in 1884 when it all started.

Bud Hillerich, a 17-year-old who worked in his father’s woodworking shop, slipped away one afternoon to watch Louisville’s major league team, the Louisville Eclipse. Pete Browning, the team’s top player, was slumping badly at the plate, and to make matters worse, he broke his bat. After the game, Hillerich invited Browning over to his father’s shop to make him a new bat. Under Browning’s direction, Hillerich turned a piece of ash into a new bat.

The next day, Browning broke his slump with a three-hit game. Delighted with the results, Browning told his teammates about Hillerich, and soon a surge of pro ballplayers descended upon the little woodworking shop. It wasn’t long before the shop was making nothing but bats.

Presidential John Hancocks on baseballs

Another exhibit of note is a collection of baseballs signed by chief executives of the United States, including the only baseball ever signed by Theodore Roosevelt.

“No president before Roosevelt had signed a baseball,” says Dan Cohen, curator of the Louisville Slugger Museum. “William Howard Taft, he threw out the first presidential first pitch to start a season in 1910. Old Abe Lincoln was an avid baseball player. Apparently, he played while president. He would go out and play some games. Teddy Roosevelt, on the other hand, did not like baseball. And then you get people like Dwight Eisenhower, who grew up idolizing Honus Wagner.”

So, Mr. & Ms. Baseball Fan, if you are in the Louisville area, you definitely should take some time to check out the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. Walk through the exhibits, tour the factory, watch Sluggers being made right there in front of you. Maybe even take home a personalized 34-inch ash bat with your name on it. Then take it out to the local ballpark, step into the batter’s box and . . .

Can’t get to museum soon? Take a tour of it in this Louisville Slugger Museum video. Learn more about the bat itself by watching Louisville Slugger—Great Bats & Great Collectibles.

Gregory Watkins is WorthPoint’s newsletter editor

WorthPoint—Get the Most from Your Antiques & Collectibles

- Colt 45 Bobble Heads- Not too long ago, I wrote a post talking about some of the most valuable bobble heads to come out of the world of sports collectibles. Topping the list was the Colt 45 set of bobble head dolls. Before they became known as the Astros, the Houston baseball team was the Colt 45s. Since the name “Colt 45s” was used for only a few years, any collectibles bearing this name are highly desirable and very rare. Some colt 45 bobble heads have sold for nearly $10,000. And you thought bobble heads were silly toys!

- 1968 All Star Game Pennant- in 1965, the Houston Astros became the first major league team to play inside a domed stadium. The Astrodome took the sports world by storm. People came from all over to see this “eight wonder of the world.” Not surprisingly, Houston was awarded the host city of the 1968 MLB All Star Game. This amazing experience spawned many collectibles. One of the most valuable of them is the 1968 All Star Game Pennant. In good condition, these pennants can fetch up to a few hundred bucks at an auction. They represent a historical time for the city of Houston and Major League Baseball, and I think it belongs on this list of top Houston Astros team collectibles.

- Playoff Series Programs- Although the Astros have yet to win a World Series, the team has experienced some success in the playoffs. One popular collectible for teams who make the playoffs is the program issued to fans and members of the media. The most rare and valuable Houston Astros playoff program is the 1981 Division Playoff Series program. Copies of this program are scarce, and a mint conditioned copy could earn someone an amount n the low hundreds.

- Bagwell and Biggio Dolls- For Houston baseball fans, the names “Bagwell” and “Biggio” are synonymous with the Houston Astros. These two athletes are legends in Houston. They guided this team throughout the years into the playoffs and into the team’s first World Series appearance (okay Bagwell didn’t play much that year, but he was still a team leader.) It’s only fitting that the Astros are issuing interlocking dolls of the two during games this year. Fans that want the dolls have to attend two separate games to get them since they are released on different days. While these dolls may not be worth much now, the great moments in Houston sport’s history they represent makes them top Houston collectibles.

- Nolan Ryan Jersey- If you’ve read more any of my blog posts, you probably know how much of a Nolan Ryan fan I am. I grew up watching this amazing pitcher, and he simply must be included in this list of Houston sports collectibles. Frankly, any Nolan Ryan Astros collectible could fit on this list, but my favorite is the signed 80s Astros uniform. The rainbow jersey evokes a flood of memories of games I watched as a child. A signed Nolan Ryan 80s Astros jersey could easily sell for $500 today.

In 1876, the Phillies were a charter member of the National League. In fact, they hosted the first game in National League history. Unfortunately, the franchise folded during the middle of the season. However, they came back in 1883, and they’ve been a crucial part of the National League ever since.

