Did everyone get an authentic, autographed Nolan Ryan photo?
by George Kaplan on Dec 25, 2011 9:17 AM PST
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God bless Mrs. Kaplan, though on the flip side I make myself very easy to shop for. She has added some adornment annually to the room I keep as an East Coast shrine to the Angels. I have one of every cap iteration through the years (including one legit and battle-worn LA Angels cap from 1963), plus one from each of the farm teams, and each of the 9/11 caps (excepting the first, blue one). A floating shelf holds each of the McFarlane Angels figures (Ryan, Hunter, Glaus and GA), plus a plastic "home plate" serving tray from Oscar Meyer given during the 25th anniversary year.
She has provided me a stadium shot from 2007 (from high behind home plate, a Rangers/Angels game), a team photo of the 2004 squad, and various knick-nacks and bric-a-brack.
Does anyone else acquire Angels' memorabilia for the home or is it my own peculiar sickness?
This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.
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I never grew up watching Mr. Ryan for the Halos or anyone else
He is the enemy and only the enemy to me.
"Baseball is beautiful. It is the only sport in which you can fail 70% of the time and still be considered the greatest player"
by Halos2011champs on Dec 25, 2011 9:42 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Sorry you feel that way
For those of us with a few more miles on the odometer, he was the one and only thing about the Angels to brag about for many, many seasons.
I don’t begrudge him his opportunity to own part of a major league franchise, and I wouldn’t see him as the enemy now, any more than I would feel that way towards Magic if he became part owner of the Pistons.
"The contract is brought up a lot. What it's going to take to get past it is winning. This organization took on the contract. I'm here to make them look good."~Vernon Wells
by George Kaplan on Dec 25, 2011 9:56 AM PST up reply actions 3 recs
Fortunately I didn't have to endure those years.
Congrats by the way. I remember getting an angels team photo with autographs from k-rod, Figgy, OC, and Vladdy for Xmas a few years back. I even got a Shawn Green auto’d picture even though he was a Dodger. Needless to say I was thoroughly stoked to get all those.
"Baseball is beautiful. It is the only sport in which you can fail 70% of the time and still be considered the greatest player"
by Halos2011champs on Dec 25, 2011 10:32 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
"Endure" is a very well-chosen word
"The contract is brought up a lot. What it's going to take to get past it is winning. This organization took on the contract. I'm here to make them look good."~Vernon Wells
by George Kaplan on Dec 25, 2011 11:07 AM PST up reply actions
How I look at it
Nolan is my all time favorite Angel (well, him and Freddy Lynn). As a baseball player he was a great Angel. As a owner, he’s a hated Ranger. I can separate the two. They are two different people. That’s how I compartmentalize it.
by FrankieSatin on Dec 25, 2011 7:04 PM PST up reply actions
I grew up on Nolan
Gave up on him when he went into Cooperstown with a T on his cap.
Got a lower case “a” jacket for Christmas.
by Rev Halofan on Dec 25, 2011 11:07 AM PST via iPhone app reply actions 1 recs
I can't hold the cap against him
He left the Angels because of Buzzie Bavasi, not because he was desperate to leave.
But during those seasons in Anaheim, his numbers were mind-bottling. Among them:
° 156 complete games and 40 shutouts; who pitches an average of 20 CG these days?
° Led AL in strikeouts 7 of the 8 years in Anaheim, averaging 302 per season over those 8
° Left the Angels with 138-121 record, because his teams had no ability to score runs for him
° Decidedly was NOT replaced by two 8-7 pitchers.
He was a legend every time he took the mound, and he put it all out there for the Angels.
Nice score on the jacket, BTW.
"The contract is brought up a lot. What it's going to take to get past it is winning. This organization took on the contract. I'm here to make them look good."~Vernon Wells
by George Kaplan on Dec 25, 2011 11:29 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs
It's odd that he went into the HOF wearing the Texas cap,
considering that he played for the Rangers only five seasons. Also, his home town Alvin, Texas, is a lot closer to Houston than it is to Dallas (Arlington). Anybody else notice that he played productively through age 46?…Fairly brilliantly through age 45, (for those worried about Pujols).
Mets: 5 seasons
Angels: 8 seasons
Astros: 9 seaons
Rangers: 5 seasons
That was his choice
He was inducted two years before the HoF took over the selection of the cap for the player.
And yes, by spurning both the proximity of his ranch to Houston and his top-line years with the Angels, his choice could mean that he simply had the best experience as a player with the Rangers. However, the way that he parted company with the Angels didn’t provide him with much incentive to wear the A on his cap.
