The "Just Bobbleheading Along" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Looking at all the "stuff" that my brother Steve has in his office.  One wall features a Yankees poster with Ford, Martin and Mantle on it.  Next to it is a poster of the 1980 Philadelphia Phillies, World Series winners showing a collage of all players surrounded on the outside of the poster with individual cards of everyone on the poster.  Love it!  

Richie Ashburn Poster

On another wall is a large framed poster of Richie Ashburn, former player and sportscaster for the Phillies.  All around the poster are baseball cards of Richie at different times in his life, as shown on the poster.  Really neat!  And yet, on another wall is a framed design of the 2008 World Series Champion Phillies.  Same thing again with a poster in the center surrounded with autographed baseball cards from everyone on the team.  Fantastic job!  Now this isn't the first time I have seen these, since I am the one who did the matting and framing for my brother.  But this time he has prices on each one.  And, they ain't cheap, so to say.  

A few of the Phillies bobbleheads.

In the corner of his office is a display case that's filled with a plethora of baseball memo- rabilia.  I grabbed a few of his Phillies bobble- heads and lined them up for a photo on a towel he had laying in the room.  I stopped when the towel was full, leaving more in the case.  Some of the bobbleheads are the same, but others differ, either in the color of the base, the way the hair flows on the head or the bend in the brim of the hat.  

The Atlanta Braves bobblehead

Each is valuable, with some more valuable than others.  Then I grabbed the "Braves" bobblehead which features a baseball player's body with an Indian head with a Mohawk haircut.  "That's got to be valuable," I say to him.  The there's the Harry Kalas, sportscaster for the Phillies, bobblehead (starting to get annoyed with my computer that constantly reminds me that bobblehead is supposed to be two words).  He has more than one style and variety, but I only grab one for a photo.  Next out of the case is a relatively new one that still has the bubble wrap about the heads to prevent damage.  This features four Phils in a row: Oswalt, Hamels, Halladay and Lee, the four alleged "Aces" of the staff a few years ago.  At this point I just stop, admire the remaining items and pack the others back in the cabinet.  And, this is just one room in the house that features this "stuff."  

Thaddeus Stevens bobblehead.

"Wish I had been able to get to the Barnstormers game last week and pick up the Tadddeus Stevens bobblehead," he says to me.  "I'll bet they're already on eBay," he continues.  Steve is a collector of everything baseball, specializing in Phillies stuff.  Guess you figured that out by now.  I know that Thaddeus Stevens wasn't a baseball player, but it was a featured "giveaway" at a baseball game, so it fits into his sports theme.  I too wish I had been able to get one to give to my son, Tad, who was born in 1976, the bicentennial year, and was named after one of the greatest Lancasterians in history, Stevens.  I'm still waiting to see if my eBay bid will win.  As I'm sitting there admiring his "stuff" he tells me, "You have that Giants bobblehead that's worth something.  And, that set of three baseball figurines with the players and umpire, that's worth something.  And how about that old metal bank that throws the money from the pitcher to the catcher."  

Figurines that were given to me by my Father-in-law Charlie.

"Yeah, I guess so, but not like this," I say as I point to the walls and display case.  Steve has been collecting for years and years.  His hobby has turned into a small business and a great retirement fund.  But, he deserves it all, since he puts hour after hour into his hobby and now is able to show the fruits of his hard work.  Then Steve tells me, "I just bought an old Yankees bobblehead that features the head of a black player.  Pretty rare.  Should be able to get close to a thousand for that one."  Me?  I have a few things, but it's never going to get me more than a good meal if I ever sell it.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

PS - I just recently received a gift from my brother as a birthday present.  This happened weeks after I had written this story and saved it for publication at a later date.  I happened to mention to him that I had hoped to get a Thaddeus Stevens bobblehead and as he handed me my wrapped present sometime later, I knew right away what I was about to open.  Every person should have a brother such as I have.  Thanks, Steve!