2005 October (HSC) Signature Auction
| Sale Number: | 703 |
| Location: | |
| Auction Date: | October 29th at 2 PM CT |
Session 1
Baseball Collectibles
1881 Harry Wright Personal Scorebook with Multiple Signatures! Wright's contributions to the early development of our National pastime place him right alongside Cartwright and Doubleday as one of baseball's most noteworthy pioneers. He was center fielder for the the first professional ball club, the 1876 Cincinnati Red Stockings, invented the box scoring system, designed the standard baseball uniform and was the first to direct his defense to shift in relation to hitters' tendencies. Yet despite his indisputable importance to the game, most Hall of Fame autograph collections find him sadly absent, certainly due to the great scarcity of available specimens born of the eleven decades that have passed since Wright did.
But here we offer a veritable mother lode of Wright autographs, finding a home on the most desirable and thoroughly significant home they possible could, his own personal "Base Ball Score Book." It is meticulously utilized to track twenty-two games featuring the team Wright managed, the Boston Red Caps of the National League, with every last hit, run, error and out notated in the penciled shorthand style still utilized to this day. Written in his Hall of Fame hand are the names of others that would join him in eternity at Cooperstown: John Ward, Charles Radbourne, Roger Connor, Tim Keefe. Most appealing about this historic bound volume, however, is the presence of Wright's autograph in the "Scorer" box on eighteen of the twenty-two games' pages. Thirteen are initialled "H.W.," while four are signed with the full "Harry Wright." The last is signed simply "H. Wright." Please do note, however, that even the unsigned score sheets are filled out entirely in Wright's hand. He notes on the cover, also in the standard NRMT pencil, that this book is "No. 4," and that it covers the games from "July 22 - Aug 25, 1881, Boston, Mass." Short of some wear at the spine, which does not affect a single letter of the writing within, the book remains in simply remarkable NRMT condition, as if even Father Time himself would not dare to harm a piece of such grand significance and appeal. Tremendous value here, both as a complete bound volume and as the sum of its parts. LOA from PSA/DNA.
But here we offer a veritable mother lode of Wright autographs, finding a home on the most desirable and thoroughly significant home they possible could, his own personal "Base Ball Score Book." It is meticulously utilized to track twenty-two games featuring the team Wright managed, the Boston Red Caps of the National League, with every last hit, run, error and out notated in the penciled shorthand style still utilized to this day. Written in his Hall of Fame hand are the names of others that would join him in eternity at Cooperstown: John Ward, Charles Radbourne, Roger Connor, Tim Keefe. Most appealing about this historic bound volume, however, is the presence of Wright's autograph in the "Scorer" box on eighteen of the twenty-two games' pages. Thirteen are initialled "H.W.," while four are signed with the full "Harry Wright." The last is signed simply "H. Wright." Please do note, however, that even the unsigned score sheets are filled out entirely in Wright's hand. He notes on the cover, also in the standard NRMT pencil, that this book is "No. 4," and that it covers the games from "July 22 - Aug 25, 1881, Boston, Mass." Short of some wear at the spine, which does not affect a single letter of the writing within, the book remains in simply remarkable NRMT condition, as if even Father Time himself would not dare to harm a piece of such grand significance and appeal. Tremendous value here, both as a complete bound volume and as the sum of its parts. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1887 A.G. Spalding Signed "Spalding's Baseball Guide." What better home for an autograph from this early baseball pioneer than an early volume of his seminal baseball guide? His name now synonymous with sporting goods, Spalding is rarely remembered for the fine quality of his play--for example, he was the first pitcher to record 200 wins. But his motto, "Everything is possible to him who dares," drove him to even greater success as an executive and business man, serving from 1882 to 1891 as the president of the Chicago Nationals team, and organizing the first Baseball World Tour in 1888. A year before that tour, Spalding signed this copy of his Guide for a fan, a nice 8/10 fountain pen signature that appears beside a portrait of him to create a display piece (a Spalding signed "photo??") of which we wouldn't have dared to dream. The booklet itself shows an expected degree of wear, particularly to the cover, but the page containing the autograph will still present wonderfully. Given the placement of this exceptionally difficult signature, it could convincingly be argued as one of the most desirable of the few extant. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1920 Roger Bresnahan & Jacob Ruppert Signed Player Sales Agreement. While Colonel Ruppert is an autograph essential to any serious Yankees collector, the big story here is Bresnahan, who signs as president of "The Toledo Base Ball Club" of the American Association, consenting to the sale of a ballplayer to the Yankees (this player never saw Major League action). The first catcher inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Bresnahan is also one of Cooperstown's tougher signatures, and his appearance on an official baseball document is particularly noteworthy. His marvelous full "Roger P. Bresnahan" autograph is a perfect 10/10, as is that of the former Yankees owner. The original storage folds of the document show significant separation, but these do not affect the signatures in the slightest, and frankly the document itself is not the issue here. A rare opportunity to bring a rock-solid representation of this difficult autograph into your collection. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1922-30 New York Yankees Payroll Checks Lot of 8. The Yanks get paid. Eight payroll checks were issued by "The American League Base Ball Club" to veteran pitcher "Sad Sam" Jones (2), backup catcher Fred "Bootnose" Hofmann (2), second baseman Aaron Ward (2), Eddie Holly and A.A. Woods. Each is signed by team secretary and Hall of Famer Ed Barrow and president Jacob Ruppert in NRMT ink on the front, and countersigned by the player himself on verso. Several have light vertical center folds that are barely visible upon display, otherwise EX-MT+. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1925 Pittsburgh Pirates Team Signed Photograph. The Pride of Steeltown. Deacon McKechnie and his boys ran away with the National League pennant this season, topping the second place Giants by eight and a half games before meeting up with Walter Johnson's Washington Senators, the defending World Champs. It took seven games, but the Bucs got it done, thanks to an assortment of talent featured in thirty-nine stunningly strong ink signatures on the verso of this 7x9" team shot. Present are Clarke, Cuyler (with the exceptionally rare "Hazen 'Ki' Cuyler" variation), Carey, Traynor, McKechnie, and a fabulously ornate J. Honus Wagner. Search the globe and you won't find a more complete assembly of signatures from this team, all the way down to Bill McKechnie, Jr., the team mascot! Only minimal wear at the edges and patches of toning on verso is to be noted in terms of condition, and neither does anything to detract. Certainly one of the most talent-packed teams in the game's history. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1927 New York Yankees Payroll Check Signed by Barrow, Ruppert & Collins. Anything relating to the New York Yankees historic World Championship season of 1927 holds a special place in the hearts of serious baseball collectors, but this piece is truly special. This check drawn on the account of "The American League Base Ball Club of New York, Inc." pays a salary advance of $400 to the trusty Yankee backstop Pat Collins, with authorizing signatures from Hall of Fame executive Ed Barrow and Yankee owner Jacob Ruppert. The check is endorsed on verso by Collins. All autographs are 9/10 or better, and the check has a vertical center crease and a few spots of foxing but still presents very nicely. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1927 Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig Signed Program. This is the kind of piece collectors see in their dreams, simple and yet so perfectly constructed that it is almost as if the fan that originally acquired it had a psychic notion of the future hobby, and what it would most crave. Clearly, if we were to pick any year's program on which to place this historic pair, it would be 1927, when the Babe clubbed five dozen, and the Iron Horse took American League M.V.P. honors. But even with access to a time machine, we might not have demonstrated the wise forethought to stack the two signatures so perfectly on either side of the bold text reading "Season of Nineteen Twenty-Seven." The Babe's 10/10 pencil is not to be outdone by Gehrig's 9/10 blue ink, and while the scorecard itself shows a degree of wear, with toning at the edges, staining on rear cover and a few scattered minor tears and holes, none of this materially affects the spectacular display value. Date of "Jul 22 1927" is stamped on cover, and interior box scores are unmarked. A fine centerpiece to even the most sophisticated autograph collection. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1929 Babe Ruth Signed & Unsigned Photographs. While we certainly cannot verify this fact, and we would be the last to slander our beloved Babe, the source of this remarkable photograph collection suggested that the young lady posing with Ruth in the signed photograph offered here was actually the Bambino's mistress. Regardless of the specific nature of the relationship, there clearly was some sort of unique friendship between these two, as the small removed scrapbook pages from a trip to St. Petersburg, Florida reveal three fantastic snapshots of the Yankees legend, both suited up in pinstripes and looking quite sporty in a suit coat, knickers and wingtips, posing with a fancy convertible car. Most notable, of course, is the first image, as it not only pictures the Babe in uniform, with the balance of the Yankee team running drills in the distance behind him, but it bears a very strong 8.5/10 black fountain pen inscription, "Sincerely, Babe Ruth." While any signed Ruth photograph is cause for celebration, the one of a kind nature of this personal snapshot only adds to the vast collecting appeal. The signed photograph measures 3.25x5" in size, with the others identical in image size but trimmed of their white borders. Also here are a few more photos of the folks in the photos with the Babe at various other Florida locales, including a charming image of the rather stout older ladies at the beach wearing the latest in 1920's swimwear. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Circa 1929 Babe Ruth Signed Telegram. From the estate of a conductor for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad comes this fascinating piece bearing the mark of a close encounter with the most famous athlete in the world. Intent on giving the Babe the VIP treatment to which he was accustomed, a company executive fired this telegram off to the train's conductor, instructing "Show special attention to Babe Ruth. Occupying Drawing Room A, Car K62, Train 41 from Washington en route to Goldsboro." Rather clumsily, the conductor seems to have presented this missive to Ruth personally, who endorsed the sentiment with a perfect fountain pen signature. Later the conductor pasted newspaper photographs of Ruth at the corners, framing the all-important autograph. The telegram is folded into quarters, with one fold crossing the start of Ruth's surname, but this does not affect display value in any noteworthy fashion. The same can be said of mild edge wear, and a few small tears distant from the Ruth signature, which have been repaired with vintage tape on back. A handwritten note on verso, apparently from the widow of the conductor, explains how the autograph was acquired and estimates the date as 1929. Telegram measures 5.5x8.5". LOA from PSA/DNA.
1930 Ty Cobb Signed Check. Just two years after the Peach hung up his razor-sharp spikes, he filled out and signed this check drawn against his "Georgia Railroad Bank" account in unbeatable 10/10 black fountain pen ink. It was later affixed with glue to the matching check stub from Cobb's ledger, adding even more perfect handwriting from the Hall of Fame hero to the proceedings. A half-inch tear to the left of the block lettered "Tyrus R. Cobb" at the top of the check must be noted, but it is invisible when the check is laid flat, as is a center vertical fold. You certainly will not find a more pristine autograph from Cobb, however, in any medium. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1930's Lou Gehrig Cut Signature. A small brown square of paper (1.5x1.5") provides a perfect home for an unbeatable 10/10 black ink signature from the brave and dependable Yankees first baseman. As the short supply of quality Gehrig autographs continues to dwindle, the price tag for offerings such as this will climb straight through the roof. If you intend on ever owning a Gehrig signature, you're wasting money every month you procrastinate. An insignificant crease in the clipped paper is visible upon close inspection, certain to be invisible upon matting and framing with your favorite Iron Horse photo. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1930's Babe Ruth Signed Photograph. The definitive Ruth signed photograph. A strong 9/10 black ink inscription from the hand of the game's brightest star finds a home on this classic image of Ruth sending one into the seats. The simple sentiment reads "To Paul Martin, From Babe Ruth." The surname of the recipient should ring a bell for many advanced Ruth collectors, as the Martins were close friends of Babe and his wife Claire, and quite a few various autographed pieces bearing the Martin name have found their way to the auction block in recent years. Few could match the quality of this piece, however, and it should be noted that the photograph itself joins the inscription in its NRMT designation. Photo measures 7x9", and is gorgeously matted to final dimensions of 14x16". LOA from PSA/DNA.
1930's Babe Ruth Signed Bat from Ruth Family Friend. With the scarcity and desirability of Babe Ruth signed bats so extreme, it is always a thrill to find the genuine article in the sea of forgeries. This gorgeous specimen derives from the estate of Maxine "Miki" Herzberg-Fisher, a longtime friend of the Ruth family. Several other Ruth items from the Herzberg-Fisher estate have reached the marketplace in recent years, though none could hold a candle to this historic hardwood in terms of quality or value. The Spalding store model Frank M. Schulte (early home run king) bat offers what is surely among the very strongest signatures from Ruth on a bat conservatively rated 9/10, reading, "To Miki, From Babe Ruth." The handsome 31.5", twenty-six ounce bat exhibits an especially rich, pleasing wood finish to match the high quality of the Babe's inscription, making for a piece that is truly museum quality. While signed baseballs from this most significant of sporting icons will always be the gold standard of the hobby, it must be noted that Ruth signed bats are hundreds of times more scarce, and as such a steep incline in value over the coming years is all but assured. Smart investors understand that this is a "can't lose" opportunity. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1931 Rogers Hornsby Signed World Series Program. The Hall of Fame slugger had to settle for spectating as his former squad dethroned the reigning World Champion Philadelphia Athletics this October, but one fan obviously recognized him in the stands of Sportsman's Park and approached the ex-Cardinal for an autograph. The result is a perfect 10/10 dark black fountain ink signature, simply the finest you could ever hope to find on any medium. But let us not forget the desirability of the program itself, which is also a marvel of condition, with not a tear or crease to be found. Very mild rubbing at the spine and edges, and a light and even age toning of the front and back covers are all that separates it from its newly printed state. Center score sheets are unmarked. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1931 Babe Ruth & His Wife Claire Signed Photograph. A month after a collision with Red Sox catcher Charlie Berry when trying to score on a sacrifice fly, the Babe and his wife thank the Boston doctor that looked after the injured slugger. A rather charming photograph of the couple is inscribed first by Claire, "To Dr. Francis Newton, Thanks for your kindness to Babe, Claire Ruth, May 22nd, 1931," and then by the Babe himself, who writes "To a great fellow Dr. Francis Newton, From Babe Ruth, May 22nd, 1931." Claire's inscription has lightened ever so slightly to an 8.5/10 quality, but the Babe remains as bold and dark as the day the photo was signed, a legitimate 10/10. The photo (7x9.5") itself is equally flawless, and presents beautifully in the tasteful mat and frame that bring the final dimensions of the piece to 15x18". LOA from PSA/DNA.
1932 Lou Gehrig & Gertrude Ederle Signed Program. A perfectly flawless 10/10 pencil signature from the New York Yankees' durable first basemen joins that of the Olympic Gold Medalist and first woman to swim the English Channel. Ederle's autograph is equally strong, and found just above Gehrig's on the cover of this charming program for the February 4, 1932 Father and Son Banquet at the Vernon Heights (NY) Men's Club. The program itself shows no noteworthy condition flaws, just a single horizontal center fold that does not transverse either signature. Gehrig's autograph continues to climb in value with each passing year, so any investment in a top quality example such as this is a wise one. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1932 New York Yankees Team Signed Sheets with Ruth & Gehrig. The essence of Depression era autograph collecting is embodied in this pair of salmon pastel album pages that document the great, last gasp of Murderer's Row. Babe Ruth, in the last of his seven World Championship (and ten A.L. Championship) seasons, would further assure his immortality with his famed "Called Shot" this October. Lou Gehrig would just miss the American League MVP award for the second consecutive year. Each of these legends appear here in exceptionally dark black fountain pen ink along with twenty-four of the teammates that would roll over the Cubs in a four-game Series sweep. Notable among these are Lazzeri, Ruffing, Sewell, Combs, Dickey, Crosetti, Chapman, Byrd, Lary and the six-foot four, three hundred pound right handed pitcher Walter "Jumbo" Brown. The autographs were signed on facing pages of an autograph album, offering unbeatable display value. "The New York Yankees of 1932" is penned in the collector's vintage hand across the top of the pages, which offer not the slightest hint of damage or wear. A simple yet perfect offering. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Golf Collectibles
1930's Babe Ruth Signed Golf Scorecard. Just twenty-five miles from the Bronx ballpark that he claimed as his own, the great Bambino autographed this golf scorecard for a fan at the Upper Montclair (NJ) Country Club, where he had gone to play a few holes. His pencil signature is a perfect 10/10, positioned upside down on the card that measures 3x4.25" in its folded state. The card shows no apparent defects, and appears to be unscored. It has been slabbed for posterity by PSA for protection and unquestioned authenticity. Ruth autographs only continue to climb in value, so there will never be a better time to purchase a definitive example such as this one.
Baseball Collectibles
1934 Chuck Klein Signed Government Postcard. The triple crown winner responds a year later to a young autograph seeker with a perfect signature in the top right corner, placing his first name in "Babe" Ruth like quotes. The valuable and pristine autograph is sealed for posterity in a PSA holder for protection and certain authenticity.
1934 "Rabbit" Maranville Signed Government Postcard. Nearing the end of a Hall of Fame career, the Boston Braves middle infielder responds to an eager autograph seeker with a near perfect signature, also adding "Best Wishes." The valuable and pristine autograph is sealed for posterity in a PSA holder for protection and certain authenticity.
1930's Babe Ruth Signed Photograph. An image we've never seen before, but that we certainly hope to see again. Offering one of the most compelling views of that Hall of Fame swing, the glorious number "3" proudly displayed on the Babe's back, this photo would be a treasure on its own. But finding a home on the pale background of Floridian sky is a wonderfully strong (9.5/10) black fountain pen inscription to a close family friend of the Ruths, reading simply, "To Paul Martin, From Babe Ruth." The photograph itself is likewise in flawless condition, and measures 7.5x9" in size. A museum quality matting job finds the final dimensions of the piece at 15x17". LOA from PSA/DNA.
1934 Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig & More Signed Autograph Book. A charming little autograph book distributed by a shoe store in the St. Petersburg, Florida spring training home of the New York Yankees offers thirty-seven signatures from the Bronx and beyond, most notably the dynamic duo of Ruth, who appears on the back cover in 8/10 black ink, and Gehrig, who is a perfect 10/10 pencil on an interior page. Apparently the book was taken out of retirement in the mid-1940's, as joining such early Thirties types as Gomez, Lazzeri, Combs, Rolfe, Hoag, Ruffing and Crosetti is Phil Rizzuto. The book shows reasonable wear, with several pages loose (or almost loose) from the spine and some water staining that only affects Crosetti, Ruffing and Hagen in any noteworthy way (Ruth and Gehrig, it must be noted, are entirely unaffected). LOA from PSA/DNA.
1935 Babe Ruth Double-Signed Check. Those following the memorabilia trends have certainly taken notice of the steep climb in value that Ruth checks have enjoyed over the past eighteen months or so, and there seems to be no end in sight. As the sordid tales of today's slugger's continue to get juicier (pun intended), we must appreciate that much more the long ball exploits of this great sports hero, and Ruth's perpetual bull market is clearly a reflection of this. So we offer here one of the safest investments in the auction, a spectacular check presented by the Babe to a teller at the "Chemical Bank & Trust Company" for a withdrawal of fifty dollars, dated just three months after he announced his retirement from the game he loved, and that loved him. All ink remains as bold and perfect as the day Ruth applied it. Setting this specimen in a class by itself is an endorsing signature on the back for the cash withdrawal, taking the tally to two flawless autographs from the Babe. The check itself is similarly gorgeous, with only center vertical fold that remains essentially invisible upon display. The cream of the Ruth check crop. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1935 Babe Ruth Signed Photograph. While it broke many hearts (including, to a degree, his own) to see the Babe suited up in anything other than a Yankee uniform, we nonetheless can't help but love this fantastic image of an aging Babe in his final days as a player. Less than three months after officially hanging up his spikes, Ruth signed this soulful photograph for a close family friend. His 10/10 black fountain pen inscription reads, "To Paul Martin, From Babe Ruth, Aug 24, 1935." The photograph itself also remains free of even the slightest defect. For the uncompromising "condition snob." Photo measures 6x9" and is matted beautifully to the final dimensions of 14x17". LOA from PSA/DNA.
1936 Babe Ruth Signed Check. Just over a year after the Babe hung up his thunderous bat, he filled out and signed this personal check drawn on The Chemical Bank & Trust Company account he kept just a couple blocks from his Upper West Side Manhattan home. While Ruth checks have been one of the top performers in the sports market over the past eighteen months, this one is particularly appealing for a number of reasons. Most importantly, all ink remains in fantastic NRMT condition, as does the check itself, free of any creases, tears or stains. Secondly, it offers his printed name at far left, unlike a good percentage of others. And finally, the bank's punch coding remains well clear of the essential "GH Ruth" signature at lower right. In short, this is an investment you can take to the bank. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1936 Babe Ruth Signed "Babe Ruth's Baseball Advice" Publication. "Play Ball, Young Fellow!" suggests the beloved Bambino, whose legendary kindness to the boys that idolized him is well documented in baseball lore. This highly collectible publication in which Ruth passes on the breadth of his baseball knowledge to the next generation is made all the more desirable by a flawless blue ink inscription on the title page reading, "Best wishes From Babe Ruth, 1936." A light pencil notation in another hand on the opposing page explains that this book was given as a prize to a young New York City baseball player for his outstanding skills. The softcover publication shows expected wear at spine and edges, but binding is still tight, and interior pages present as NRMT. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1937 Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown Signed Certificate. The loss of two fingers at age seven to a corn shredder at his uncle's Indiana farm proved to be a tragic blessing for this Dead Ball-era Hall of Fame pitcher, who explained later in life, "That old paw served me pretty well in its time. It gave me a firmer grip on the ball, so I could spin it over the hump. It gave me a greater dip." Mordecai's microscopic 2.06 lifetime E.R.A. would make him a guaranteed first-ballot Hall of Famer today, but Cooperstown didn't come calling for him until 1949, a year after his death. This posthumous induction, partnered with a career that ended in 1916, has ensured a very thin supply of autographs from Brown, making this offered example a rare treat for Hall of Fame collectors. "Three Finger" signs this Certificate of Merit for "Excellence in Umpiring" as a member of the National Semi-Pro Baseball Congress, representing his hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana. The black fountain pen signature is a flawless 10/10 and presents brilliantly despite the imperfect condition of the certificate itself, which shows significant yet visually unobtrusive creasing and paper loss on the right border. One of only a tiny handful of Mordecai Brown signatures to be offered in recent years, and arguably the finest. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1937 Eddie Collins Signed Uniform Agreement. He was, along with catcher Ray Schalk, the only White Sox infielder that didn't take a dive for the money in 1919, and his lifetime stats of 3,315 hits and an outrageous .333 average proved him to be far more than just an honest ballplayer, but an all-time great as well. Here Collins signs an agreement as the Red Sox V.P. to purchase the contract of a minor league player, interestingly the very same year he found another kid named Ted Williams. The player listed on this contract, however, didn't pan out to be quite as big a star, appearing in just a single game for the BoSox and never earning an official at-bat. Collins' very tough autograph is huge and perfect here, and its placement on an official baseball document only adds to its considerable value. Contract itself has original storage folds, and is otherwise NRMT. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1937 Walter Johnson Signed Fiftieth Birthday Dinner Program. It's not very often that you see a pre-authenticated, pre-war autograph from a Baseball Hall of Famer, but you're seeing one now. As a brief introduction that precedes the rather tongue in cheek biography on the interior portion of the bi-fold notes, "This score-card menu is personally autographed by Walter for you as a souvenir of his 50th Birthday Testimonial Dinner, Ballroom, Mayflower Hotel, Saturday, November , 1937." And sure enough, on the cover, which is fashioned to replicate a 1907 Senators scorecard, is an image of "The 'Hot Potato' from Idaho" inscribed "Best Wishes, Walter Johnson." Signature is a perfectly visible 6/10. The "scorecard" itself was unfortunately torn in two at some point, and has been expertly rejoined with archival tape. It must be noted however that this damage does not interfere with the all-important autograph in any way, and display value of the cover is still very strong. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1937 New York Yankees Team Signed Photograph. The Bronx Bombers earned their nickname well this World Championship season, as the young DiMaggio clubbed a career and League-best forty-six home runs, topping even the great Gehrig, whose thirty-seven long balls placed him firmly in the top ten as well. Each legendary Hall of Famer has signed his image on this simply outstanding photograph paying homage to the team that posted the second of four consecutive Fall Classic victories. Joining this hard-slugging trio are the autographs of twenty-five fellow Yanks, representing every man pictured except Colonel Ruppert, the trainer Doc Painter, the team mascot, and Monte Pearson, the right-handed pitcher from whose estate the photograph derives. Some of these noteworthy names include Crosetti, Henrich, Ruffing, Gomez, McCarthy, Combs and Lazzeri, all contrasting beautifully against the pinstriped jerseys they wear so proudly. As was typical of the time, several signatures are of the clubhouse variety (McCarthy, Combs, Gomez, Dickey, and Lazzeri), but the rest were signed by the athletes themselves Remarkably, every last signature rates at least a solid 6/10, with the average falling closer to 7/10 or 8/10, and the photograph itself is entirely free of even the hint of a crease, stain or other visible ailment. The photo measures 7.5x9.5", and is matted and framed to final dimensions of 13x15". The exceptional talent present, and the quality of the autographs and photograph themselves, place this remarkable piece near the pinnacle of Yankee team signed pieces from the decade. Deserving of a home in only the finest of collections. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1939 Lou Gehrig Signed Large Wire Photograph. This was one of our favorite images of the Iron Horse long before we ever encountered this unimaginably rare and important signed oversized print. His career ended by a fatal diagnosis of arterial lateral sclerosis, the brave team captain watches from the dugout steps as his young teammates carry on the pinstriped tradition of excellence without him. A cryptic, Mona Lisa smile suggests the same mixture of sadness and pride that led him to tearfully claim the status of "luckiest man on the face of the earth." It's such a brilliantly evocative image, and offered here in such razor-sharp contrast that there can be no question as to its first generation status. Of course, the strong (8/10) black ink signature that slants across Gehrig's chest is further proof of this fact, as the tragic hero's autograph dating from this season and beyond practically fails to exist. In fact, we have encountered only a single other example of this image signed, and we don't suspect that another will surface anytime soon. While a certain degree of scattered wrinkles and spotting must be noted, these factors do not materially affect the remarkable display value of the piece. Along with the "Associated Press" stamping on the verso is the word "Walsh" penned in vintage ink, suggesting the possibility that this may have once belonged to famed sports agent Christy Walsh. While the physical dimensions of this photograph are 9.5x15", it can justifiably be claimed that the importance and appeal are quite simply immeasurable. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1939 New York Yankees Signed Photograph with Gehrig. As the Yankees posed under the hot St. Petersburg, Florida sun, where they were preparing for what would be yet another World Championship season, not a soul could have known that in several weeks' time the Iron Horse would come to the end of the trail. Gehrig's early departure from the 1939 line-up makes autographs from this season exceptionally scarce, especially on photographs such as this one, which offers his strong ink signature at the bottom border of the image. A crease and patch of foxing nips the edge of this essential ink, but does little to detract. Also present are signatures from DiMaggio, Dickey, Gomez and eight more, including young Babe Dahlgren, who would assume the duties of Yankees first sacker when Lou's 2,130 game streak came to an end this year. Scattered creasing and tearing, with some border loss at upper left, must be excused given the importance of this rare artifact. When matted and framed, the photo will still present very well. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1940's Ty Cobb Signed "Science of Batting" Booklet. Two autographs, and a fantastic inscription, from the generous Georgia Peach. Cobb's perfect black ink finds a home on the title page of the little booklet he wrote for Hillerich & Bradsby. The inscription reads, "To Gary Hodrau From His Friend Ty Cobb. Much luck Gary, work and practice and you might be in Major Leagues, Ty." Well, we've checked the records, and no such name is listed in the Majors, but perhaps Gary didn't read the whole booklet. It should be noted that the cover actually has two words, "To Steve," written in Cobb's hand and later crossed out, so perhaps Steve didn't show the promise that Gary did. Booklet itself shows light wear but still displays very nicely, particularly with the photo of Speaker, Ruth and Cobb on the page that faces the inscription. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1942 Grover Cleveland Alexander Handwritten Postcard. Alcoholism and World War I shell shock had taken a heavy toll on the Hall of Fame hurler by the time he penned this brief note to a fan. Strong black fountain pen ink on a government postcard postmarked "Rochester Dec 7, 1942" reads, "Am not so well. Thanks for your nice letter, Grover C. Alexander." The postcard is matted nicely with a 1914 Fatima card (VG) and a vintage wire photograph (EX). As tough as Alexander autographs are, particularly in the "Grover C. Alexander" format we find here, handwritten notes are exceptionally scarce, with only a handful known. Certainly the rarest of all members of the Hall of Fame's original attending class, Alexander autographs should be chased aggressively whenever seen, as we expect the offerings of such will soon slow to less than a trickle as the last remaining examples find permanent homes. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1942 Babe Ruth, Mel Ott & More Signed World Series Program. An absolutely astonishing medley of Hall of Fame talent turns this wartime World Series program into a treasure worthy of placement in the world's finest autograph collections. Assembled on the cover of this Yankee Stadium publication are Babe Ruth, Mel Ott, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, Connie Mack, Leo Durocher and Larry MacPhail. All appear in pencil as dark as the day it was applied, with Mack the lightest at 8.5/10 and Ruth a powerful and perfect 10/10. Also present are the famed F.B.I. Director J. Edgar Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt's close political advisor, Postmaster General James A. Farley. Two other signatures are either illegible or unidentifiable. All are equivalent in quality to the baseball luminaries'. The program itself shows just moderate handling wear with no tears or noteworthy creasing, and the spine remains tight and undamaged. A truly special, star-studded piece. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1946 Babe Ruth Signed Program. The Babe liked to boast that he swung big, missed big, lived big, did everything big. Such is certainly the case in how he signed this patriotic American Legion program dating from almost exactly two years before his death. The bold fountain pen signature is nearly four inches long, with only a couple of tiny spots of wear to prohibit a 10/10 rating. A single horizontal fold line transverse the program at center, but falls well clear of the valuable autograph. Based on square footage, this may be the best Ruth autograph deal of the year. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1946 Foxx, Cochrane, Mack, Speaker & Many More Signed World Series Program. Talk about a convergence of legends! Though the holder of this Fenway Park version of the 1946 World Series program ended up heartbroken that October, he did come away with shimmering silver lining to the dark cloud of defeat. The back cover documents the fact that this piece passed through the hands of many of the game's greatest, offering autographs from Foxx, Cochrane, Mack, Speaker, Hornsby, Grove, McCarthy, McKechnie and Chandler. Also here are boxers Joe Louis and Jack Sharkey (front cover), offering yet another leap forward in value and desirability. All signatures present as 8/10 or better ink or pencil, with the exception of Hornsby (6/10) and Speaker (6/10), whose autograph was apparently missed by Joe McCarthy, who signed directly over the top of it. Another Happy Chandler autograph is inside the program, which shows a good bit of wear with some spine separation, though this does not affect the astounding collection of autographs in any way. A truly impressive piece for the serious autograph collector. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1947-48 Leon Day Puerto Rican League Contract. Many of the greatest figures of the Negro Leagues suited up in the uniform of the Santurce Crabbers at some point in their careers--Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, Roy Campanella and Ray Dandridge among them. Here we present the paperwork that brought fellow Hall of Famer Leon Day into the fold, purchasing his services to the squad for the sum of $200 a week. The "Contrato de Jugador," listing Day's hometown as Newark, New Jersey (where he pitched for the Newark Eagles), is signed in perfect blue ink by Day on the second page. Short of original storage folds, the contract remains in fine NRMT condition. One of the few contracts of any Negro League Hall of Famer known to exist. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1948 Dizzy Dean Signed Wire Photograph. Comical and heartwarming image pictures Ol' Diz getting a smile out of the Babe as he mimics the "Called Shot" pose that Ruth popularized in 1932. The black ink inscription in Dean's hand rates a technical 7/10 despite its imperfect contrast against the dark background. It reads, "To my good Friend Joe Abner, a great guy, From your pal 'Dizzy' Dean." The photo itself has a few minor printing abnormalities but still displays very nicely, and is largely free from wear. Measures 7.5x9.5". LOA from PSA/DNA.
