Last time we talked about putting together a display of items for your favorite "vintage" World Series team. By the way, I was asked why I didn't talk at all about trying to obtain a World Series ring from that "special team". There are two reasons: first, unless your parents are very wealthy, and you are the sole beneficiary, then such a ring is simply too expensive. Second, it was not until recent times that both teams in the Series got rings. If, like me, you love the Phillies "Whiz Kids" of 1950, they were not given any ring in 1950. The reason is simple: they didn't win the Series. Only the winners got rings. What the Phillies players received back in 1950 for winning the National League pennant was a belt buckle.
Each player also received a Zippo lighter with the Phillies logo on the front and his name engraved on the back.
That was it. The Whiz Kids were given rings at their 25th reunion in 1975, but they rarely, if ever, become available. Finally, and maybe its just me, but I am comfortable collecting programs, pennants, ticket stubs and the like because these are the items that I had and saw at the games. They kindle the warm memories of that team and that season. Rings and MVP awards and other "hardware" that one sees in auctions from time to time seem to me to be too personal for some stranger to possess. They belong to the player or his family.
In any event, lets return to the topic at hand - putting together a really nice display to honor a contemporary World Series team. It is easier in many ways to put together such a collection, as opposed to a "vintage" collection, but it will be a bit larger, given the current playoff system. If we use as an example the 2009 Phillies, here is what I would want. First, a program and a ticket stub from the game played on September 30 when the Phillies beat the Astros to clinch the NL East title. The team put out a pennant and a nice pin for "back to back to back" NL East titles, so I would add those as well. You might even want to throw in the "NL East Champions" rally towel that was handed out the next day at the game. This whole lot will cost less than $50. Now we move on to the NLDS. Here you will want a program and a ticket stub from one or more of the Rockies games and one or more of the Phillies home games. The NLDS has different programs for each team. Be careful, however, with the tickets. Many teams, including the Phillies, issue playoff tickets that are, well, just plain ugly. There, I've said it. These tickets are given to season ticket holders and are just computer generated plain cardboard tickets (the "print at home" variety are even uglier, if that is possible). You want to get tickets that come from Major League Baseball or more thoughtful teams, which are oversized, colorful and printed on heavier stock. These are collectible. Look on any on line site and you will see the different types. Through friends in Denver, I was able to get all of the Rockies items, including a purple rally towel and a Post Season Rockies Playoff Media Guide, for simply agreeing to send them the same items from the Phillies. Even if you buy them, these things are not expensive if you don’t need or want a program amd a ticket from every game played, but only an exemple from each team. The NLCS is relatively the same. MLB has attempted to standardize the LCS programs, but this year's LA edition is different from the one sold in Philadelphia. The LA version features a full back cover of "Manny being Manny" (you know, showering during the crucial part of the game, sleeping soundly after a decisive loss, that sort of thing), while the Philly version features Jimmy Rollins on the back cover. The true collector will want one of each. Again, don’t settle for the "Ugly Betty" tickets. Buy or trade for the nice ones. There is no comparison. A pin and a pennant from each team will take care of the LCS, although it would also be nice to get one of Dodger blue rally towels that were handed out at each game in LA. Total cost should not exceed $100. The World Series does, unfortunately, now have a uniform program, so you can't really get a Yankees and a Phillies version. The ones sold on line are identical to the ones sold at the stadia, which is another disappointing change. In the past, the programs sold at the stadium were a little different than ones bought on the outside, and you had to actually go to the game to get the "cooler" program. Once again, you want the nice tickets, and these may get a bit pricey this year (not tickets to go to the games, they are out of sight in price already) but used tickets bought after the game is played. The price may be higher due to this being the first World Series played in the new Yankee Stadium. The good news for ticket collectors is that bar code machines leave tickets completely intact. No more "stubs" with badly torn edges and the like. Now the ticket stays whole and makes a really nice display piece, especially as most parks give away attractive plastic lanyards to keep your ticket in pristine condition. Once again, a pennant and a pin from the series should finish off everything needed to complete a really attractive team display.
If you have more money and space, you might consider trying to get a press pin from each Series ballpark, or other, less expensive press credentials. I am not a big fan of collecting newspapers from the Series, as I find them bulky and hard to display. They are also so common as to not really be "collectible" at all. They are fun to look at 20-30 years later, especially the ads and prices of things, but I always feel that the benefits of newspapers is small given all that you have to do to keep them in good condition (plastic wrappers and flat storage are essential). Lastly, do yourself a favor and stay away from the mass produced "junk memorabilia" that will be found all over the City. Do you really want a World Series lightswitch cover, or a smelly beer coozie with a logo on it? I hope not. These things are cheesy, have no lasting value, and really have nothing to with the game other than someone trying to exploit it for profit. By the way, there are often lots of free memorabilia that really adds character to your collection at no cost. Last year I took a few of the "NO PARKING" signs that were posted all over Broad and other streets which have the date and times of the victory parade. Great memories, and free. Even the nicely colored drink containers sold at the stadia for the series make great free and attractive memorabilia. They have the team and Series logos and can be found all over after the game. There are lots out there if you just start looking. In any event, collect what you like, what you enjoy, and what will remind you of that special team. They don’t come along very often.