World Series history, properly framed

Richard Dunn

Lonnie Voss, owner and operator of Creative Play in Costa Mesa, is

providing a piece of 2002 World Series history from his 17th Street

baseball card and framing shop.

Voss, known for his custom framing, builds sports memorabilia

plaques and framed displays that are detailed, colorful and

insightful -- and keep him in high demand.

This year, Angel broadcaster and former player Rex Hudler walked

into Voss’ shop and asked for a few bats and balls to be framed.

Hudler was so impressed, he hired Voss to construct his personal

baseball museum and shrine at his home in Tustin Ranch.

Later, Voss produced an encased Angel Rally Monkey plaque that

Hudler showed on television one September night during an Angel

broadcast against the Seattle Mariners. Voss proudly has the video on

hand and plays it for interested customers. Hudler donated the piece

to his charity, which helps children with Down’s Syndrome.

It seems only fitting that Voss, who opened Creative Play in 1993,

would design a framed display for the World Series, the first to

feature two wildcard teams -- the theme of his creation. Voss used

playing cards in the display, with the king of clubs turned face up

to represent the Giants’ Barry Bonds -- because he’s the king of

clubbing home runs. It also includes the king of hearts turned face

up to represent Tim Salmon of the Angels.

“It’s just a play on cards and just for fun, like the Rally Monkey

display,” said Voss, who will more than likely donate the framed

World Series display to charity, which gives him a tax write-off and

a different audience for people to see his work when the piece goes

on display for auction purposes.

Voss, a small, grass-roots businessman competing against industry

giants like Upper Deck and Topps, is a highly acclaimed artist in

memorabilia framing, a master craftsman for more than 25 years with

experience in 3D design and display.

His clients range from well-known athletes, agents and announcers

to restaurants and museums. Shawn Green of the Dodgers is among them.

The framed display of Green’s major league record-tying four-home run

game at Milwaukee this year would give any Dodger fan chills up their

spine.

Voss’ latest concoction -- the Wild Card World Series -- is just

one of myriad projects Voss has in the frying pan, because business

is booming like a Bonds home run. Angel fans, Voss said, are bringing

in jerseys, programs, ticket stubs -- anything to commemorate Orange

County’s and the Angels’ first World Series.

“Everybody’s got memories,” Voss said. “Sometimes, things are

buried in a box.”

Voss, featured in the August issue of the industry magazine

Business Framing News, has also completed framing projects for Major

Leaguers Rich Amaral and Adam Kennedy, the Angel second baseman who

hit three home runs last Saturday in the American League Championship

Series clincher against the Minnesota Twins.

At the shop in Costa Mesa on Monday, Voss had an empty tray of

Kennedy cards, which were lined up with Hall of Famers and future

Hall of Famers. When you’re hot, you’re hot, and like the Angels,

Voss has been on fire.

His latest push is to return kids to the traditional reason for

buying, collecting and trading baseball cards. Instead of seeing

dollars signs, kids, he hopes, will respond to quizzes about

information on the back of the players’ cards.

“Like what was their rookie year,” Voss said.

* RICHARD DUNN covers sports. He can be reached at (949) 574-4225

or at richard.dunn@latimes.com.