Double Dip

With all the price checking I was doing at the National, I delayed a lot of purchases and shied away from impulse buys.  That being said, I did have to make multiple trips to a few vendors to make my final selections.  Just the case with Main Line Autographs.

My second trip brought home:

Harvey Haddix 1964 Topps #439

Proof that Cal Ripken Sr. actually did play for the Orioles.  Nope, that is actually Harvey Haddix, owner of arguably the best pitching performance of all time.  It was before his two year tenure in Baltimore, during the 1959 season.  As a Pittsburgh Pirate, he retired 36 straight batters in 12 perfect innings, only to lose in the 13th.  Just brutal.  His Orioles career lasted only two seasons from the pen where he was very effective.  He turned to coaching following his playing career, landing multiple gigs.  He succumbed to emphysema in 1994.  There may be some signed Orioles Crown cards out there, but not many.

Hoyt Wilhelm 1994 Topps Archives 1954 #36

Harvey and Hoyt were the last two purchases I made and my cash was a little low.  I had to make the best deal to add the best cards I could.  That is why I bypassed a few high priced vintage Wilhelm autographs featuring him as an Oriole.  One vendor in particular had a few I needed priced at the very top of the scale but refused to negotiate.  Discounts were available at $250 or more, a little steep for me.  SO I bought this reprint on the cheap from Main Line.  A Hall of Fame autograph for less than $10?  Yes sir.

This is the last of the Hall of Famers I needed from the Orioles.  Now let's see if I can't pull some "Barter Kings" magic and turn the brown into a little orange.