1948 Babe Ruth Signed "The Babe Ruth Story" Book. Search the globe and you will not locate a more pristine Bambino autograph than that which resides on the title page of this hardcover autobiography released just weeks prior to Ruth's passing. Though the book closes with the Babe's pledge to regain his health and continue his work as an ambassador of the game he loved and dominated, it sadly was not to be, and as such very few signed examples of this collectible book are to be found. Short of a missing dustjacket, there is little room for criticism of the offered specimen, as spine and edge wear is minimal and the binding remains tight. All interior pages present as NRMT, keeping pace with the historic autograph that makes this piece a genuine heirloom of baseball's Golden Age. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1949 Baseball Autograph Book with Robinson, Campanella, Many More. A young baseball fan's pride and joy. This quaint little autograph book offers tremendous power that belies its modest size. The leatherbound volume features colored album pages measuring 2x6" each, some signed by several members of a team, some singly, with every last autograph is NRMT or better condition. We begin with twelve Chicago Cubs on a single page, with Manush and Harry "The Hat" Walker. Soon we encounter a Cincinnati Reds team sheet with Vander Meer and Kluszewski. Bucky Walters and Joe Cronin are alone on individual pages. Several solo Pirates including Ralph Kiner. A bunch of Cardinals with Musial, Schoendienst and Slaughter. Jackie and Campy appear later on facing pages in bold ink. Earle Combs and Muddy Ruel appear on facing pages as well. Boudreau, Lyons, Rick Ferrell, Dickey, Rizzuto and Henrich close out the Cooperstonians, each on his own page. Dozens and dozens of autographs in all, with several teams, including the Yankees, almost entirely represented. Tremendous break down value, though the great appeal of the complete volume cannot be denied. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1950's Mickey Mantle Signed Photograph. While any signed photograph from the Mick's playing days is tough, those from the 1950's are several times more difficult than the 1960's variety. So for the collector that craves genuine rarity, we present this black and white 8x10" photo snapped and signed some time around Mantle's Triple Crown season. His boyish handwriting spells out the words, "To Susan, Best Wishes, Mickey Mantle" in 8.5/10 black ink. The photo itself shows a few minor wrinkles and some paper loss at the lower left border, but none of this affects the all-important inscription and signature. Stamped on verso is "Mickey Mantle, Center Fielder, New York Yankees," suggesting that the photo is team issued. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1950's Jackie Robinson & Pee Wee Reese Signed Photograph. A thrilling day for "Jeremy and Johnny," who appear at the dugout steps of Ebbets Field with two of the Dodgers' greatest legends. Each Hall of Famer has signed his image with a personalization to the lucky brothers. While the writing does not contrast particularly well over certain dark areas of the photo, it is all technically NRMT. The photo shows a few hints of creasing at the corners, but this is essentially invisible unless one looks for it, and all such issues occur well clear of the inscriptions and signatures. Measures 8x10" in size. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1952 Ty Cobb Signed Government Postcard. The fearsome Dead Ball legend responds to a young autograph seeker with a perfect signature in his trademark green ink, which he dates "8/5/52," matching the postmark on the back of the card, which derives from Cobb's home of Glenbrook, Nevada. The postcard is likewise addressed in Cobb's 10/10 green ink. The card shows appropriate mailing wear, with small bends at the corners, but the autograph remains in simply stellar condition, the perfect piece to frame with your favorite photo of the Hall of Fame's first resident. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1956 Roberto Clemente Signed Letter and Contract Archive. We aren't sure how the negotiations between the Hall of Fame pair of Clemente and Pittsburgh Pirates Vice President Branch Rickey ended up, but if Roberto got the raise he requested for 1956, he definitely earned his money. Unsatisfied with a second-year salary to match his first, Clemente writes to Rickey, "Dear Mr. Rickey, Jr.: I am sorry I cannot accept the offered contract for the 1956 season, which you shall find enclosed, unsigned. I feel that with the year I had last season, I should be entitled to a substantial raise. It should be needless to point that I had a .255 batting average, one of the best fielding averages and was second in assists for outfielders in the National League. During the season I played with an injured finger and at times, while being sick. Although I should not say so myself, I had a good following that showed in the attendance at Forbes Field. I am more than satisfied playing for you, your organization and the Pittsburgh fans, to all of whom I am very grateful, yet think my salary for the coming season should not be less than $10,000. I have kept myself in good shape, as you could see while down here, and am sure I will be of great help to our Club this coming summer. With my best wishes and looking forward to receive a new contract with the requested raise, I am, Very truly yours, Roberto Clemente, 102 San Anton, Carolina, P.R." The closing blue ink signature is a flawless 10/10, though slightly obscured by the team's date stamping marking its receipt. Included in the archive is the unsigned Uniform Player's Contract to which Clemente refers, listing salary as $7,000. Finally we have the carbon copy of the letter from Rickey that accompanied the contract as mailed to Clemente in Puerto Rico. The registered mail receipt is stapled at upper left. The Clemente signed letter and contract show original mailing folds, otherwise all three pieces are NRMT. Easily one of the most attractive lots relating to the career of this heroic Hall of Famer to reach the auction block in recent months. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1956 Mickey Mantle Game Bat Signed by the Kansas City Athletics. The Mick called it his "Favorite Summer," and clearly 1956 represented the legend at the height of his greatness, as the season's end saw not only another World Championship for the Yanks, but the Triple Crown placed upon his blonde head. Here we present a bat ordered by the Yanks for Mickey's use, though adorned by the autographs of approximately twenty-five Kansas City A's before it could participate in Mantle's outrageous 1956 campaign. A letter of provenance from the daughter of A's manager Harry Craft reads in part, "The 1956 team was especially dear to my dad. Although the A's decal is embedded into the bat along with the genuine autographs of team members, the actual bat belonged to Mickey Mantle. The bat was a gift to Daddy. Daddy was Mick's first-ever manager in 1949. The two were close friends right up until the day Daddy died." The unused Mickey Mantle signature model Hillerich & Bradsby K55 could not present more perfectly, with average signature quality a stunning 10/10. Notables include Craft, Boudreau, Boyer, Lopez, Melillo, Shantz and Ditmar. A rather charming Athletics decal is affixed to the upper handle, where the year "1956" is artfully penned. Bat is thirty-four inches and thirty-five ounces respectively. MEARS A5. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Circa 1958 Mickey Mantle Vintage Signed Photograph. A highly collectible photograph in its own right, this one leaves the small available supply in the dust with the addition of a strong blue ink inscription, "To Erwin, Best Wishes, Mickey Mantle," penned near the time of the Rawlings photo session. The Mick's boyish good looks, coming through with crystal-clear registration in this image, made him as much of a dream for Madison Avenue as his talent did for 161st Street and River Avenue, and he plays the part of the model well here, pointing at the glove he wears on his right hand. Photo is 8x10" in size and remains in wonderful NRMT condition, with inscription rating a conservative 8/10. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1958 Pee Wee Reese Signed Uniform Player's Contract. Though club owner Walter O'Malley had crushed the hearts of thousands of Ebbets faithful with an October 8, 1957 announcement of the squad's final decision to head west, this contract securing the Hall of Fame infielder's service for the sixteenth and final season of his career still refers to the team as the "Brooklyn National League Baseball Club, Inc." on the December 4, 1957 date of the signing. Surely even Pee Wee himself didn't want to believe the move to Los Angeles was for real. Typed notations on first page also list Reese's name and salary of "Thirty-six Thousand ($36,000) Dollars for the Season," and page three is signed "Harold W. Reese" and also by Club V.P. Buzzy Bavasi. Considering the contract's relevance as the last in a Hall of Fame career and the first for the Los Angeles Dodgers, this is one of the most exciting to reach the auction block in recent memory. Condition is a strong NRMT. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1960 Ted Williams Signed Letter to Hillerich & Bradsby. Just a month after closing out a Hall of Fame career that saw the products of Hillerich & Bradsby put to masterful use, the Splendid Splinter mails a request to the attention of Mr. John Hillerick (sic) for "a copy of any and all documents which I may have signed at any time authorizing the use of my name on, or in connection with, "Louisville Slugger" baseball bats..." The single page typed letter closes with perhaps the most desirable Williams autograph that could exist, reading "(Ted) Theodore S. Williams." The page and signature are in pristine condition. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Early 1960's Jimmie Foxx Handwritten Letter. The second man to earn a key to the 500 Home Run Clubhouse, Foxx was in his declining years as he penned this two-page note to a friend. He begins with a note about his poor health, then makes reference to his equally poor finances and the approaching release of the collectible Hall of Fame Busts: "I hope they sell a million of those busts," he writes. "I need it." He goes on to praise Tris Speaker as the top center fielder ever, and Joe DiMaggio as the greatest since him. He closes with "Sincere Regards, 'Jimmie' Foxx." All ink, including closing autograph, is in 10/10 blue ink. Single 5x8" lined sheet has vintage tape repairing tear at mailing fold that affects six lines of text, though not the autograph. Other than this consideration, the page itself is also very strong. "Double X" makes for a particularly tough ALS, and though short, this one is packed with touching and relevant content. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1960's Tom Yawkey Signed Photograph. Even many of the most sophisticated Red Sox autograph collections lack this tough Hall of Fame signature, as it tends to be the guys swinging the bats that get most of the attention. New Englanders owe a genuine debt of gratitude to this man, however, as it was Yawkey that purchased a floundering Red Sox franchise in 1933 and dedicated the next forty-four years of his life toward fostering talent like Williams and Yastrzemski in an earnest attempt at capturing World Championship glory. This 3x4.75" black and white image, appearing to be some sort of blank-backed exhibit card, features a simply flawless black ink signature from a man who died twenty-eight years too soon to see his dream become a reality. The autograph is slabbed by PSA/DNA for preservation and unquestioned authenticity. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1960's Mickey Mantle & Roger Maris Vintage Signed Photographs. While we love 1980's autographs from the M&M boys as much as the next guy, there's a special place in our hearts for those dating from the era of their reign, as we present here for the uncompromising collector. Each masterful full-color photographic portrait was clipped from issues of Sport Magazine, and measures just over 7.5x10.5". But, of course, the real appeal comes in the period autographs, each surviving in flawless 10/10 condition. Maris' is personalized "To Chuck, Best Wishes, Roger Maris," while Mantle offers just his classic signature. The bottom inch of the Maris image shows some minimal, uneventful wear, and a few tiny wrinkles touch Roger's face, but none of this affects display value in the slightest. The Mick is NRMT. Frame these side by side and remember the season of 1961 always. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1961 Jackie Robinson Signed Letter. A brief typed letter on Robinson's "Chock full o' Nuts" letterhead expresses that the Hall of Fame legend will make an effort to wear a Brooklyn Dodgers cap at an upcoming event. His closing ink signature is bold and blue, though it must be noted that the ink did not flow properly at first, leaving a bit of a ghost under the "J" in "Jackie." The page itself has original mailing folds and is otherwise NRMT. A perfect piece to frame with your favorite image of Robinson stealing home. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1962 Roger Maris Signed Contract for Hartland Statue. The biggest star in baseball the year after his historic Babe-busting sixty-one home run season, Maris was an obvious choice for immortalization as a small plastic figurine. Presented is the contract that made this highly collectible action figure a reality, as the Bronx Bomber accepts $500 in royalties to lend his image to the class of characters that included Ruth, Mantle, Williams and more. Single page agreement on "Hartland Plastics, Inc." letterhead is signed at close by the president of the company and Maris in 10/10 blue ink. The page has original storage folds, otherwise NRMT. Maris' autograph value continues to rise, but his appearance on a contract, particularly one that should thrill Hartland collectors, and dating from the height of his fame, sets this one well above the rest. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1962 New York Yankees Team Signed Directory. The celebrated duo of Mantle and Maris lead off this assembly of over thirty-five autographs featuring the bulk of the '62 Bombers and beyond. Mantle cryptically tags his signature on the cover of this "1962 Baseball's Baedeker" guide "(Jack Smith)," and while all autographs are bold 9+/10 quality, Maris' blue ink contrasts poorly against the blue background. Other notables include Howard, Berra, Terry, Dickey (poor contrast of red ink on red), Blanchard, Pepitone, Bouton, Robin Roberts and more. Program itself is NRMT. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1963 Dickie Kerr's Last Autograph? This pint-sized southpaw arrived at Comiskey Park as a rookie in the fateful 1919 season, laboring under the tight-fisted rule of Charles Comiskey along with Shoeless Joe and the gang. But while the "Eight Men Out" took a dive for the money in the end, Kerr remained pure as the driven snow, pitching a three-hit shutout in Game Three of the Series, and going the distance again in a ten-inning Game Six victory. It was a hopeless cause of course, and it proved to be the last time that Kerr would throw a pitch in October. Here we offer what is almost certainly the final autograph ever penned by this luckless Black Sox rookie, an arthritic signature inked to a collector less than three weeks before his passing. Kerr's wife inscribed in the wide upper margin of the collector's letter, "Best wishes to Jim from," with Kerr only able to manage the eight letters of his name himself. On the back of the page is a brief note from Mrs. Kerr, reading, "Dick is very Bad and may be gone before you get this, but he signed it so I could send it to you [illegible]." All ink is as strong as the day it was applied, and the page has original mailing folds but no other condition concerns. An exceedingly scarce autograph from a dying veteran of the game's greatest scandal. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle Signed "Mantle Day" Booklets Lot of 3. Souvenirs of the June 8, 1969 ceremony that saw the number "7" retired from the Yankee line-up are each signed beside the heroic color photo of the Mick in 10/10 sharpie. With the continued upward trend in the value of Mantle autographs, this is as sound an investment as there is in this hobby. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle Signed 1969 "Mickey Mantle Day" Display. The Mick returns to the adoring arms of the Bronx crowd to which he had said goodbye the previous October. In one of the most divisive times in our nation's history, this event stands as one of the bright points of the summer of '69, as Mantle received the appreciation he deserved by seeing his glorious number "7" retired for eternity. The cover of the forty-five r.p.m. record that documents his farewell speech bears a 7x7"photo of Mickey taking it all in, and it is signed in perfect blue sharpie by the man himself. The vinyl, apparently in top condition, is matted and framed above, bringing the final dimensions of the piece to 11x20". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Circa 1970 Roberto Clemente Signed Print. You'll find few Clemente signed display pieces that can hold a candle to the offered print, which pairs a marvelously rendered charcoal drawing of the Pirates Hall of Famer with a massive and simply perfect black ink inscription reading, "Best Wishes, Roberto Clemente." To give an idea of scale, the signed "Roberto" is four and a half inches long! This is an autograph you can see from the next county. The print itself measures 10x13", and is simply and attractively matted to total dimensions of 15x18". LOA from PSA/DNA.
1970's Roger Maris & Mickey Mantle Signed Photograph. With each passing year, baseball historians appreciate a little bit more what an amazing story the Summer of '61 was, and what a phenomenal pair of sluggers were the M&M boys. As such, the value of the rather short supply of dual-signed artifacts continue to rise with unwavering consistency, and at a sharp angle to boot. So those following the market will know that the time is now to invest in this classic photo of the hard-hitting pair, each signing in blue sharpie for posterity. Maris' signature is a touch lighter than Mantle's, a conservative 8/10, while Mick himself rates a solid 9/10. The 3x5" photo is expertly matted and framed to museum quality, and final dimensions of 15x17". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Early 1980's Mickey Mantle Handwritten & Signed Joke. Actually, we can't really decide if it's a joke or an I.Q. test, but if you feel like teasing your brain then pause here for a second and try to figure it out on your own, as we'll ruin the riddle in a second. The absolutely unique piece from the mind and perfect black ink of the Mick was penned on a paper napkin for a friend and features a cartoonish drawing, some cryptic text, and a closing, classic signature. Ready for the solution? Here it is (affecting a redneck drawl): "Them are pigs! Them are not pigs! Oh yes they are! Well I'll be! Them are pigs!" Those Mantle collectors searching for something out of the ordinary have clearly found it here, and the treasured keepsake of a bar room meeting with a legend remains in identical condition to the day of its creation. Measures 4x7.5". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Sporting News Hall of Fame Multi-Signed Book. The perfect blue ink signatures just keep on coming, from an amazing sixty-two gentlemen enshrined at Cooperstown. Those who had been inducted by the year of this volume's printing (1982) have signed on their respective biographies, while the balance of signatures from those who entered the Hall in 1983 and beyond have signed on blank pages in the front and back of the book, all adding "HOF (year)" to their signatures. Far, far too many to list here but highlights include: Mantle, Ted Williams, DiMaggio, Koufax, Mathews, Mays, Musial, Snider, Dandridge, Aaron, Stargell, Reese, Spahn, Mize, Hunter and many, many more. Signature quality is a consistent NRMT-MT, and the book itself shows light spine wear from its travels to endless signings, but otherwise is in very strong, undamaged condition. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1984 U.S. Olympics Baseball Team Signed Bat. Considered the greatest amateur team ever assembled in this country, Team U.S.A. gave the hometown crowds in Los Angeles much to cheer about in 1984. The Gold Medal-winning squad reconvenes to remember past glory, and to remind the world just whose National Pastime the game of baseball really is. Most noteworthy on this historic squad, of course, is Mark McGwire, but also present are B.J. Surhoff, Barry Larkin and Will Clark. Twenty perfect blue sharpie signatures are here in total, on a Louisville Slugger engraved with "1984 Team U.S.A." lettering. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Joe DiMaggio "1941" Signed Bats Lot of 3. Widely considered to be the most desirable style of Joe DiMaggio autographed bats. Fantastic trio of Hillerich & Bradsby signature model lumber is exact in almost every detail to those owned and operated by the Yankee Clipper during the years of his reign, most notably during the season of 1941 in which DiMaggio orchestrated the most incredible hitting streak in the game's long history. Two major differences from those gamers are instantly apparent. First, each bat is engraved with details related to the limited edition of 1941, and secondly, each is signed by Mr. Dimaggio in perfect 10/10 blue sharpie. A fantastic dealer's lot, each bat is accompanied by a notarized letter of authenticity, complete with a photographic image of the signing. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Ted Williams Signed Bat. What better home for a perfect blue sharpie signature from the Splendid Splinter than a perfect replica of the bat with which he carved his name in the granite of immortality? This signature model Hillerich & Bradsby W215 is identical to those used to earn the title of Greatest Hitter of All Time, except for the addition of the essential Hall of Fame autograph. The price on these bats has been consistently rising, and we don't expect this trend to change anytime soon. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle Signed Bat. The recent surge of collecting interest in high-grade Mantle signatures has encouraged the Heritage staff to search high and low for the top specimens in order to serve our valued clientele. We're quite certain that even the most finicky hobbyists will appreciate this fine replica of the Mick's signature model Hillerich & Bradsby K55, with a 10/10 blue sharpie autograph. With top single signed baseballs climbing well into four figures, we'll leave it up to the bidders to decide what the considerably more rare Mint signed bat is worth. LOA from PSA/DNA.
500 Home Run Club Signed Bat. Autographed lumber from this most exclusive of baseball Clubs don't come any finer than the Rawlings Big Stick we present here, offering flawless 10/10 blue sharpie signatures from the elite eleven. Present are Mantle (who tags his signature with the number "536"), Williams, Aaron, Mays, Robinson, Jackson, Schmidt, Killebrew, McCovey, Banks and Mathews. Brass plaque affixed to barrel identifies the signers, as if any of them might need an introduction. Dead Mint in every way. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1987 Mark McGwire "Rookie of the Year" Signed Bat. A superstar from his earliest days, the Big Red-headed Machine earned top rookie honors in 1987, a fact of which he makes note on this perfect replica of his Big Stick gamer with a perfect black ink signature and inscription reading "A.L. Rookie of the Year, 11-3-87." Big Mac's popularity is not at an all-time high at the moment, but baseball history will always fondly remember the 1998 season, and as such, his star is destined to rise again. Now is the perfect time to invest. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays & Duke Snider Signed Bat. Willie, Mickey and the Duke, who ruled the center field grass of 1950's New York baseball, join forces again here on a unique triple-signature model Hillerich & Bradsby bat created in conjunction with a 1988 charity golf tournament. The limited edition (198 of 200) collectible offers the flawless sharpie signatures of the Hall of Fame trio, with Snider adding a desirable "#4" tag to his autograph. Mint. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Ted Williams "The Kid" Signed Bat. It makes perfect sense that the signed bat is the most desirable of Ted Williams autographed memorabilia--after all, nobody operated one to better effect than the Red Sox Hall of Famer. Here we offer the cream of that crop, a perfect replica of Williams' signature model Hillerich & Bradsby W215 with a blue sharpie signature and "The Kid" inscription so bold and perfect, calling it 10/10 would be understating the quality. Williams' personal number "9" holographic authenticating sticker is affixed, as is the original shrink wrap on the barrel from the bat's initial packaging! Unquestionably the finest of its kind. LOA from PSA/DNA.
No-Hitter Pitchers Multi-Signed Bat. You couldn't possibly find a piece of memorabilia in any form that boasts more autographs from gentleman who have done such ruinous damage to an opposing team's batting average. An unbelievable thirty-two are congregated here, on a bat engraved with the text, "Major League Pitchers of No Hit Games, Limited Edition 70 of 100." Among the notables are Gibson, Spahn, Feller, Perry, Bunning, Wilhelm, Marichal, Ryan, Seaver, Phil Niekro, Lemon, Larsen, Ellis, Gooden and Blyleven. And there's room for more! All autographs are in perfect 10/10 blue sharpie, with the bat still residing in its original shrink wrap applied immediately after the historic signing event. LOA from PSA/DNA.
500 Home Run Club Signed Bat. A Rawlings Big Stick bat with a Hall of Fame logo decal near the barrel end makes a fitting home for perfect blue sharpie signatures from ten of the men who powered their way to the 500 home run mark. Present and accounted for are Aaron, Schmidt, Murray, Mays, Jackson, Killebrew, Robinson, McCovey, Mathews and Banks (who adds "512 HRs" inscription). Plenty of space is left to add the rest of the living Club members should you decide to do so. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Ted Williams Signed Jersey. Top quality Mitchell & Ness replica is a masterful duplication of the rookie Red Sox jersey worn by The Kid as a kid. Note the historic Baseball Centennial patch on the left sleeve, remembering a season that saw the debut of Williams and the tearful departure of Gehrig. A perfect blue sharpie signature across the chest turns this piece into a keepsake for the ages. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Ted Williams Limited Edition Signed Jersey. One of the toughest and most desirable signed Williams jerseys in the hobby is presented here, direct from the consignor who purchased it in 1991 in commemoration of the Golden Anniversary of The Kid's historic 1941 season. The top-quality Mitchell and Ness flannel replica jersey faithfully replicates the one worn at Fenway that year, except for a patch applied to the right front tail that reads, "Ted Williams, The Splendid Splinter, 50th Anniversary, .406 in 1941, 34 of 406." Five inches north resides the slugging superstar's black sharpie autograph. This very special display piece includes the original certificate of authenticity from the firm that handled this signing. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Perez-Steele "Celebration" Set Signed by 35. Widely considered to be the finest work of the esteemed galleries of Perez-Steele is the beloved "Celebration" set, featuring forty-four Hall of Fame greats honored on individual high-quality postcards with portraiture by Dick Perez. Highly popular among autograph collectors, this set in particular has been autographed by thirty-five of the honored forty-four, most notably Mantle, Williams, Dandridge, Dickey, Ferrell, Hunter, Kell, Killebrew, Leonard, Mathews, McCovey, Mize, Musial, Reese, Sewell, Snider, Spahn and Stargell. All blue sharpie autographs and postcards are Mint, and housed in the attractive hinged carrying case and sleeve with accompanying booklet. All are numbered from the same edition of 10,000. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Baseball Cards
Perez-Steele Great Moments Sets Lot of 2 with 66 Signed. Paying tribute to the beautiful style of the 1911 T3 Turkey Red cabinet cards, this oversized (5.75x8") Perez-Steele issue has long been a favorite among autograph collectors. One smart collector had his collection signed in duplicate, and here we offer two nearly identical groupings of thirty-one cards (one group is missing Warren Spahn, Willie McCovey, Pee Wee Reese and Willie Mays) featuring perfect blue sharpie signatures. Present are Aaron, Bench, Berra, Boudreau, Brock, Dandridge, Doerr, Ferrell, Ford, Herman, Hunter, Irvin, Kaline, Kell, Killebrew, Koufax, Lemon, Mantle, Marichal, Mathews, Mize, Musial, Roberts, Brooks Robinson, Schoendienst, Slaughter, Snider, Stargell, Billy Williams, Ted Williams, Yastrzemski. The balance of the two unsigned sets is here as well. Tremendous break down value here. Cards themselves are all in NRMT-MT condition. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Baseball Collectibles
Black and White Hall of Fame Signed Plaques Lot of 6. Autograph collectors looking for a real challenge often gravitate to the black and white plaque, as their issue from 1956 to 1963 puts them in a much smaller population bracket than their golden younger siblings. If you feel up to the project, we offer this chance to hit the ground running with a half dozen high-grade specimens. Each reads as follows: 1) "Lotsa Luck," Max Carey. 2) Wahoo Sam Crawford (on front), Oct 11 - 65, To Thomas, With all good wishes, Wahoo Sam, Greatest Moment- Election to Hall of Fame 1957. (on back). 3) Carl Hubbell. 4) With Best Wishes to Tom Murray from Joe McCarthy, June 21, 1964. 5) Edd J. Roush. 6) George Sisler. Unless noted, all writing is on image size. Ink is uniformly 10/10 in quality. All are slabbed by PSA/DNA for preservation and unquestioned authenticity.
Hank Greenberg Signed Index Cards Lot of 6. The original "Hammerin' Hank," this Hall of Fame slugger gave the Babe a big scare in 1938, coming up just two long balls short of Ruth's 1927 home run tally. Presented here are six pristine ink autographs from the hero of 1945 Detroit, each applied to a blank 3x5" index card. All are slabbed by PSA/DNA for preservation and unquestioned authenticity.
Satchel Paige Signed Index Cards Lot of 4. "If the Yankees don't get ahead in the first six innings," Casey Stengel once lamented, "the Browns bring in that damned old man and we're sunk." The ageless Negro League legend offers four pristine signatures in this lot, each on a blank 3x5" index card. All are slabbed by PSA/DNA for preservation and unquestioned authenticity.
Joe DiMaggio Signed Large Photographs Lot of 3. Three identical 16x20" photographs capture the Yankee Clipper in his prime, unleashing that gorgeous swing to great effect. Each is signed in perfect blue sharpie. Better yet, each also includes a full color LOA from PSA/DNA for the pleasure of our dealing clientele. These oversized signed DiMaggio photos are a great investment for the future as well. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Joe DiMaggio Signed Photographs Lot of 7. Bridging the gap between Ruth and Mantle was this Italian superstar, whose sharpie autograph blesses seven 8x10" photographs dating from his rookie days (two different images) to his Old Timer years (five identical images). Two of the signatures have very mild defects, but the balance is genuinely NRMT-MT. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle "1961" Signed Large Photograph. Another rare photographic image from the vaults of the Mickey Mantle Museum, picturing everyone's favorite Yankee posing on the dugout steps during that unforgettable Summer of '61. A bold and perfect blue sharpie autograph from Mantle is tagged with the rare "1961" inscription. Mantle Museum curator Tom Catal's holographic authenticating sticker is at bottom right of this large and impressive 16x20" photo. Mint. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle Signed Large UDA Artist's Proof Photograph, Game Action. Another magnificent display piece from Upper Deck Authenticated, this one offering a rare view of the Mick on the basepaths. The masterful and large (11x17") color photographic portrait battles for the attention of the viewer with a perfect 10/10 black sharpie signature from the pinstriped subject. As if this were not enough, the photographer has signed as well, and numbered the work as the second of an Artist's Proof run of ten. The piece is elegantly matted to overall dimensions of 16x24" for ease of frame shopping, and includes UDA holographic authenticating sticker and accompanying paperwork. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle Signed Large UDA Artist's Proof Photograph, Portrait. If quality is the theme of your collection, consider placing a bid on this very limited edition piece from the trusted name of Upper Deck Authenticated. The masterful and large (11x17") color photographic portrait battles for the attention of the viewer with a perfect 10/10 black sharpie signature from the pinstriped subject. As if this were not enough, the photographer has signed as well, and numbered the work as the first of an Artist's Proof run of ten. The piece is elegantly matted to overall dimensions of 16x24" for ease of frame shopping, and includes UDA holographic authenticating sticker and accompanying paperwork. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle Signed Photographs Lot of 4. Selection of color 8x10" shots take us from the Mick's rookie season through the height of his career, and on to a single "Old Timer's" shot. All find the Hall of Fame Yankee suited up in pinstripes. Each is signed in flawless blue sharpie. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Willie Mays Signed Photographs Lot of 3. Whether you're a dealer looking to sell these individually, or a major fan of this Giants Hall of Famer with an abundance of empty wall space, there is no questioning the appeal of this trio of 8x10" photos of Willie in his prime. Each is signed in flawless blue sharpie. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Ted Williams Signed Photographs Lot of 4. Four identical photographic prints capturing the Splendid Splinter's swing bear perfect blue sharpie signatures from the Hall of Fame Red Sock. A terrific dealer's lot, particularly for those with Boston connections. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1920's Walter Johnson Signed Baseball. Though the Big Train's sweet spot signature may have faded a fair amount since its application close to eight decades ago, it is nonetheless discernible, and willing and able to fill the empty space in many a Hall of Fame autograph collection. The OAL (Ban Johnson) baseball on which it resides is a valuable commodity in its own right, and it presents gorgeously, with the deep, dark stamping failing to take the same path as the ink that forms Johnson's signature. Fellow Hall of Famer Stanley Harris, known to his friends as "Bucky," appears on the side panel above Walter, a couple points stronger at 4/10. A well-worn original box holds this rare treasure, which sees the auction block for the first time with this offering. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Late 1920's Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig Signed Baseball. It has been postulated that the Pittsburgh Pirates, upon witnessing the extraordinary power exhibited by these two sluggers in batting practice before the opening game of the 1927 World Series, gave up any hope of winning before the first pitch was even thrown. And who could blame them? Ruth's sixty home runs in the '27 regular season, and Gehrig's forty-seven, defied all reason. The next closest competitor for the home run crown hit eighteen by comparison, one of only six in the American League to reach double digits. How is it even be possible, thought the Pirates, that these two superhuman sluggers could hit like that? As such, this pair of Hall of Fame immortals drew legions of the gawkers wherever they traveled, folks drawn by the same curiosity that made them pay a nickel to see a two-headed cow or a bearded lady. The offered baseball, blessed with fantastic 8/10 ink signatures from Ruth and Gehrig, was likely signed at a barnstorming event, where local country folk could catch a glimpse of something that bordered on the magical. While any baseball featuring this pair is cause for celebration, the specimen we present here is a cut above the rest, both for the strong quality of the autographs and their unbeatable juxtaposition, with Gehrig signing just below and almost exactly parallel to the sweet spot Ruth. As such, this Official League Special sphere is the most perfectly displayable Ruth/Gehrig ball we have ever encountered. The catalog image should tell its thousand words in backing up this claim. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Circa 1927 Babe Ruth Single Signed Baseball, PSA NM 7. If the all-important quotation marks around the "Babe" don't convince you, this stellar signature's home on a Ban Johnson Official American League ball will leave no doubt that this is an early, particularly desirable specimen dating to the era of the Babe's famed sixty home run season. It certainly couldn't be any later, and not just because Ruth dropped the "quotes" right around that World Championship year. Ernest Barnard took over the post of American League president after Johnson stormed out of office in a huff following a protracted quarrel with team owners, and 1928 saw a new batch of baseballs bearing the successor's name. Now clearly such an exceptional signature as we find here between the gorgeous blue and red stitching of this lightly-toned sphere would be cause for celebration if it had been signed much later in the Babe's life, but such a remarkable representation from the very peak of Ruth's powers is in a class by itself. Though PSA has encapsulated this valuable piece with a rating of NM 7 for both the autograph and the ball itself, we'll let you make your own decisions from the catalog imagery. If you think it's ever better than that already highly impressive grade, you won't be alone. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1930 Tris Speaker Signed Baseball. Just two seasons after the Grey Eagle closed out his spectacular Hall of Fame career with Ty Cobb as a member of the '28 Athletics, Speaker penned this black ink side panel inscription to a young fan. Though PSA/DNA claims that abrasions on opposing panels indicate signature removal, the ball certainly presents as a highly coveted single. Happily, despite a degree of wear that has left the maker's stampings too light to discern, the all important inscription reading "Dave Jr., From Tris Speaker" remains in remarkable 7/10 condition. On the panel above, the penned date of "Aug. 30, 1930" is equally strong. Though often overlooked by collectors chasing Ruth, Gehrig and Cobb, Speaker certainly deserves his due as one of the true elite of the early game, and as such no quality autograph collection can afford his absence. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1930's Babe Ruth Single Signed Baseball. Place this signature on the sweet spot of an OAL (Harridge) ball, take away the personalization, and the value grows to $50,000 or more. So for those collectors looking for a high-quality Ruth single without the massive price tag, we present this spectacular 9/10 inscription reading "To Pearl Schuler From Babe Ruth." The side panel of a "Star Player College League" ball gives a home to this top-quality ink, and the ball too remains in marvelous condition, with only some small spots of foxing well away from the display side to be noted. Dollar for dollar, this may be the best autograph value in the auction. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1933 Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig Signed Baseball. An autograph collector's dream piece, this "Babe Ruth Home Run Special" baseball boasts the finest pair of signatures from these Yankee ultra-legends ever found together on a single sphere. The Babe's sweet spot gem rates a solid 9/10, while his sidekick Lou does him one better on the side panel with a flawless 10/10 specimen. If the story ended here, this ball would make a serious challenge for the status of finest known, and as such would command a price at auction approaching $50,000. However the ball is signed by a third party as well, Ralph "Cy" Perkins, a member of the 1931 Yankees whose signature is equal in quality to Babe and Lou's. Though given the placement of Perkins on the panel below the Babe, the ball could quite easily be displayed so as to completely obscure his autograph from view, as our catalog images will illustrate. The ball itself shows mild, even toning with very minor incidents of foxing, and one pinprick of a brown mark that touches the flawless Gehrig signature. Included with the lot is the August 19, 1933 program from the Comiskey Park game where this ball was signed (glued into a scrapbook) and an affixed newspaper clipping recounting the game, and noting that the Babe clubbed his twenty-eighth homer of the season that day. Also here is another scrapbook page with the stub from the game and more news clippings affixed. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1930's Lou Gehrig Single Signed Baseball. It has been said that for every one hundred Babe Ruth singles, you'll find one solo Lou Gehrig, and even that may be overstating the supply of the latter. After all, Gehrig was quoted as saying, "I'm not a headline guy. I know that as long as I was following Ruth to the plate I could have stood on my head and no one would have known the difference." Though this is more of an illustration of Gehrig's tremendous modesty than a tongue-in-cheek statement of fact, it is certainly undeniable that Lou just did not receive a fraction of the autograph requests that Ruth did, leaving collectors six decades after his passing to scrap for the scant few available singles. We're pleased to present a rather nice specimen here, an OAL (Harridge) ball featuring a 5/10 to 6/10 sweet spot signature from the brave and dedicated Yankee. The ball is lightly and evenly toned, with only the lightest hint of the original stamping still visible. An inspirational piece to be sure, as all artifacts touched by the hand of Gehrig are. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1940's Honus Wagner Single Signed Baseball. "You can have your Cobbs, your Lajoies, your Chases, your Bakers," once said Hall of Fame manager John McGraw, "but I'll take Wagner as my pick of the greatest." Perhaps best remembered as the face on the most valuable baseball card in the world, the legendary Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop remains a particularly tough autograph despite his many years in uniform, first as a player and later as a coach for the team he loved. Here we offer one of the finest singles you'll find from that short supply, offering a 9+/10 black ink sweet spot inscription that reads, "To Doc Anderson from Honus Wagner." Only a small green spot just below the Dutchman's surname deviates from perfection, and even the ball is of the desirable ONL (Frick) variety. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1940's Jackie Robinson Signed Negro American League Baseball. The most noteworthy African-American ballplayer in the game's history returns to his roots with a spectacular blue ink side panel signature on this official "Negro American League" baseball dating from the era of Jackie's brave transversal of the color line. He is joined by fellow Negro Leaguers Luke Easter and Connie Morgan, as well top Major League talent like Gil Hodges, Ralph Branca, Mickey Vernon and Bob Young. All autographs remain in 9/10 condition, and the ball's pale hide shows just the slightest toning to suggest its age. Only the second Jackie Robinson autograph on a Negro League baseball that we have ever handled, and one of only a theoretical handful that could possibly exist anywhere. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1946 Ty Cobb & Honus Wagner Signed Baseball with Incredible Provenance! Almost a century has passed since that early October day in 1909 when the two greatest figures of the Dead Ball era finally met on the field of battle, as the Pirates and Tigers found themselves competing for the Championship in the sixth edition of the World Series. And since that day we have seen many great pairings of teammates and rivals--Ruth and Gehrig, DiMaggio and Williams, Mantle and Maris--but Cobb and Wagner was the first, and rarely did a discussion of the brilliance of one fail to elicit some opinion of the other. Forever linked by their respective dominance of the early game, we nonetheless almost never find them sharing space on a signed baseball such as the one we proudly present here.
