FIREBRICK, Ky.

Thursday, October 12, 2000

FIREBRICK, Ky. – It just keeps growing. John Carpenter started collecting sports items back in 1983. Now, 17 years later, the collection is busting at the seams.

Carpenter’s collection is in excess of 4,000 items of memorabilia, and he will display parts of the collection from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Greenup County Old Fashion Days Oct. 13-14 at the Farm Bureau, U.S. 23 and Washington Street.

The collection has grown so large that "Ripley’s Believe It or Not" plans to do a follow-up show that will be seen in 160 countries.

Besides "Ripley’s" show, the "Ginnis Book of World Records" is currently doing research to find out if the collection is in fact the largest of its kind in the world.

The collection features a home run ball hit by Babe Ruth, an O. J. Simpson football, an old helmet and football used by the Portsmouth Spartans, and hundreds of autographed items of famous players and coaches.

The New York Yankees recently mailed a baseball signed by Miller Huggins, the legendary manager.

Just last week, Carpenter received a 1917 picture of Jim Thorpe when he played for the Cincinnati Reds.

"More and more people are sending me things. Bo Schembechler and Lloyd Carr sent me Scott Dreisbach’s signed jersey. I’m getting stuff from all over the country," Carpenter said.

Carpenter also has received pictures from Knute Rockne’s home and the University of Notre Dame sent pictures of the Four Horsemen.

Coming soon to the collection will be a 1926 picture of Babe Ruth, also courtesy of the Yankees.