The Phillies first World Series visit was in 1915. They lost 4 games to 1 to the Boston Red Sox. The team would have to wait all the way until 1980 to win their first World Series. And you thought the Cubs’ fans suffered. Since their 1980 World Series win, the franchise has appeared in 2 World Series, 1983 and 1993, but they lost both times.

What follows is a list of some of the most unique and valuable Phillies collectibles. These document the rich history of one of baseball’s longest tenured franchises.

• 1915 League Champs Pennant- This pennant commemorates an important moment in Phillies history. 1915 was the first time the franchise made it to the World Series. They were the NL League champions. This pennant celebrates their league championship. Finding a baseball pennant this old usually means the collectible is in poor condition. Pennants are rarely preserved properly. However, a good condition 1915 Phillies League champions pennant is worth around $2000.

• 1915 World Series Press Pins- Press pins are some of the most exclusive antique baseball collectibles you’ll find. As the name implies, these are pins given solely to members of the press to wear on their lapels during the World Series. Finding a World Series press pin from the 1915 championship is a difficult task. Philadelphia press pins are priced between $6,000 and $11,000. A truly valuable collectible indeed.

• Mike Schmidt WS MVP Signed Ball- The 1980 World Series featured the Phillies against the Royals. The Phillies took the series in 6 games, putting an end to a nearly century long stint of no championship. Mike Schmidt was named the MVP of both the season and the World Series in 1980. He hit 2 home runs and drove in 7 runs over the course of the series. The Hall of Famer signed several baseballs with the inscription “1980 World Series MVP.” The balls are easy to find, but I think they still make for a great collectible. You can purchase them for well under $200.

Then, the 2008 seasons happened. Not only did the Rays end their losing ways, but they also won their division—a division with both the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. As I write this article, the Rays are in the ALCS up on the Boston Red Sox 3-to-1, one win away from going to the World Series.

From worst to first—how did the Rays do it? Young players have helped give the Rays a new winning image.
Here are collectibles from some of the rising youngsters on this Rays team.

• Evan Longoria—If you’re looking for collectibles to invest in, Evan Longoria memorabilia might be for you. Since making his debut earlier this season, the youngster hit .272 over 122 games with 27 home runs and 85 RBI. In his first two postseason at bats, Longoria hit two home runs, becoming just the second player in MLB history to accomplish this feat.

An array of Longoria is still available at very reasonable prices. For instance, an autographed Evan Longoria baseball can be found for less than $100. A signed bat can be purchased for close to $150. If Longoria’s career stays on its current path, these collectibles will skyrocket in value. Invest now, and it could pay off later.

• Carl Crawford—Even though Carl Crawford has been playing since 2002 and is the longest tenured member of the Rays, he’s still fairly young at 27 years old. Every season, Crawford has improved considerably, and he’s established himself as a true MLB All-Star. His future is bright, and he seems poised to keep improving.

Like Longoria, Crawford’s collectibles can still be found at affordable prices. If you’re looking to invest in Crawford memorabilia, you can buy autographed baseballs for around $80 each. His rookie cards are still very cheap, and they could make for great investments. As the Rays continue to have success, Carl Crawford’s talent will no longer be a secret. Think about investing in his collectibles soon.

• B.J. Upton—At 24 years old, this center fielder looks to be at the center of the Rays’ future success. In 2008, Upton hit .273 and stole 44 bases over the course of 145 games. However, the youngster still has a lot to learn. On two occasions, manager Joe Maddon disciplined the center fielder for a lack of hustle. I expect Upton to get past these growing pains and to have a successful future.

Since B.J. Upton is less proven than others on this list, his collectibles can be found at very low prices. Admittedly, he isn’t guaranteed to be successful. However, he seems to have all the talent necessary to have a great career. Pick up his rookie cards now while you can still get them for a few bucks at your local collectible shop.

Eric Brantner is a baseball fan and freelance writer living in Houston.

Other stories by Eric Brantner:
Chicago Cubs Collectibles

Antique Baseball Gloves

Red Sox Collectibles

Brett Favre Collectibles

Honus Wagner
Sports E-cards

Olympic Baseball Collectibles

Sports Collectibles Memories

Yankee Stadium Legacy Cards

Brett Favre collectibles

Sultan of Swat Collectibles

Mannings Spawn NFL Collectibles

I, like millions and millions of other Yankee and baseball fans, tuned in to watch the final regular-season game ever to be played at “the Sports Cathedral,” Yankee Stadium. I have been a Yankee fan my whole life, ever since that first trip to the hallowed grounds of Yankee Stadium with my Nana in 1981 at the ripe age of 6.