The baseball comes to us from a gentleman who had the great fortune of meeting the Georgia Peach in person just after the close of the second World War. Having won an essay contest for which the prize was tickets to a Comiskey Park playing of the "All American Boys Baseball Game," twelve-year old Dennis Varvel was thrilled to find that the managers of the East and West teams were Wagner and Cobb respectively. As included newspaper clippings note, one of the event promoters "corralled Cobb and in a few minutes we had a picture of the 'Georgia Peach' gifting Dennis with an autographed baseball, signed by both East and West team managers. Wide-eyed Dennis gapped at the signatures of both Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner and decided right then and there that would be one baseball he'd keep for the rest of his life."
Thankfully for our Heritage collecting family, this final statement did not prove to be entirely accurate, though Mr. Varvel did cherish the baseball for close to six decades before consigning it to our October Signature auction. And so this baseball, which is being passed from Cobb's right hand to Dennis' in the included 8x10" photo (printed in the newspaper clipping as well), is offered here for the first time to the collecting community. On the sweet spot of this "Official American Association" baseball is the blue ink inscription, "J. Honus Wagner, Pirates," while the side panel just above reads, "Ty Cobb, 8/6/46." Each presents as an impressive 6-7/10 in strength. Barely visible to the right of Wagner is the childlike autograph of Dennis Varvel, further verifying the iron-clad provenance of the piece. The ball itself is modestly and evenly toned and shows an absolute minimum of wear, clearly having been cherished from the moment it left Ty Cobb's hand and was placed in that of a wide-eyed kid from Chicago.
The baseball comes to us from a gentleman who had the great fortune of meeting the Georgia Peach in person just after the close of the second World War. Having won an essay contest for which the prize was tickets to a Comiskey Park playing of the "All American Boys Baseball Game," twelve-year old Dennis Varvel was thrilled to find that the managers of the East and West teams were Wagner and Cobb respectively. As included newspaper clippings note, one of the event promoters "corralled Cobb and in a few minutes we had a picture of the 'Georgia Peach' gifting Dennis with an autographed baseball, signed by both East and West team managers. Wide-eyed Dennis gapped at the signatures of both Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner and decided right then and there that would be one baseball he'd keep for the rest of his life."
Thankfully for our Heritage collecting family, this final statement did not prove to be entirely accurate, though Mr. Varvel did cherish the baseball for close to six decades before consigning it to our October Signature auction. And so this baseball, which is being passed from Cobb's right hand to Dennis' in the included 8x10" photo (printed in the newspaper clipping as well), is offered here for the first time to the collecting community. On the sweet spot of this "Official American Association" baseball is the blue ink inscription, "J. Honus Wagner, Pirates," while the side panel just above reads, "Ty Cobb, 8/6/46." Each presents as an impressive 6-7/10 in strength. Barely visible to the right of Wagner is the childlike autograph of Dennis Varvel, further verifying the iron-clad provenance of the piece. The ball itself is modestly and evenly toned and shows an absolute minimum of wear, clearly having been cherished from the moment it left Ty Cobb's hand and was placed in that of a wide-eyed kid from Chicago.
1940's Babe Ruth Single Signed Baseball. Unmistakable from twenty yards away is this booming black ink sweet spot signature from the first and last name in baseball autograph collecting. It comes tantalizingly close in quality to those Ruth singles that clear the $50,000 mark, with this OAL (Harridge) ball providing only an insignificant degree of scuffing that occasionally nips at the autograph, and scattered toning to bring it into the realm of mortals. Based purely on the darkness of the black fountain pen ink, notably on the most desirable model of baseball from Ruth's late and post-playing days, this example ranks higher than the vast majority of the Babe's singles, which have seen at least some degree of ink fading over the passing decades. And as these lesser baseballs continue to fade into oblivion, the savvy collector will be pleased he made the decision to purchase this special sphere, which seems poised to weather another half century and beyond with no loss of quality or appeal. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Circa 1950 Dizzy Dean Single Signed Baseball. The charismatic leader of the 1934 World Championship "Gashouse Gang" makes for a notoriously tough single, and the few that do arise in the hobby tend to be much later than our high-grade offering. This OAL (Harridge) ball ranks as the standard by which the short supply of Dean singles should be judged, with a lovely and meticulously rendered autograph commanding the side panel. The tiniest scuff just barely touches the top of the letter "D" in Dizzy's surname; otherwise a rating of 10/10 is entirely justified. The ball is slightly and evenly toned, and displays marvelously. The odds of finding a superior example are poor at best. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Circa 1950 Baseball Legends Multi-Signed Baseball with Bender, Robinson and Mack. High-grade OAL (Harridge) ball documents the attendees at some sort of baseball event, most likely a sportswriters' dinner. Four of the ten men present own bronze Cooperstown plaques, with the great Connie Mack taking up the sweet spot, and Jackie Robinson, Chief Bender and Pee Wee Reese nearby. Note that Bender, one of Mack's ace pitchers during the club's first great dynasty, is especially tough on a baseball, as his playing career ended in 1925, and his life in 1954. Not a single autograph drops below a 9/10 in strength, making this one-of-a-kind sphere all the more appealing. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1956 Jimmie Foxx Single Signed Baseball. Consistently a stumbling block for those attempting to assemble a complete set of 500 Home Run Club singles is "The Beast," who adds a congratulatory inscription to this baseball slugged for a grand slam by a member of the University of Miami team that Foxx managed. "Nice Going John, Jimmie Foxx" spans an entire panel of this NCAA baseball in 8/10 blue ink, as a vintage black ink inscription in another hand notes on the opposing sweet spot, "Home Run Ball with Bases Loaded, March 27, 1956." The score of "Amherst 9, Miami 6" is below. This baseball, certainly once a young ballplayer's most prized possession, can now be one of yours as well. As the anemic supply of Foxx singles continue to find their way into permanent collections, we can expect the asking price to increase dramatically in the coming years. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1958 Ted Williams Single Signed Baseball. If there is a finer single from the great Ted Williams' playing days, we certainly haven't seen it. For that matter, even those singles signed late in the Splinter's life could do no better than tie the presented autograph, a bona fide 10/10 blue ink inscription reading "Best Wishes, Ted Williams 1958." The spectacular OAL (Harridge) sphere has clearly been treasured by the fan to whom it was presented during Williams' final season atop the American League batting average charts, with only the fading of the ball's stamping to suggest that the ball didn't just drop out of a time machine. An absolute marvel. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Elmer Flick Single Signed Baseball. Here's a Hall of Fame single that doesn't appear too often, destined to fill that conspicuously empty space in one hobbyist's collection. One of the Dead Ball era's greatest talents, the Cleveland Naps outfielder was courted heavily by the Detroit Tigers, who offered up Ty Cobb in a straight trade for Flick after the 1907 season. Flick's 9/10 blue ink signature finds the side panel of a "Clark Big League" baseball, which has toned only slightly over the passing decades. Only a scant few Flick singles have reached the auction block in recent years, so those wishing to own one ought to take this rare opportunity seriously. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Early 1960's Sandy Koufax Single Signed Baseball. In his prime, arguably the greatest pitcher the game has ever seen. And while Sandy is thankfully still alive and well, he remains the most elusive and valuable autograph of all living Cooperstown residents, making even modern day singles a tough and valuable commodity. But this offered sphere is several cuts above, boasting a gorgeous 8/10 unpersonalized side panel inscription, "Best Wishes, Sandy Koufax" on a milky-white ONL (Giles) baseball dating from Koufax' active duty. Hundreds of times more rare than the few baseballs Koufax has signed in the past decade, this "playing days" specimen is for advanced collectors who crave only the best. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1960's Dizzy Dean Single Signed Baseball. The ringleader of the historic Gashouse Gang of 1934, Dean was once quoted as saying, "Anybody who's ever had the privilege of seeing me play knows that I am the greatest pitcher in the world." While some might disagree with this assessment, there's certainly no question that Ol' Diz is well deserving of his Cooperstown plaque, and that any autograph collection would be the better for the addition of this "Rawlings Playmaker" ball, sporting a 9/10 side panel signature. Fill that empty space on your Hall of Fame singles shelf with this tough, high-grade example. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1964 Roberto Clemente Single Signed Baseball. Our May 2005 sale of a Clemente single (personalized, no less!) for better than thirteen thousand dollars should give clear indication that the tragic Pirate's star is one of the hobby's hottest commodities, so we're pleased to present yet another specimen for the cultured collector. This 8/10 blue ink side panel signature finds a home on an apparently game used ONL (Giles) ball, bearing a childlike notation on the top panel that reads "Sept. 19, 1964, Giants 13, Pirates 4." As Latin ballplayers continue to assert themselves as top stars of the modern game, all must tip their hats to Mr. Clemente, who paved the way with his remarkable skills and humanity. As such, artifacts from his life could only continue to increase in value. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1960's Willie Mays Single Signed Baseball. While there is certainly no shortage of "modern" singles from this legend of the centerfield grass, those from his playing days are relatively as scarce as hen's teeth. Sophisticated collectors understand the significant premium that must be attributed to such offerings, and we are quite pleased to be able to present this ball from the height of Say Hey's career. Note that the signature that trails the "Best Wishes" inscription is quite different from the one that Mays scrawls today, and that the ONL (Giles) ball makes a far more appealing home than an Official Major League ball, circa 2005. While the ink has mellowed slightly in the passing decades, it still presents as an entirely respectable 7/10. Also included is the rather tattered original box in which the ball has resided since its brush with greatness. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1960's Jackie Robinson, Gil Hodges Signed Baseball. An intriguing assortment of top Major League Baseball talent join forces on this mottled "Official Southern Association" baseball likely signed at some sort of baseball reunion event. Baseball's great freedom fighter Jackie Robinson is the biggest name present, though Gil Hodges, Maury Wills and Ralph Branca are no slouches either. Luke Easter, Bob Young and Negro League team owner Syd Pollock round out the attendees. All signatures rate at least 8/10 in vintage blue ink. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1970's Joe DiMaggio Single Signed Baseball, Graded PSA Mint+ 9.5. It's tough enough to find a 1990's Joe DiMaggio ball to merit the grade of Mint+ 9.5 from the eagle-eyed staff of PSA/DNA, but one beginning its fourth decade of life is an exceptionally rare treasure. The blue ink sweet spot signature offered here earned a perfect 10 rating on this OAL (Cronin) ball, offering the single signed baseball collector the ultimate in display appeal. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1972 Joe McCarthy Single Signed Baseball. He called the shots for everyone from Cuyler and Hornsby to Ruth and Gehrig to Williams and Doerr, notching a remarkable 2,125 career victories against just 1,333 defeats. Yet managers, however great, just never tended to inspire autograph requests, leaving collectors of Hall of Fame singles battling for the short supply. Here we offer a heavily inscribed "Official League" ball, penned entirely in the eighty-five year old legend's hand. Unbelievably bold black ink reads, "With Best Wishes to Paul Lakeman, From Joe McCarthy, June 7th, 1972." A light brushing of shellac has been applied over the inscription and autograph, yellowing just a fraction of a shade but preserving the ink in flawless condition. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle Single Signed Baseball, PSA Mint+ 9.5. With Mantle singles the new "gold standard" in the collecting hobby, smart investors are buying up the top-grade examples such as this simply flawless specimen, rating an all but unimprovable Mint+ 9.5 on PSA's unforgiving grading scale. You won't find ink any blacker, or baseball hide any whiter. Put this in your safe deposit box and keep it that way. Your future self will thank you. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle & Ted Williams Signed Baseball. Fueling the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry through the 1950's was this hard-slugging duo of top-tier Hall of Famers, each of whom appears on his own panel of an Official 1978 World Series baseball in 10/10 blue ink. Imagine a baseball signed by Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx--that's how this ball will be viewed in thirty years' time. A few minor patches of toning is all that saves the ball from Mint status. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle "MVP '56 '57 '62" Single Signed Baseball. One of the hottest commodities in the collecting market today is the Mantle single with inscription, and this is one of our favorites. The OAL (Brown) ball offers perfect blue ink entirely in the Mick's hand, and a holographic authenticating sticker from Tom Catal, head of the Mickey Mantle Museum. As the buying frenzy causes the available supply to dry up, you can bet balls like this will command tremendous prices in coming years. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Joe DiMaggio Single Signed Baseballs Lot of 12. With singles enjoying a period of great interest in the collecting world, the time is right to make a bold investment in a dozen balls signed by Joltin' Joe himself. All offer a NRMT-MT blue ink sweet spot signature on Official American League balls, and four offer an additional "#5" inscription with the autograph. Several of the balls bear stickers from "Steiner" or "Yankee Clipper Enterprises." Toning is rarely an issue, with only scattered and very mild instances that do nothing to intrude upon overall eye appeal. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Exceptional Circa 1928 Paul Waner Large Die-Cut Spalding Advertising Sign from the Sarabella Collection. This exceptionally scarce and visually stunning piece is among the elite of advertising pieces we've seen from the Roaring Twenties, picturing the Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Pirate kicking up a cloud of dirt in a close play at the plate. Bold text at top reads, "Paul Waner, Leading Batsman and most valuable player of the National League 1927 uses Spalding Bats and Official Base Ball Equipment." The "Spalding" name and logo appear on the lower half, with the text "Waner Safe at the Plate!" Miraculously saved from a 1920's sporting goods store, the large piece (29x42") has since been mounted professionally on corrugated cardboard. A repaired separation crosses horizontally the catcher's image, with some minor restoration. In very good condition over all. An absolute dream piece for the serious baseball advertising collector, from the esteemed collection of Barry Halper. Nicely framed to final dimensions of 35x48".
1930's Ducky Medwick "Granger Pipe Tobacco" Advertising Sign. Gone are the days when professional ballplayers would put any harmful chemicals into their bodies (yes, we're joking), but once upon a time baseball and tobacco went together like peas and carrots, with the biggest stars in the game lending a hand in bringing the joys of nicotine to generations of baseball fans. Here we find Hall of Fame outfielder Joe "Ducky" Medwick hawking "Granger Pipe Tobacco," and the happiness it will deliver. The full-color cardboard sign measures 15x20" and shows a degree of handling and wear that does not detract in any significant way from the fine eye appeal of the piece.
Joe DiMaggio Signed 1940 Hillerich & Bradsby Advertising Sign from the Sarabella Collection. While similar signs issued in 1947 and featuring Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Johnny Mize and Mickey Vernon have made brief and infrequent appearances in the hobby, this much earlier and infinitely more desirable DiMaggio specimen is the only such specimen to surface to date. Worth a tremendous sum in its as-issued state, this one of a kind gem takes the appeal to an even higher realm with perfect blue sharpie proof that Joltin' Joe did indeed have a sense of humor. He makes comedic reference to the caricature at center that places his head on a dwarf-like frame, writing, "Barry-- Where's the rest of me -- Best Always, Joe DiMaggio." The "Barry" in question is, of course, famed collector Barry Halper, from whose collection this piece derives. The sign, which measures 15.5x20.5", shows some incidental creasing and a few small surface tears, but nothing that catches the eye upon viewing. One of the finest autographed DiMaggio pieces to reach the market this year. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1940's Disturbing Babe Ruth Oversized Photograph. One look at this photographic image of the Babe and it's clear why this print never made it to market. In fact, you are looking at the only such print in existence, rescued by the gentleman that worked the printing press that made it. The gentleman's son, who consigned this piece to Heritage, recalls that it was intended for a promotion involving Coca-Cola, though we cannot attest to this definitively. Regardless, one look by the executives at this image of Ruth, sweaty, needing a shave, his teeth brown as walnut shells, ended any question of this image being used in a commercial sense. The order came down to destroy the twelve existing copies, and the print shop worker trashed eleven. The surviving vintage print on high quality paper is matted and framed to show an image size of 16x22", with full dimensions of 23x29". The image quality is really quite superb regardless of the badly hungover look of its subject. A few very minor wrinkles can be noticed upon close inspection, but from a distance of four feet or more they are all but invisible. This is the Babe that America didn't want you to see.
Enormous Mickey Mantle Rookie Photograph from the Sarabella Collection. Don't assume that the magnitude of this black and white image of a twenty-year old superstar in the making means a sacrifice in image quality, as the contrast and detail is so sharp that one could count the freckles on Mickey's nose. While we are most accustomed to seeing such a tremendous (and expensive) photograph on a Cooperstown museum wall, we welcome this chance to offer such a unique piece to our bidding clientele. While we can offer no proof, our natural assumption is that this piece hung at one time at Yankee Stadium, as it was clearly intended for some sort of public display. Not including the simple yet elegant black frame that holds it, the photo measures 29x40" in size, and ranks at the top of the most appealing Mantle photographs we've ever encountered. Barely visible tack holes at the corners, otherwise flawless condition.
Mickey Mantle Signed "Rawlings 1956 Player of the Year" Large Advertising Sign from the Sarabella Collection. There is no shortage of vintage advertising sign collectors who would offer their first born for this absolutely remarkable advertising sign, which made use of the Mick's country boy good looks and the mention of his "Player of the Year" status in 1956 (his Triple Crown season!) to market fielder's gloves to the youth of America. But the offered piece might make them give up their big screen televisions as well, as this outrageously tough sign bears a perfect blue sharpie signature from the MVP himself. While the autograph is flawless, the sign itself, measuring 19.5x31" on cardboard stock, does show a definite degree of wear, with scattered creases and rubbing to the surface. But as our catalog photos should illustrate, the overall visual appeal of the piece is still exceptionally strong. And for those considering holding off for the next offering to come along, we wish our most sincere luck for what figures to be a long, long wait. Matted and framed to final dimensions of 25x36". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Tremendous 1957 Brown & Bigelow Calendar Signed by Joe DiMaggio from the Sarabella Collection. Another monumental piece from the famed collection of Barry Halper. Simply enormous (22x45") pinup calendar pictures the idyllic scene of Joe DiMaggio teaching a freckle-faced kid the proper way to swing a bat. The scene is part of a series from the famed Brown & Bigelow, whose pinup calendars of glamor girls by such painters Gil Elvgren and Earl Moran helped to define sexuality in the 1950's. A similar artistic sensibility is utilized here, if not a similar subject, with other ballplayers from this famous series including Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner. This calendar was used throughout the year 1957, with the final month of December still affixed to the oversized image. Short of original mailing folds, which do very little to detract from the aesthetic appeal of the piece, the calendar presents in spectacular NRMT condition. The blue sharpie signature from the sports icon picture is an equally impressive 10/10. Professional matting and framing brings the final dimensions of this exceptional rarity to 30x54". LOA from PSA/DNA.
1962 "Safe at Home" Movie Poster Signed by Mantle & Maris from the Sarabella Collection. What do you get when you cross one of the most desirable movie posters in the sports memorabilia collecting hobby with the autographs of its two heroic stars? The answer is right in front of you, a piece that ranks among the most coveted of all Mantle/Maris signed artifacts. This one-sheet (27x41") poster from the 1962 flick "Safe at Home" is linen-backed to great effect, and bears the perfect blue sharpie signatures of Mickey Mantle (who adds the sentiment, "Best Wishes") and Roger Maris. With lowly 8x10" signed photos of the pair topping $2,500 at auction, what do you suppose this infinitely more desirable piece is worth? Attractively framed to 29x43". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle & Roger Maris Signed 1962 "Safe at Home" Large Movie Poster from the Sarabella Collection. As scarce as is the dual-signed one-sheet movie poster offered in this auction, the 40x60" monster that we present here ventures even further into the realm of disbelief. Certainly the only specimen of its kind, this poster leaves us with nothing to do but applaud the incredible foresight of Barry Halper, who corralled both of the film's superstars to sign in perfect blue sharpie, with Mick and Roger adding the sentiments of "Best Wishes" and "Best Always" respectively. The result is one of the most visually impressive autographed pieces imaginable by this magical duo of 1961, guaranteed to draw the lion's share of attention from visitors to even the finest sports memorabilia collections. For years, this poster was displayed at Mickey Mantle's Restaurant in New York City, only returning to Halper's personal collection following Mantle's death. The poster is dry-mounted for protection and exhibits natural fold lines and some patches of light staining, but still displays magnificently, with no defects that attract from visual appeal in any significant way. An elegant wooden frame carries the final dimensions to 43x63". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle Signed 1962-63 Jello Advertising Poster from the Sarabella Collection. Tremendously rare and desirable in its unsigned state (one of the few known specimens sold at auction in 2004 for over $6,000), the example we offer here triples the appeal with a flawless blue sharpie signature from the pinstriped legend pictured, who adds the charming Jello slogan inscription "um um Good." This singularly unique piece derives, rather unsurprisingly, from the vast personal collection of Barry Halper, and demonstrates original folding creases and a scattering of insignificant smaller creases. None of these issues manages to come close to derailing the monumental visual appeal created by the oversized photographic portrait of the Mick and the bold text of a piece that conspire to an impressive 30x35" in size. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1964 Topps Giants Signed Display with Clemente, Mantle & More from the Sarabella Collection. Outstanding display makes use of the skilled photography that typified the 1964 Topps Giants set, with each of the sixteen cards making a perfect home for an autograph from the legendary ballplayer pictured. Most difficult and valuable is Roberto Clemente's, who appears second from right on the top row. Also present are Killebrew, Frank Robinson, Mays, Aaron, Mantle, Kaline, Yastrzemski, Bunning, Gibson, Ford, Koufax, Spahn, Marichal, Chance and Friend. The autographs are, without exception, 10/10 in quality, with all but Clemente's blue ink signature appearing in blue sharpie. The card themselves are similarly fine, mounted in corners to avoid the damage of adhesion, and showing an absolute minimum of wear. Average NRMT. Matted and framed display measures 19x38". LOA from PSA/DNA.
1950's Casey Stengel Die-Cut Advertising Sign from the Sarabella Collection. Like the man himself, this scarce and fantastic advertising sign is charming and larger than life, measuring a phenomenal 26x30" at its widest dimensions. We're unsure of the exact publication to which the Hall of Fame manager is referring with his endorsement, "What a kick it is to have the answers...you oughta own this book," but if there's one guy we'd trust to teach us the intricacies of our national pastime, it's Casey. The colorful cardboard sign presents wonderfully, but we must note a degree of wear, most apparent in a vertical crease that passes between Casey's left ear and eye. A center horizontal fold is inherent to the production of the piece and as such is not a condition issue (nor is it particularly noticeable anyhow). A vertical notch at Casey's neck is likewise a design feature, apparently for the application of an absent easel back. The sign is tastefully framed to final dimensions of 31x34".
Massive Original Painting Signed by Musial, DiMaggio, Williams & Mantle from the Sarabella Collection. Clear some wall space (seven feet of it, to be exact), as this mammoth piece offers square footage to match the massive talent it represents. Each of these four Hall of Fame sluggers is captured as they were in 1951, with a boyish Mick, an aging DiMaggio, and Musial and Williams in their primes. Each has signed his image in strong blue sharpie, with Mantle adding "No. 7" to his autograph, and Williams signing twice, and adding the particularly scarce "#9" to one of the signatures. To match the prodigious expanse of the piece in scale, the signatures are among the largest you'll ever find from any member of this power-slugging quartet. A clear treatment brushed over the autographs has darkened slightly over the years, leaving a shadow that does little to detract visually. Otherwise the acrylic on board offers no noteworthy flaws. Final framed dimensions are 46x84". Please note that, due to the large size of the piece, shipping costs could be substantial. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle Signed Large Rookie Photograph from the Sarabella Collection. The rather recent explosion in the Mantle autograph market has been largely fueled by the desire for special signature variations and inscriptions, and here we offer one of the most desirable of the latter, as the Mick autographs this tremendous (16x20") photo snapped during his difficult first year in pinstripes with the added "1951" notation. The flawless image is tastefully matted and framed to final dimensions of 22x26". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle Triple-Signed Display from the Sarabella Collection. The construction and apparent wear on the 1970's style New York state license plate that commands the center of this fine display makes us wonder if it's the real thing, and if it is, if it belonged to the Mick himself. In any case, it certainly does now, as he has claimed it for his own with a perfect blue sharpie signature. Balanced on either side of the plate is a pair of issues of "Life Magazine" dating from June 25, 1956 and July 30, 1965, each also offering a flawless blue ink autograph. All three pieces are expertly matted and framed to total dimensions of 19x42". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Tremendous Mickey Mantle Signed Photograph from the Sarabella Collection. Those hoping to find a larger signed Mantle photograph will almost certainly find their searches to be in vain, as this is certainly the biggest one we've ever seen. Deriving from the world famous Barry Halper collection, this limited edition (14/100) portrait of a smiling legend stretches the tape measure to 19x29", and bears a perfect blue sharpie signature that spans seven inches of prime real estate. The photo is touchingly matted and framed with a short poem and the words, "Mickey Mantle 1931-Forever." Final framed dimensions 27x37.5". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle Dual-Signed Rookie Display from the Sarabella Collection. Take a trip back in time to 1951, when a twenty-year old kid named Mickey was struggling with the tremendous expectations put upon him by a city anxious to see him assume Joe DiMaggio's crown. A pair of photographic images each measuring approximately 7x9" in size capture the young Mick in his unlucky number "6" jersey, yet bearing the very lucky perfect blue sharpie signature of the kid pictured. At center is an August 1951 issue of "Baseball Magazine" featuring our cover boy. Matted and framed to a tasteful 16x30". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle & Roger Maris Signed Photographic Display from the Sarabella Collection. One can never have too much of the M&M boys, but if such a condition were possible, this piece would be the embodiment of the problem. This amazing collage celebrating the most exciting pinstriped duo since Lou and the Babe is anchored by a 1961 "Life Magazine" at center, which begs the question "Will Yank Sluggers Smash 60 Homers?" Each participant in the historic chase has signed in 10/10 blue sharpie. To the right the pair appears again, on an 8x10" black and white photo, with Mantle's blue sharpie signature another perfect 10/10, and Maris' a few shades lighter at 7/10. Below, Mickey checks in solo with his third flawless blue sharpie signature on an early 1960's magazine picturing the pair. Six unsigned images of the historic pair fill out the rest of the display area. Matted and framed to final dimensions of 33x34". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle Signed Display from the Sarabella Collection. The cover of a program for the 1988 Loma Linda Charity Golf Classic hosted by Mantle bears a perfect blue sharpie signature from the Yankee legend, with the desirable "No. 7" tagline added. The program is framed between a pair of magazines paying tribute to the recently departed Hall of Fame hero. All pieces present as NRMT-MT. Matted and framed to final dimensions of 16x33". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle Signed Lithograph from the Sarabella Collection. This stunning portrait of the Mick on the dugout steps, the majestic facade of Yankee Stadium visible in the distance, was a personal favorite of Mantle's, so beloved that he chose this image as the cover for the menus at his Manhattan restaurant. We share the Yankee legend's affinity for the piece, and particularly this one, with the tremendous (eight inches long!) and perfect black sharpie signature from the artist's subject. A simple black frame brings the final dimensions of the piece to 26x35". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Original Artwork Used for Mickey Mantle's Restaurant Menu with Signed Grand Opening Invitation from the Sarabella Collection. One of the finest portraits we've ever seen of this greatest of post-war baseball heroes. The stunning acrylic on board comes from the hand of noted artist Andy Jurinko, whose work has been featured in Sports Illustrated, New York Magazine, Barron's and The New York Times, and is featured in the permanent collection of the Baseball Hall of Fame. This painting was commissioned for the menu used at the opening of Mickey's popular Manhattan restaurant, as is evidenced by the copy of the menu matted to the left of the painting. If the menu looks tiny, it isn't--the painting is just tremendous, measuring a full 28x35" in size. Matted and framed along with these pieces are a pair of autographed keepsakes from the man himself, notably a postcard featuring another Jurinko portrait that would later be used as menu cover art at the restaurant, and an invitation to the Grand Opening of the eatery in 1988. Signed in blue sharpie and black ink respectively, each rates a perfect 10/10. This entire, absolutely breathtaking display measures an incredible 43x46". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Joe DiMaggio & Mickey Mantle Signed Magazine Covers Display from the Sarabella Collection. You can never have too much of a good thing, and that sentiment is never more valid than when discussing DiMaggio and Mantle dual-signed magazine covers. This simple display features a pair of covers signed in perfect blue sharpie by the men who patrolled Yankee Stadium's center field for three decades, earning Hall of Fame immortality in the process. A 1960's issue of "Sport Magazine" has Mickey adding his coveted "No. 7" inscription to his autograph, while the June 1991 cover of "Beckett Baseball Card Monthly" offers an unadulterated signature from each. The earlier magazine cover has light, inconsequential surface wear, while the later one presents as Mint. Matted and framed to 17x23". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Joe DiMaggio Signed "Life Magazine" Display from the Sarabella Collection. A pair of magazine covers featuring portraits of the Yankee legend dated May 1, 1939 and August 1, 1949 sandwich a perfect blue sharpie signed photographic image of equal 11x14" size at center. A fitting expression of the tremendous fame garnered by this Yankee hero, a fame that extended well beyond the ballpark. The display is intelligently matted and framed in "Life Magazine" red and black to final dimensions of 20x40". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Joe DiMaggio Signed Photographs Lot of 2 from the Sarabella Collection. Pair of color 8x10" photos of the Yankee Clipper posing in pinstripes offers a perfect blue sharpie signature for each, one with the additional "Best Wishes" sentiment attached. Each is identically matted and framed to 16x18" in size. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Joe DiMaggio Signed Rare Image Photograph from the Sarabella Collection. We certainly haven't seen this shot before, have you? A rather nice color photographic portrait of Joltin' Joe in his prime heaps on the appeal with a perfect blue sharpie signature from the man himself. The photo is matted and framed in a tastefully understated manner to final dimensions of 16x18". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Joe DiMaggio Signed "Time Magazine" from the Sarabella Collection. "With runs on the bases," the cover exclaims, "his bat spells bingo." Honoring this clutch hitter's r.b.i. abilities with a pair of photos of the Yankee Hall of Famer, this October 4, 1948 magazine is made all the more appealing with the appearance of a perfect blue sharpie signature from the cover boy himself. The cover is matted and framed to apparent NRMT status, and final dimensions of 16x19". Much more appealing than your standard modern 8x10" photograph. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Joe DiMaggio Signed Poster from the Sarabella Collection. This advertising poster created to promote the recently released definitive history of this Yankee legend offers a charmingly Depression-era sensibility in its artistic style and a perfect blue sharpie signature from the Albums' subject. The poster measures 9x15" and is quadruple matted and gorgeously framed to final dimensions of 17.5x23.5". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Joe DiMaggio Signed Large Photograph from the Sarabella Collection. Another rarely seen image of the Yankee Clipper, expanded to imperial dimensions of 16x20", and signed by the man at the plate in perfect blue sharpie. A masterful matting and framing job expands the final dimensions of this fine piece to 22x26". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Joe DiMaggio Signed Original Pastel Portrait from the Sarabella Collection. It takes a true artist to capture a portrait so expertly, as Jean Wolf has done here, faithfully capturing every detail of the legendary Hall of Famer's face down to his gapped teeth. This remarkable pastel on board features almost photographic realism, and the perfect blue sharpie signature of the subject, who had to have been impressed at the skills of the artist. The work measures 19.5x23.5" in size, and is framed to total dimensions of 23x27". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Tom Seaver Full Name Signed Original Artwork by Simon from the Sarabella Collection. Large and masterful acrylic on canvas portrait of Tom Terrific is unmistakably the work of top sports artist Robert Stephen Simon, named 1992 Sports Artist of the Year by the US Sports Academy. It's clear why Simon would receive such an honor, as the young Hall of Fame hurler is captured perfectly, boasting the statistics of his incredible 1971 season. Adding further desirability to a piece with no shortage thereof, Seaver has added a very rare signature variation in perfect blue sharpie, a full "George Thomas Seaver" appearing on the white of the towel that drapes around the superstar New York Met's neck. Canvas measures 23x29.5", and is tastefully framed to final dimensions of 27.5x34". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Nolan Ryan Career Highlights Signed Large Photograph Display from the Sarabella Collection. Quartet of 11x14" color photograph capture the Strike Out King at four historic stages of his Hall of Fame career, each in a different uniform of a team he led to victory. All are signed in perfect blue sharpie with a handwritten inscription, as follows: (Mets) 1st K, 9-11-66. (Angels) 383 K's, 9-27-73, (Astros) 5th No-Hitter, 9-26-81, (Rangers) 5,000 K's, 8-22-89. Mint photos are matted and framed to final dimensions of 20x52". LOA from PSA/DNA.
1979 Thurman Munson Original Artwork by Simon. Early acrylic on canvas by top sports artist Robert Stephen Simon is signed "Simon '79" at lower left, and was clearly painted in response to the subject's tragic death on August second of that year. It's the way we like to remember Munson, striking an almost gladiatorial pose, the weapon of a Rawlings Big Stick in his left hand. A fitting tribute to the fallen Yankee captain, this very special piece will surely find an appropriate home in the finest of New York Yankees and/or original sports art collections. An inch-wide wooden frame brings the final dimensions of this fine work to 31x41".
Tremendous Mickey Mantle's Restaurant Advertising Sign from the Sarabella Collection. Bold and visually evocative piece encouraged diners to visit the Mick's Central Park South eatery on the isle of Manhattan. Best are the two portraits of the Hall of Fame restaurateur featured in the design, and the enormous facsimile signature above the restaurant's address. We aren't entirely certain where the sign was originally displayed, but apparently Mantle's restaurant was "Just Around the Corner." As pristine as it is large, this one of a kind gargantuan measures 33x62" in its matching blue frame.
Mays, Mantle & Snider Signed Oil Painting from the Sarabella Collection. Noted sports artist Flip Amato chose the vastness of defunct Manhattan ballpark the Polo Grounds as the setting for this study of the three Hall of Fame center fielders that called New York home in the 1950's. Known to the baseball world as Willie, Mickey and the Duke, the three are positioned in that order in this fine oil on canvas work. Each has signed below his image in perfect blue sharpie, adding a "Best Wishes" sentiment. The painting remains in similarly fine condition, with the canvas measuring 23x30". A simple linen mat and grey wood frame bring the final dimensions to 28x35". Worth a very considerable sum simply as a work by a listed artist, the value with such perfect autographs is off the charts. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Triple Crown Winners Signed Lithograph from the Sarabella Collection. Faithfully rendered portraits of the men who achieved the ultimate accomplishment in Major League hitting join forces on this attractive lithograph celebrating four of the greatest batsmen of all time. Each signing below his respective image are Frank Robinson, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle and Carl Yastrzemski. The lithograph presents in all aspects as Mint, and is attractively matted and framed to final dimensions of 26x32". LOA from PSA/DNA.