Ryan was a physical freak, and he had in many ways more productive seasons in his 40s playing for Houston than in the prior years in Arlington. Really, up until his last season he was really firing on all cylinders.
"The contract is brought up a lot. What it's going to take to get past it is winning. This organization took on the contract. I'm here to make them look good."~Vernon Wells
by George Kaplan on Jan 1, 2012 8:08 AM PST up reply actions
Everybody knew he wasn't going to go in with a halo on his cap
He’s a Texas dude, but I still love him for helping to get me into baseball. Just a personal thing.
Very cool, George
My first Angel game I saw had Nolan Ryan striking out a gazillion Brewers. He’s why I’m an Angel fan today, despite the fact he was forced off the ship by Buzzie and enjoyed great successes elsewhere. Yeah, I’d like to beat his Rangers into the ground these days. But the memories of the most dominant Halo pitcher ever cannot be erased.
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you." - Woody Hayes
by johnnyangel101 on Dec 25, 2011 11:27 AM PST reply actions
You should snap a few photos of this shrine.
Sounds awesome!
I’m on my way to my own, but I’m considerably behind yours. Here are a few of my favorite pieces…
- An authentic Nick Adenhart jersey
- An autographed Vlad photo
- A photo of Adenhart pitching in his last game framed with the ticket stub from that game (was in attendance that night)
- Autographed Torii Hunter baseball (My favorite Angel if you haven’t picked that up. Even named my dog after him)
I also have my ticket stub from Trout’s debut that I’ll eventually frame with a cool photo like the Adenhart piece.
Of course, I have all the random stuff (coolers, cups, bags, hats etc.) but these are the pieces that mean the most to me.
Oh and one of the bricks with my name on it by the home plate gate
THAT was a cool gift. I show it off every time I’m there (as if I had to accomplish anything to get it)
My students' families pitched in three years ago and bought a brick for me.
It says “U R Our Angel”
God I loved those kids!
Your Angels: Telling Pythagoras to go to hell since 2004.
by sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher on Dec 25, 2011 9:51 PM PST up reply actions
This just in...
Daughter Kaplan in SoCal sent me an Angels iPhone case, with a night shot of the stadium.
It has been a most joyeux of noels.
"The contract is brought up a lot. What it's going to take to get past it is winning. This organization took on the contract. I'm here to make them look good."~Vernon Wells
Peter Bourjas autographed baseball, from my sisters.
Pretty cool ladies.
Unlike this cat, my love for the LAA will never die.
That is a treasure
It is not only an autographed ball, it is one with a story and family history.
"The contract is brought up a lot. What it's going to take to get past it is winning. This organization took on the contract. I'm here to make them look good."~Vernon Wells
by George Kaplan on Dec 26, 2011 9:12 AM PST up reply actions
Hope it wasn't this one, for sale on MLB.com
by Big Easy Halofan on Dec 26, 2011 8:46 AM PST reply actions
Ventura was overmatched
Ryan was 46 and Ventura was 25. Ventura had no idea who he was messing with.
"The contract is brought up a lot. What it's going to take to get past it is winning. This organization took on the contract. I'm here to make them look good."~Vernon Wells
by George Kaplan on Dec 26, 2011 9:10 AM PST up reply actions
I have 2 copies of the old, 1 disc version
How is this different? What company makes it?
"The contract is brought up a lot. What it's going to take to get past it is winning. This organization took on the contract. I'm here to make them look good."~Vernon Wells
by George Kaplan on Dec 26, 2011 9:14 AM PST up reply actions
The synchronized radio broadcast feature is awesome!
Watching these with no Joe Buck & Tim McCarver has been pure bliss.
All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine.
by Quad Fin Rider on Dec 26, 2011 9:37 AM PST up reply actions
For that reason alone...
…it’s a must-have.
"The contract is brought up a lot. What it's going to take to get past it is winning. This organization took on the contract. I'm here to make them look good."~Vernon Wells
by George Kaplan on Dec 26, 2011 12:01 PM PST up reply actions
Best feature of the set
Markus did a great job. I still get a little misty-eyed hearing those calls again.
by JeffJoiner on Dec 28, 2011 1:04 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Erstad says he's got it.... Erstad..... MAKES THE CATCH!!!!! And the Anaheim Angels are the Champions of Baseball!!!!!!!
Still gets me misty eyed
If the Halos don't care about the way they play, then why should I?
