We have had baseball-themed occupational mugs before but we have only ever seen one other that belonged to a Major Leaguer. These mugs are a throwback to a time when men went to the local barber shop for a shave and left their own identifiable mugs at the shop usually denoted by one's profession. This great piece is circa 1906, Rube Oldrin's first year with the Philadelphia A's, and is all hand-made with makers' mark on the bottom along with the artist's name, "H. Lang," in gold. In beautiful condition with no cracks or chips, only hints of wear to the gold leaf on the rims and as a delightful bonus it also comes with Rube's shaving brush, also extremely well preserved. The mug is 3.5" tall and 3.5" in diameter, and reads "Ruben N. Oldring, Athletics, 3rd B." around crossed bats, ball, and base. A splendid combination of Major League Baseball and Americana from the turn of the last century.

In Philadelphia, during the dead-ball era, Rube Oldring was a name known by all. He was a star player for the 1911 and 1913 World Champion Philadelphia Athletics. Both of those Championships are represented here in fine splendor. Even though he was never considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame, Oldring was a reliable and gritty player for Connie Mack’s A’s dynasty. After spending 14 years in the major leagues, Rube went on playing for and managing the Wilson team of the Virginia League to a Championship Pennant. Let us not forget that this is a time period when baseball players had to work during the winter months to provide for their families. Rube was no different as he worked long hours to provide and played as hard as humanly possible because he loved the game of baseball. After retirement from the game, he began farming for a living and spent his entire life in his native, Bridgeton, New Jersey. The relics and treasures presented here have remained in the Olding family until this day. This is the first family-authorized sale of any of the Oldring family’s belongings. Each lot will come with a letter from the family.