500 Home Run Club Signed Ron Lewis Lithograph from the Sarabella Collection. The most desirable of all 500 Home Run Club collectibles, the famed Ron Lewis lithograph picturing all eleven legends miraculously assembled in their individual primes on the edge of Yankee Stadium's outfield grass still sends a tickle up our spines. Ask any authenticator and he'll tell you that collectibles related to the 500 Home Run Club are among the most forged in the hobby, so those considering such a purchase would be well advised to chase this genuine article. From left to right, in NRMT blue sharpie, are Williams, Robinson, Killebrew, Jackson, Mantle, Mays, Aaron, Schmidt, Banks, Mathews and McCovey. Finally, the artist has added his autograph as well. The print measures an appropriately large 18x36" in size, with matting and framing finalizing the dimensions at 24x41". LOA from PSA/DNA.
The Entire Pre-1990's 500 Home Run Club Signed Display with Ruth, Foxx & Ott from the Sarabella Collection. From the famous collection of hobbyist extraordinaire Barry Halper comes this amazing display that fills in those conspicuously empty spots in long ball history. While certainly highly desirable in its own right, the famous Ron Lewis lithograph picturing the eleven Club members alive in the late 1980's is not exceptionally scarce in its signed form. But who but Halper would have taken that extra step to add the three gentlemen who founded the Club? Presented above the classic Yankee Stadium scene that pictures perfect blue sharpie signed images of Williams, Robinson, Killebrew, Jackson, Mantle, Mays, Aaron, Schmidt, Banks, Mathews and McCovey are three terrific signed photos of the men who engineered the concept of the home run slugger. Appropriately at center is the Babe, who inscribes a 5.5x8" photograph in bold black ink (9/10), "To my friend M.E. Malast, Sincerely Babe Ruth." The left side pictures the second man to reach the mark, a 7x9" Burke photograph reading, "To my friend Tom, Wishing you the best, You are a swell guy, Jimmie Foxx." The ink quality is a very strong 8/10. Finally, the terror of the Polo Grounds appears at right, on another 7x9" Burke photograph. His 8/10 ink inscription reads, "To Ray from Melvin Ott." Ruth's photo shows a vertical center fold that has been greatly minimized through framing and does little to detract from eye appeal. A small defect in the unoccupied background of the Ott photo is even less significant. Break down value is quite obviously significant, though an imaginative and expensive framing and matting job would be wasted by such a move. Final dimensions of this extraordinary piece are 42x44". LOA from PSA/DNA.
The 3,000 Hit Club Signed Print from the Sarabella Collection. This is the image that keeps Major League pitchers awake at night. Posing at the dugout steps in this wonderful work by noted artist Ron Lewis are twelve of the most talented hitters in the game's history, with each signing below his image in perfect blue sharpie. From left to right, they are: Aaron, Brock, Yount, Musial, Mays, Brett, Winfield, Rose, Kaline, Carew, Yastrzemski and Murray. The print shows some assorted scuffs and scrapes, but while a restoration artist could quite easily return the piece to a pristine state, it still does present very nicely as is. Print measures 17.5x35". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mays, Mantle & Snider Signed Print from the Sarabella Collection. Depending on where he grew up in the New York City area, and who his parents were, a young baseball fan in the 1950's believed with all of his heart that one of these three Hall of Famers was the best center fielder that ever lived. This rather touching portrait of the three (despite the fact that it looks as if Mays and Snider intend to bludgeon Mantle to death!) captures the innocence of the 1950's game in a way a simple photograph could not. Better yet, Willie, Mickey and the Duke have each signed his respective image in perfect blue sharpie. A simple thin wood frame brings the total dimensions of the piece to 22x28". Note that the original artwork for this piece, also fully autographed, appears in this auction as well. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Joe DiMaggio Signed Lithograph from the Sarabella Collection. Photographic realism is the favored style of artist Danny Day, who masterfully captures the Yankee Clipper in five portraits of varying size and poses. The navy blue background of the piece makes for perfect contrast with the subject's 10/10 silver sharpie signature, and that of the artist as well, who numbers the print 157 of a limited edition of 388. Some light surface scratches are apparent upon close inspection, though these do very little to detract, and could certainly be minimized even further through the efforts of a restoration artist. The print measures 30x34", with matting and framing bringing final dimensions to 38x42". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Joe DiMaggio Signed Hit Streak Display from the Sarabella Collection. A touching photo of the elderly DiMaggio admiring his younger self on a Cooperstown display recounting his fifty-six game hitting streak in 1941 is signed by the Yankee Clipper in 10/10 blue sharpie. The 8x10" photo is affixed to a wooden plaque along with an engraved plate that recounts this historic campaign and notes that this is number "4" of a limited edition of 1941. Mint. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle Signed Original Painting from the Sarabella Collection. A bold and stylish portrait of wise Casey Stengel instructing his new rookie in the ways of the Major League. Though certainly worthy of attention solely for the masterful rendering of the work, it is given an extra dose of appeal by the appearance of a Mint gold sharpie inscription at upper right that reads, "Best Wishes, Mickey Mantle." The acrylic on canvas painting measures 25x31" in size, and is tastefully matted and framed to dimensions of 31x37". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Joe DiMaggio & Mickey Mantle Signed Oil Painting from the Sarabella Collection. Though the image of the veteran slugger DiMaggio taking the baby-faced rookie Mantle under his wing may not be faithful to historical fact, we still can't help but love this masterfully rendered portrait of the pair examining Mickey's Louisville Slugger in 1951. DiMaggio has signed his image in flawless gold sharpie, while Mantle's perfect blue sharpie signature includes his desirable "No. 7" tagline. Fine work by "E. Sadler" measures 15x19" in size, with expert matting and framing carrying the final dimensions to 22x27". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mickey Mantle's New York Yankees Hall of Famers Original Oil Painting from the Sarabella Collection. Fine oil on canvas by noted Bloomington, Indiana painter Carole Heslin realizes striking portraits of Mantle, Berra, Ford, DiMaggio and Stengel. This painting had very special personal significance to Mickey Mantle, who hung it above booth number thirty-two at his namesake restaurant in New York City. Number thirty-two was the Mick's personal booth, and as such one can reasonably infer that this painting was a personal favorite. Included in the lot is a letter on official Mantle Restaurant stationery from a co-owner of the Manhattan landmark eatery attesting to Mantle's affinity for the work. Imagine all of the memories of days gone by that would come flooding back as Mickey gazed up at this piece over drinks with a friend. Canvas measures 19x29", with a simple blue frame that extends the final dimensions to 22x32".
Joe DiMaggio & Mickey Mantle Multi-Signed Photographic Display from the Sarabella Collection. The two greatest heroes of the past sixty years of Yankees history join forces for a display that boasts no fewer than three perfect blue sharpie signatures from each Hall of Famer. Two photos snapped at an Old Timers' Game and Mickey Mantle Day respectively are each signed by both, while matching photographic prints of Petronella artwork are signed only by the Yankee pictured. Each photo measures 8x10" in size. Expertly matted and framed to final dimensions of 27x27". LOA from PSA/DNA.
New York Yankees Legends Signed Photograph from the Sarabella Collection. Just like old times, these four former Yankee greats, each wearing a pinstriped jersey now retired from use, return to the Yankee Stadium dugout for Old Timers' Day. This heartwarming 11x14" image is signed by all four pictured--Mickey Mantle, Billy Martin, Joe DiMaggio and Whitey Ford--in 10/10 blue sharpie. While Mantle and DiMaggio together is a bit tough and certainly desirable, and Whitey thankfully still with us, it's the Billy Martin signature that is the most difficult of all here, and to find him with this company is a rare treat. The image is matted and framed to total dimensions of 14x17". LOA from PSA/DNA.
1991 Negro Leaguer Bobby Robinson Original Art by Ron Lewis. Noted sports artist Ron Lewis considers his early 1990's series of thirty Negro League Fine Art Postcards his finest work to date, and we certainly wouldn't care to dispute his claim. Presented here is his stirring portrait of William "Bobby" Robinson, who broke into the Negro Leagues with the Indianapolis ABC's in 1925 and continued on to represent such noteworthy clubs as the Birmingham Black Barons, the Chicago American Giants, the Memphis Red Sox and the Detroit Stars. Best remembered for his fielding, a skill that gained him the nickname "The Human Vacuum," Robinson is captured in this fine acrylic on board artwork earning that moniker. This evocative masterpiece is signed at lower right by the artist, and measures 8x11", with custom matting bringing the final dimensions to 15x18".
Mark McGwire Signed Lithograph from the Sarabella Collection. Limited edition (441/1000) work offers a flawless black ink signature in the desirable rookie era style to go along with a montage of three portraits of Big Mac in his early days. The work is also signed in Mint ink by the artist himself. The print is likewise flawless, and measures 19.5x26.5" in size. Matting and framing, which includes an engraved plaque referencing McGwire's fifty-fourth home run of the historic 1998 season, brings the total dimensions to 25x33". LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mark McGwire 1998 Home Run Record Signed Display from the Sarabella Collection. Though Big Mac has recently taken some heat over performance enhancing drugs and his poor performance before the Senate judiciary committee, nothing can obscure the fact that he delivered to baseball fans worldwide one of the most compelling dramas in the post-war game. This bold display captures that excitement rather expertly with photographs, baseball cards, and first day covers, one of which is signed by McGwire in perfect black ink. Impressively matted and framed to 26x39" in size. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Massive Mark McGwire & Sammy Sosa Sixty-Second Home Run Display from the Sarabella Collection. It was a huge year for Major League Baseball, so why not remember it with a huge display piece? Matching lithographs by noted sports artist Andy Jurinko capture the swings that rocketed these two superstars past Roger Maris. Each measures 23x25", and is signed by the artist in pencil. Matted and framed to the final dimensions of 33x75". Please note that due to the large size of this piece, shipping costs may be substantial.
Incredible Collection of 500 Home Run Club Members Individual Portraits Lot of 18 by Jurinko, Most Signed! (from the Sarabella Collection). We had considered breaking these up into individual lots, but thought that the series really deserved to stand on its own. Those familiar with the work of Andy Jurinko, considered by many to be among the top sports artists working today, will instantly recognize the mastery with which the artist has created these fantastic oil on canvas portraits. Each canvas measures 28x34", with all but Sammy Sosa housed in an attractive frame that brings the final dimensions to 31x37". One can only imagine the monumental visual effect of a wall displaying all eighteen together. The works were commissioned by collector extraordinaire Barry Halper, to whom all signed portraits are personalized in perfect sharpie. The signed works: Mantle, Williams, Banks, Killebrew, Robinson, Schmidt, Jackson, Aaron, Mays, McCovey and Mathews. The unsigned works: Ruth, Ott, Foxx (personalized to Halper by the artist), Sosa, Bonds, McGwire and Murray. A truly incredible lot that will turn a large trophy room into a veritable art gallery.
Football Collectibles
1911 Nebraska vs. Michigan Football Panoramic Photograph. A tie might be like kissing your sister, but this amazing photograph picturing action in a six to six draw between two collegiate football leviathans is most assuredly better than that. In fact, the incredible view of the November 25, 1911 game in Lincoln may be the finest we've ever seen of the early game, as we can make out not just the dark-shirted gridiron battlers with their striped sleeves and socks, but also the entire expanse of the grandstands and the campus buildings in the distance. Better yet, this 7x32" image is (short of two tiny water spots in the pale sky at far right) completely free of defects and presents as a brilliant NRMT. Tastefully rendered matting and framing job brings the final dimensions to 20x46". A photograph so clear and compelling, you'll stare at it for days, always finding something new.
1926 Chicago Bears Broadside. With professional football still a distant second to the college game in the minds of 1920's gridiron fans, this rare and charming broadside refers to a meeting between the Chicago Bears and Louisville Colonels as "Post-Graduate Football." Noted are such names as Paddy Driscoll and Chuck Palmer, whose star power was summoned to draw fans to Cubs Park. Paper stock rarity measures 6x9" and rates a legitimate NRMT.
1929 Green Bay Packers Team Photograph. The fearsome undefeated '29 Packers squad poses for the photographer's lens in this fine period print. Hall of Fame talent abounds, as the original caption at bottom identifies such Cantonites as Hubbard (a Baseball Hall of Famer too!), Blood (McNally), Lambeau and Michalske. The image itself measures 5.75x9.5" in size, with original mount and frame bringing overall dimensions to 11x15". The image quality is superb, with absolutely flawless focus and contrast. Condition is first-rate, with no noteworthy flaws. One must assume that this piece derives from a player estate, as this high-quality artifact would not have been produced for general consumption in these earliest days of professional football.
1931 Chicago Bears Broadside with Grange & Nagurski. The two greatest ball carriers of pre-war football appear on this scarce broadside, produced to be tacked to a wall in the area surrounding Loyola Stadium where the Bears would meet the Cleveland Bull Dogs. This example was clearly spared the ordeal of posting, leaving the 8x11" paper stock artifact in remarkably strong condition, with only light toning and the mildest edge wear to suggest its seven decades of life. Bronko and the Galloping Ghost started off the 1931 season with a twenty-one point shutout win this date, adding further appeal to this special rarity. With Grange and Nagurski being the gridiron equivalent of baseball's Ruth and Gehrig, few football broadsides could match this one for collectibility.
1932 Chicago Bears Broadside with Grange. Magnificent and rare Depression-era broadside announced the opening game of the 1932 season with the full realization that it was Grange that put fans in the seats. The Ghost's image dominates the upper left corner of the simple design, and his superstar sidekick Bronko Nagurski is noted as a teammate facing the Cleveland Panthers on September 18th at Loyola Stadium. Sourced from a small find of unused Chicago Bears broadsides, this one remains in fine condition, with only light toning and very mild edge wear after all of these years.
1935 First Annual Sugar Bowl Program. Recounting happier days in New Orleans than we have seen recently is this remarkably fine program issued to fans at the very first occurrence of this historic collegiate football event. Just the slightest touches of wear dot the edges of this Depression era keepsake, boasting unbeatable cover graphics and announcing the battling parties as Temple and hometown favorites Tulane. Most of the few surviving specimens of this program tend to come out of the New Orleans area, and typically suffer for the humid environment in which they passed the seven decades since issue. In our opinion, as close to a mint example of the program as you will find and arguably the finest known of its kind.
1937 Chicago Bears Broadside. Our search for information on the "Brandt Florals," listed on this scarce broadside as the "1936 Heavyweight Champions of Chicago" came up unfortunately empty, but we have heard of the Chicago Bears, who, at the time, featured stars like Bat Masterson and Bronko Nagurski. One would assume that the Bears feasted on the "Heavyweight Champs" in this exhibition match, though that result is lost to history. Printed on light paper stock to dimensions of 5.5x8.5", the offered piece exhibits minor staining and very light instances of creasing, but still presents as an attractive EX+.
1937 College All-American Football Squad Signed Panoramic Photograph with Sammy Baugh. The Hall of Fame Washington Redskins quarterback is at front and center of this crystal-clear panorama picturing the best of the collegiate game in their white logo sweaters. This choice of garment served well the ultimate purpose of having this image signed, as the seventy-plus autographs contrast perfectly against the pale background. Baugh's autograph is among the vast majority that presents as 8/10 or better. The photo is likewise in very fine condition, with only a couple of light creases at far left which are only visible at certain angles to the light. The image measures 8x19", and is matted and framed to final dimensions of 14x25".
1957 Vince Lombardi Handwritten Scouting Reports. Acquired directly from the Lombardi family is this file folder packed with charts, notes and play diagrams notated entirely in the legendary Hall of Famer's hand as he prepared his New York Giants for battle in his capacity as the assistant coach in charge of offense. The notes relate primarily to a meeting of the Baltimore Colts and San Francisco 49'ers, and the NRMT copy of Official Program for the November 24, 1957 game is included in the packet. What follows is nineteen pages of plays diagrammed on lined legal pad pages, sixteen more pages of diagrammed plays on special mimeographed sheets, and four card stock pages packed with handwritten details of each drive. All writing and diagrams are rendered in 10/10 pencil, and the pages themselves are likewise NRMT. Tremendous break down value, as each sheet could be sold individually. A rare and intriguing look into the masterful mind of one of the game's greatest strategists.
1965 NFL Championship Presentational Money Clip. The third of five Championship seasons for Vince Lombardi and the mighty Green Bay Packers, one of whom (we assume) was presented this twelve karat gold filled money clip for his part in the victory. Simple in design yet tremendous in appeal, this special piece by the jewelers Balfour remembers a very special time in the formative stages of the modern National Football League. NRMT.
1971 Fred Cox Pro Bowl Golden Helmet Award. Eleven times the Minnesota Vikings' leading scorer, and twice the top point man for the entire NFL, Cox surprised very few with his appearance in the Pro Bowl in 1971, for which he was presented this impressive award. Half a golden helmet is affixed to a large wooden base (12x20"), in which a brass plaque is set, reading "1971, NFL, Pro Bowl Golden Helmet Award, NFC All Stars, Fred Cox." Cox has signed the helmet itself in perfect black sharpie. Some mild wear to the piece includes minor chipping of the golden coating of the helmet, and a few scuffs to the wooden plaque, but none of these considerations detracts notably from eye appeal.
1975 Dallas Cowboys NFC Championship Ring. Though felled by Terry Bradshaw and the Steel Curtain in one of the unforgettable Super Bowls pairing these leviathans of the League, the 'boys had a lot to celebrate this season, namely the NFC Championship for which everyone from Staubach to "Too Tall" Jones was presented a ring much like this one. Our offered specimen comes from the personal collection of tackle Bruce Walton, whose surname appears on the left shank with an image of a Cowboy helmet and his jersey number "78." The right shank reveals an NFL logo and Lombardi Trophy in miniature with the text "NFC Champions" and "Super Bowl X." The face of the ring is clearly the most impressive aspect, with a large cubic zirconia surrounded by five small brilliant cut diamonds, forming the signature Lone Star on the field of a blue stone at center. "Dallas Cowboys 1975" rings the perimeter. "Bruce Walton" is engraved in block lettering inside the band, as is the manufacturer's mark, "Balfour 10K." Approximately size eleven.
1990's Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Victories Full Ticket Lot of 3. "America's Team" established itself as one of the National Football League's great dynasties in the Nineties, claiming the Lombardi Trophy three times in a four-year stretch. Offered here are the highest graded unused tickets we could locate from those glory days, with XXVIII and XXX slabbed below a PSA Mint 9 header, and XXVII climbing higher still to a perfect Gem Mint 10. Tremendous breakdown value here.
1998 Alamo Bowl Purdue University Championship Ring. In one of the years most dramatic Bowl games, Purdue drove eighty yards in the final fifty-four seconds of the game to upset fourth-ranked Kansas State by a score of thirty-seven to thirty-four, led by future Chargers quarterback Drew Brees. This is the ring presented to strong safety Ralph Turner as a member of this never-say-die squad. Crafted by Josten's in ten karat yellow gold, the ring sports a football-shaped black stone on the face, inset and ringed with faux diamonds. Surrounding text reads "1998 Alamo Bowl Champions." Left shank has image of Purdue helmet with "Turner 18" in raised text. Opposing shank notes the school's back to back victories in the event. Turner's name is engraved inside the band. Approximately size eight.
2000 University of Michigan Big Ten Championship Ring. Currently a rookie safety with the New York Giants, DeWayne Patmon was presented this prize for his part in bringing the Big Ten Championship home to Michigan. A yellow gold letter "M" rests in a blue stone on the face, surrounded by two cubic zirconias and the raised words "Big Ten Champions." The left shank offers an enamel image of the Michigan helmet framed by "Patmon 15," while the right shank reads "2000 Toughness" above an image of a railroad spike and tracks. Approximately size twelve. If Patmon becomes a big NFL star, you'll wish you had chased this early Championship ring.
1925 Knute Rockne Signed Book. It was a good year for the legendary coach of the Fighting Irish, as Rockne led Notre Dame to a National Championship with a New Year's Day Rose Bowl victory, and later saw the book he authored, "The Four Winners," roll off the printing press to popular and critical acclaim. Presented here is a first edition of that publication, packed with over 250 pages of collegiate gridiron wisdom. Our favorite page, however, is the very first one, offering an unimprovable black ink inscription, "Sincerely Knute K. Rockne." While former owners of the book have added their own signatures at the book's opening as well, none of these can draw attention away from the quality of Rockne's. The book itself shows expected but acceptable wear, with missing dustjacket, moderate rubbing at the edges and a somewhat loose binding, but it remains entirely presentable and complete. A fine piece from one of the great names of Golden Age athletics. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1930 Knute Rockne Signed Presentation Certificate & Unsigned Notre Dame Football Photograph. Fantastic pair of collegiate football artifacts derive from the family of a member of the National Championship Fighting Irish team, the historic squad that christened the newly-built Notre Dame Stadium with an undefeated season and stands as one of the greatest the school has ever produced. First we offer an elegantly simple presentational certificate that reads, "Monogram Club of the University of Notre Dame. This is to attest that John Saunders is endowed with the ND Varsity Athletic Insignia as his Alma Mater's tribute to his loyalty as a Varsity Foot Ball man for 1930. His deeds, Her inspiration. His name a solemn tradition of Notre Dame." It is signed at the close by Honorary President Thos. A. Steiner, and by the legendary team leader Knute Rockne, who would perish at the height of his fame the following year in a tragic airplane crash. The certificate, in its original frame, and most notably the Rockne autograph, remain in simply flawless condition. Joining this incredibly desirable signed certificate is an equally thrilling panoramic team photograph picturing Saunders, Rockne and the rest of the undefeated team. Caption at the bottom reads simply, "Notre Dame National Champions, 1930." This photo too present as NRMT in its original frame, which measures 7x15.5". Together these two pieces form the foundation for a respectable shrine to this great team, and to their heroic leader. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1937 Washington Redskins Team Signed Panoramic Photograph. Arguably the most coveted of all Washington Redskins team signed photographs for a number of reasons. First, this squad represents the very first Redskins team to call our Nation's Capital home. Secondly, with a twenty-eight to twenty-one victory over the New York Giants, fueled by 352 yards through the air from the arm of Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh, the Redskins captured the NFL Championship this season. And finally, the tremendously desirable panoramic style of photograph, worth a considerable sum in its unsigned state, offers splendid black fountain pen signatures from all pictured, each tagging his autograph with the name of his alma mater. Highlights include Cliff Battles (W. Va. Wesleyan), Turk Edwards (Wash. State), Sam Baugh (T.C.U.), Ed Justice (Gonzaga U.), Wayne Millner (Notre Dame) and Dixie Howell (Alabama). Only a single (unlisted) signature drops below a solid 8/10, and just barely. The sepia toned image is inscribed in an unknown hand, "To Our Friend Rush Meadows - All-American, U.S.C., 1912, From His Friends, The Washington Redskins." The image shows a pattern of foxing throughout, but this does very little to affect the considerable display value. Original frame is missing its glass, and measures 10x38.5". Image quality is simply superb, offering unbeatable views of these early football legends. A truly exceptional piece documenting this historic franchise's earliest days. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1940 Nile Kinnick Signed Banquet Program. Direct from the elderly gentleman that acquired the autograph in person as a boy comes a piece that battles for the title of "Holy Grail" among football collectors. In fact, a quick scan of the Football Autograph prices in Sports Market Report finds not a single other signature coming within a thousand dollars of the rather conservative price tag of $4000+ for Kinnick on a 3x5" card. The reason for the tremendous value is based upon the immutable laws of supply and demand, the former having been severely limited by Kinnick's tragic and heroic death in 1943 as he chose to crash his World War II fighter plane into the Pacific rather than risk the lives of the aircraft carrier crewmen with a dangerous landing. The demand is fueled largely by Kinnick's status as the University of Iowa's only Heisman Trophy winner, as well as the coveted award's most difficult autograph. The offered example is clearly one of the finest of this miniscule supply, both by virtue of the 9/10 pencil that forms it, and its placement below a classic image of Kinnick in uniform, essentially giving the piece the status of a signed photograph. The image and autograph are on the back cover of the "Charles City Junior Chamber of Commerce First Annual Father and Son Banquet" program, which measures 4x6" in size in its closed state. Kinnick is listed as the keynote speaker, noted as "America's Greatest All-American." The program shows appropriate wear for its age, with a horizontal vertical fold that crosses the image of Kinnick, but these factors do not detract from the exceptional display value of the piece and could do nothing to diminish the appeal of such a tremendously rare and important collectible. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1956 Horace Gillom Contract Signed by Paul Brown and Bert Bell. The final year in the League for this Pro Bowl linebacker from the football-rich town of Massillon, Ohio. While Gillom, whose 10/10 autograph appears at the close of this NFL Standard Player's Contract, is certainly no slouch, the real treasure comes with the appearance of equally strong signatures from team owner Paul Brown and the very tough Bert Bell, NFL commissioner, who would die of a heart attack three years later while watching an Eagles/Steelers game. Bell is best remembered for coining the phrase, "On any given Sunday, any team can beat any other team." All authorizing signatures, and the two-page contract itself, remain in identical condition to the day of issuance. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1966 Green Bay Packers Team Signed Oversized Postcard. The team led to Super Bowl I victory by the great Vince Lombardi joined forces years later to sign the back side of this large (6x9") postcard picturing the historic squad. Approximately twenty-five EX-MT and better blue ink signatures are scattered in all directions from the signing event, with notables including Gregg, Adderley, the very tough Jordan, and the unforgettable Bart Starr. The postcard itself shows some edge and corner wear, rating a technical VG-EX, though any condition defects do not affect the signatures in any way. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1970's Jim Finks Signed Business Card. One of the most successful and respected executives in NFL history, Finks is credited with turning the losing Vikings, Saints and Bears into winners. Presented here is his business card from the latter of the three, which lists him as both Executive Vice President and General Manager. His perfect blue ink signature presents beautifully on its surface. A rather tough Hall of Fame signature, blessed by Jimmy Spence and slabbed in an SGC holder for protection and unquestioned authenticity.
Football Cards
1935 National Chicle Knute Rockne #9 PSA EX-MT 6. The first great football set, National Chicle followed in the footsteps of Goudey and Sport Kings with brilliant full-color graphics and masterful portraiture. Offered is the second most valuable card in the set (Nagurski being the first), and easily the most desirable Rockne card in existence. Mild corner rounding accounts for the EX-MT 6 grade, as the image area presents as even better.
1950 Bowman Otto Graham #45 GAI NM-MT 8. Terrific action shot captures this Hall of Fame quarterback at the height of his considerable powers. Bold, vibrant color brings us back more than half a century, and centering is the definition of perfection. Only light touches of wear to be found. The first such specimen ever graded at Global.
1950 Bowman Sammy Baugh #100 PSA NM-MT 8. A classic portrait of this early Hall of Famer, suited up and ready for battle. Surfaces and image quality are as good as it gets, with strong centering and corners that have survived the past fifty-five years without the touch of human hands. Only twice topped in the population charts, in over 160 attempts.
1950-1952 Bowman Football Star-Studded Group Lot of 114. After a one-year absence, Bowman returned to football card making; the offering that follows is evidence to confirm at least one collector was more than ready. Of the 114 cards included in this group, only 9 fit the definition of a common card. A total of 5 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $670. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA NM 7: 1951 Bowman #25 Doak Walker and 1952 Bowman Small #140 Yale Lary. PSA EX-MT 6: 1952 Bowman Small #152 Tom Landry (3). Ungraded Cards - Highlights include 1950 Bowman #1 Walker (VG-EX), 5 Tittle (3-EX, VG-EX, VG), 6 Groza (3-EX-MT, VG-EX, VG), 37 Layne (2-VG-EX, G), 43 Motley (VG-EX), 52 Hirsch (3-EX, VG-EX, VG-EX), 100 Baugh (3-EX, VG-EX, VG). Remaining 30 cards grade consistent VG-EX/EX or better with few exceptions. 1951 Bowman #32 Tittle (4-EX-MT, EX-MT, EX, EX), 34 Baugh (4-EX, EX, VG-EX, VG-EX), 40 Waterfield (2-EX, EX), 56 Conerly (3-EX, VG-EX, VG), 75 Groza (6-EX-MT, EX, EX, EX, EX, VG-EX), 76 Hirsch (4-EX, EX, VG-EX, VG), 105 Perry (VG), 109 Motley (4-EX, EX, VG-EX, VG). Remaining 13 cards grade consistent VG-EX/EX or better. 1952 Bowman Small #78 Layne (4-EX-MT, EX, EX, VG), 83 Perry (EX), 105 Groza (3-EX, EX, EX), 127 Matson (2-EX, VG), 137 Waterfield (4-EX, EX, EX, VG), 140 Lary (2-EX, EX). 1952 Bowman Large #28 Rote (2-VG, F), 29 McElhenny (VG), 30 Baugh (VG), #44 Parilli (EX), #63 Conerly (EX).
1951 Bowman John Strzykalski #69 PSA Gem Mint 10. Over half a century old, and so pack-fresh that it defies all logic. Utterly free of any print defects, centering problems or wear of any sort, it's clear why this card sits alone atop the population charts as the only Gem Mint 10 ever slabbed.
1951 Bowman Marion Motley #109 PSA Mint 9. After a careful examination, we have to conclude that the difference of a hair's breadth between the size of the left and right borders accounts for this card's exclusion from Gem Mint 10 status, as it is otherwise flawless in every regard. Nonetheless, it still represents the only Mint 9 ever slabbed by PSA, with none grading higher.
1951 Bowman Football PSA Mint 9 Lot of 3. Advanced football card collectors will surely take notice of this lot, comprised of three ultra-scarce cards from the gorgeous 1951 Bowman issue. Travis Tidwell #19 is the only Mint 9 recorded, while Alex Loyd #31 and Ray Bray #50 are one of two and one of four respectively. None have ever been graded higher.
1955 Bowman Football High-Grade Complete Set (160). This set was Bowman's last before it was purchased by Topps in early 1956. Key rookie cards include Gatski, McCormack, Ringo, St. Clair, and Summerall. A total of 36 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $2,750. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA MINT 9: 6 cards w/ #'s 38 Younger, 52 Summerall (oc), 59, 101 St. Claire, 108, 127. PSA NM-MT 8: 21 cards w/ #'s 3, 12, 24, 25 Matson, 26 LeBaron, 30, 32 Van Brocklin, 34, 45, 51, 62 Blanda, 71 Layne, 75 McElhenny, 84, 97, 104 Nomellini, 112 Creekmur, 121 Robustelli, 128, 130, 136 Tunnell. PSA NM 7: 5 cards w/ #'s 1 Walker, 6, 7 Gifford, 70 Ringo, 72 Tittle. PSA EX-MT 6: # 119 Gatski . PSA EX 5: 3 cards w/ #'s 42 Johnson, 110, 152 Landry. Grades 10% Mint, 70% NM to NM-MT, 20% EX to EX-MT.
1955 Topps The Four Horsemen #68 SGC NM/MT 88. It was famed sportswriter Grantland Rice that dubbed the Notre Dame quartet with the name that would follow them into eternity, and here they appear as the key card of the '55 Topps set. Only three have ever graded higher than this fine offering, which boasts sharp color, contrast and corners.
1957 Topps Football Completely Graded Set (156). This horizontally designed issue has both a close up photo and an action shot of each player. This high-grade offering comes complete with the Sherman error card and the tough short printed checklist. Every card has been graded by PSA. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA NM-MT 8: 97 cards w/ #'s 2, 3 McCormack, 4, 5 Marchetti, 6 Nomellini, 7, 8, 10, 11 Brown, 12, 13, 14 Summerall, 16, 18 St. Clair(oc), 19, 21, 22 Van Brocklin, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28 Groza, 30 Tittle, 31 Blanda, 33, 34, 35 Tunnell, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49 Bednarik, 50, 51, 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 58 Sherman Error, 59, 60, 61, 62, 64, 65 Donovan, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 86, 87, 88 Gifford, 90(oc), 105(oc), 106 Christiansen, 108(oc), 109, 110, 115(oc), 116(oc), 117(pd), 126, 129 Perry, 131, 134, 135, 137, 139(oc), 143, 145(oc), 148, 150, 151 Hornung(oc), 153(oc). PSA NM 7: 50 cards w/ #'s 1, 9, 15, 17, 20 Creekmur, 25, 29, 32 Layne, 43, 46 Hirsch, 53, 63, 75, 85, 91, 92 Stautner, 93, 94 Berry, 95 McElhenny, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 107, 111, 112, 113, 114, 118, 120, 121, 122, 124, 125, 128 Moore, 132, 133, 136, 138 Unitas(oc), 141, 142, 144, 146, 147 Ford, 149, 152. PSA EX-MT 6: 4 cards w/ #'s 89, 104, 140, 154. PSA EX 5: 4 cards w/ #'s 119 Starr, 123, 127, 130. PSA VG 3: Checklist 1-154 (mk) Grades 62% NM-MT, 32% NM, 6% EX to EX-MT or lesser.
1972 Topps Football High-Grade Complete Set (351). UPDATE: Please note that there are 351 cards in this set, not 263 as listed in the printed catalog. This offering is perfect for those high-grade set collectors out there. This colorful issue includes a notoriously difficult high number series and key rookies of Alzado, Hendricks, Joiner, Little, Manning, Plunkett, Riggins, Spurrier, Staubach, and Upshaw. A total of 36 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $2,050. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA MINT 9: 14 cards w/ #'s 55 Manning, 167, 181 Olsen, 225 Tarkenton, 240 Little, 244 Joiner, 247, 248 Alworth, 255, 273, 306, 308, 333, 349. PSA NM-MT 8: 18 cards w/ #'s 9, 10, 39, 110 Sayers, 122 Staubach IA, 150 Bradshaw, 160 Simpson, 165 Unitas, 183, 218, 364, 269 (st), 289, 291 Spurrier, 335, 340, 342, 343 Namath IA. PSA NM 7: # 100 Namath . PSA EX-MT 6: 3 cards w/ #'s 106, 200 Staubach, 334. Grades 80% NM to NM-MT, 20% EX to EX-MT.
Football Collectibles
1960 Willie McClung Game Worn Jersey. At 260 pounds in 1960, McClung was the largest man on the Detroit Lions' offensive line, a bulk that would have been housed nicely in this massive early gamer. The darkly hued, Columbia blue, heavyweight durene jersey is fashioned in the 1950's Lions' style, which was devoid of any sleeve striping. In 1961, the Lions would add Northwestern style striping and maintained the styling for four decades, but this 1960's version was the last to highlight simplicity. Even without year tag designators, it can be pinpointed to the turn of the decade due to the presence of a pronounced v-neck, taller 4" sleeve numbers, and the uniquely fonted front number "7" with its angled top right corner. The durene is in great condition but still sports team instituted, jersey body and numeral repairs. The lower back tail sports the local distributor "Griswold Sporting Goods" label and a customized size "52" designator. While McClung may not have been a household name, this jersey is a wonderful representation from the Lions' hey days, with simplistic 1950's styling, LOA from Lou Lampson.
