The Amazing Whitey Ford and World Series Ticket Collections of Chris Williamson!

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The Amazing Whitey Ford and World Series Ticket Collections of Chris Williamson!

Many of you are aware that when I post an article highlighting a particular World Series, I’ve often included an historic ticket from the World Series collection of Chris Williamson.

Chris has been collecting World Series tickets since 2015. Of the 113 World Series played, Chris has tickets from 99 in his collection, of which seven are stubs and the other 92 (93%) are beautifully preserved in pristine condition. Chris says he may have the top rated World Series ticket collection in the world; and, from what I’ve seen, I certainly have no reason to doubt him.

Only one other set compares with his, and that one is owned by a collector named Paul the Coach. “We each have some the other doesn’t. So currently, I’d say I possess the best collection/representation of what a World Series ticket from almost every year, in perfect condition, looks like.“

Chris’ love of baseball and collecting goes back many years, starting with his days as a batboy for the Dodgers from 1987-1992. He acquired memorabilia that “only a batboy could have gotten.” From there, Chris then started collecting baseball cards, and soon advanced to newspapers from historic baseball events, including all-star games, baseball records, and World Series games. He then took ten years off from collecting starting from the late 1990s to acquire his education (including earning his Ph.D) before starting again.

Chris picked up World Series ticket collecting as a result of some very trying circumstances in his life. Unfortunately, he began battling significant health issues in 2013.  It took two years away from his hobby, as other priorities now consumed his attention: “I now had to focus on just living.” When his health finally stabilized in 2015, he needed something positive in his life, a focus. If there can ever be a silver lining attached to a debilitating illness, it was this: It gave Chris a purpose. And so he turned into a serious and driven World Series ticket collector, as only a self-described “disabled Type A personality” could do:

“Once stable in 2015, I needed something to take my mind off of the terribleness that had ravaged my body. So one day in January, 2015 when I was looking at baseball memorabilia on eBay, I came across a graded, full proof to Game Five of the 1945 World Series. It stopped me. I said ‘Wow!’…the baseball history, the aesthetic beauty…how cool! And I was hooked. I had found my focus! I like to think I’ve been very lucky in acquiring my World Series set in just two years. It would have taken most people a decade or more. But I know the determination and effort I put into attaining the Number One set in the world which I’ve had for a year now.” 

 “Later, still being sick and needing a little something to do around the house, I devised a way of building shelves for my tickets, all 120 of them, all handmade. The end result is a very cool way to show all 113 tickets, all on one wall!” (See photo of Chris’ ticket wall in the photo gallery).

As for his Whitey Ford collection, which includes tickets in pristine condition from all 10 of Whitey’s record World Series victories, Chris told me: “I started a year ago, identifying what tickets I needed, to see if there was the potential to build the set in full. When I knew where all 10 tickets from Ford’s victories could be acquired, I was off and running, and I just acquired the last two tickets to complete the set a couple weeks ago.”

Chris’ Whitey Ford collection is very likely the top rated Ford set in existence. It’s 100% complete, and has a rating of 11.8 by Professional Sports Authenticators (with the number two set rated at 2.20). “I’d say there is always the potential of an unpublished set being better, but it would be very tough to do. Quite possibly I have the best set comprised.”

It’s no wonder why Chris chose to focus his formidable collecting skills on Hall-of-Famer Whitey Ford. The World Series accomplishments of the eight-time All-Star are phenomenal: Ford was the Yankees’ Game One starter in 1955, ‘56, ‘57, ‘56, ‘61, ‘62, ‘63, and ‘64, the only pitcher to start four consecutive Game Ones, a milestone he achieved twice. To go with his 10 World Series victories – more than any other pitcher – he has a sparkling 2.71 ERA. He also leads all pitchers in World Series starts, innings pitched, hits, walks, and strikeouts. In 1961, the year he was named Word Series MVP, he broke Babe Ruth’s World Series record of 29 ²⁄₃ consecutive scoreless innings with 33.

While battling illnesses that would have stopped almost anyone, Chris Williamson has quickly become one of the top baseball memorabilia collectors in the country. We’re very happy to have him as one of our regular readers. We’re also grateful he’s chosen to share many of his baseball treasures with us here on Old-Time Baseball Photos. We wish him nothing but the best and pray that his health will continue to improve.

Gary Livacari 

Photo Credits: All tickets images from collection of Chris Williamson; All photos from his collection or from Google search

Information: Facebook communication with Chris Williamson

Check out my two books, both now available on Amazon in e-book and paperback:  “Paul Pryor in His Own Words: The Life and TImes of a 20-Year Major League Umpire”and “Memorable World Series Moments.” All profits go to the Illinois Veterans Foundation