I will never forget the feeling that came over me after walking through that gate and seeing the brilliant green grass and white gate façade. Was it the thrill of being at a big-league game? Was it knowing who played ball on this field? Was it the smell in the air? Was it 50,000-plus people worshiping the most famous sports franchise in history? I am now 33 and have attended more than 150 games at Yankee Stadium and still cannot answer the question. That is until now!

I was hooked after that first Yankee game. I was fortunate enough to have grown up in southern Connecticut, and the “Stadium” was a mere 45-minute drive. I was even more fortunate that my Nana’s company had season tickets, and we got to attend 10 to 20 games a year. Those were the days. Don Mattingly became my hero. Al Leiter signed a rookie card for me on my 13th birthday. And most important, the Yankees became a way of life for me.

I have followed the team daily since and will continue to do so for the rest of my existence. As all true Yankee fans do, I learned to bleed pinstripes. It was frustrating watching all those great Yankees teams always fall short for 13 years. I remember a different feeling in 1994 with the squad the Yankees assembled, this was our year. The Yanks took off that season, running away with the division, hands-on favorites to win the World Series, then the strike came, SEASON OVER!

Many fans and I were cheesed. What would have happened with our beloved Yankees if that magical season hadn’t been shortened? I was more upset at the fact that I might never see my hero, Don Mattingly, play in a postseason game. Mattingly was a New York legend. He did everything all the greats did except play on a winning team.

Yankees make playoffs—finally

I got my wish the following season. The Yankees made the playoffs for the first time since the year I saw my inaugural game. The Yankees were beat in the last game of a best-of-five series with the Seattle Mariners. It was Mattingly’s last season. It was my most disappointing moment as a Yankee fan. That is until now!

My first season without Don Mattingly was a very memorable and historic one for me. It was the first time I ever cried for my ballclub. It was a new era in Yankees history. Joe Torre was manager, and we had a crop of youngsters by the names of Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada and a cast of quality veterans and pitching that would carry us to our first championship in eighteen years and the first trip to the dance since ’81.

I was working as a chef and had a TV on the line with the game on. I will never forget shedding tears that it was over, my team had done what I waited my whole life to see. My boss was a lifetime Red Sox fan, and I can vividly remember him saying “Congratulations, Dan. I may never get to feel what you just did.” That is the only time in my career has a Red Sox fan shown class to me as a Yankee fan.

We lost the following season in the playoffs to the Cleveland Indians, who went on to lose the World Series. That would be the last of losing for a while as my Yankees were officially at juggernaut status and would appear in the next four World Series, winning three in a row from 1998 to 2000, beating the Padres, Braves and Mets respectively. We lost the 2001 series to Arizona.

This was a very emotional time as a Yankee fan. It was right after 9/11, and the city relied on the Yankees to make them feel a little better and take their minds off things for a little bit. Mayor Rudy Giuliani and members of the NYPD and NYFD were all regulars at the games. Who can ever forget George W. Bush running out to the mound to throw the first pitch in the World Series. His appearance made everyone feel as if it was all going to be OK, we would get through these hard times. As a Yankee fan, I never felt so proud. That is until now!

Tough, sad season

In May 2003, I lost my grandmother. It was the hardest season of baseball I ever tried to focus on in my whole life. I missed Nana’s calls during the games. I missed her. We lost the World Series to the Marlins, but I would have to say the real World Series that year was the American League Championship Series played between the Yankees and Red Sox.

Who cared about the Marlins after this action-packed baseball rivalry and all its emotional ups and downs for both teams? It brought us one of the stadium’s greatest highlights. We will always remember Aaron Boone for his historic walk-off home run that sent us to the series and gave us bragging rights over the archenemy Sox.

Curses! The Red Sox break the curse

In 2004, the Red Sox broke their curse of 80-plus years without a championship, and I have to say with class. They beat us fair and square en route to that title.

In 2005, I had a daughter. Every night, Abby sees mom and dad watch the Yankees game on television. On June 6, 2006, I did what Nana did with me. I brought my almost-9-month-old daughter and wife to Yankee Stadium to see their first game against who else? The Boston Red Sox! It was the first time I had been to the Stadium since 2001, and I cried when I walked through the gates and saw it with my baby girl in my arms and wife by my side.

My life had come full circle for a few hours. I was able to pass along a tradition that has meant so much to me in the same fashion I experienced it. We even ended up catching a ball together during batting practice. Yankees outfielder Melky Cabrera threw a stray ball into the stands, and I caught it while holding my daughter in my arms! I inscribed the ball with all the details in blue ballpoint pen and saved the tickets. They are among my most cherished possessions and will be until I die and leave them to Abby.