1960's Henry Jordan Game Worn Jersey. Henry Jordan was an All-American at UVA before coming to the Packers from the Browns in 1959. Coincidently, Mastro Lombardi also arrived that season, which started Green Bay's run to greatness. For eleven seasons, he anchored the Packs' defensive line, making four Pro Bowl appearances and earning All-Pro honors six times. Extremely durable, Jordan missed only two games in his first twelve seasons. This green durene jersey is from the tail end of Jordan's career, with high probability from 1968. The long sleeved jersey is of correct color hue with an embedded nine-stripe sleeve pattern, which is one of the most famous and recognizable in NFL history. Of note is the presence of elliptical embedded sleeve padding which was a staple of Packers' durenes through the late '50's and '60's. Jordan's number "74" is affixed white tackle twill on the jersey front, verso and sleeves. The size "54" is slightly larger than Jordan's norm, but at 6' 2", 250 pounds, Jordan's frame with his massive shoulder pads would be in this range. In fact, this jersey was obtained in the 1970's from the private collection of Dad Brazier, longtime Packers' equipment manager. He always had sets which were a size or two larger than the norm for wear on cold weather days. His reasoning was that the players needed some extra room with the layers of thermal undergarments and for defensive lineman. Relatively loose fitting jerseys were not an issue because offensive lineman could not use their hands to block. This would help explain the relative lack of wear. However, the numerals exhibit quality surface softness and there is wear on the label. The tail tagging is the single "Sand Knit" style, designating "Size 54," which first appeared in 1968. While not designated as such, there is significant extra length (perhaps five or six inches). Packers' durenes usually had standard extra length but these cold weather jerseys went beyond the norm. This Hall of Fame representation lacks great wear, but based on its intended use, is still a fine representation of a Hall of Famer from the club's dynasty era. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Late 1960's Tom Mack Game Worn Jersey. Simple in design yet massive in appeal is this early career gamer from the Hall of Fame Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman, an eleven-time Pro Bowler considered one of the best ever at his position. It must also be noted that the offered blue road version is particularly scarce, as the Rams wore white at home during the 1960's, while most other teams wore dark colors at home, thereby forcing the Rams to wear white most of the time while traveling as well. As a result, the blue style was only used two to four times per season. Despite this fact, nice wear is clearly evident, with team repairs at the shoulders, verso and left sleeve, closing wounds suffered on the field of battle. Number "65" is screened on the heavy cotton body on chest, back and sleeves. "Russell Southern [size] 50" label is sewn in tail, which shows the proper significant extra length, though the tagging does not make note of this. An important piece that would find an appropriate home behind a plexiglass window at Canton. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Early 1970's Chuck Howley Game Worn Jersey. Six times a Pro Bowler, and the first defensive player ever to be named Super Bowl MVP, this superstar linebacker ruled the field for thirteen years as a Dallas Cowboy. Here we present a late career home white mesh gamer, exhibiting fantastic season-long wear rarely seen in more modern football jerseys. Number "54" is sewn in royal blue tackle twill to chest, back and shoulders, with "Howley" sewn across a rear nameplate bearing a jagged team repair. The remnants of further bone-jarring action can be found on the sleeves particularly, where resides another healthy repair. The jersey body was made by "Southland" and the company's label and flap size tag "50" is sewn into the inner neckline. The font style, unique to the Cowboys in the '60's and '70's, is correct as is the placement, color hue, size and affixing. The durene sleeves with embedded feather edged striping is also a desirable feature coveted by collectors. In short, a picture-perfect Howley gamer. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Early 1970's Bob Lilly Game Worn Jersey. A stellar representation of a late-career jersey from this superstar defensive lineman who spent the entirety of his fourteen-season Hall of Fame career with the Dallas Cowboys. The home white mesh body of the jersey gives way to hybrid durene sleeves with embedded striping, as is proper for the era. Number "74" is sewn in blue tackle twill to chest, back and sleeves in a style much more desirable than the later screened identifiers. "Lilly" is similarly sewn across rear nameplate, where an 8/10 blue sharpie inscription reads, "To Bill from Bob Lilly #74 Cowboys." Strong wear is evident throughout, particularly in the appearance of team repairs scattered about the shoulders and chest. Local Texas sporting goods manufacturer "Southland" label appears inside collar, with size "48" flap tag affixed below. In short, it's everything you could want in a gamer from this hero of the Lone Star state. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Mid-1970's Len Dawson Game Worn Helmet. One of the greatest passers in the history of the NFL, this legendary Hall of Famer is best remembered for his MVP performance in Super Bowl IV, leading the Chiefs to a twenty-three to seven upset of the Minnesota Vikings. Here we find a late-career representation of his coveted helmet, a "Gladiator" style used by the Chiefs in addition to the traditional Riddell offerings. The outer shell is painted in the proper Chiefs' color hue of fire engine red and sports the mid '70's version of the arrowhead logos with the clear edging. The Chief's had no other outer markings on their shell and through today carry on the same tradition, save for the bumpers, warning sticker and NFL shield. The mask is the BD-9, two-bar version favored by Dawson through most of his career. The side stamping on the mask suggests a 1968-70 time period, but the masks had a useful lifespan of ten years, particularly for a quarterback. Dawson also wore a single bar mask on occasion earlier in his career and a hook after suffering a broken nose in the mid 1960's. The shell's interior is painted battleship gray, as was apropos for "Riddell" and Gladiator masks. The eight-point suspension is the "Gladiator" version and it differs slightly from the "Riddell" version of the era. The crown donut is missing and the front snubber has been trimmed, probably in deference to Dawson being exposed to a wildcat snubber, circa 1974. As was a long time custom with the Chief's, Dawson's name was markered into the shell just above the right ear hole. The font style matches to exemplars. It appears to be over an earlier faded numeric identifier which looks like a "16." There is coding under each ear hole, probably factory paint codes and reconditioning codes. The interior also sports Gladiator's "medalist" reconditioning sticker with black print on an old gold base, as was used in the early to mid 1970's. Solid quarterback wear is clearly evident. A piece ready for a new home in the finest of game used football equipment collections. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Circa 1971-72 Joe Namath Game Worn Jersey & Sideline Beanie. Joe Namath game worn jerseys are in such demand that the plethora of jersey styles worn from the mid-1960's Jets years to his final hurrah with the Rams in '77 have been ranked, graded and scrutinized like T206's and 1965 Topps AFL Football Cards. At the top of the list of course is a SBIII game jersey or SBIII season durene jersey, followed by MacGregor mid-1960's durene jerseys with cerafed font numerals, the heavyweight cold weather jerseys with pockets and sewn on numerals, and the Jets early screened on mesh styles. This jersey obviously falls into the mid-career mesh jersey category, but make no mistake about its ability to rank solidly with the aforementioned heavy hitters. While mesh Jets Namath jerseys are not in short supply, early, turn of the decade representations with extra length, custom crotch piece, nameplate, crossover neck, sleeve customization and wear rocket the jersey right up the charts. Throw in Namath's infamous pregame beanie and the package becomes spectacular.
The jersey body itself is white mesh with mesh 3" green shoulder inserts and green mesh sleeves. The shoulder insert houses a 1.25" mesh stripe sewn overlay, while the contrasting green sleeves sport white sleeve numerals. The mesh collar at 1.25" is unique in both its width and large crossover. The jersey tail sports "Champion" custom added, six-button, cotton crotch piece and the company's size "L" cloth label with a pen code. Don't let the size designator be misleading - the jersey measures to a "46" to "48" and has three to four inches of extra length. It's certainly large enough to accommodate Namath's oversized ribbed padding, the forerunner to the modern day flap jacket. The numerals are screened on in proper and classic "slash" style font. The custom sleeves are cut right to the edge of the green panel edge with a half-inch fold over. The workmanship was local customization and the reinforced stitching along the outer shoulder seam and underarm gusset seam in unusual contrasting white is visible in most Namath game photos of the period.
The name on back font style is the principle one used by Namath on his mesh jerseys, and is characterized by the 2.5" height, excessive width, stemless plain block font style and wide spacing. The 4x17" nameplate is a bonus, as many mid-1970's Jets mesh jerseys did not employ nameplates.
The wear is light but typical of a quarterback. Namath's lightning quick release counteracted his increasing immobility due to knee problems so he was sacked less than might be expected.
The beanie is one of a few worn by Namath which have become famous. The late 1960's one had "JOE" knitted across the front. The early 1970's had a white beanie ball on top, as exhibited here.
This cap and the jersey were given to the wife of a famous uniform collector by a Jets staffer at Shea Stadium in the early 70's. The jersey/cap combo can be considered an outstanding representation of the incomparable Joe Willie Namath from mid-career. Certainly it ranks as the best mesh Namath gamer that exists. Score it a 10++. LOA from Lou Lampson.
The jersey body itself is white mesh with mesh 3" green shoulder inserts and green mesh sleeves. The shoulder insert houses a 1.25" mesh stripe sewn overlay, while the contrasting green sleeves sport white sleeve numerals. The mesh collar at 1.25" is unique in both its width and large crossover. The jersey tail sports "Champion" custom added, six-button, cotton crotch piece and the company's size "L" cloth label with a pen code. Don't let the size designator be misleading - the jersey measures to a "46" to "48" and has three to four inches of extra length. It's certainly large enough to accommodate Namath's oversized ribbed padding, the forerunner to the modern day flap jacket. The numerals are screened on in proper and classic "slash" style font. The custom sleeves are cut right to the edge of the green panel edge with a half-inch fold over. The workmanship was local customization and the reinforced stitching along the outer shoulder seam and underarm gusset seam in unusual contrasting white is visible in most Namath game photos of the period.
The name on back font style is the principle one used by Namath on his mesh jerseys, and is characterized by the 2.5" height, excessive width, stemless plain block font style and wide spacing. The 4x17" nameplate is a bonus, as many mid-1970's Jets mesh jerseys did not employ nameplates.
The wear is light but typical of a quarterback. Namath's lightning quick release counteracted his increasing immobility due to knee problems so he was sacked less than might be expected.
The beanie is one of a few worn by Namath which have become famous. The late 1960's one had "JOE" knitted across the front. The early 1970's had a white beanie ball on top, as exhibited here.
This cap and the jersey were given to the wife of a famous uniform collector by a Jets staffer at Shea Stadium in the early 70's. The jersey/cap combo can be considered an outstanding representation of the incomparable Joe Willie Namath from mid-career. Certainly it ranks as the best mesh Namath gamer that exists. Score it a 10++. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Late 1970's Tony Dorsett Game Worn Jersey. Simple in style yet enormous in appeal is this home white mesh Dallas Cowboys gamer worn by the four-time Pro Bowl running back and 1994 Canton inductee. Light but definite wear is readily apparent from Dorsett's days taking hand offs from the great Roger Staubach. Number "33" is screened to front, back and shoulders in heavy royal blue plasticized numerals, with "Dorsett" screened across rear nameplate. Local Texas manufacturer "Southland" label shows frayed wear in the collar. The sleeves are custom hemmed at the lowermost edge of the bottom stripe and represent Dorsett's penchant for short but tight open sleeves. A fine representation from one of the beloved 'boys of the 1970's. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Late 1970's Drew Pearson Game Worn Jersey. Highly-desirable blue durene Dallas Cowboys gamer instantly recalls the favored receiver of the great Roger Staubach and three-time Pro Bowl candidate. The offered jersey is a fabulous relic despite some alterations, namely the sleeve numbers being moved to a higher position straddling the shoulder seams, and a nameplate change. It also does not have the typical rope stitch support intertwined in the zigzag stitch of the front and back numerals. The durene jersey body with embedded sleeve stripes and accompanying black feather edging is present and correct. The numerals are cut in the correct font style for Cowboys gamers and as mentioned, the sleeve numbers have been repositioned. The rear nameplate is correct with its satin twill base size. "D. Pearson" is on the jersey back in proper font; the first initial is included because of the roster presence of Preston Pearson. A "Southland Athletic" label appears inside the collar, accompanied by a cloth flap tag which retains about half of its original size. There is evidence of at least one and perhaps two previous nameplate remnants. The jersey was probably first used by Reggie Rucker in 1971, Ron Sellers in 1972, and then by Pearson perhaps not until 1975 when Preston Pearson joined the team. It should be noted that the Cowboys wore white at home and most other teams wore dark colors at home, meaning that the 'Boys infrequently wore the heavy blue durenes usually only at LA, St. Louis, Cleveland, etc. For this reason, the blue jerseys were used for multiple seasons. This jersey shows acceptable wear and has team repairs. It is altered, and its numeral affixing is an anomaly, but one can still consider it a Pearson gamer, albeit with some flaws. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Circa 1979 Ted Hendricks Game Worn Helmet. Known as the "Mad Stork", Hendricks was an All-American at Miami and All-Pro with the Colts before joining the Raiders' cast of strange but talented characters. The helmet exhibits outstanding features and is the ultimate Hendricks' headgear to have been offered to date. Its outer shell is painted Raiders' silver and sports the traditional black center stripe and Raiders' shield side logos. The lower back outer shell has Hendricks' number "83" in full squared off block font straddling either side of the stripe. These identifiers are original and intact. The "Riddell" made shell has the corporate logo printed on the Wildcat wide snubber. More importantly, it has unique forehead padding favored by Hendricks and an extremely rare single piece rubber clip engager which holds the top horizontal bar of the mask in place. Few items used this unorthodox clip style, but the Raiders, including Ken Stabler, were one of them. The mask is a full cage with reinforced center bar, the style used by Hendricks during this portion of his career. It has a green dot indicating a large size which allowed Hendricks to wear it closer to his face. The side clips are original and unbroken, a rarity given their brittle composition. The interior of the shell is equally as impressive. It employs the micro fit fluid cell padding with apropos stitch. The crown is stamped "11/79" with a markered year designator "'79" next to it; the jaw is stamped "B-9" and the size range is markered "71/8 - ¾." The stock favored leather jaw pads and they are gloriously present here in size extra large. Beyond the exciting technical feature is the quality of the overall wear. Numerous hits and embedded dings decorate the shell, the mask shows wonderful wear and the inside does as well. There is an overall consistency of strong wear which helps make this helmet a perfect ten. Add an original double low hook up chinstrap and you've got a Hendricks classic, simply the best ever offered. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1979 Larry Csonka Game Worn Jersey. Thrilling the fans in Miami who were heartbroken when this member of the glorious undefeated 1972 squad abandoned ship for the upstart World Football League, and then the New York Giants, this bruising fullback came back to the Sunshine State for the 1979 season to end his career where it began. This white mesh jersey from the prodigal son's return shows light but definite wear, particularly noticeable in the scuffing on the shoulders where a couple team repairs are found. Number "39" screened in classic aqua and orange on front, back and sleeves is sure to make Dolphins fans' hearts skip a beat, as will the block lettered "Csonka" screened across rear nameplate. "Russell Athletic [size] L" label in tail. Another tough Football Hall of Fame jersey from your good friends at Heritage. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Circa 1983 Earl Campbell Game Worn Jersey. Educated jersey collectors know that it's the little things that make a gamer special, and this fine representation from the Hall of Fame running back has those little things in spades. The home white mesh Houston Oilers jersey has the opened under sleeves that Campbell favored, and a couple instances of team repairs to bear witness to the dangers of carrying a ball as eleven large men try to tackle you. The 1977 Heisman Trophy winner's number "34" is screened in royal blue and red to chest, back and sleeves, with "Campbell" screened in block letters across rear nameplate. Proper "Russell Athletic [size] 52" label sewn in tail. The shoulder area is lightly toned with age, but this tremendously important jersey still presents beautifully. The perfect embodiment of an Earl Campbell gamer. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1985 Dan Marino Game Worn Jersey. The earliest Dan Marino jersey we've ever handled, and certainly the finest as well. This spectacular white mesh Miami Dolphins gamer dates from the newly inducted Hall of Famer's third season in the League and shows appropriate quarterback wear, with some contact "dings" particularly noticeable on the rear nameplate. The jersey body is white mesh, which has discolored somewhat over the years. It has a cotton stretch ribbed v-neck and a full compliment of sleeve stripes. As was Marino's styling fashion during his early career, the sleeves have been cut right to the edge of the lowermost sleeve stripe. The alpha and numeric identifiers are correct in their screened-on application. The numerals are aqua and orange and the mesh nameplate features "Marino" in single color aqua, plain block font. The font was unique to the Dolphins at the time and the plate is in proper position approximately 1/4" above the major horizontal transverse seam. All identifiers and correct in their size, position, color hues, font style and affixing style. The lower left front tail sports the "Russell Athletic" red, white and blue label in size "XL." Most Dolphins' jerseys of the era sported labels with non-numeric size designators. Marino has autographed the jersey on the back numeral in perfect black sharpie, and provided an inscription referring to 1985 gamer status and year stats, reading "1985 Season, 4137 YD / 30 TD." Obtained in the 1990's at the height of "screened-on" hysteria from Dolphins' equipment assistant and guru Pat Catello. LOA from Lou Lampson. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Mid-1980's Walter Payton Game Worn Jersey. When it comes to 1980's football jerseys, it doesn't get much sweeter than Sweetness, who entered the National Football League as the Chicago Bears' first round draft pick in 1975 and left it as the all-time leader in rushing and combined net yards. The jersey that most of us picture in our minds when we think of this sadly departed superstar is the style we present here, the navy blue mesh gamer sported by this rushing legend during the era of "The Super Bowl Shuffle." The number "34" on front, back and sleeves and "Payton" on rear nameplate are screened-on white with orange trim, and the font is unique and correct for a Bear's game jersey of the mid 1980's. The "GSH" screened-on designator, which is superimposed on the middle left sleeve stripe, is correct in font size and shape and helps date the jersey to the 1984-86 Bears Championship era, the later portion of Payton's illustrious career. There are no alterations of any kind to the jersey. Left front tail holds a proper "Wilson [size] 44" label. Wear is light but definite. A Hall of Fame caliber shirt, just like the man who wore it. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Mid-1980's Reggie White Game Worn Jersey. There's nothing we love more than a rookie-era Hall of Fame jersey, and while this thirteen-time Pro Bowl defensive end has not yet been enshrined at Canton, there is no doubt that he'll be there before too long. Though, tragically, White will not be there to accept this honor, certainly a jersey very much like this one will be placed upon display to recall one of the most talented defensive players the game has ever seen. Dating from the first several years of White's career, this home white mesh Philadelphia Eagles jersey offers White's number "92" screened in green and black on chest, back and shoulders, with "White" screened in thin green block lettering across rear nameplate. Each sleeve also features the team logo design, while below we find the sidepanels customized with twenty eyelet holes for lacing to a snug fit. Not to be outdone, the tail sports a mesh crotch piece with 5 of 6 buttons intact. In short, the jersey itself is a massive hybrid representation loaded with features and oddities. "Russell Athletic [size] 48" label in the tail is proper for the era. The wear is solid, with a couple of team repairs and unrepaired holes, and there is some faint staining on the upper jersey back that does nothing to detract from visual appeal. A rock solid representation of an early career White. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Early 1990's Reggie White Game Worn Helmet. A perfect piece to accompany our Reggie White Eagles jersey also found in this Signature auction. The offered "Riddell" made helmet shell is green impregnated and sports the Eagles' green color hue on its exterior. The wing logos are silver with white trim and exhibit the correct color hues, surface texture, mill depth and placement. The lower back shell correctly sports the NFL shield logo, size "L" stamp, the white on clear warning sticker and a vertically placed ridge. The customized front bumper "EAGLES" is present. White's full cage mask, one of many styles he wore, is original with clear but discolored clips. The original leather chinstrap is present with tape augmenters on the low hookup portion. The interior padding is AF2, a style used for large and odd shaped head crowns. White qualified for this style. The helmet is completely intact and has consistency of wear on the exterior, interior mask and chinstrap. Overall, a quality mid-career headgear representation of the late, great, Reggie White. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1991 Darren Carrington Game Issued Helmet & Interception Football. The rookie San Diego Chargers safety offers two pieces for our football collecting clientele. First we have a game issue "Riddell" helmet in classic Chargers style, with Carrington's number "29" on verso. The helmet is signed in gold paint pen by the full staff of well over fifty fellow teammates, notably Carrington himself, Seau, Thigpen, Harmon, Butts and dozens more. The autographs are uniformly NRMT or better. Also here is the ball that Carrington caught for his first interception, surely an even greater thrill as it came during his first NFL start. The fantastic paint job has seen a decent amount of wear, but neither the display value nor the historic appeal is significantly hampered by this. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1995 Curtis Martin Game Worn Rookie Jersey. Curtis Martin has quietly become one of the NFL's all time great backs, but after an injury plagued career at Pitt, it was linebacker guru Parcells who plucked him from the draft heap's third round after such running back phenoms like Ki Jana Carter, William Henderson, Sherman Williams, Napolean McCallum, Terrell Fletcher and Tyrone Wheatley were long gone. During that rookie season, Martin responded with 1487 yards and fifteen touchdowns, and 12,000 yards later, he's a lock for the Hall. This representation harkens back to the 1995 season when Parcells and the Pats took the field with the league's grandest and most creative uniforms. Embedded pinstriping on the mesh main body became the rage, dazzle cloth shoulder yokes and sleeves became the modern day durene, and the Elvis logos grew to thirteen inches in length in their new sewn on state. The numerals became oversized drop shadow with slant, and the name on back became the NFL's first with italicized font. While the style would last for more than five seasons, 1995 was the start and it was Martin's rookie season. Made by "Starter," it sports the manufacturer's NFL authentic tail label with a size "48" flap tag. The Starter logos were sewn beneath the sleeve numerals and stayed in that location until the 1996 Super Bowl when the league forced the club to relocate them to the shoulder seam for greater exposure. This jersey shows solid season long running back wear with four repairs, numerous dings to the shoulder logos, sleeve degradation and one line of blue turf paint still clinging to the back numeral "2." The neckline has lost its elasticity, the sleeve cuffs less so. The numeral wear is outstanding also. Overall, one great rookie representation of not only an outstanding running back, but a class act as well. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1997 Jerry Rice Game Worn Jersey. An injury-shortened season, yet the greatest receiver of all time still put reasonable wear into this red mesh gamer from his glory years with the San Francisco 49'ers. The unforgettable number "80" is sewn in red, gold and black tackle twill to chest, back and shoulders, with "Rice" spanning the rear nameplate. "Reebok [size] 44" label in tail has "100% Nylon" flap tag affixed, while manufacturer's label in tail notes year and team logo. A perfect black sharpie signature on rear numerals rounds out this perfect package. LOA from Lou Lampson. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1997 Deion Sanders Game Worn Jersey. Sourced from a close friend of Neon Deion, this road blue mesh Dallas Cowboys gamer was shucked from the future Hall of Fame corner's frame immediately following a game and given to Sanders' buddy, whose notarized letter of provenance accompanies the lot. In classic Cowboys styling, the jersey boasts screened number "21" identifiers on chest, back and shoulders, with "Sanders" properly screened across the rear nameplate. Coding swatch inside collar reads, "97-50," noting year and size respectively. "Nike ProLine" label in tail has "L" flap tag affixed. Use is very light, though this is not unusual for the manner in which Sanders played, rarely delivering or receiving a heavy hit and relying instead on his impeccable coverage which usually had opposing quarterbacks looking in the other direction anyhow. Verso is signed in strong black sharpie, "To Burt, Deion Sanders, Psalm 37-4." A fine memento of Sander's sixth Pro Bowl season. LOA from Lou Lampson. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1998 Steve Young Game Worn Jersey. This representation from late in Steve Young's career is his San Francisco 49'ers home game jersey used in the preseason of 1998 and the team's opener, a thrilling 36-30 overtime win over the Jets on September 6. The jersey is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Young's MOS Sports Inc. on the signing and inscribing of the gamer. The jersey body is a maroon, highly shined mesh in its entirety, save for the stretch ribbed cotton V-neck with the NFL shield at its base. In customary fashion for Young, the sleeves are cut and hemmed just below the top stripe, cutting into the "SF" interlocking logos. The Reebok logos are sewn above the top stripe on each sleeve as was apropos. The numeric identifiers "8" are sewn on in triple color drop shadow tackle twill. The name on back resides on a mesh plate in two-color, sewn on, plain block font. The interior collar houses the proper "Reebok [size] 44" label with "100% Nylon Pro -2"" flap tag. A second label in the tail offers logos of the NFL, the 49'ers and Reebok, with "1998" year code. The jersey shows solid quarterback wear with loose threading, minor surface abrasions and a major repair to the rear numeral. Perfect black sharpie inscription on verso reads, "My best to you always, Steve Young, Jets 9/6/98, 36-30." LOA from Lou Lampson. LOA from PSA/DNA.
2003 Edgerrin James Game Worn Jersey. The star running back of the Indianapolis Colts put mild wear into this blue mesh gamer from a season that saw him find the endzone eleven times. Number "32" adorns the chest, verso and sleeves in white tackle twill, and "James" is sewn across rear nameplate. Strip tag inside collar reads, "03-46." Tail tagging: "Reebok, 4" L.B., 46." A perfect piece to get signed, and an exciting memento from one of the most exhilarating runners in the League. LOA from Lou Lampson.
2003 Donovan McNabb Game Worn Jersey. Yet again this season the immensely talented Philadelphia Eagles quarterback led his squad all the way to the Conference Championship game, racking up over 3,200 yards of passing and averaging a touchdown throw per contest. The offered white mesh gamer exhibits light but definite wear from an amazing twelve and four season, with number "5" in tri-colored tackle twill on chest, back and shoulders, and "McNabb" sewn across rear nameplate. "Reebok" label in tail has "6" L.B." and "50" flap tags affixed. Strip printed with "03-50" code sewn inside collar. Perfect black sharpie signature from McNabb appears on the rear numeral. LOA from Lou Lampson. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1958 N.F.L. Championship Game Used Football Signed by Unitas. Known in the football world as simply "The Greatest Game Ever Played," the historic meeting of the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants to establish N.F.L. supremacy in 1958 remains one of the noteworthy events in the annals of American athletics. Yankee Stadium, the site of so many unforgettable moments in baseball lore, served as the battlefield in a game that is credited with bringing professional football into prominence, essentially giving birth to the modern N.F.L. It was a game that had it all--lead changes, turnovers, a game-saving goal line stand, a game-tying last minute field goal. Every minute, it seemed, history was being made. "When the game ended in a tie," Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas remembered, "we were standing on the sidelines waiting to see what came next. All of a sudden, the officials came over and said, 'Send the captain out. We're going to flip a coin to see who will receive.' That was the first we heard of the overtime period."
Of course we all know how it ended, with a single-yard dive by Hall of Fame running back Alan Ameche to sentence the Giants to sudden death and clinch for the Baltimore Colts a piece of immortality. And now, as we approach the Golden Anniversary of this gridiron milestone event, Heritage is proud to present for the first time to the collecting community this Bert Bell "The Duke" football battled over on December 28, 1958 on the ground where Ruth and DiMaggio once plied their trade. But on this day, it was Unitas, Ameche, Berry and Gifford that hallowed the Bronx turf and turned Yankee Stadium once again into the center of the sporting world. And as if any football used on this day would not be appealing enough, this remarkable pigskin was carried home from the game by Johnny Unitas himself, who later gave the ball to a family friend. A notarized letter from the son of the recipient explains that his father worked for the local Coca-Cola distributorship and serviced the Colts' training camp, and how he himself used to babysit for the Unitas children. The letter goes on to attest that the ball was given to the man's father following the 1958 Championship Game.
The ball shows fine use from that day, and holds the words "Colt Foot Ball" written in the consignor's youthful vintage hand. Years later, the man tracked down Unitas, introducing himself and presenting the ball that his father had received as a gift after the sport's most noteworthy event. Unitas remembered well, and offered his 10/10 black ink blessing of the ball: "1958 Championship Game, Best Wishes, Johnny Unitas." Remarkably, the ball remains perfectly inflated and ready for action, though we would suggest that display in a glass case would be far more appropriate than a game of backyard catch. It's certainly one of the most important football artifacts to reach the auction block in recent memory. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Of course we all know how it ended, with a single-yard dive by Hall of Fame running back Alan Ameche to sentence the Giants to sudden death and clinch for the Baltimore Colts a piece of immortality. And now, as we approach the Golden Anniversary of this gridiron milestone event, Heritage is proud to present for the first time to the collecting community this Bert Bell "The Duke" football battled over on December 28, 1958 on the ground where Ruth and DiMaggio once plied their trade. But on this day, it was Unitas, Ameche, Berry and Gifford that hallowed the Bronx turf and turned Yankee Stadium once again into the center of the sporting world. And as if any football used on this day would not be appealing enough, this remarkable pigskin was carried home from the game by Johnny Unitas himself, who later gave the ball to a family friend. A notarized letter from the son of the recipient explains that his father worked for the local Coca-Cola distributorship and serviced the Colts' training camp, and how he himself used to babysit for the Unitas children. The letter goes on to attest that the ball was given to the man's father following the 1958 Championship Game.
The ball shows fine use from that day, and holds the words "Colt Foot Ball" written in the consignor's youthful vintage hand. Years later, the man tracked down Unitas, introducing himself and presenting the ball that his father had received as a gift after the sport's most noteworthy event. Unitas remembered well, and offered his 10/10 black ink blessing of the ball: "1958 Championship Game, Best Wishes, Johnny Unitas." Remarkably, the ball remains perfectly inflated and ready for action, though we would suggest that display in a glass case would be far more appropriate than a game of backyard catch. It's certainly one of the most important football artifacts to reach the auction block in recent memory. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1958 Baltimore Colts Team Signed Football. By virtue of coming out on the winning end of "The Greatest Game Ever Played," the World Champion '58 Colts will live forever as one of the most noteworthy teams in gridiron history. The fabled squad that managed a twenty-three to seventeen Championship game victory over the hometown Giants at Yankee Stadium assemble here for eternity, with thirty-six autographs from such immortals as Unitas, Ewbank, Berry, Ameche, Marchetti, Parker, Donovan, Moore and more. The white panels of the "MacGregor" football they call home leave the signatures to present in an average strength of 8/10 to 9/10, though a few (none listed) fall a point or two below. A modern plug has been inserted to keep the bladder inflated. One of the most desirable team signed footballs in the hobby. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1959 New York Giants Team Signed Football. They rolled to a League-best ten and two season this year, staking a claim as a candidate for one of the greatest Giants teams of all time. This autographed ball is likewise a strong contender for the title of finest ever, as not a single instance of the forty-two signatures present has diminished a fraction of a shade from its original brilliance. Taking top billing are names like coach Tom Landry, Huff, Gifford, Brown, Grier, Triplett, Summerall and more. Unofficial ball presents beautifully, and still holds a full belly of air. Furthermore, the placement of the autographs on just two of the four panels allows for simultaneous display of all autographs. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1963 Green Bay Packers Team Signed Football. "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing," once claimed Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, and one does not make such a bold pronouncement without an established history of winning ways. And as the stamping on this Official NFL "The Duke" football notes, the men who patrolled the icy turf of Lambeau did indeed notch consecutive World Championships in 1961 and 1962, establishing this squad as one of the game's great dynasties. Assembled here are the signatures of forty-six men who came close to making it a trifecta, most notably Lombardi himself, Starr, Jordan, Wood, Adderley, Davis, Nitschke, Ringo, Taylor and Gregg. That's an even ten Canton inductees! Signature quality holds steady at a consistent 8/10, with all readily legible and unmistakable. The ball derives from the personal collection of team member Frank Mestnick, whose name is penned on a piece of vintage white tape affixed just below the ball's lacing. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1961 New York Giants Team Signed Football. The NFL East Champs have never been better represented than they are on this simply flawless Official "The Duke" football, aging not a day since one of the greatest sporting years in Big Apple history. A defeat in the Championship Game in arctic Lambeau Field conditions cannot minimize the appeal of this team, and certainly not of this top quality football, which sports fifty-four 9/10 and better ink signatures from early greats like Tittle, Rosie Brown, Huff, Robustelli, Grier, Conerly, Summerall, Webster, Rote, and Giants executives Tim and Wellington Mara. We do not exaggerate when we claim that this ball appears exactly as it did on the day it was signed. It even remains perfectly inflated! LOA from PSA/DNA.
