Dubbed as the "Father of the World
Series press pin," Stephen Orlando Grauley, AKA S.O.G., was a Philadelphia
Inquirer sports writer from 1898 -
1925, and was a close personal friend
of Philadelphia Athletics manager & owner, Connie
Mack. Grauley’s
loyalty to Mack led to the creation of
a World Series press pin.
The BBWAA - Base Ball Writers Association was founded in 1908 after New
York sportswriters became frustrated at
constantly losing their seats in the
press box at the Polo Grounds. Giants
manager John McGraw had a habit of
accommodating his many friends by
sneaking them into the ballpark and
offering them seats in the press box.
As the situation became worse, the
writers banded together, and formed an
association to improve conditions.
SOG spoke of his “delightful” rear row seat on a beer keg while actors
filled the front of the Press Box at
the invitation of MacGraw. The best
move the
writers association made was the advent
of press pins, starting in 1911,
to rid the press boxes of those
“pests”. Grauley was instrumental in
forming associations that led to the
press pin.
With Philadelphia only being a short drive from New York, Grauley
suspected McGraw would attempt the same
for the 1911 World Series games at
Shibe Park. Thus the press pin was born
as a means of regulating entry to the
limited square footage of
Philadelphia's home field journalist
quarters.
The A's began the tradition
of issuing specially made press pins
just for the World Series. The pins
were a hit. The following year the
Giants followed suit and since that
time, World Series press pins have been
issued every year by each participating
clubs.
Grauley's 1911 example is one of only five or six known to survive to this
day, and its pristine condition and
special significance establishes it as
the most desirable World Series press
pin ever offered. Also for sale within
Heritage Auctions Platinum Night event
are Grauley's pins for the 1913 and
1914 Athletics, and the 1915
Philadelphia Phillies, each likewise
among the rarest and finest press pins
known.
If these press pins are not rare enough, the 1911, 1913, and the 1914
World Series Press pins are also
accompanied with the original boxes.
Take a good look because chances are
you might never see another.
