“Pin-Up” of the Week: 1937 American League All-Star Game Pin

The 1937 All-Star Game was played on July 7th at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C.  The American League ultimately won 8-3 over the National League.  Future Hall of Famer Dizzy Dean was involved in a play that broke his toe and greatly shortened his career.  These pins were not sold to the public or given to the press.  Press pins didn’t come around until 1938.  Pins such as this were most likely given to the players and other high ranking baseball officials.

Recently this game has been in the news because of the rare footage shot by Jimmie DeShong of the Washington Senators.  DeShong was able to capture footage of President Franklin D. Roosevelt walking with the help of leg braces and aids.  Its only the second known clip to exist of Roosevelt walking.  Roosevelt was paralyzed from the waste down by polio in 1921.  Footage like this was usually prohibited and/or confiscated by the Secret Service.  But DeShong was able to get away with it with his 8mm camera.

Happy Fasnacht Day!

Today throughout many parts of the world its Fasnacht Day.  For those people that aren’t familiar with what a Fasnacht is, its basically a fatty doughnut.  People are suppose to use all the fat in their kitchen before the start of Lent.  Its a big tradition in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Switzerland, and Germany.

I know, I know.  What the hell does Fasnacht Day have to do with sports cards?  This is why cards are so cool.  They are part of almost every American tradition.  In 1937, Doughnut Company of America produced a set called Thrilling Moments in the Lives of Famous Americans.  There are only 7 athletes in the set.  The rest of the set features non-sport figures.  These cards needed to be cut off the side of the box if you wanted to add them to your collection.  They can also be found in four different colored backgrounds: blue, green, orange, and yellow.  A large portion of these cards were thrown away because you had to take the time to cut them out.  Depending on the condition, they get be very expensive and sell for into the thousands.  Usually you never want to purchase a card that has been trimmed by the collector, but in this case you don’t have much of a choice.  This is a set your rarely hear about because the cards are so scarce.

Go have a doughnut everyone!

Red Grange