10 more cool things at the National Sports Collectors Convention

This 1962 Cubs spring training program is notable because it is autographed by Ken Hubbs, the Cubs' rookie second baseman who would go on to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1962 (and a Gold Glove after setting a major-league record with 78 consecutive errorless games), but tragically died in February of 1964 when a small plane he was piloting crashed shortly after taking off in bad weather.

But the program also other notable autographs — Charlie Grimm, the manager of Cubs teams that played in the 1932, 1935 and 1945 World Series; Clarence "Pants" Rowland, a longtime Cubs scout who was the manager of the White Sox's 1917 World Series championship team; and Fred Martin, a pitching coach who later gained fame for teaching Bruce Sutter the split-finger fast ball that paved the way for Sutter's road to the Hall of Fame.

This was in a bargain bin, but I bought it for $3 — original press notes from a Yankees-Indians game on July 31, 1965. It includes a preview of a duel of future Hall of Fame pitchers — the Yankees' Whitey Ford and the Indians' Luis Tiant. It also includes farm-club updates on a pair of notable future Yankees players — 19-year-old future Cub Bobby Murcer and 21-year-old Roy White (Tom Shopay also played with the Yankees and later the Orioles); Perry Pappas, the brother of Milt Pappas, never made the big leagues).

This was also Old Timer's Day at Yankee Stadium — an annual event that was a big deal. In 1965, the Yankees had won nine of the last 10 American League pennants and 14 of the last 16, including nine World Series titles. Joe DiMaggio hit a home run in the Old Timer's game that day.

As it turned out, both Ford and Tiant didn't have it that day — both went to the showers by the end of the fourth inning. The Yankees, without Mantle — a late scratch because of a leg injury — won 7-6, with future Cub Joe Pepitone hitting two home runs.