1961 Pro Bowl Signed Football. Reading like a who's who of the legends of the 1960's game is this historic pigskin, blessed with no fewer than sixty-three autographs of the men who ruled the gridiron during the Kennedy days. While a few autographs have lightened to an entirely legible 6/10, the vast majority have held steady at 8/10 to 10/10, adding "condition" to the long list of reasons to desire this ball. Topping this list, of course, are names like Atkins, Bednarik, Rosey Brown, Gifford, Gregg, Grier, Hornung, Huff, Stan Jones, Henry Jordan, Night Train Lane, Lary, Lombardi, Marchetti, Mike McCormack, Tommy McDonald, Bob Mitchell, Lenny Moore, Nomellini, Jim Parker, Robustelli, Joe Schmidt, Starr, St. Clair, Stautner, Jim Taylor, Unitas and Van Brocklin. How many Hall of Fame autographs is that? A lot! A charmingly painted "Pro Bowl Game, East/West, 1961" at the lacing of the ball rounds out the package. A special chance to take your football autograph collection to the next level, or to begin one with a genuine bang. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1963 New York Giants Team Signed Football. Another number one finish in the NFL East for the Big Apple squad, and fifty of them celebrate another successful year with the application of 9/10 average autographs to this unofficial ball. All of the big stars are present, including Huff, McElhenny, Brown, Tittle, Robustelli, Gifford, Shofner, Webster, and Tim and Wellington Mara. Search high and low and you won't find a strong representation of this very tough and important team ball. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1963 New York Giants Team Signed Football. The Mighty Giants took an eleven and three season into the Championship Game this season, coming up just three points short of the Grand Prize. Nonetheless, this is considered one of the all-time great teams to call the Big Apple home, featuring superstars like Robustelli, Tittle, Sherman, Chandler, Gifford, McElhenny, Rote, Huff, Webster, Barnes, Dess, Lynch, Shofner and owner Wellington Mara. Signature quality is absolutely unimprovable, a thorough and consistent 10/10 on this "Spalding Official Intercollegiate" pigskin. It is entirely safe to say that a finer example does not exist. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1965 Chicago Bears Team Signed Football with Piccolo. The greatest "tearjerker" in sports film history may well be the 1971 flick "Brian's Song," which remembers the special friendship between Chicago Bears backs Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo, the latter of which is stricken by a fatal disease. Each of these Windy City heroes is present here, along with fellow legends Halas, Butkus, Atkins, Fortunato and Arnett to name a few. Signature quality is a very consistent and entirely legible 6/10 to 7/10 on this lightly handled "Wilson" football with stamped "Chicago Bears 1965" identifier. Forty-five signatures total. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1965 Green Bay Packers Team Signed Football. After three years of World Championship drought, Vince Lombardi's hardnosed Packers returned to their rightful place atop the NFL heap in 1965. Assembled on this Official NFL "The Duke" ball are the signatures of forty-eight of the champagne-drenched victors, most notably Lombardi, Jordan, Starr, Nitschke, Davis, Gregg, Adderley, Kramer, Taylor, Wood, McGee and Pitts. Signature quality is a bold and consistent 7/10 to 9/10, with every last name clearly legible. Ball itself is still fully inflated and shows some minor wear but still presents wonderfully. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1967 Dallas Cowboys Team Signed Football. "Dandy Don" took the 'boys to the brink of a World Championship this season, coming up just four points short against Lombardi's fierce Packers on December 31, 1967 in a game that would come to be forever known as "The Ice Bowl." Thirty-five signatures on this "MacGregor" football include everyone of note, namely Meredith, Lilly, Green, Renfro, Neely, Andrie, Hayes, Howley and more. Signature quality is terrific, rating from a conservative 7/10 all the way to a perfect 10/10. Ball itself shows light handling but still presents wonderfully. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1968 Chicago Bears Team Signed Football with Piccolo. The friendship between Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers and his back-up Brian Piccolo, and the tragic, early death of the latter, formed the basis for the celebrated sports film "Brian's Song," many sports fans' favorite flick. Each of these brave and talented men appear in perfect 10/10 black ink on this special team signed football offering a full forty NRMT-MT collection of autographs from the Soldier Field squad. Sayers' Hall of Fame neighbor Dick Butkus is among the other signatures. Piccolo's autograph on a football is very tough, especially in such top condition. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1974 St. Louis Cardinals Team Signed Football. The Red Birds looked like the team to beat in '74, coming tearing out of the starting gate to a seven and zero record before finishing with a still-impressive ten and four total. All five Pro Bowlers are present and accounted for here on this "Spalding Autograph" football--Hart, Dierdorf, Gray, Wehrli and Metcalf, as well as stars Dobler, Young, Rowe and more. Thirty-nine signatures are here in total, with each and every one rating 9/10 or better against the white leather panels of the ball. Ball itself shows minor handling wear, but nothing that significantly detracts from display value. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1991 Troy Aikman "Dallas All-Stars" Basketball Uniform. Perhaps the most desirable uniform out of the group, owned and operated by the Hall of Fame quarterback, and offering no fewer than three perfect blue sharpie signatures (front and back of jersey, and a third on the shorts). Number "8" on chest and verso. "Aikman" spanning shoulders. Certainly one of the most unusual and financially accessible Aikman gamers on the market.
For the Dallas Cowboys collector that has everything, or the hobbyist who prefers the quirky and unique, we present the following selection of basketball uniforms worn on the hardwood by some of the biggest stars of the storied franchise in the early 1990's. While most NFL winter touring basketball jerseys were thrown together with little thought to styling or detail, and often made locally, these jerseys were carefully planned and constructed with the help of design professionals. The trim in white and silver is reminiscent of the club's road jerseys, collar trim and sleeve stripes, while the baby blue dazzle cloth side panels take one back to the color hue of the '70's Cowboys' game pants. "Dallas All-Stars" is screened to the chest of the jerseys and right leg of the shorts. Furthermore, the player's football jersey number is screened on chest and back, with his name applied to the plate spanning the shoulders. All pieces bear "Russell" tagging with appropriate size markings, and show appropriately light but definite wear. All autographs appear in perfect silver sharpie, and were acquired in person by our Dallas area consignor. LOA from Lou Lampson.
For the Dallas Cowboys collector that has everything, or the hobbyist who prefers the quirky and unique, we present the following selection of basketball uniforms worn on the hardwood by some of the biggest stars of the storied franchise in the early 1990's. While most NFL winter touring basketball jerseys were thrown together with little thought to styling or detail, and often made locally, these jerseys were carefully planned and constructed with the help of design professionals. The trim in white and silver is reminiscent of the club's road jerseys, collar trim and sleeve stripes, while the baby blue dazzle cloth side panels take one back to the color hue of the '70's Cowboys' game pants. "Dallas All-Stars" is screened to the chest of the jerseys and right leg of the shorts. Furthermore, the player's football jersey number is screened on chest and back, with his name applied to the plate spanning the shoulders. All pieces bear "Russell" tagging with appropriate size markings, and show appropriately light but definite wear. All autographs appear in perfect silver sharpie, and were acquired in person by our Dallas area consignor. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1991 Emmitt Smith "Dallas All-Stars" Game Worn Basketball Uniform & Signed Basketball. The all-time leading yardage man put strong use into this jersey near the start of his remarkable Hall of Fame career. Number "22" on chest and verso. "E. Smith" spanning shoulders. Jersey is signed in perfect blue sharpie, with Smith adding his number "22." Dating from the same courtside autograph session is a ball used in the game, also bearing a perfect silver sharpie (this time in silver) from the legendary running back.
For the Dallas Cowboys collector that has everything, or the hobbyist who prefers the quirky and unique, we present the following selection of basketball uniforms worn on the hardwood by some of the biggest stars of the storied franchise in the early 1990's. While most NFL winter touring basketball jerseys were thrown together with little thought to styling or detail, and often made locally, these jerseys were carefully planned and constructed with the help of design professionals. The trim in white and silver is reminiscent of the club's road jerseys, collar trim and sleeve stripes, while the baby blue dazzle cloth side panels take one back to the color hue of the '70's Cowboys' game pants. "Dallas All-Stars" is screened to the chest of the jerseys and right leg of the shorts. Furthermore, the player's football jersey number is screened on chest and back, with his name applied to the plate spanning the shoulders. All pieces bear "Russell" tagging with appropriate size markings, and show appropriately light but definite wear. All autographs appear in perfect silver sharpie, and were acquired in person by our Dallas area consignor. LOA from Lou Lampson.
For the Dallas Cowboys collector that has everything, or the hobbyist who prefers the quirky and unique, we present the following selection of basketball uniforms worn on the hardwood by some of the biggest stars of the storied franchise in the early 1990's. While most NFL winter touring basketball jerseys were thrown together with little thought to styling or detail, and often made locally, these jerseys were carefully planned and constructed with the help of design professionals. The trim in white and silver is reminiscent of the club's road jerseys, collar trim and sleeve stripes, while the baby blue dazzle cloth side panels take one back to the color hue of the '70's Cowboys' game pants. "Dallas All-Stars" is screened to the chest of the jerseys and right leg of the shorts. Furthermore, the player's football jersey number is screened on chest and back, with his name applied to the plate spanning the shoulders. All pieces bear "Russell" tagging with appropriate size markings, and show appropriately light but definite wear. All autographs appear in perfect silver sharpie, and were acquired in person by our Dallas area consignor. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1993 Daryl Johnston "Dallas All-Stars" Game Worn Basketball Uniform. Some blood staining at the collar proves this wasn't all just fun and games for the two-time Pro Bowl running back. Number "48" on chest and verso. "D. Johnston" spanning shoulders. Jersey and shorts are signed in perfect silver sharpie, with Johnston adding his number "48" and nickname "Moose."
For the Dallas Cowboys collector that has everything, or the hobbyist who prefers the quirky and unique, we present the following selection of basketball uniforms worn on the hardwood by some of the biggest stars of the storied franchise in the early 1990's. While most NFL winter touring basketball jerseys were thrown together with little thought to styling or detail, and often made locally, these jerseys were carefully planned and constructed with the help of design professionals. The trim in white and silver is reminiscent of the club's road jerseys, collar trim and sleeve stripes, while the baby blue dazzle cloth side panels take one back to the color hue of the '70's Cowboys' game pants. "Dallas All-Stars" is screened to the chest of the jerseys and right leg of the shorts. Furthermore, the player's football jersey number is screened on chest and back, with his name applied to the plate spanning the shoulders. All pieces bear "Russell" tagging with appropriate size markings, and show appropriately light but definite wear. All autographs appear in perfect silver sharpie, and were acquired in person by our Dallas area consignor. LOA from Lou Lampson.
For the Dallas Cowboys collector that has everything, or the hobbyist who prefers the quirky and unique, we present the following selection of basketball uniforms worn on the hardwood by some of the biggest stars of the storied franchise in the early 1990's. While most NFL winter touring basketball jerseys were thrown together with little thought to styling or detail, and often made locally, these jerseys were carefully planned and constructed with the help of design professionals. The trim in white and silver is reminiscent of the club's road jerseys, collar trim and sleeve stripes, while the baby blue dazzle cloth side panels take one back to the color hue of the '70's Cowboys' game pants. "Dallas All-Stars" is screened to the chest of the jerseys and right leg of the shorts. Furthermore, the player's football jersey number is screened on chest and back, with his name applied to the plate spanning the shoulders. All pieces bear "Russell" tagging with appropriate size markings, and show appropriately light but definite wear. All autographs appear in perfect silver sharpie, and were acquired in person by our Dallas area consignor. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1993 Ken Norton "Dallas All-Stars" Game Worn Basketball Jersey. The veteran Pro Bowl linebacker from UCLA. Number "51" on chest and verso. "K. Norton" spanning shoulders. Unsigned.
For the Dallas Cowboys collector that has everything, or the hobbyist who prefers the quirky and unique, we present the following selection of basketball uniforms worn on the hardwood by some of the biggest stars of the storied franchise in the early 1990's. While most NFL winter touring basketball jerseys were thrown together with little thought to styling or detail, and often made locally, these jerseys were carefully planned and constructed with the help of design professionals. The trim in white and silver is reminiscent of the club's road jerseys, collar trim and sleeve stripes, while the baby blue dazzle cloth side panels take one back to the color hue of the '70's Cowboys' game pants. "Dallas All-Stars" is screened to the chest of the jerseys and right leg of the shorts. Furthermore, the player's football jersey number is screened on chest and back, with his name applied to the plate spanning the shoulders. All pieces bear "Russell" tagging with appropriate size markings, and show appropriately light but definite wear. All autographs appear in perfect silver sharpie, and were acquired in person by our Dallas area consignor. LOA from Lou Lampson.
For the Dallas Cowboys collector that has everything, or the hobbyist who prefers the quirky and unique, we present the following selection of basketball uniforms worn on the hardwood by some of the biggest stars of the storied franchise in the early 1990's. While most NFL winter touring basketball jerseys were thrown together with little thought to styling or detail, and often made locally, these jerseys were carefully planned and constructed with the help of design professionals. The trim in white and silver is reminiscent of the club's road jerseys, collar trim and sleeve stripes, while the baby blue dazzle cloth side panels take one back to the color hue of the '70's Cowboys' game pants. "Dallas All-Stars" is screened to the chest of the jerseys and right leg of the shorts. Furthermore, the player's football jersey number is screened on chest and back, with his name applied to the plate spanning the shoulders. All pieces bear "Russell" tagging with appropriate size markings, and show appropriately light but definite wear. All autographs appear in perfect silver sharpie, and were acquired in person by our Dallas area consignor. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1993 Jay Novacek "Dallas All-Stars" Game Worn Basketball Uniform. A five-time Pro Bowl tight end, representing each of his seasons wearing the Lone Star helmet. Number "84" on chest and verso. Misspelled "Novachek" spanning shoulders. Jersey and shorts are signed in perfect silver sharpie.
For the Dallas Cowboys collector that has everything, or the hobbyist who prefers the quirky and unique, we present the following selection of basketball uniforms worn on the hardwood by some of the biggest stars of the storied franchise in the early 1990's. While most NFL winter touring basketball jerseys were thrown together with little thought to styling or detail, and often made locally, these jerseys were carefully planned and constructed with the help of design professionals. The trim in white and silver is reminiscent of the club's road jerseys, collar trim and sleeve stripes, while the baby blue dazzle cloth side panels take one back to the color hue of the '70's Cowboys' game pants. "Dallas All-Stars" is screened to the chest of the jerseys and right leg of the shorts. Furthermore, the player's football jersey number is screened on chest and back, with his name applied to the plate spanning the shoulders. All pieces bear "Russell" tagging with appropriate size markings, and show appropriately light but definite wear. All autographs appear in perfect silver sharpie, and were acquired in person by our Dallas area consignor. LOA from Lou Lampson.
For the Dallas Cowboys collector that has everything, or the hobbyist who prefers the quirky and unique, we present the following selection of basketball uniforms worn on the hardwood by some of the biggest stars of the storied franchise in the early 1990's. While most NFL winter touring basketball jerseys were thrown together with little thought to styling or detail, and often made locally, these jerseys were carefully planned and constructed with the help of design professionals. The trim in white and silver is reminiscent of the club's road jerseys, collar trim and sleeve stripes, while the baby blue dazzle cloth side panels take one back to the color hue of the '70's Cowboys' game pants. "Dallas All-Stars" is screened to the chest of the jerseys and right leg of the shorts. Furthermore, the player's football jersey number is screened on chest and back, with his name applied to the plate spanning the shoulders. All pieces bear "Russell" tagging with appropriate size markings, and show appropriately light but definite wear. All autographs appear in perfect silver sharpie, and were acquired in person by our Dallas area consignor. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1993 "Dallas All-Stars" Minor Stars Game Worn Basketball Uniform Lot. Jerseys: 1) Nate Newton, unsigned. 2) Jim Jeffcoat, unsigned. 3) Dixon Edwards, unsigned. 4) Kevin Smith, unsigned. 5) Tony Tolbert, signed. 6) Chad Hennings (misspelled "Henning"), signed. Two pairs of shorts have markered identifiers inside waistband: 1) Number "26" for Kevin Smith. 2) Number "55" for Robert Jones. The other two pairs are unidentified, but could obviously be displayed with any and all jerseys. All shorts are unsigned.
For the Dallas Cowboys collector that has everything, or the hobbyist who prefers the quirky and unique, we present the following selection of basketball uniforms worn on the hardwood by some of the biggest stars of the storied franchise in the early 1990's. While most NFL winter touring basketball jerseys were thrown together with little thought to styling or detail, and often made locally, these jerseys were carefully planned and constructed with the help of design professionals. The trim in white and silver is reminiscent of the club's road jerseys, collar trim and sleeve stripes, while the baby blue dazzle cloth side panels take one back to the color hue of the '70's Cowboys' game pants. "Dallas All-Stars" is screened to the chest of the jerseys and right leg of the shorts. Furthermore, the player's football jersey number is screened on chest and back, with his name applied to the plate spanning the shoulders. All pieces bear "Russell" tagging with appropriate size markings, and show appropriately light but definite wear. All autographs appear in perfect silver sharpie, and were acquired in person by our Dallas area consignor. LOA from Lou Lampson.
For the Dallas Cowboys collector that has everything, or the hobbyist who prefers the quirky and unique, we present the following selection of basketball uniforms worn on the hardwood by some of the biggest stars of the storied franchise in the early 1990's. While most NFL winter touring basketball jerseys were thrown together with little thought to styling or detail, and often made locally, these jerseys were carefully planned and constructed with the help of design professionals. The trim in white and silver is reminiscent of the club's road jerseys, collar trim and sleeve stripes, while the baby blue dazzle cloth side panels take one back to the color hue of the '70's Cowboys' game pants. "Dallas All-Stars" is screened to the chest of the jerseys and right leg of the shorts. Furthermore, the player's football jersey number is screened on chest and back, with his name applied to the plate spanning the shoulders. All pieces bear "Russell" tagging with appropriate size markings, and show appropriately light but definite wear. All autographs appear in perfect silver sharpie, and were acquired in person by our Dallas area consignor. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1960 Dave Wilcox East-West Shrine Game Shirt from the Dave Wilcox Collection. UPDATE: Please note that this shirt was issued to Wilcox for a high school game following the end of his senior year, and not for college as is listed in the auction catalog copy. White polo shirt was worn with pride by the talented high school linebacker upon being given the honor of an invitation to play in this historic annual game played to benefit crippled children. Legends from Gerald Ford to John Elway have pointed to their own participation in the game as a highlight of their respective football careers, and Wilcox certainly feels the same. The simple cotton shirt shows some wear and toning, but still presents very nicely. "Champion [size] L" tag in collar. The earliest known Wilcox football shirt. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1963 Dave Wilcox Game Worn University of Oregon Jersey from the Dave Wilcox Collection. We all know how tough Hall of Fame jerseys are, but the supply thins dramatically from that small supply when considering those Cantonites' college gamers. Here we present a white cotton road jersey worn by Wilcox as a member of the Oregon Ducks during his senior year. Number "64" is screened on front and verso, and the jersey shows punishing wear, with numerous repaired and unrepaired cuts and tears suffered on the NCAA gridiron, dozens in all. Some paint loss to the rear numeral appears to be the work of both wear and age. Anonymous "XL" label is present in the tail, which extends to encompass a button crotch piece. Even earlier than the coveted "rookie jersey," this one is a rare opportunity for the advanced collector that wishes to set himself apart from the pack. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1963 Dave Wilcox Practice Worn University of Oregon Jersey from the Dave Wilcox Collection. Hall of Fame prehistory on a budget. While there are certainly legions of collectors drooling over Wilcox' Ducks gamer, only one lucky soul will walk away with that prize. Those wanting a taste of a college shirt from this immensely talented 49'ers superstar have a second shot with the offering of this practice shirt, showing tremendous wear from intrasquad scraps under the cloudy Pacific Northwest sky. The simple white cotton jersey has number "79" screened on front and back, and a nice collection of dings and dents throughout. Sleeves are custom cut. No tagging. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1964 Dave Wilcox Hula Bowl Game Worn Jersey from the Dave Wilcox Collection. What college kid would pass up a chance at a free trip to Hawaii? Certainly not future Hall of Fame legend Wilcox, who gladly accepted the offer to play in this college all-star game of sorts headquartered in our fiftieth state. This red durene jersey issued to Wilcox for the game has contrasting white durene shoulder panel inserts which house an array of screened on blue stars. The star motif continues in white onto the upper portions of the red durene sleeves. The "90" numerals are affixed in white tackle twill in standard, full block font. Why Wilcox wore "90" in this game after wearing "64" at Oregon and continuing with this number for many years with the 49'ers, is open to conjecture. Wilcox personally has no recollection of the number origins, so it is safe to assume that "64" was pre-issued or did not exist. The jersey sports a 1960's era "Spanjian [size] 48" label affixed at the lower left seam area of the front tail. "Spanjian," a major West Coast Uniform distributor, would have been a logical choice as supplier of Hula Bowl uniforms. The jersey shows appropriate single game usage. The stars screening show some color degradation, particularly the white ones, but this does not detract from the jersey's visual appeal, nor do some small unrepaired holes. An important college all-star game representation of an NFL Hall of Famer, sourced directly from the player. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Mid-1960's Dave Wilcox Game Worn Jersey from the Dave Wilcox Collection. A most unwelcome sight to any opponent unlucky enough to find himself lining up opposite this home white San Francisco 49'ers jersey, the mood is much changed from a collecting standpoint to one bordering on outright joy. The jersey body of this hobbyist's dream piece is a classic white durene with the 49'ers' traditional triple red sleeve stripe pattern. The striping is embedded into the sleeve material as was customary during the era. The sleeves have been trimmed right at the lower edge of the bottom stripe and because there was no hem, minor curling has resulted and the lowermost stripe is not visible in its entirety. The numerals are unique to the 49'ers jerseys, highlighted by their stem-less bases and elongated sleeve numbers measuring 4+". The font style itself was used throughout the 1960's and for part of the late 1950's, save for the 1959 roads which were full stemmed block. The oversized sleeve numbers first appeared in 1960 and lasted until the mid-1970's. The number "64" designators found on chest, back and sleeves in red tackle twill are extremely well worn. The front "6" has a tear, the rear "4" has a major tear, the right sleeve numbers show tears and combat fatigue, and the left side set is amply worn. The tail sports the large "Wilson" label associated with the early to mid-1960's. Wilcox was a rookie in 1964, so the labeling in this jersey dated the jersey to Wilcox's first three seasons, or early in his eleven-year career which saw him elected to seven Pro Bowls. A rookie-era Hall of Fame jersey with fine wear, sourced directly from the player--what more could you ask for? LOA from Lou Lampson.
Late 1960's San Francisco 49'ers Team Signed Footballs Lot of 2 from the Dave Wilcox Collection. A pair of special autographed footballs from the personal collection of this 49'ers Hall of Famer feature essentially identical rosters of flawless ink signatures, approximately forty-five on each. Present on both are such legends as Wilcox himself, Jimmy Johnson, Brodie, Gene Washington, Blue and Gossett. Not a single autograph on either ball dips below a quality of 9/10. A fantastic lot for either the serious San Francisco collector, or a dealer looking to sell the balls individually. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Circa 1970 Pro Bowl Team Signed Footballs Lot of 2 from the Dave Wilcox Collection. The best the NFL had to offer appears on two special signed footballs deriving from the 49'ers Hall of Famer's personal collection. The first ball, an Official NFL Rozelle model with white panels for signing, features approximately thirty-five autographs with such superstars as Wilcox, Carmichael, Olsen, Renfro, Charley Taylor, Foreman, Mack, Wright, Houston and Yary. The second pigskin, an unofficial Rawlings, offers approximately thirty-seven signatures, notably Olsen, Wilcox, Staubach, Butkus, Mack, Wright, Yary and Greg Landry. Each remains in spectacular condition, with the average signature quality easily in the 9/10 range, and perhaps only one or two dropping even a single point below. LOA from PSA/DNA.
2000 Hall of Fame Inductees Signed Football from the Dave Wilcox Collection. All five members of Canton's Class of 2000 have checked in with perfect black sharpie signatures on the pale white hide of this special Official NFL commemorative pigskin. Joining Dave Wilcox, from whose personal collection the ball derives, are Howie Long, Dan Rooney, Joe Montana and Ronnie Lott. A scattering of print lines appears on a blank panel opposite the autographs, and does not affect display in the slightest, which remains a perfect 10/10. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Basketball Collectibles
1946 Detroit Gems Team Signed Broadside--Became the Minnesota/Los Angeles Lakers! Had the National Basketball League franchise the Detroit Gems been anything other than simply awful in 1946, who knows how different the NBA would be today? Posting a miserable four and forty record the season this exceedingly scarce broadside was issued, the club was on the verge of extinction when Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen purchased the club for $15,000 and relocated it to Minnesota, renaming the franchise the "Lakers." The draft of 1947 would soon arrive, and the newly christened Lakers, by virtue of their last place finish in '46, were afforded the first overall pick. Their selection: George Mikan. And the rest, as they say, is history. So don't go looking for any stars among the thirteen 9/10 ink signatures that dot this historic exhibition game announcement--you won't find any. Frankly, that's the point. The broadside itself is the real "gem" here, the only one from this franchise known to exist, and just about the only piece of any kind related to the Detroit Gems surviving to this day. The cardstock poster measures 11x14" in size and is affixed to a scrapbook page by ancient staples. Some tack holes, light water staining and a chipped corner are apparent, but nothing can challenge the appeal or historical significance of this supreme rarity. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Basketball Cards
1957-58 Topps Basketball High-Grade Complete Set (80). This scarce set represents Topps first basketball issue and their only basketball set for twelve more years until the 1969-70 issue. It includes many important rookies including Sharman, Schayes, and Russell. A total of 19 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $3,050. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA NM-MT 8: 4 cards w/ #'s 31, 34, 61, 66. PSA NM 7: 13 cards w/ #'s 11, 20, 28 Mikkelsen, 33 Costello, 35, 54, 56, 60, 68, 69, 72, 74 Leonard, 77 Russell(oc) . PSA EX-MT 6: 2 cards w/ #'s 4 Braun, 17 Cousy. Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s 1 Clifton (VG-EX), 5 Sharman (EX), 19 Heinsohn (EX), 24 Pettit (EX), 80 Schnittker (EX). Note: Most of the set presents NM or better with strong condition and corners, but falls to an EX technical grade due to centering. Grades 25% NM to NM-MT, 65% EX to EX-MT, 10% VG-EX or lesser.
Basketball Collectibles
1976-77 Topps Basketball Wax Box. Direct from the year of our nation's bicentennial comes this lonely wax box, never having seen the counter of the local drug store where children would plunk down a nickle and a dime to purchase one of the twenty-four packs inside. What once would have then set you back $3.60 will now be a bit more, but keep in mind that there are eleven cards in the set of 144 capable of bringing well over $100 in Mint condition, including the all-important Julius Erving #1 card that books at $300 in PSA 9. Will you keep the wax box in its complete and untampered state, or turn it into your own private Las Vegas and crack the packs open? Our single caveat--don't chew the gum! Light wear at corners and edges of the box, while wax itself is pristine.
1978-79 Michael Jordan High School Yearbook. The future NBA megastar was just a gawky high school Junior when this volume of Laney (NC) High School's yearbook "The Spinnaker" was issued to a classmate of His Airness. Though filled with wishes for a good summer by various friends and faculty, there is sadly no inscription or signature from Jordan. There are, however, several photos of the sixteen-year old legend in the making, most notably as a member of the school's basketball team. A particularly tough yearbook due to the relatively small size of Jordan's high school alma mater, this example rates an impressive NRMT.
1979-80 Michael Jordan High School Yearbook. For a second year, the greatest basketball player that ever lived is listed as a high school Junior, suggesting that Michael didn't just score fifty points per game, but per math test as well. Though Jordan's autograph is not among the selection of fellow Laney (NC) High School classmates that have signed this volume of "The Spinnaker" yearbook, he is pictured several times within its pages, most notably driving to the hoop on the page dedicated to the varsity basketball squad. The binding is ever so slightly loose, necessitating a conservative grade of EX-MT.
1980 "Pistol Pete" Maravich Signed Poster. Knowledgeable basketball collectors understand that Maravich signatures are typically seen one of two ways. Most common (though still quite scarce) is the "Pistol Pete" autograph, sans surname, his preferred signature for fans. You'll see it on basketballs, program covers, etc. Then even more rare is the "Pete Maravich" signature, found almost exclusively on checks and other legal documents. Here we offer something infinitely more scarce than either of these variations in the form of a brief note of sorts, reading, "To Mother Cole, My wife Jackie says you are still the best cook--much health and happiness, 'Pistol Pete' Maravich." If we were to see this message on a blank sheet of paper, it would be cause for some celebration--the combination of the tough signature variation and a handwritten note. Finding its home on a fantastic poster such as this one, commemorating Pete's eleven seasons in the N.B.A., it enters yet an even higher realm of desirability. Presented to the wife of a Celtics exec who helped the Maravich family adjust to life in Boston, the poster remains in marvelous condition, with the only evident wear coming in the form of a missing upper left corner that doesn't even extend beyond the white border. The black marker inscription rates a perfect 10/10, though it admittedly competes with the dark contrast of the poster itself. This is a minor concern, however, when faced with the tremendous appeal of this singularly unique artifact. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1980-81 Michael Jordan Signed High School Yearbook. The latest of the three Jordan yearbooks offered in this auction is also the most special, as page two pictures the future NBA legend posing with one foot up on the fender of his car, decorated with a license plate reading "Magic Mike." Scribbled across the photo in 10/10 black ink is a youthful inscription, easily one of the earliest examples of Jordan's handwriting made available for public sale. It reads, "Well pal, I must leave but not without saying thank (sic) for your support this year, Best wishes [illegible], Michael Jordan." Of course, Jordan is pictured on several other pages as well, notably delivering his trademark open-mouthed slam dunk on the basketball pages, and as a member of the graduating Senior class. The yearbook remains in terrific NRMT condition. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1983 Michael Jordan Vintage Signed First Sports Illustrated Cover. The first of forty-seven appearances on the cover of this fabled sporting periodical came with the November 28, 1983 issue, as MJ asserted the Tarheels' dominance of the NCAA with his friend and teammate Sam Perkins. Each has signed this cover, removed from the body of the magazine, in 10/10 black sharpie. More importantly, these autographs date to the era of the magazine's publication, offering a much tougher and more valuable Jordan signature than those commonly seen on the market. Short of the remnants of the mailing label's removal, the cover presents as NRMT, with no creases, tears or stains. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1984 Stroh's Basketball Challenge Program Signed by Jordan, Worthy & More. Simple four-page program for the traveling tournament sponsored by Stroh's brewery is signed on the interior pages by five of its participants in 10/10 ink. Most notable, of course, is the very desirable early signature of Michael Jordan. With him are James Worthy, Adrian Dantley, Phil Ford and Sidney Lowe. Program has tack holes at the four corners when open and another at the spine, but is otherwise undamaged and could easily be framed to a NRMT appearance. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1984 NCAA East Regional Tournament Program Signed by Jordan, Perkins & More. Tremendous talent brought the fans out to Atlanta to see the best in college basketball in late March, 1984. Signing the cover in blue ink are seven of the tournament's biggest names, most notably Michael Jordan, whose early signature is far more attractive and desirable than his 1990's and later style. Joining him are Sam Perkins, Dwayne Washington, Olden Polynice, Othell Wilson, Brad Dougherty and Rick Stokes. Included is a letter of provenance that explains that the signatures were acquired in person outside the UNC locker room entrance after the squad's loss in the opening round, which proved to be his last game as a Tar Heel. Jordan's autograph is ever so slightly smudged, likely by his own hand, while all other signatures remain in 10/10 condition. The program itself is NRMT as well. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1984 U.S. Olympic Basketball Team Signed Program with Jordan. Rare program dated July 9, 1984 from the Hoosier Dome at the University of Indiana was issued for those on hand to watch the best in collegiate basketball compete for spots on the U.S. Olympic team heading for the Los Angeles games. As a pair of included letters of provenance explain, coach Bobby Knight presented each ball boy for the game with a signed program for his work, this being one of those gifts from the surly legend. Most notable, of course, is the highly desirable pre-rookie Michael Jordan autograph, but certainly Patrick Ewing, Sam Perkins, Steve Alford, Alvin Robertson and coach Knight himself are no slouches either. Ten autographs are here in total. A certain degree of fading to the cover and the signatures comes as a result, according to the letters, of having been left for two weeks in Knight's car before its presentation. Nonetheless, all signatures present as 8/10 or better. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1984 Olympic Basketball Ticket Signed by Jordan, Ewing and Raveling. Though predating the "Original Dream Team" by eight years, the term would certainly not be out of place for a squad that boasted the talents of ultra-stars Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing. Crushing all competition at the Los Angeles Games by double-digit margins, the American squad easily rolled to the Gold in '84. Offered here is a ticket for one of those games, signed at the arena by Jordan, Ewing and assistant coach George Raveling of the University of Iowa. All red ink signatures are of perfect 10/10 quality. It should be noted for those novices to the Jordan autograph market that his rookie-era signature, as seen here, is far more scarce and valuable than those dating from the 1990's and beyond. Autographs were acquired in person by a friend of Raveling's. Ticket itself is NRMT as well with minor glue stain on verso. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1986 Michael Jordan Signed Chicago Bulls Programs Lot of 2. Pair of issues of "Hoop, The Official NBA Program Magazine" dating from this basketball icon's early days as a pro offers the tough, early signature that collectors scramble for. One issue is signed on the cover image of a classic Jordan dunk in 10/10 black sharpie; the other offers a 10/10 black ink signature on a portrait photograph on an interior page. Both programs show light handling wear that does nothing to affect the display value of the signed images. While Jordan will continue to sign throughout his life, the supply of these fundamentally different rookie era signatures is finite and quite small, so the value can only rise as Mike is inducted into the Hall of Fame and his legend ages like fine wine. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Circa 1988 Pete Maravich Signed Trust Agreement. As he was only forty years old when he died of a massive heart attack while playing a game of pick-up basketball, we have to wonder if, on some unconscious level, Pistol Pete knew his life would not be long. This "Short Term Trust Agreement for the Benefit of Jaeson Peter Maravich" was set up shortly before the Hall of Famer's death to ensure that his son would be well cared for financially. Here we offer an unfiled copy, which is nonetheless signed by a pair of friends authorized to oversee the trust, and by the tragic superstar himself with the rare and highly desirable "Peter Maravich" autograph style. All ink is 10/10, and the six-page document has original storage fold lines, but is otherwise NRMT. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Magic Johnson Signed Serigraph by Holland. Exceptional work by noted sports artist Stephen Holland is number thirty-three of a limited run of 250. A flawless sharpie signature from the Hall of Fame subject makes this a keepsake for the ages. Image size is 30.5x40", with the unstretched canvas measuring 33.5x43". Released December 1, 1997. Includes artist's certificate of authenticity with a photograph of the signing. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Michael Jordan Signed Peter Max Lithograph. The acclaimed pop artist Max, whose bright, vibrant style has garnered him international fame and appearances in permanent collections of many of the world's most prominent museums, takes on the subject of the world's most prominent basketball player. In his inimitable style, Max captures MJ making the jump shot that earned his Chicago Bulls their sixth and final NBA Championship with Jordan at the helm. The limited edition (370/423) litho on heavy paper stock, entitled "Farewell Shot," is signed in perfect black sharpie by both Jordan and the artist himself. Measures 26x33" in dimension. Mint. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Los Angeles Lakers Legends Multi-Signed Lithograph. A masterfully designed artwork, offering perfect pencil signatures from Hall of Famers Chamberlain, West, Johnson, Baylor and Abdul-Jabbar. Limited edition (1691/1992) print is rendered on heavy art paper stock, with fine artistic images of the fiver superstars above the respective signatures, and embossed jersey numbers below. "Legends" is embossed across the top. Measures 28x46" framed. Photographs cannot do this piece justice--it must be seen in person to be fully appreciated. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar and Robertson Signed Large Photograph. Despite its enormous 16x20" size, it's still hard to imagine how a single photograph could manage to hold three giants such as these, both in terms of their physical size and their importance to the game of basketball. And while this piece would be compelling enough purely as a masterfully rendered photographic image, the appeal is multiplied twenty-fold by the inclusion of flawless gold sharpie signatures from all three of the Hall of Fame legends pictured. Flawless in every regard, the photo is professionally matted and framed to final dimensions of 21x25". LOA from PSA/DNA.