Even when I read it
I can hear Marcus’s voice & it gives me chills & gets me misty eyed
"I was at a Del Taco, on the phone with Alex Anthopoulos, When the Drugs began to take hold…"
-- No Bologna Polonia
I get drunk when I hear it
Mrs Kaplan, several years ago—I think Rory was still alive then—got me a bottle-opener which plays those final few seconds of the last play of the 2002 WS. Every time someone opens a cold one, those 15 seconds or so of audio play.
She indulges me in my love of the team, but isn’t much of a baseball fan herself. When I showed her the photo of Erstad making the ceremonial first pitch earlier in the season, she thought it was cute (with his kids standing on the mound with him), but made a frowny face—“who is he?”
What an excuse to go open a beer…
"The contract is brought up a lot. What it's going to take to get past it is winning. This organization took on the contract. I'm here to make them look good."~Vernon Wells
by George Kaplan on Dec 28, 2011 4:04 PM PST up reply actions
I have that same bottle opener
I don’t drink anymore, but still use it every now and then just to hear that call.
I got two.
One for me and one for my Dad. I love that bottle opener.
Willits? Check. Reagins? Check. Mathis? Check
I added a Signed Tim Salmon jersey
I never considered myself a memorabilia guy but I also have Tim signed bat and ball with a note written to the family on each, signed Lackey ball (regret), Reggie Jackson and a bunch of signed photos and programs.
I really don’t want to become collector guy so I am going to have to stop bidding on things at charity auctions. I will do my donating by buying alcohol from now on.
This isn't 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules.
by SalmonStream on Dec 26, 2011 5:23 PM PST via mobile reply actions
I have 3 8"x10" photos hanging in my bedroom
1. Nolan Ryan
2. Nolan Ryan
3. Nolan Ryan
that’s it. I have the 2002 DVDs, WS program, newspapers stored. The only other 8×10 I have of an Angel is Bo Jackson but that’s not hanging up, so the trio of Ryan pics are the only public display
Still have the original newspapers
for Jim Abbott’s first start and first win. I have a signed balls from Salmon and GA. That’s about it though.
My place here in Thailand is so adorned with posters, nic-nacs, bats, and bobble heads
that it was once described as “bachelor pad that’s clean.” Luckily for me, Thai farm girls who grow up in abject poverty don’t understand how tacky and tasteless most of the this stuff is. However, as I read this post, I looked around and noticed that more and more memorabilia is starting to shift to the back rooms.
As for Ryan…not so much that he owns tha Rangers, but the shock I got in Cooperstown to see a big “T” on his cap. I felt like I was washing the spit off my face.
Well, come see a fat old man some time!
Great shrine. My bedroom is decked out in Angels red and baseball memorabilia
The non-Angels highlights are a bat signed my Hank Aaron and a ball by Willie Mays.
For Angels stuff, my Tim Salmon autographed hat and Wally Joyner autographed picture are my favorites. Each year I bring a new ball to Spring Training and collect as many signatures as I can; usually a mix of prospects and big names.
For my wedding present my wife
got me a 23 × 32 canvas Tim Salmon autograph inscribed 02 Champs! I also have a Troy Glaus 8 × 10 with the same inscription a 8 × 10 of Bengie and many autographed baseballs from the Angels. Including a team signed 1993 baseball. A M&M dispenser with Angels m&ms Also have hundreds of stadium giveaways I love the Angels
Don't hate me, but...
…after some consideration, I bought myself a replica Nick Adenhart jersey on eBay. I’m not an expert in counterfeiting, but it would appear the vendor took a genuine, blank replica jersey from 2009 (silver halo on the A, no ASG or 50th Anniversary patches) and added in correct font the name and numbers (back AND front). It has the Majestic jock tag as well as the MLB hologram sticker on the removable tag. In fact, it looks like this.
The price wasn’t usurious ($80 plus shipping).
I know some folks have legitimate, strong opinions about why these should NOT be sold or purchased, and for a time I was in that camp. It seemed like it was trading on the dead. But with the passage of the last few years, I thought that when I wore this, it might simply be a reminder of a kid on the mound, pitching the game of his life in front of his dad and the home town crowd, just a few hours before that same life would be ended.
In the same way I wear my Salmon and Erstad jerseys even now—they were Angel greats, regardless of the era—there is a special seat at the table for Nick Adenhart. For that reason, I bought this replica, and plan on wearing it quite a bit this season and in the seasons to come.
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" ~Groucho Marx
by George Kaplan on Jan 7, 2012 9:26 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Rec'd!
It’s been long enough, I think, that soulless profiteers would have been washed out of the market. Probably only the true of heart remain interested in such mementos.
"If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base." ~Dave Barry
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