In July of this year, I had the extreme pleasure of attending DHL All-Star Fan Fest in New York City on a media pass for WorthPoint. I was very excited by this assignment. What Yankee fan wouldn’t want to bump elbows with Yankees brass with a press pass in the final season and especially during the All-Star festivities?

I was blown away when I was graced with the company of Diana and Michael Munson for an exclusive interview concerning the sale of her late Yankee great husband Thurman’s collection.

I was in complete and total awe to meet Michael Kay. I listen to his Yankee commentary on the YES Network almost daily. I was like a kid interviewing Bernie Williams, who was also a favorite player of mine growing up, and I was honored to be able to see Derek Jeter, my modern Yankee hero, so up close and personal. I am still buzzing from that experience, but the night of the last game at Yankee Stadium gave it all new meaning.

I watched the pregame ceremony live on ESPN and shed some tears. I watched the Yanks beat the Orioles 7-3. I shed a few more tears. I heard Yankee captain Derek Jeter make an off-the-cuff speech after the game and cried even more. When I thought of never seeing those hallowed grounds again, I cried more. With every word Jeter spoke, it all came to me at once. All my questions were answered.

Jeter said, “Now the great thing about memories is you’re able to pass it along from generation to generation. Although things are going to change next year . . . there are a few things [about the] New York Yankees that never change. That’s pride, tradition, and most of all, we have the greatest fans in the world.”

I love the Yankees so much because I was exposed to the tradition. That’s why I felt the way I did in 1981 and was able to pass it along to another generation. (Thank you, Nana!) I will miss my Stadium, but I always have my memories and all that goes with them.

We have a new stadium to christen with memories. I suspect even with a new stadium, I will get that special feeling when I walk through the gate. Is it our year in 2009? Will the Yanks make me cry again?

Goodbye and farewell to a historic landmark. The Yankee Stadium legacy will live forever, at least in this fan’s heart.

When Dan Borsey isn’t attending Yankees games, he’s tooling around to antiques and collectibles shows in his other identity as Dan the Man in the WorthPoint Van.

Other stories by Dan Borsey

Thurman Munson, a Yankees legend remembered

Videos with Dan Borsey
Thurman Munson, a Yankees Legend

Dan Borsey Buys the Boss a Bat

Baseball Collectibles & Great Fun: DHL All-Star FanFest

DHL All-Star FanFest—Jeter, Yankee Stadium Loss & More

DHL All-Star FanFest—Something for Everyone

WorthPoint—the premier Web site for art, antiques and collectibles

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Chicago Cubs Collectibles

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Babe Ruth was one of these athletes. Even today, more than 70 years after he last set foot on the baseball diamond, everyone knows his name. And it’s not just sports fans who appreciate Babe Ruth—Americans from all walks of life recognize him as the legend he is.

Ruth is arguably the most dominant player in the history of baseball. He holds too many records for me to list here in this little blog. In short, Babe Ruth is a once-in-a-lifetime baseball player the likes of which may never be seen again.

As the result of his groundbreaking career, the market for Babe Ruth collectibles is at an all-time high. So with the last game having been played in Yankee Stadium, the House that Ruth Built, let’s look at a few of the most interesting (and valuable) Babe Ruth collectibles.

• Babe Ruth Game-Used Jersey—Authentic Babe Ruth memorabilia is valuable. Period. An authentic game-used jersey is even more valuable. Antique game-used jerseys like this are fairly rare because players were only issued a few jerseys per season. Recently, a 1933 Babe Ruth Yankees pinstripe jersey sold at auction for more than $650,000. The fabric of this jersey showed slight wear and tear, which I think actually enhanced the appeal of this collectible. What I wouldn’t do to have a Babe Ruth game-used jersey

• Babe Ruth Autographed Baseball—Autographed baseballs from Babe Ruth aren’t exactly the rarest collectibles. Babe was known as a generous guy who always signed autographs for his fans. That being said, it’s still an antique autographed-ball from the greatest baseball player of all time. So, it’s highly desirable and valuable. These pieces of memorabilia routinely fetch more than $20,000 at auctions throughout the country.

• Babe Ruth Signed Game-Used Bat—Just the other day, WorthPoint’s very own Howard Lau scored a rare piece of Babe Ruth memorabilia at an auction. The collectible was a Babe Ruth game-used bat that was signed for a Broadway star. To say this collectible is rare is an understatement, but Howard was very low key about his find. I guess that’s how it is when you own one of the premier sports memorabilia shops in Houston, but I know I’d be bouncing off the walls if I had landed that collectibles!

WorthPoint—the premier Web site for art, antiques and collectibles