Last night the game's best took the field in New York for Major League Baseball's 84th All-Star Game. While Philadelphia was not in the spotlight this season, our hometown has hosted the game four times: 1943, 1952, 1976 and 1996 – the last three games being hosted by the Phillies.
Over the past few days, fans attending either FanFest, the Home Run Derby or the big game itself were scouting the souvenir stands for momentos to serve as a reminder of the event. With the All-Star break dragging on for two more nights, I got to thinking about memorabilia from those Phillies-hosted games. Here are some of the basics…
Programs:
When I went to the All Star Game at Veterans Stadium in 1996, the one souvenir I wanted was a program. This thing was massive! 194 pages full of facts, figures and a whole lot of advertising.
Unfortunately for me, the value of the 1996 ASG program hasn't really changed too much over the past 15 years. Unlike 1952, they were mass produced for the Game, FanFest and the team continues to sell them today. The earlier game programs are still regularly found for a good price on the secondary market.
Press Pins:
Press pins were not intended for public consumption. Originally produced for members of the press-corps, they were produced in small quantities and made available in limited distribution. Their relative rarity is reflected in the resale value they command.
Tickets:
The original souvenir, game tickets…
The design for all three tickets is visually appealing, and each perfectly reflects its respective era. It's always interesting to look at the increases in face value, too. From $5.50 in 1952 to $15 in 1976 to $50 in 1996!
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