Ernie Broglio and Phil Cavarretta

Monday I received a couple of my recent requests back. Ernie Broglio signed his 1959 and 1960 Topps.

And Phil Cavarretta signed his 1954 Topps.

The Twins finally signed Mauer to a nice long contract. Apparently my boycott worked. I didn't want to have to play hardball, but it got the job done.

I've started reading the new Willie Mays biography by James Hirsch. I'm about 210 pages in (out of about 550). So far it's pretty interesting. More factual than any insight into Willie's personality.

1951 Topps Red Backs

After buying a 1951 Topps wax wrapper, I bought a few cards to go with it. I bought six lower grade, inexpensive cards.

I took a picture with the cards, wrapper and my Dad's old mitt, since I think a young baseball fan in the early '50's might have had these things laying around.

I'm guessing the mitt is from the mid to late 1940's, when my Dad was about 10-12 years old. It's a Phil Cavarretta model, but I can't make out the manufacturer. Anybody know? I believe it's a first baseman's mitt as well. I can't imagine catching a ball with this! It's in surprisingly good shape considering it's age. The leather isn't too brittle or dry.

Mr. Cavarretta has signed through the mail for me in the past, including a 1949 Bowman.