1950's-60's New York Knicks Game Worn Uniform Collection. Finding just a single uniform piece predating the Bill Bradley era of the New York Knicks is a difficult prospect, but you've found three here, allowing the serious fan to bring something truly unique into his collection. 1) 1953-57 home jersey attributed to Bob Knight or Buddy Ackerman. "New York" is sewn in navy tackle twill in a shallow arc across the chest, with number "3" sewn to chest and verso. Washing instructions and "MacGregor Size 38" labels inside rear tail. The "bumblebee" side striping characterizes this jersey as a highly desirable style. SCD A10. 2) 1953-57 shorts in matching "bumblebee" style to jersey. "MacGregor Size 36" and "Thorpe Sporting Goods" labels inside belted waistband. Light rust staining on right side does little to detract. SCD Authentic. 3) 1965 Barry Kramer warm-up jacket. Short-sleeved jacket, or shooting shirt, offers orange tackle twill "Knicks" spanning chest, with "Kramer" sewn across shoulders. Zippered collar. Inner rear tail holds washing instructions and "MacGregor Size 46" labels. SCD A10. All three pieces are stated as having "significant" wear by SCD Authentic. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1962-63 Wilt Chamberlain Game Worn Jersey. Just a year after shocking the world with a one hundred-point performance in Hershey, Wilt the Stilt suited up in this heroic gamer during the Warriors' first season in San Francisco. Though never duplicating his triple-digit feat of March 2, 1962, the legendary Hall of Fame center easily repeated as the league's scoring leader in 1962-63, netting an outrageous average of 44.8 points per game. It's clear from the strong wear that characterizes this amazing jersey that hundred and hundreds of the more than 3,000 that Wilt scored this season came while wearing it. Other chart-topping stats compiled in this wardrobe: minutes played, field goals attempted, field goals made, field goal percentage, rebounds (total and per game) and points. Yellow and blue tackle twill spelling "San Francisco 13" across the chest shows the puckering consistent with reaction to salty sweat, as does the number "13" repeated on verso. The small "44" size tag in the collar is all that remains of labeling, though it is well known that Wilt used to remove these tags for comfort. This home white jersey was acquired from Wilt personally by a ball boy for the team, and represents one of the finest jerseys from this early NBA legend ever offered for public sale. LOA from Lou Lampson. LOA from MEARS.
1968-69 Wilt Chamberlain Game Worn Jersey. "Nobody roots for Goliath," Chamberlain once claimed, but certainly this giant had his share of fans and well-wishers, and he continues to rate very highly among the collecting community. And when The Stilt suited up in this purple durene Lakers jersey for his first season with the team, the entire City of Angels turned to the supremely gifted center for hope that he might bring the NBA Championship home from the East. It would be 1972 before Wilt would answer these prayers, but while wearing this historic shirt, the Hall of Fame center took his new team within a single game of the brass ring. This Western Division Championship jersey exhibits tremendous wear, and represents the most desirable style of Laker jerseys, purple durene with the five-striped purple, yellow and white trim. It should be noted that this trim style, paired with the placement of the "Lakers" identifier on the chest, classifies the jersey definitively as a late 1960's style. Number "13" appears on front in back in identical white and yellow tackle twill to the team identifier, with "Chamberlain" in a wide arc across the shoulders. The absence of manufacturer's labeling is not unusual at all, as Bernie Tiernan would typically hand-tailor his jerseys to the players' frames, making tag-free jerseys the rule rather than the exception. The left seam of the jersey has several inches of separation, but this will not be immediately apparent upon display and could certainly be quite simply remedied if desired. This is one of the most desirable, and certainly the earliest, of all Chamberlain Lakers jerseys ever offered for public sale, worthy of a home in the finest basketball collections. LOA from Lou Lampson. LOA from MEARS.
Early 1970's Wilt Chamberlain Game Worn Sneaker. A season's worth of strong wear is readily evident in the leather and rubber that makes up this monstrous low-top Adidas sneaker worn on the court by The Stilt. Size "17" markings inside are appropriate for the seven-foot one inch Hall of Fame center. Originally acquired from a 1970's Los Angeles Lakers staffer. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Late 1970's Pete Maravich Game Worn Jersey. Remembering much happier days in the Big Easy is this outstanding gamer from the personal wardrobe of the Hall of Fame guard known for his floppy grey socks, floppy brown hair, and ball handling dexterity that bordered on the magical. While other NBA legends might challenge Pistol Pete in skills and in domination of the game, none could match him for natural flare, and none was more exciting to watch. Here we present a late career gamer from this Springfield enshrinee exhibiting fine, consistent wear from shortly before the team's relocation to Utah. The unmistakable "Jazz" logo is screened to the chest in purple, green and yellow, with Maravich's number "7" in the club's most prevalent, and therefore most desirable, style. The number "7" is repeated on verso, below a purple tackle twill "Maravich" sewn directly into the body of the jersey as is proper for the era. The arch is correct and represents a shallower depth than the Jazz used in its earlier renditions, thus helping to date the jersey to 1976-77 or later with high probability. The small size "Medalist Sand-Knit Size 44" label in the tail is the style that was used from the mid-1970's to the early 1980's, and again the size is proper for Pete at the time. To the left is the factory fabric coding "68" affixed in appropriate zigzag stitching. A fine remembrance of an exciting time in the National Basketball Association. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Early 1980's Larry Bird Game Worn & Signed Sneakers. The blonde midwesterner that led the Boston Celtics to glory. Pair of canvas Converse All-Star high-tops in team green shows light to medium wear from this uniquely gifted Hall of Famer. Proper size "13 1/2" tagging inside each. Both are signed in bold and perfect black sharpie at the ankle. A potential dealer lot, as each could be sold individually if one wished. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1990's Magic Johnson Game Worn & Signed Sneakers. Supple white leather hi-tops with purple and gold trim and purple soles show overall solid wear. "Cons ERX-400" appears on upper tongue, which is well worn. Stamped on upper ankle support is "MAGIC." Purple canvas side logs. Each is autographed "To Schmohn, Good Luck Magic Johnson" in 10/10 black sharpie. A fine remembrance of happier days as a Los Angeles Lakers fan. LOA from Lou Lampson. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1991-92 Larry Bird Game Worn Jersey. A thirteen-season Hall of Fame career came to an end the season the great Larry Bird hit the hardwood in this home white mesh jersey worn as the leader of the venerable Boston Celtics team. The twelve-time All-Star who had delivered three World Championships to the city of Boston in his incredible tenure with the team put light but definite wear into this special shirt, offering classic "Celtics 33" in green tackle twill on the chest, and "Bird 33" on verso. The "NBA" logo patch finds its proper home at the left shoulder, and tail tagging reveals dual "Champion" labels reading "Year 1991, ID#, Body Length +3" and size "46" respectively, all proper for Bird gamers of this era. Affixed to the lower left inside gusset side seam is a flap tag noting "100% Nylon," showing curling consistent with sweaty wear. Surely sharing the court as the legend sunk some of the final buckets of his career, the jersey is an inspiring piece to any basketball fan, and practically a religious artifact to the die-hard Celtic booster. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1992 Dikembe Mutombo All-Star Game Worn Rookie Jersey. That's right--it's an All-Star jersey and a rookie jersey, which should rather convincingly establish it as one of the finest Mutombo jerseys known as well. The Georgetown grad came storming onto the scene during the 1991-92 season, averaging 16.6 points per game, which left him to be narrowly beaten by future Hall of Famer Larry Johnson for Rookie of the Year honors. This blue mesh gamer shows appropriately light wear from the West's butchering of the Eastern squad at the February 9, 1992 All-Star Game in Orlando, which saw Magic Johnson guide the team to a 153 to 113 runaway victory. Number "55" is sewn in red and white tackle twill in the midst of the screened "NBA All-Stars" graphics on the chest. "Mutombo 55" is sewn in bold tackle twill to the back. Fantastic tail tagging reads, "Designed and Tailored 1992 Exclusively for Dikembe Mutombo," with the superstar's name embroidered in red. A standard "Champion [size] 48" label is to the right. Complete authenticity is assured by the inclusion of a signed certificate attesting to the game worn status of this jersey, signed by NBA Commissioner David Stern. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1996-97 Michael Jordan N.B.A. Finals Game Worn Jersey. While any Chicago Bulls jersey sanctified by the touch of His Airness is worthy of respect and awe, the appearance of one that saw action on basketball's greatest stage carries the appeal to an unearthly realm. Here we present one of the finest Jordan gamers ever made available for public sale, worn as the greatest basketball player of all time steered his Windy City club to their fifth World Championship under his command. In most respects, this historic shirt presents identically to those we much more typically see: "Bulls 23" is sewn in black and white tackle twill on the chest, with "Jordan 23" doing time on verso. The proper labeling in tail has "96-97 Bulls Exclusivity" tag in tail with "Body Length +3" identifier. "Champion [size] 46" label is to the right. But the two small patches at the upper shoulders set this monumental offering apart. At upper right is the patch of the N.B.A. Championship Finals, never made available for public consumption and only seen on authentic Finals gamers. And the upper left features the NBA logo in gold, making note of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the league, which notably saw Jordan named as one of the fifty greatest players of all time. Any jersey featuring this golden logo is exceedingly difficult to come by, much less a Finals jersey by the game's greatest star. Wear is appropriately light but definite for a jersey that saw use only at the thrilling climax of yet another dominant season. Picture perfect in every way, this is one of only a tiny handful of Jordan playoff jerseys ever to reach the auction block, and as such should find a home in only the most serious basketball collection. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1996-97 Shaquille O'Neal Game Worn Jersey. Continuing in the tradition that brought the greatest in basketball, from Wilt to Kareem to Magic, to the City of Angels, the Lakers succeeded in 1996 to bring the great Orlando Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal into the fold, issuing him this home yellow mesh jersey for use on his new court. The massive gamer, tagged "Champion [size] 56" in the tail, with a "96-97 Exclusivity" tag to the left with "Body Length +6" designator, shows light but definite wear, not unusual for a superstar accustomed to changing jerseys every game. "Lakers 34" is sewn to the chest in purple and white tackle twill in its proper single-stitched format. The same holds true for the "O'Neal 34" that finds a home on verso. It should be noted that all player and team identifiers are placed properly both horizontally and vertically, in contrast to game cut jerseys of the same era. The golden embroidered "NBA" logo, almost invisible against the yellow mesh of the jersey body, further designates this gamer as dating to the 1996-97 season, the Golden Anniversary of the league. A special jersey from the big man's first season in the West. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1997-98 Michael Jordan Game Worn Jersey. It all ended with a fade-away jumper in Game Six of the NBA Finals, perhaps Air Jordan's most defining moment, earning the Chicago Bulls their sixth and final NBA Championship under his leadership. The following year found this legendary team scattered to the wind, and Jordan claiming retirement, but this monumentally important home white mesh gamer lives on to help us remember the magic. The offered jersey derives from a season that saw Jordan do far more than bring home yet another World Championship, as he tallied his third straight scoring title and tenth overall, his second triple crown with his fifth MVP award, third all-star game MVP, and sixth Finals MVP award. If there was ever a jersey worthy of a home in Springfield, it's this one. "Bulls 23" is sewn to the chest in red and black tackle twill, giving way to "Jordan 23" on verso. The player name letters are correct at 3.25" in height. It should be noted that the positioning drop of the name on back is critical in differentiating game worn jerseys from the "Pro Cut" versions, which often are mistaken for gamers. While the wear of the jersey is light, this is not abnormal for a Michael Jordan representation. There is slight puckering in the two color numerals and tagging. In determining game authenticity of a jersey of this ilk, there is usually an inconsistency or two or three in the areas of numeral and letter font, size, positioning, yoke cut, arm/neck trim, tagging, etc. All are correct here, and coupled with the jersey's origins emanating from Bulls team sources, it is a quality representation of America's greatest athlete from his final season in Chicago. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1997-98 Shaquille O'Neal Game Worn Jersey. While certainly other O'Neal representations have been offered at public sale, here we present what is clearly one of the finest, given its rock-solid provenance that links it definitively to a 122-115 win over the Portland Trailblazers on February 4, 1998. We take the word of Shaq himself for this history, as his perfect black sharpie signature on verso is tagged with his handwritten date of "2-4-98." Either he, or an equipment manager, apparently marked the jersey as such immediately after the game, as "2/4/98 Portland" is penned in black felt tip to the "Nike [size] 56" tail tag so soon after the game that the sweat had not yet dried, causing the ink to bleed slightly. While we are in this locale, we will note that the proper "Length +6" flap tag appears below. "Lakers 34" is affixed to chest in purple and white tackle twill in its proper single stitched format. The same goes for "O'Neal 34" on verso. This jersey's drop is passable at an even 4". The wear of the jersey is light, but that is not abnormal for a Shaq O' Neal representation. The tagging in the lower tail demonstrates at least minimal usage and washings. In determining game authenticity of a jersey of this ilk, there is usually an inconsistency or two or three in the areas of numeral and letter font, size, positioning, yoke cut, arm/neck trim, tagging, etc. All are correct here, which is an important base determinant. Clearly the fact that O'Neal has signed off on the game use is another strong point in its favor. Included is a photographic image from the game picturing Shaq at work in this shirt. LOA from Lou Lampson. LOA from PSA/DNA.
2000-01 Tim Duncan Game Worn Jersey. Averaging over twenty-two points and twelve rebounds a game the season he suited up in this black nylon micromesh roadster, Duncan leaves little doubt as to why he's considered one of the elite players of the NBA. The numerals "21" on front and back of this important jersey are correct in size, font style and positioning, and are identical in material and stitch pattern to the team name. They are cut in full block with a squared off, squatty, thick appearance which is correct for the Spurs version of full block. The player name letters are the correct 3". They are in solid white, plain block, font unique to the Spurs. "Nike" tail tagging with Spurs and NBA logos appearing with the Nike swoosh is marked with the proper size "54," as well as the correct "Length +4" flap tag below. The jersey shows light wear overall. The heavy weight tackle twill used on the two-color numerals almost inherently prohibits perceived or visual outwear, but the tagging on this jersey does demonstrate some wear. LOA from Lou Lampson.
2003-04 Lebron James Game Worn Sneakers. The dream of every teenaged basketball player came true for this outrageously gifted superstar, as not only did the NBA come calling for him, but the biggest shoe manufacturer in the world as well. This is a personal model for Lebron, not available to the common man. The properly sized "15" sneakers show decent wear from the Rookie of the Year season, crafted in Cavs colors with understated "Lebron" and "L23" designs on each tongue. If Lebron continues to play as he has for the past two seasons, you'll find a pair similar to these in the Hall of Fame in fifteen or twenty years. LOA from Lou Lampson.
2003-04 Lebron James Game Worn Rookie Jersey. History may prove this to be one of the most important basketball artifacts in existence, and so far the odds look good that that will indeed be the case. Never in the history of the game has there been such tremendous hype over an incoming rookie, in this case a teenaged kid so phenomenally gifted that his high school games were sometimes televised nationally. And when time came to suit up in this red mesh gamer for the Cleveland Cavaliers, James did not disappoint, topping some tough competition for the title of Rookie of the Year before his twentieth birthday. This absolutely essential jersey offers the flashy "Cleveland 23" in white tackle twill with gold stitching on the chest, and a similar "James 23" on verso. The proper "Reebok" label is found in the tail, marked with the logos of the NBA and the Cavs, with flap tags affixed reading "2003-2004" and "50 2LB." A nice degree of wear is particularly evident in the sweat-curling of the tags, if not elsewhere in the jersey. This light wear is the rule rather than the exception in James gamers, however, as the demand for his shirts was tremendous and he changed them often. As such, you won't find a stronger example of what is almost certain to be the most noteworthy rookie jersey of the decade, one which Springfield may well come calling for someday. LOA from Lou Lampson.
2003-04 Karl Malone Game Worn Sneakers. Thought an absolute lock for the NBA Championship with four future Hall of Famers on the court, the 2004 Lakers suffered from in-fighting and fell well below expectations. Nothing, however, can change the fact that Malone trails only the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in career points, and has been on the winning end of a game more than any other player in the League's history. Unmistakable yellow and purple "LA Gear" high tops show certain wear from this crazy season. Each is signed in EX-MT black sharpie on the toe. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1946-51 Marques Haynes Harlem Globetrotters Photographs Lot of 9 from the Marques Haynes Collection. From Marques Haynes' personal collection, offered here are nine outstanding images of the Harlem Globetrotters from 1946 through 1951. Picturing many of the legendary Globetrotters such as Goose Tatum, "Babe" Pressley, Abe Saperstein and the first non-African-American Globetrotter Bob Karstens, these provide a glimpse into another era. Taken and developed in various places such as Mexico and Cuba, many are previously unpublished. Of special note is the team picture with team members in their topcoats and fedoras from December, 1946, shortly after Marques joined the team. The image (which does have a heavy crease through the center) was signed by several including Bob Karstens and the legendary Olympian, Jesse Owens! Jesse often traveled with the team in the late 1940's and early 1950's, simply making public appearances before crowds who appreciated his efforts in the Olympic games of 1936. A great collection for fans of early professional basketball in general and the Harlem Globetrotters in particular. All are in black and white. Most are 8x10" or 7x9", with two slightly smaller. Overall condition is VG to VG-EX. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1948 Marques Haynes Signed Harlem Globetrotters Contract from the Marques Haynes Collection. From the early days of professional basketball, here is Marques Haynes' copy of his contract with the Harlem Globetrotters covering the period from Thanksgiving Day, 1948 (that's what it says!), until March 31, 1949. This was to be Marques' second season with the team. It spelled out the agreement to pay Marques the sum of $400 per month (even then, not a whole lot of money), plus expenses. A pretty good deal for the team, given that Marques was the best dribbler and one of the overall best guards in professional basketball at any level. Looking closely at the agreement text, you can see in section (4), a provision calling for "the player" to report to the owner three weeks prior to Thanksgiving Day for "training," during which the player would receive "meals, lodging and transportation" --but no pay!!! Times have changed a bit. This was a fairly one-sided deal structured by the legendary founder of the Globetrotters and one of the pioneers of early professional basketball, Abe Saperstein. On the second page, the contract is signed boldly by A.M. Saperstein (9.5/10) and Marques Haynes (8.5/10). This is a truly historical document, one of the building blocks in a legendary team and the career of a great Hall of Fame player. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Marques Haynes Final Game Used Shoes and Mikan Injury Support from the Marques Haynes Collection. After famed Chicago sportswriter Arch Ward proclaimed the Globetrotters as the best basketball team on the planet, Lakers' general manager Max Winter issued a challenge to his friend Abe Saperstein. On February 19, 1948 the Lakers, led by George Mikan and the Globetrotters faced off to settle the matter. The Lakers, a prohibitive favorite, took a halftime lead of 32-23. Late in the third quarter, while wrestling with Mikan for a rebound Marques Haynes fell hard to the floor and Mikan fell on top of him. Haynes, in obvious pain, refused to come out of the game. The Globetrotters went on to win 61-59 on a last-second shot and while most of his teammates went out to celebrate, Haynes was in too much pain to enjoy the victory. X-rays taken the next morning revealed that he had fractured his vertebra. The offered back braces were used upon his return the next year after being sent home to Oklahoma to recuperate the rest of the 1948 season. The victory over the Lakers provided the Globetrotters with a new level of legitimacy and paved their way to a larger presence on both a national and world stage.
In addition, this lot contains two pairs of shoes. First, a pair of signed Chuck Taylor's with the canvas and rubber surfaces displaying literally miles of wear. Next, a similar pair of shoes identified by Marques Haynes as the very last shoes he wore in competition. After thousands upon thousands of games spanning a playing career of close to fifty years, with innumerable pairs of Chuck Taylor's seeing action, these shoes were privately and quietly marked to indicate "the end." LOA from Lou Lampson.
In addition, this lot contains two pairs of shoes. First, a pair of signed Chuck Taylor's with the canvas and rubber surfaces displaying literally miles of wear. Next, a similar pair of shoes identified by Marques Haynes as the very last shoes he wore in competition. After thousands upon thousands of games spanning a playing career of close to fifty years, with innumerable pairs of Chuck Taylor's seeing action, these shoes were privately and quietly marked to indicate "the end." LOA from Lou Lampson.
1950's-70's Marques Haynes Contracts & Harlem Magicians Ephemera from the Marques Haynes Collection. From the late 1950's through the early 1970's, covering the period when the Harlem Magicians also were known as The Fabulous Magicians, here is an outstanding group of collectibles. It includes five contracts signed by team leader and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Marques Haynes. Within the lot are over twenty black and white photographs of the team covering this span of time, many originals and many previously unpublished. Great action shots represent the balance of the pictures, with only a few posed images. A terrific image from the Fabulous Magicians shows Marques taking flight before an awestruck crowd, wearing one of the rare uniforms offered elsewhere in this auction. Unused stationery from the Magicians, including one with a nice picture of legendary Goose Tatum, also is included. Finally, two telegrams from fellow Hall of Famers, Walter Brown and John Kundla, are part of this offering as well. The overall condition of the photographs is excellent. The signed contracts are VG, due to normal wear, and bear the autographs of Marques Haynes in 8/10 to 9/10 quality. A very attractive and one-of-a-kind collection of memorabilia from an enduring career. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1950 Marques Haynes Globetrotter Most Valuable Player Trophy from the Marques Haynes Collection. This beautiful award is impressive for its design and its significance. It was awarded in 1950 with the following inscription: "Most Valuable Globetrotter Award - 1950 World Series of Basketball - College All-Americans vs. Harlem Globetrotters - won by Marques O. Haynes." 1950 was the inaugural year for the World Series of Basketball and this was the first trophy of its kind awarded. It must be noted that an MVP trophy was awarded to the outstanding player for the College All-Americans who happened to be future Hall of Famer Paul Arizin. The trophy has had some modest restoration and is missing the small players who appeared on the pedestals on each side of the base. The metal has some modest wear; it does show a few nicks and "dings," and some oxidation opposite the viewing side. However, it remains visually stunning, standing over three feet high and two feet across. It has considerable gloss and is absent any serious defects. It weighs close to twenty pounds and Its overall appearance is much more than impressive. It will be a focal point of any collector's display area.
Completely Signed 1951 World Series of Basketball Program from the Marques Haynes Collection. UPDATE: Included within this desirable group of autographs is the extraordinarily rare signature of Negro League baseball player Ted Strong. A star with the Pittsburgh Crawfords for over ten years, Keating and Kolleth's authoritative summary of Negro League autographs mentions that only one example of Ted Strong's signature was known at the time of publication. After retiring from baseball, Strong played for several years with one of the Globetrotters' touring teams, making his signature possible on this program.
Here is Marques Haynes' personal copy of the program from the second year of the World Series of Basketball. This touring event pitted the Harlem Globetrotters agains the "College All-Americans" in a series of eighteen games from coast to coast. Fans in most of the major cities had the chance to see the legendary Globetrotters play a talented group of collegians. The cover of the program bears the signatures of every player listed on the Globetrotters roster - except Marques Haynes (remember, this is his own copy...and it can be signed by Marques if the winning bidder wants to complete the roster). The incredible Reece "Goose" Tatum, along with HOFer William "Pop" Gates and the image of the Globetrotters in their early years, Babe Pressley are joined by ten others; they represent virtually the lineup that beat the World Champion Minneapolis Lakers twice, in 1948 and 1949. Inside the program, virtually the entire college roster, lead by the likes of Gene Melchiorre, Mel Hutchins and Zeke Sinicola, has signed the page near their images. Also of great interest are the "10" signatures of HOF coaches Clair Bee and Ray Meyer. This is a great piece of early basketball history and a unique assemblage of important autographs. While there is some staining to the back cover, the program is in overall very good condition and the signatures average "8" or better. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Here is Marques Haynes' personal copy of the program from the second year of the World Series of Basketball. This touring event pitted the Harlem Globetrotters agains the "College All-Americans" in a series of eighteen games from coast to coast. Fans in most of the major cities had the chance to see the legendary Globetrotters play a talented group of collegians. The cover of the program bears the signatures of every player listed on the Globetrotters roster - except Marques Haynes (remember, this is his own copy...and it can be signed by Marques if the winning bidder wants to complete the roster). The incredible Reece "Goose" Tatum, along with HOFer William "Pop" Gates and the image of the Globetrotters in their early years, Babe Pressley are joined by ten others; they represent virtually the lineup that beat the World Champion Minneapolis Lakers twice, in 1948 and 1949. Inside the program, virtually the entire college roster, lead by the likes of Gene Melchiorre, Mel Hutchins and Zeke Sinicola, has signed the page near their images. Also of great interest are the "10" signatures of HOF coaches Clair Bee and Ray Meyer. This is a great piece of early basketball history and a unique assemblage of important autographs. While there is some staining to the back cover, the program is in overall very good condition and the signatures average "8" or better. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1951 Marques Haynes MVP Trophy - "Second Place Award" from the Marques Haynes Collection. In 1951, after the success of the inaugural year before, the Harlem Globetrotters resumed their series of exhibition games versus the College All-Americans. Marques continued to excel and was the critical factor in leading the Globetrotters to victory. However, unlike the 1950 series, when he was named "Most Valuable Globetrotter," in 1951 the award went to his outstanding teammate, Reece "Goose" Tatum. Clearly, Goose had played extremely well and, as usual, entertained the audiences while doing so. However, a number of players on the team felt that Marques should have repeated. Abe Saperstein had wanted to reward and motivate one of his star attractions by giving the MVP award to Goose Tatum (Saperstein held the only vote, incidentally). However, he didn't want to create any dissension within an amazingly successful team. To address the issue, he decided to create the "2nd Place Award - Most Valuable Player" and presented it to Marques Haynes. This was the only time this was ever done. The trophy itself is in outstanding condition, with only a few minor marks on the walnut base and on the shining gold ball. The base where the player is attached to the ball has moderate chipping, with the darker metal showing through. It stands approximately thirty inches high, with a width at the base of approximately sixteen inches. Overall, it remains a beautiful display piece.
1952 Marques Haynes Basketball World Series Award from the Marques Haynes Collection. In 1952, Marques Haynes' final year of participation in the Basketball World Series as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, he received this trophy presented by the Coca-Cola Company. Several of these were given out, although the exact number is not known. It is very attractive, with its gold-plated solid metal display of competing players in front of the crowd and the "de riguer" eagle in the foreground. Bearing the legendary Coca-Cola logo, it is in excellent condition overall. A few very small chips in the metal surface do not detract from its appearance. The heavy plastic base has some light surface dust spots; these can be cleaned if desired but we wanted to leave this decision to the winning bidder. The award stands approximately twelve inches high and is just under ten inches across at the base. A very attractive relic from an era long gone.
1952 Letters to Marques Haynes from Abe Saperstein from the Marques Haynes Collection. The most attractive piece in this group is a typewritten letter dated November 24, 1952 on "A.M. Saperstein Sports Enterprises" stationery to Marques Haynes (interestingly of "Harlem Globetrotters East," one of the team's traveling units). In the letter, Saperstein commends Marques for "...the excellent job you're doing.." and much more on behalf of his outstanding efforts for the team. It goes on to announce that Marques will see a pay raise (not something the team did lightly) in his next statement. The colorful letter is signed with the very scarce variant "Abe Saperstein," rather than the customary "A.M. Saperstein" autograph. Accompanying the letter is the original envelope showing Saperstein's likeness. Also included in the lot is an unsigned carbon copy of a letter from Saperstein to a person in Louisville, Ky. confirming that "Tatum and Haynes...be present to autograph these books..." What a great place to have been! Finally, a copy of Marques' expense statement for January, 1952 is enclosed, showing the cost for three city trips to be a grand total of $629.75; yes, times have changed. A great grouping of vintage Globetrotter memorabilia. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1953 Clair Bee Signed Letter to Marques Haynes from the Marques Haynes Collection. In an undated letter accompanied by the original mailing envelope dated 1953, Hall of Fame coach Clair Bee lays out his vision for the content and design of a book to be co-written by Marques and tentatively titled "Globetrotter Basketball." Note that Coach Bee, a long-time friend of Marques, couldn't keep track of the proper spelling of his name, using the common version "Marcus." This is a great letter, showing the workings of the mind of one of basketball's early strategists. Signed with the note "write me in Baltimore" and "Clair," this document is an outstanding piece of history. The accompanying envelope bears the full autograph "Clair Bee" in the return address section. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Goose Tatum Signed Contract, Original Photographs and More from the Marques Haynes Collection. A terrific grouping of memorabilia relating to the great Reece "Goose" Tatum. First, there is a contract from 1955 signed by Goose and Marques Haynes, agreeing to an exhibition game for the Harlem Magicians. Also included is a receipt for advance payment, dated 1961, for a performance at Madison Square Garden; it, too, is signed by Goose Tatum and Marques Haynes in pencil. Within this collection are fourteen 8x10" photographs of Goose Tatum in various poses; seven are original images with the others being rarely seen publicity shots. There are several small photographs, as well, including a nice candid shot of Goose. A rare program for "The Goose Tatum Basketball Show," circa 1958, is part of this offering. While it has some light staining and a few small "dings," it is in attractive vg-ex condition. Another interesting addition here is the proof sheet or "ad slick" bearing photographs of Goose and Marques, along with cartoonish (and now politically incorrect) images of a basketball figures in action "vs. The New York Olympians." Finally, something which was representative of Goose, according to Marques, a Western Union telegram from Reece Tatum to Marques Haynes dated June 21, 1957 saying "Please pay my car notes until September." This "mini-archive" provides just a little glimpse into the life of a great athlete and good person. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1955 Reece "Goose" Tatum Signed Contract from the Marques Haynes Collection. Here is a contract for the Original Harlem Magicians to play "another basketball team of representative ability" (wonder who won?) on February 4th, 1956. This was the third season for the Magicians, the team created by Marques Haynes after he left the Globetrotters. The legendary "Goose" Tatum - he of the eighty-four inch wingspan and unparalleled blend of comedic and athletic talent - was the co-star on this team. Signed in the extremely desirable and very scarce full-name style as Reece "Goose" Tatum. Nicely co-signed by Marques Haynes. The contract has light toning, a few small spots of light staining and some folds. It does, however, retain its display appeal. A very neat item. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1960's Marques Haynes Signed Checks Lot of 214 from the Marques Haynes Collection. Dating from 1961 through the end of the decade, here are a total of 214 checks signed by Marques Haynes for either the Harlem Magicians or the Fabulous Magicians, Inc. Beautiful, vintage examples of the Hall of Famer's autograph in an unquestionably authentic format. While a few have minor wrinkling, most are in excellent-plus condition. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1960's Marques Haynes Fabulous Magicians Game Worn Uniform from the Marques Haynes Collection. Here is a true rarity! From the 1960's, this group includes Marques Haynes jersey, shorts and leggings in the unmistakable black, orange and white theme of the Fabulous Magicians. Created by Marques to continue offering fans the thrills he created through his years with the Harlem Globetrotters, the Magicians had their own brand of excitement. The jersey front features the Magician logo with top hat and wand befitting Marques' own brand of hardwood sorcery. The team name "MAGICIANS" is sewn on the reverse in two color black and white tackle twill. Their sponsorship by Schaefer's Brewery is evidenced by the patch sewn onto the right side of the jersey, a precursor, perhaps, to something we shall see again. The reverse sports the unique number unique "2 1/2," selected personally by Marques simply to be creative and different. The size 32 "Rawlings" trunks are a muted orange satin with black side panels and chenille stitched top hat logo. Also included in this magnificent collection is the matching warmup jacket and pants. The "Rawlings" size 38 orange fleece jacket has a zippered front with pockets and bears the same "Magicians" name stitched on the reverse, with the top hat logo appearing on the front. The fleece pants were made by "Rawlings" as well, and display the size 32 tagging. A rare and beautiful ensemble worn by this Hall of Fame great. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Circa 1970 Marques Haynes Fabulous Magicians Game Worn Uniform from the Marques Haynes Collection. Designed personally and worn by Hall of Fame guard Marques Haynes, this Rawlings jersey and trunks dates from the late 1960's to very early 1970's. The deep orange jersey has black and white trim with the team name "MAGICIANS" sewn on the front along with the top hat logo in tackle twill. The reverse bears Marques unique number "2 1/2" sewn on in heavy twill. The jersey retains its size "40" label. although it is slightly torn away from the shirt material. The trunks are black in size "32," with orange side panels and a chenille top hat logo. A splendid complete uniform, it displays very heavy wear befitting a season of close to 250 games but still displays extremely well. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Early 1960's Marques Haynes Harlem Magicians Game Worn Uniform from the Marques Haynes Collection. While Marques Haynes had his number "20" retired by the Harlem Globetrotters, it must be noted that he wore other numbers with the 'Trotters during his tenure with the team, notably 28, 34 and 40. In the same manner, his Fabulous Magicians presence was traced through his famous "2 1/2." However, prior to creation of that unique number, and before the team added the "Fabulous" verbiage, he wore several other numbers with the team. One version is offered here with number "5" sewn on in tackle twill. Bearing the classic orange and black theme, the jersey states simply "Magicians." This was a result of the litigation with the Harlem Globetrotters over use of the word "Harlem" by a touring basketball company. The jersey shows great use and retains its size tag of "42," slightly over Marques more common size "40." The belted satin shorts display size "38." It must be noted that, while the majority of Marques Haynes' uniforms were manufactured by Rawlings, this jersey and trunks pair was made by MacGregor. While stating size "38," the shorts appear much smaller and generally in line with his more customary size "32." An extremely rare uniform display from the Marques Haynes Collection. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Late 1980's Marques Haynes Harlem Magicians Game Worn Jersey & Jacket from the Marques Haynes Collection. Dating from the 1980's, near the end of a legendary career that spanned nearly five decades and culminated in enshrinement within the Naismith Hall of Fame, here is a "Russell" blue mesh jersey in triple color red, white and blue bearing the now-retired number "20." This size "42" jersey displays excellent use and retains its size tag in the lower left front tail. The knit jacket from the same period shows a "Russell [size] 48" tag with 2 inches extra body length. The identifiers are screened on to this colorful garment. The shirt is one of, if not the final, jersey worn by Marques Haynes. This is the newest piece of equipment in Mr. Haynes collection and it could be the last one worn; however, we cannot be sure of that. In any case, it's a great pair of display items. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Early 1980's Marques Haynes Harlem Wizards Game Worn Uniform from the Marques Haynes Collection. Dating to the early 1980's, this jersey and trunks combination was worn by Hall of Fame guard Marques Haynes in leading yet another great touring basketball team. The jersey was made by Russell Athletic and displays a period size 40 label in the lower left front tail. Constructed of heavy royal blue mesh, and bearing the name "Haynes," the font was designed personally by Marques. The jersey's red and white stars are reminiscent of the early Globetrotters' design. The trunks have sewn-on white stars with a snap button/velcro front and white braided trim. The blue knit is slightly different from the mesh jersey, a common occurrence in the period -as evidenced by teams such as the Lakers, Nets and Bullets, according to our expert authenticator, and display a level of demonstrable wear similar to the jersey. A striking package for the basketball collector searching for both rarity and style. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Late 1980's Marques Haynes Harlem Magicians Game Worn Jersey from the Marques Haynes Collection. In 1983, Marques Haynes moved back to the Magicians traveling squad. This tour of duty lasted until he finished up his professional career in 1992; this jersey is from that period. In the ubiquitous red, white and blue theme, and displaying the Haynes signature number of "20", this Rawlings jersey retains its size 40 size tag. There is fairly heavy wear, with some pulling at the numbers. There are, however, no rips, tears or noticeable stains. This jersey witnessed several hundred games, with Marques leading the way despite his 60 -something chronological age. A very rare jersey example from the man who played in more games of basketball than even the most devoted fans will ever watch. Would make a great accompanying piece to his last worn shoes, also offered in this Signature auction. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Mid-1980's Marques Haynes Fabulous Magicians Game Worn Warm-up Jacket from the Marques Haynes Collection. Nearing the end of his career, Marques could still dribble through and around competent twenty-five year old players. His flair for the dramatic had not waned, as exemplified by this warm-up jacket. Resplendent in red, white and blue, and reminiscent of the style popular with the Baltimore Bullets flag style jerseys and warm-ups, this redefines the word "colorful." Doubleknit sections of red and white augment the blue jacket. Stipe-braided trim accents the sleeve ends, tail and side vents. A "dentist' collar in solid blue is vintage 1980's, as is the royal blue snap front. Uniquely fonted lettering spells out "Haynes" on the front of the jacket and "Magicians" on the reverse. The stars provide highlights for this already colorful piece. The Russell tag displays size "44," consistent with the larger sizes prevalent in warm-ups and especially so toward the end of Marques' career. Two customization flaps showing extra body and sleeve length of 3" and 1", respectively, remain an integral part of the jacket. Colorful, even a bit "over the top," this is a beautiful presentation. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1970's Marques Haynes Harlem Globetrotters Coaching Shirts from the Marques Haynes Collection. Here is a collection of Marques Haynes' personal coaching shirts from his second period with the team during 1972 - 1979. Made of the legendary "doubleknit" fabric so popular in that decade, they are all in excellent condition while still displaying measurable use. All show the team name "Harlem Globetrotters", with two stating "coach", one with "Player Coach" and the fourth bearing his name "Haynes". A very neat and unique group. This will be accompanied by a letter from Marques Haynes confirming authenticity. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Marques Haynes Autographs & Correspondence Archive from the Marques Haynes Collection. Here is a great group of pieces signed by several of Marques Haynes famous friends. First, two checks (signed by Marques) made payable to Sugar Ray Robinson. Both are endorsed, with one in full, as "Sugar Ray." Next are three receipts, one on Harlem magician stationery, signed by baseball Hall of Famer Bob Gibson. Included in the lot is a hand-written letter from Arthur Ashe Jr. (adding the uncommon "Jr." to his signature) to Marques dated April 2, 1969. It comes with the original mailing envelope, also signed "Arthur Ashe". Finally, an unsigned letter of agreement for Marques Haynes to perform with a team known as the "Harlem All-Stars" (presumably Magicians) in tandem with a tennis troupe led by Ms. Gibson. A neat piece of memorabilia. A fine group of desirable signatures. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Marques Haynes Celebrity Photographs Lot of 18 from the Marques Haynes Collection. A great group of images showing Marques and many of his friends over the years: Sugar Ray Robinson, Jesse Owens, Ray Charles, Don Newcombe, Bob Gibson, Lew Alcindor (now K Abdul Jabbar), Lena Horne, Bob Hope and Ike Williams. There are six small candid color shots of Ray Charles performing and after the show; the remaining twelve photographs are black and white, approximately 8x10 in size, with one inscribed by light-weight champ Ike Williams to Marques. A very neat group of heretofore unseen images. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Original Photographs of Marques Haynes & Pete Maravich from the Marques Haynes Collection. From the early 1970's, here are two previously unpublished photographs of a very young and obviously happy Pete Maravich sharing basketball tricks with the old master, Marques Haynes. Taken at Kutcher's Country Club in the mountains of upstate New York, where Pete and Marques put on a summer camp, these are terrific images of two legends simply having fun. From Marques Haynes' personal collection.
