For the Love of the Game...

SASOPRS: I understand that you’re a big baseball fan. When did your interest in baseball begin?

Richard: My interest in baseball began when I was about seven years old.  My first baseball game I attended was in 1963 at the old Polo Grounds. The Mets were playing the Cardinals that day, and, of course, lost. I began collecting baseball cards.  In those days, we would put the cards in the spokes of our bicycles, use them to "color", trade, etc. I remember attending about 20-25 NY Met games a year at Shea Stadium with my father who was a Deputy Chief Inspector in the NYPD.  My father commanded half the precincts in Brooklyn.  We would go on "rounds" after the game and officers in the precinct stood up and saluted him when he entered.  We would then go to either Peter Luger Steak House or Crisci's restaurant for dinner. I remember car rides with my dad. We would talk about current events and other topics and really "bond." 

SASOPRS: Do you have any specific teams whose history you’ve followed and specific players who you’ve admired over the years as having a particular impact on the game?

Richard: I grew up an avid NY Mets fan. My baseball idols at the time were Tom Seaver and Willie Mays. When I was older, I would frequently attend games Seaver pitched, taking the IRT train to Shea Stadium.  Sandy Koufax was the greatest pitcher I ever saw, but I only remember him as a youngster, pitching for the LA Dodgers.  Willie Mays was the greatest baseball player I ever saw, and I saw many of the greats play, such as Henry Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Frank Robinson, Willie McCovey, etc.  Willie Mays was the quintessential “5 tool player."  Henry Aaron had the quickest wrists I ever saw.  Mickey Mantle, in my opinion, was a better hitter than Mays but overall, I believe Mays was the better player. Roberto Clemente was truly an icon, offensively and defensively. 

SASOPRS:  I’ve heard that you’ve developed a world-class collection of baseball memorabilia, and that you’ve graciously shared your collection with the public through loans to the New York Mets and Yankees Baseball Museums. Are there any artifacts in your collection that are particularly meaningful to you and members of these teams?

Richard: Starting in 1986, I started collecting baseball memorabilia. First, I collected single signed autographed baseballs of Hall of Famers.  At the time, I was not really interested in collecting cards, although, in retrospect, collecting high-grade cards was a great investment for consumers.  I became enamored with NY Yankee memorabilia because the NY Yankee organization has such a storied history, 27 championships, the greatest franchise in sports history.  Only the Montreal Canadiens are close, winning 24 championships. I became passionate with the "Mount Rushmore" of Yankees: Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, and Mantle, collecting game-used memorabilia and keeping collecting "between the lines." I expanded my collection to the players who had their numbers retired. In my opinion, the greatest honor a team can bestow on one of their players is to have his number retired. 23 NY Yankee players have had their number retired, and 9 NY Met players have had their number retired, including both Dwight Gooden and Daryl Strawberry, as they are having their numbers retired during the upcoming 2024 baseball season. I own original home jerseys of those players and their game worn hats and player bats.  I collect "the best of the best."  I am affiliated with both the NY Yankees and NY Mets Museums, lending them many of my artifacts to be placed on display for the fans to see.  My favorite and most valuable artifacts are Babe Ruth's all-original 1932 World Series home jersey he wore in Games One and Two at Yankee Stadium and the "called shot" Babe Ruth all original road jersey, when Ruth famously "called his shot," in game 3 in Chicago, arguably the most famous moment in sports.  Since the Yankees did not start wearing numbers on the back of their uniforms until 1929, 1932 is the only World Series Ruth wore his famous #3. He wore my home jersey in Games 1 and 2, and the road jersey in Game 3 (called shot) and Game 4.

SASOPRS: Have you had the opportunity to meet any members of the leadership or ownership of any of these teams over the years? Can you tell us about some of the most interesting folks that you’ve met?

Richard: I met Lonn Trost, the Yankees COO, when the team was in the process of building their new stadium.  We discussed, on several occasions, displaying my collection.   My most valuable bat is the bat Babe Ruth used to hit the first home run in Yankee Stadium on April 18, 1923.  On opening day 2009, the grand opening of the new stadium, the Yankees took the bat from the Museum, and Derek Jeter, who was the leadoff hitter, held the bat at home plate before the first pitch was thrown.  Prior, the bat was placed on home plate and displayed on the "Jumbotron" for the entire stadium to see. Jeter picked up the bat and took a few swings with it. I was watching the event on TV at the time and was nervous that Jeter would actually use the bat.  The bat was returned to the Museum after several of the Yankee players held the bat.  Ruth's bats in 1923 were heavy, approximately 42 ounces in weight, compared to the bats today that are much lighter.  Jeter subsequently signed a photo and inscribed the words "Dr. Angrist, Great Ruth Gamer   Derek Jeter."

SASOPRS: In this age of AI and deep fakes, do you and your fellow memorabilia collectors need to take any special steps to ensure the authenticity of items that you are thinking of adding to your collections?

Richard:  Collectors over recent years have gained overwhelming consumer confidence regarding baseball memorabilia. Over the last several years, "photomatching" has become the highest level of authentication.  For example, NY Yankee pinstripe jerseys are like "thumbprints".  No two Yankee pinstripe jerseys are exactly the same.  Vintage jerseys were hand-sewn years ago. For many years, until modern times, a player would receive 2-3 home jerseys and 2-3 road jerseys for the year to wear.  Players would also wear a backup jersey from the previous year.  Photomatching home jerseys to vintage photographs of players wearing them involves matching the pinstripe formation throughout the jersey, as well as button placement, shoulder and neck alignment, etc. Vintage road jerseys were also hand-sewn. There would be specific match points on the jerseys, as well. Vintage hats can also be photo-matched, as well as grain markings and use markings on vintage bats.  I invested in my collection, photomatching my high-end items. I utilize the services of a two-time Emmy award-winning producer, editor, director, and videographer, as well as other known photo-matching experts, reaching a high level of authentication.  There is also a PSA grading service, authenticating game-worn/used memorabilia and other experts, giving consumers the utmost confidence.

SASOPRS: A quick parting question… I’ve heard that you were hosting a major dinner for several of your ASOPRS/AAO colleagues at the Fall meetings one year, and you arranged for a large screen TV to be brought into the private dining room so the attendees wouldn’t have to miss a playoff game. True story?

Richard: Yes, it was the October 9, 1988, White Coat Society dinner in Las Vegas. I hosted it. My prerequisite when I was arranging the restaurant for the dinner was a large TV screen needed to be in the private room where we were having the dinner so I could watch game 4 of the NLCS.  The Mets were leading the series two games to one and leading in that game 4-2 going into the ninth inning.  I was very excited the Mets were going to win the game and take a commanding three-games-to-one lead in the series. What happens? Mike Scioscia of the Dodgers takes Dwight Gooden deep to right field with one man on to tie the game at 4.  The Mets eventually lost the game 5-4 in 12 innings, allowing the Dodgers to tie the series at two games each.  The Mets went on to lose the series in seven games.  I was upset about the loss, being such an avid Mets fan. However, having dinner with friends in the White Coat Society made the evening very enjoyable and successful. LOL!