Marques Haynes Harlem Globetrotters "Legends" Ring from the Marques Haynes Collection. Presented to Marques Haynes on January 5, 2001 in a ceremony celebrating seventy-five years of Harlem Globetrotter history, here is a unique piece. A simple ten karat gold ring with a facing inscription of "Harlem Globetrotters," a large blue stone and two small diamonds (totaling about .15 ct.), it displays the iconic image of the basketball spinning on a player's hand on each side. Marques' name is not engraved on the ring. Its size is not known but it was appropriately selected for a relatively small hand. A beautiful item to display or wear, this is but one of a handful issued over the years.
2001 Marques Haynes Harlem Globetrotters Retired Jersey from the Marques Haynes Collection. In a fabulous black tie ceremony on January 5, 2001 in Chicago, as part of a celebration of seventy-five years of Globetrotter basketball, the team retired Marques Haynes' number "20." This was an exceptional honor - the only other jersey numbers retired by the team were those of Wilt Chamberlain, Goose Tatum and Meadowlark Lemon. A very select group, indeed. The jersey is dark blue, bearing white stars, red numbers and Marques' name in gold---a beautiful display and the only one of its kind. Tastefully matted and framed, this outstanding item measures approximately 32x40". A rare opportunity for the serious basketball collector.
Circa 1985 Len Bias Game Worn Warm-Up Uniform & Sneakers from the Len Bias Collection. Among the only artifacts worn on the court by this tragic superstar in the making to be offered to the public. All date from Bias' NCAA days of dominance, and appear in classic Maryland red and white. 1) Warm-up jacket. Six-button snap front, short sleeves. "Len Bias 34" embroidered in white thread over heart, with "Maryland" sewn in white tackle twill across verso. "Nike [size] XL" tagging in collar. 2) Shooting shirt. Pullover style, with "Maryland Basketball 34" embroidered over heart. "Bias" sewn in white tackle twill across verso. "Nike [size] XL" tagging in collar. 3) Warm-up pants. Snaps and velcro attachments along outseams allow for quick removal. "Maryland" embroidered along seams below each knee. "Bias" embroidered at left hip. "Nike [size] XL" tagging inside waistband. Some light staining at the white area of the pants, doing little to detract from visual appeal. 4) Pair of sneakers. "Nike Air" style high-top shoes have proper size "14 1/2" designators stamped inside each ankle. All pieces show strong wear, particularly the sneakers. A remarkable, likely once in a lifetime, opportunity to own a piece of game worn equipment from a man who may well have rewritten the NBA record books. Particularly desirable to Maryland basketball fans, who couldn't possibly forget the value that Bias brought to the organization in the 1980's. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1985 Len Bias Worn Warm-Up Jacket & Practice Sneakers from the Len Bias Collection. Direct from the closet of this immensely talented college hoops star comes this intriguing selection of athletic wear. Best is the "Nike" brand warm-up jacket in Maryland colors, with embroidered lettering on upper right chest that reads, "Maryland Basketball, 25 Wins - 1985, Len." Tagging in collar is "Nike [size] XL." Noteworthy is a secondary washing instructions tag beneath, on the underside of which is penned a simple "Len" in red ink. While we cannot confirm it definitively, it certainly stands to reason that this writing is in Bias' own hand. Wear is very strong, evidence of the great pride with which Len wore this special piece. Also here is a pair of plain white low-top Nike sneakers, showing tremendous wear, with size "14" designators inside. Likely these were worn in practice sessions, though a measure of dirt suggests that these were worn off the court as well, perhaps as Len wandered the Maryland campus. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1985-86 Len Bias Playboy All-American Presentational Jacket & Practice Worn Sneakers from the Len Bias Collection. Forget the Final Four--the biggest thrill of any collegiate basketball player's life is the receipt of an invitation to the Playboy Mansion to be awarded the coveted title of "Playboy All-American." Presented here is the black and white jacket presented to Bias for his being named to the 1985-86 team, as the screened logo over the heart attests. "Bias" is screened across the back. "Speedline [size] L" tagging is inside collar. Light wear. Also here is a pair of heavily-worn Nike high top sneakers, potentially game worn but more likely to have been used at practice. Each contains proper size "14 1/2" markings inside, with handwritten number "34" on the underside of each shoe's tongue. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1986 Len Bias Draft Day Worn Suit & Presentational Celtics Gear from the Len Bias Collection. The most heart-wrenching lot in the historic Len Bias Collection appears here, a selection of garments that will be instantly recognizable to those who followed the historic 1986 NBA draft, and then the endless televised replays of the jubilant Bias accepting his new role as a Celtic that ran following his tragic death. Perhaps most notable is the number "30" home white jersey with "Celtics" on the chest and "Bias" spanning the shoulders, the very style that Len should have worn during his inaugural season. Sadly, this would be the only Bias Celtics jersey ever made. "Medalist Exclusivity" and "Sand Knit [size] 44" labels are in the tail. As Bias posed for photographers with this jersey, he wore the presented green Boston Celtics cap on his head, with the adjustable band on verso still as it was left, and even some nervous sweat-staining in the white headband. Finally, we have the suit and tie that Bias wore on what was the happiest day of his life, two days before his last. The size "56L" Italian made single-breasted jacket by "Lubiam" is the height of 1980's style, with matching pants included. A handkerchief in the breast pocket matches perfectly the black tie with swipes of color creating an attractive design. Finally, we have Bias' personal pass to the event, reading "1986 NBA Draft, Tuesday June 17, 1986, Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden, New York." Photo match to your heart's content--you will have no trouble finding dozens of images of all of these pieces with the smiling young Maryland superstar.
1986 Len Bias Boston Celtics Jacket & Sneakers from the Len Bias Collection. More sad reminders of what could have been, this jacket and pair of sneakers were presented to Bias by the storied franchise on Draft Day, yet never worn. The jacket is quilted nylon in classic Celtics green, with the team nickname sewn across the chest in white and yellow and shamrock patches on the sleeves. The NBA logo patch is found at the right hip pocket. "Starter [size] XXL" label is sewn inside collar. The forest green "Converse All-Star" sneakers, which were destined to carry this collegiate star to professional greatness, also remain in new condition. Size "14" tagging inside each. How different basketball history might have been had Len lived to wear the special pieces in this lot.
1986 Larry Bird Gift of Sneakers & Gym Bag to Len Bias from the Len Bias Collection. The biggest star of the Boston Celtics franchise did his part to make the new kid feel welcome, presenting young Bias with this pair of sneakers and a gym bag on Draft Day. The sneakers are the classic "Converse Chuck Taylor" style, size thirteen, with what appears to be either "Birds" or "3rds" stamped inside the tongue. The sneakers appear to have some wear, but we are uncertain of this, and of who, if anyone, did wear them. The gym bag is a standard team-issued model by "Starter," constructed of canvas and bearing the team logo on the sides and the team name on the ends. The bag shows no apparent use. An intriguing lot featuring gifts from one of the greatest to another who could have been.
Hockey Collectibles
Early Harvard Hockey Sticks (1901-1902) Lot of 3. Harvard was a leader in the early beginnings and evolution of the game of hockey and continues as one of the proudest programs in the sport. With origins which date to before the Spanish-American War, the Crimson hockey tradition began humbly on a local pond. The first of three sticks offered dates to a February 11, 1901 match involving Harvard and Yale, only the second meeting between these two storied Ivy League rivals. The results of the match are all visible as inscribed on the stick, "H (Harvard) - 4. Y(Yale) - 0. Feb. 11. 1901. St. Nicholas Rink. NY." The stick has a Wilson manufacturer stamp. The second stick present dates to a January 18, 1902 matchup of Harvard and Columbia, a first-ever meeting between these hockey programs. The results of the match are also visible as inscribed on the stick, "Harvard - 4. Columbia - 3. Jan. 18. 1902. St. Nicholas Rink. NY." The stick has an unidentified vintage signature, as well as the marking "XXX" visible. A 6" crack is visible in the blade. The last of three sticks dates to a February 8, 1902 confrontation between Harvard and Brown, part of the oldest continuing hockey series in the country. All the pertinent facts are here as well; as inscribed on the stick, "H(Harvard) - 7. Brown - 2. Feb. 8. 1902. Cambridge." The stick has a Mountain City Cycle Co. manufacturer stamp. A crack which extends the full length of the blade is visible.
Certainly among the earliest of any Ivy League hockey equipment, these sticks appear to have been displayed and are connected by metal hooks and wire. They could easily be separated and displayed individually if the winning bidder chose to do so. All three show signs that they were used in competition. Genuine and rare artifacts from the earliest days of hockey in the United States.
Certainly among the earliest of any Ivy League hockey equipment, these sticks appear to have been displayed and are connected by metal hooks and wire. They could easily be separated and displayed individually if the winning bidder chose to do so. All three show signs that they were used in competition. Genuine and rare artifacts from the earliest days of hockey in the United States.
Hockey Cards
1954-55 Topps Hockey Complete Set (60). This inaugural Topps hockey issue represents the defining set from the golden era of hockey combining beauty, scarcity, and condition sensitivity. This set is seldom offered for sale and this example is a beautiful representation. A total of eleven cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $2,150. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA NM-MT 8: #16. PSA NM 7: six cards w/ #'s 5 Kelly, 8 Howe, 27 Pronovost, 32 Henry, 40, 48. PSA EX-MT 6: two cards w/ #'s 10 Worsley, 18 Mohns. PSA EX 5: two cards w/ #'s 39 Delvecchio, 58 Sawchuk. Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s 1 Gamble (EX), 3 Howell (EX), 11 Bathgate (EX), 41 Stanley (NM), 51 Lindsay (EX-MT), 60 Schmidt (EX). Grades 20% NM to NM-MT, 70% EX to EX-MT, 10% VG-EX or lesser.
1958-59 Topps Hockey Near Set (50/66). Early Topps hockey issue includes several Hall of Famers. The set design is similar to its baseball counterpart. A total of seven cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $1100. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA NM-MT 8: #31 Jack Evans. PSA NM 7: #8 Gordie Howe, 10 Larry Regan, 20 Leo Boivin, 54 Camille Henry. PSA EX-MT 6: #32 Dean Prentice. PSA VG-EX 4: #66 Bobby Hull. Ungraded Cards - Highlights include #2 Sawchuk (VG), 13 Hall (EX), 30 Shack (VG-EX), 40 Bucyk (P/F), 65 Ullman (F/G). Remaining thirty-eight cards grade 50% EX-MT or better with remaining consistent VG-EX/EX or better with few exceptions.
Hockey Collectibles
1960's Tim Horton Signed Photograph. Classic black and white image is actually a page removed from a Toronto Maple Leafs program sometime around the center of Horton's twenty-eight years in professional hockey. Despite Horton's eternity of a career, his autograph remains one of the toughest of post-war Hockey Hall of Famers, particularly on a photographic image, as presented here. And of that small supply, even fewer could hold a candle to the spectacular quality of the autograph (10/10) and the page itself, which offers only the lightest bend in the upper right border to veer from perfection. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Hockey Cards
Early 1970's Bobby Orr Game Worn Skates. The most unmistakable footwear in the history of the NHL. One of the most beloved sports figures in a town that also gave birth to the legends of Ted Williams and Larry Bird, Orr is remembered perfectly in the leather and steel of these "CCM Tackaberry Prolite" skates, each bearing his magical number "4" in its proper style and degree of wear. Each skate shows the stresses and strains of many icy miles, clearly having served their master for the entirety of a season, and perhaps even more. Thrillingly, these date from the era of Orr's greatest moment, the Superman dive captured for eternity in the photo snapped an instant he netted the sudden death 1970 Stanley Cup-winning goal. Each is imprinted with the proper size "7 1/2" on the underside, and show the remnants of the sealing treatment used to keep Orr's feet dry. The left skate is missing the white plastic protective knob, placed in that position to avoid cutting oneself in high-kicking sprints. Originally sourced from the collection of a noted Orr expert, with LOA to verify. LOA from MEARS.
Hockey Collectibles
1960's Terry Sawchuk Signed Photograph. The Hall of Fame goalie's untimely death, the result of liver damage suffered in a backyard brawl with Rangers teammate Ron Stewart, has made his autograph a rare and valuable commodity, and here we present a pristine blue ink example. It resides on a small panoramic image of game action, with Sawchuk guarding the net for the Detroit Redwings, with whom he spent the bulk of his legendary career. The image measures 2.5x7" in size, and is elegantly matted and framed to final dimensions of 7.5x12". No serious hockey autograph collection could fail to include this important signature. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1980 U.S. Olympics Hockey Team Signed Jersey with Brooks. Fine replica of the jersey worn by goalkeeper Jim Craig as the American squad rode to Gold in what will forever be known as "The Miracle on Ice" is signed in perfect silver paint pen by sixteen members of the squad, notably by coach Herb Brooks, whose life was tragically lost in an automobile accident in 2002. Also present are Craig himself, Verchota, Johnson, Eruzione, Silk, Schneider, Suter, Strobel, Wells and more. All autographs find themselves on the "USA" lettering on the chest, making for a display piece with endless eye appeal. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Circa 1981 Wayne Gretzky Worn Cowboy Hat & Jacket and Signed Photograph. Don't laugh, you looked ridiculous in 1981 as well. And we're willing to bet you never were able to play hockey as well as the young Gretzky, who used his growing fame at the time to get into the western wear business. Presented are three unique pieces related to that failed business venture. 1) Rather daringly feathered suede cowboy hat by "Longhorn." Size "7 3/8" tagging inside leather headband. Included is a photograph of Gretzky wearing the hat in question. Fine condition. 2) Brown satin jacket also worn by Gretzky. Embroidered "Wayne Gretzky 99" stitched over the heart, with "Western Corral, Toronto, Canada," the store's name, on verso. Light wear with removed tagging in collar, though clearly the proper size for Wayne. 3) Finally, and perhaps most embarrassingly, we have a 16x24" photograph of the hockey legend posing with his business partners in the western wear shop, each sporting a rather impressive ultra-curly perm. Each has signed, most notably Gretzky, of course, whose black sharpie signature in his tough, early style is a perfect 10/10. With the price tag for the rare authentic Gretzky gamer keeping it out of the hands of all but the most well-funded collector, here is a rare opportunity to own not one, but two pieces from the personal wardrobe of the game's greatest star. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Early 1980's Ray Bourque Game Worn Jersey. Exceptional early career representation is one of the few in the hobby bearing the single-digit number "7," a jersey number that was raised to the rafters in retirement for its former owner Phil Esposito in 1988, causing Bourque to double up with the far more common number "77" usually seen at auction. While Boston Bruins fans had the luxury of watching the game's greatest defenseman, Bobby Orr, in the 1960's and 1970's, they were treated to another defensive gem on a nightly basis during the 1980's and 1990's. Ray Bourque will in turn be considered an all-time great, and this early career number "7" representation will attest to his voracity and exemplary play. The "Sandow" made mesh jersey has a full compliment of sleeve and tail striping in yellow, black and gold, as well as a solid black v-neck. The Bruins' spoked crest is sewn on the jersey front and the logos are sewn onto each shoulder. Bourque's original "7" is sewn onto each sleeve as well as the verso while an off color nameplate houses a two-color name on back in black and gold tackle twill and proper font style. Dual neck label flaps are present, the top washed out and the other designating fabric content and washing instructions. The fighting strap is still intact as is the screened on manufacturer's logo on the lower right rear tail. The jersey shows wonderful wear with shoulder and sleeve repairs and exterior blemishes. LOA from MEARS.
1990 Steve Yzerman NHL All-Star Game Worn Jersey. Earning a guaranteed spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame for his twenty-one years of service to the Detroit Redwings, the superstar team captain suited up in this bold black sweater as a participant in the 1990 All-Star Game near the middle of his incredible career. The jersey front offers a large NHL shield in tri-color tackle twill, with six white tackle twill stars at the belt line in front to match the six present on the back side below the sewn identifiers "Yzerman 19." The number "19" is sewn to each sleeve as well, below the generic screened logo of the All-Star Game made famous in the 1960's and 1970's on the left shoulder and the "41st NHL All Star Game" patch on the right. A "CCM" logo appears on the lower rear tail and a "Maska" label is present inside the collar. The laundering/size label has become disengaged. Fight strap is present, affixed to verso of interior. Wear is understandably light for a single game's use, and given the fact that this exhibition match forbids checking. While certainly any gamer from this Detroit hockey legend carries significant collector weight, a jersey signifying Yzerman's status as one of the League's best is clearly very special. LOA from MEARS.
1999-2000 Jaromir Jagr Game Worn Jersey. If you ever had any thought of signing your son up for the local recreational hockey league, don't let your wife see this Jagr jersey or it will be nothing but piano lessons for Junior from here on out. The Czech right winger for the Pittsburgh Penguins took a serious walloping while wearing this battle-scarred sweater, coated with stick marks and board burns, with a decent tear just to the right of the logo patch on the chest. Noted expert Rich Ellis' letter of authenticity even makes reference to blood stains, though we haven't spotted them personally. Number "68" patches are sewn to sleeves and verso, where "Jagr" is sewn to rear nameplate. The Captain's letter "C" appears on upper left chest. Fight strap present in tail. Jagr netted forty-two pucks this season, and assisted with fifty-six goals to come up just short of yet another one hundred point season. A picture perfect gamer from one of the N.H.L.'s greatest stars. LOA from MEARS.
2003-04 Peter Forsberg & Joe Sakic Historic Game Used Pucks Lot of 2. Complete with the most iron-clad provenance imaginable is a pair of pucks that found the twine to notch historic marks for two future Hall of Fame members of the Colorado Avalanche. Forsberg's pass to Milan Hejduk resulted in a two to one win over the Phoenix Coyotes on November 6, 2003, and Forsberg's 500th career assist. Sakic's pass to the same scorer on March 5, 2004 in a victory over the San Jose Sharks would be the 856th assist of his career. Each puck shows suitable use, and is affixed with an authenticating holographic sticker which matches another stuck to a certificate of authenticity from the "NHL GamePucks Program," run by the highly reputable MeiGray corporation in affiliation with the National Hockey League.
Boxing Collectibles
Circa 1810 Molineux vs. Cribb Boxing Pitcher. One of the earliest pieces of boxiana we have had the privilege to offer, and one of the most aesthetically impressive as well. Predating the rise of Jack Johnson by a full century, this pitcher celebrates the pair of victories, in 1810 and 1811, of British bare-knuckle Champion Tom Cribb over black American Champion Tom Molineux. It is for these fights that Cribb is best remembered in boxing history, and his resultant fame in England following these bouts even earned Cribb the position of usher at the 1821 coronation of King George IV. This gorgeous silver lustrewear pitcher captures both the reigning artistic sensibilities of the day and the obvious racism, as Cribb is portrayed in a rather heroic light compared to the simian look of the African-blooded challenger. The image appears on both sides of the pitcher, with one brilliantly dark and clear, and the other a bit lighter but still quite impressive. Leafy decorations fill the empty space around the images. The pitcher measures 6" in height and remains in remarkably fine and undamaged condition.
1860's "Champion Tobacco" Box with John Heenan. Absolutely exceptional Civil War era tobacco box would be a treasure worthy of the finest collections even in the absence of its endorsement by the most famous pugilist of the era. The large wooden box, measuring 5x9x11" in size, is a marvel of period design, with golden font spelling "Edmonston & Williamson's Champion Tobacco, 213 & 215 Duane Street, New York" against a royal blue background. On the lid, a heroic eagle soars with a sash reading "The Highest Yet Attained" streaming from his beak. But still, it is when we open the lid to find the design underneath that the greatest appeal of all is revealed. Pictured at center is the famed bare knuckle brawler John C. Heenan, whose historic bout with British Champion Tom Sayers remains one of the most famous matches in boxing history. The first bout to gain the interest of fight fans on both sides of the Atlantic, Heenan vs. Sayers made a hero of both as the fight ended in a bloody draw after more than forty rounds, with Sayers' arm and Heenan's hand broken and each almost blinded by swelling around the eyes. The American and British flags that appear at the four corners of his portrait make obvious reference to this historic bout. Condition is another jewel in the crown, as the box shows just mild wear to the exterior, with nothing that could be appropriately termed damage, and the all-important design on the inner lid in legitimate NRMT condition.
1880's John L. Sullivan Fight Worn Boxing Belt & Sash. Offering bare-knuckle boxing enthusiasts an opportunity of which they had never even dared to dream, we proudly present this incredible offering of relics from the storied career of John L. Sullivan, the hard-drinking Boston brawler who rose from a humble Irish neighborhood to prominence as the most revered pugilist of the 19th century. Originally acquired from the estate of late family member General William Sullivan, the mounted display is highlighted at at bottom by a ring belt owned and worn by the Boston Strong Boy. Fashioned of thirty-two inches of black velvet, the belt is adorned with nine brass ornaments and trimmed with metallic woven thread. The top of the display finds a red, white and blue satin sash, which Sullivan wore around his waist as he entered the ring. This piece exhibits only light staining and presents magnificently. At the center is a turquoise and red crossed ribbon affixed with twelve golden stars, showing a fair degree of wear but still solid and complete. The display was originally obtained by General William Sullivan at a Sullivan family reunion. It was later acquired from the General Sullivan estate by Sullivan's lawyer, a World War II veteran and Special Agent in the F.B.I. He was presented these remarkable Sullivan pieces by the General's widow as gifts for his antique shop, which he opened following his retirement from the legal profession. The display also features three fine cabinet photographs of the great John L., featuring two studio portraits and a third image in a fighting stance. Individual matting has obscured the edges, but the images themselves present as NRMT. The final dimensions of the display measure 30x37". Perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity to connect in such a direct manner to the most fearsome fighter of the pre-Queensberry era.
1884 Jack Dempsey (Non Pareil) vs. George Fulljames "Champion" Belt Buckle. Dating from the era that saw the slow transition from the bare knuckled battles of old to the new Marquis of Queensberry rules, which called for padded gloves, this bout for the middleweight Championship saw a compromise of sorts, as the two pugilists fought wearing heavy driving gloves. Dempsey was the better man this day, retiring Fulljames in the twenty-second round and becoming the first modern middleweight Champion with the victory. Prior to this bout, the only boxing titles recognized were Heavyweight and Lightweight. Though one might assume that this belt buckle was awarded to the victor, it was in fact to the loser that went these spoils. The large (6x6.5") pewter buckle features a pair of brass brawlers at center, with text above reading, "Presented to George Fulljames, by a number of his New York friends, for his plucky encounter in his fight with Jack Dempsey." Bold block lettering below reads, "Champion." A fine piece of early boxing memorabilia, as historically relevant as it is beautiful.
19th Century John L. Sullivan Tobacco Advertising Sign. One of the earliest display signs relating to sports memorabilia collecting you'll ever find, and what a piece to claim that honor! The great bare knuckle Champion assumes a classic fighting pose for this large (12x17") cardboard sign meant to inspire the purchase of "Gail & Ax Navy and Blue Ribbon Tobacco." It instructs "Send us 10 wrappers and secure Free one of these elegant photos (unmounted) with no advertising on it." Though a degree of wear is visible on verso, the front has come through the years extraordinarily well, with only very light edge wear and rounded corners to suggest its advanced age. An elegant matting and framing job will turn this scarce piece into a museum quality display. One of the largest vintage images we've ever seen of this monumental boxing figure.
1880's Jake Kilrain vs. Jem Smith "Woolie." The rather charming folk art feel of this exceptionally rare vintage "woolie," or image woven from wool, belies the agonizing brutality of this historic December 19, 1887 bout on L'Isle des Souverains, France, a small island in the River Seine. In a cold, drizzling rain, Kilrain and Smith scrapped with bare knuckles through an ungodly 106 rounds in a bout that lasted nearly three hours. No more than seventy-nine spectators, each of whom had paid the princely sum of $200 for his ticket, were in attendance, including the Marquis of Queensberry who was among the overwhelming British crowd favoring Smith. In the 106th round, Kilrain was able to knock Smith off his feet, seemingly for good, but before the referee could declare victory for the American, the crowd forced him to declare the fight a draw due to darkness. This did not dissuade The Police Gazette from recognizing Kilrain as the victor, and crowning him Heavyweight Champion of the World. This incredible woven image, picturing the battling giants in fighting poses before their respective national flags, remains in spectacular condition and demonstrates a genuine mastery of this lost art. The detail is simply amazing, and must be seen to be truly appreciated. Worth a tremendous sum purely as a piece of flawless 19th century folk art, the spectacular subject matter renders this piece practically priceless.
Boxing Cards
1888 N174 Gypsy Queen Patsy Cardiff Prizefighter PSA EX-MT 6 (MK). The year before this scarce tobacco card was issued, Cardiff broke the great John L. Sullivan's arm in a January 18th bout in Minneapolis, proving that Patsy was certainly no patsy. This card, issued by the famed Goodwin & Co. of New York for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes, pictures Cardiff in an heroic shirtless pose and shows light wear for such an aged specimen. The "MK" qualified is due to a period stamp on the verso relating to a business in San Francisco, most likely a tobacco shop where such a card would be available. Frankly, we think the stamp only adds to the appeal, and it should be noted that it does not affect the front in any manner. The better of the two such specimens on PSA's population chart.
Boxing Collectibles
1888 Jem Mace Presentational Boxing Belt Buckle. "Gypsy" Jem Mace, the Heavyweight Champion of England and two-time contender for the World crown in the 1860's and 1870's, is known to the sporting world as the "Father of Modern Boxing," a hugely influential figure on such pugilists as John L. Sullivan and even Jack Johnson. Mace presented this special buckle to one of his students in the fight game, a young boxer named Sam Bird. Expertly rendered engraving reads, "Presented by Jem Mace to Sam Bird, Jan. 7th, 1888, For His Clever Boxing with J.P. Sullivan, Champion Lightweight Boxer." Condition is remarkably strong for a piece approaching a dozen decades in age, with no noteworthy flaws to mention. One of the earliest major boxing awards ever offered at public auction, featuring the name of one of the 19th century's most important fighters. Measures 3x3" in size.
1892 James J. Corbett Photograph Signed the Day He Defeated Sullivan! A bloodied and beaten John L. Sullivan stood at the ring apron that early September day at New Orleans' Olympic Club and graciously addressed the fans. "All I have to say is that I came into the ring once too often," he spoke, "and if I had to get licked I'm glad I was licked by an American." Later that day, the American to which he referred, new Heavyweight title holder Gentleman Jim Corbett, signed this incredible photograph for a friend, almost surely the only Corbett autograph on any medium that can be dated to this monumental event in boxing history. The strong (8/10) black ink inscription reads, "To my old friend Jim Horne, with best wishes from Jas. J. Corbett, Champion of the World, Sept. 7, 1892." Ink is even stronger than it appears in catalog imagery, but encounters competing contrast toward the end of the inscription. A few vertical creases traverse about half of the height of the photograph of Corbett in a bare-knuckled fighting pose, though these do very little to detract from the tremendous eye appeal. Image measures 6.5x10" in size, with professional matting and framing bringing the final dimensions to 12.5x17". One of the most significant events in 19th century athletics, the day that saw the fall of the once-invincible John L. Sullivan is on an historical par with the day Ruth hit his sixtieth, or Wilt scored his hundredth. Imagine what a signed photograph dating to those events would be worth, and then remember that this one is decades older than either of them. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Circa 1892 James J. Corbett Imperial Cabinet Photograph. The man who finally conquered the great John L. Sullivan, ending his pugilistic career in perhaps the most famous bout of the 19th century with a twenty-first round knock out at New Orleans' Olympic Club. Here we find the definitive photographic portrait of Gentleman Jim, with the "Hall" studio stamp at bottom placing the sitting at Broadway and 34th Street in New York City, currently the home of Macy's department store. While the sepia toned image has been remounted in recent years and shows a degree of truly expert restoration, it presents to all but the most eagle-eyed as a legitimately NRMT specimen. Image size is a kingly 10x13.5", with the mount bringing the total dimensions to 13.5x17.5".
Circa 1908 John L. Sullivan Signed Oversized Cabinet Photograph. On September 7th, 1892 the unthinkable happened--the great John L. Sullivan was knocked out in the twenty-first round by "Gentleman" Jim Corbett. No one could believe it, even those that were present at ringside who had witnessed the event first hand. The nation mourned. They say old John L. went back to his room and wept. The nation wept with him, children, women and men. Newspapers and poets immortalized him. But John L. didn't stay down; he took the loss on the chin and got back up. One day, after a lifetime of alcohol abuse that had ruined his health and finances, he poured himself a glass of champagne, looked at it for a second, and then threw the glass against a wall. "Old John L. has had his last drink!" he roared. No one believed him, but he was true to his word. He not only stopped drinking, but became a temperance lecturer as well. Offered in this lot is a cabinet photo that shows Sullivan during this time in his life. His girth is greater and his hair is grayer, but the steel gaze is still evident in his eyes. The mighty right hand that felled many a foe is seen clutching a rolled paper, perhaps a speech that proclaims the evils of John Barleycorn, old John L. wins again. Sullivan has boldly signed the oversized 13.5x16" cabinet photo in the upper right corner "Compliments of John L. Sullivan to C. W. Ryder May 3rd, 1908". The piece shows a degree of wear typical of its age, but this only serves to add vintage charm and does not detract from visual appeal in any significant way. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1935 Baer vs. Braddock Film Reel Movie Poster. While the recent Hollywood blockbuster "Cinderella Man" easily topped this film's box office draw, this rare poster surely drew in a number of fans anxious to see the heavy underdog Braddock take the Heavyweight title from Champion Max Baer. Bold Depression era graphics announce the brawlers in booming text, with portraits of each in fighting stance. "Taken at the Ringside at Madison Sq. Garden Bowl, Long Island City" reads the text at bottom. Text at top notes the three-day run of "Tues. - Wed. - Thurs." with handwritten "June 18-19-20," which are the correct dates for the year, dating this poster definitively to just days after the bout, rather than a year or two later. Short of a barely visible horizontal center fold, placed there as the thin cardboard broadside was mailed to the Michigan cinema where it was displayed, the condition is quite remarkable, with visual appeal barely diminished by the odd small gouge or stain. Measures 14x22". An evocative piece from this fairy tale moment in boxing history.
1936 Louis vs. Baer Bout Newsreel Poster. Another Joe did some "joltin'" at Yankee Stadium this September, as Louis made short work of former Champ Max Baer, sending him to the canvas for the duration in the fourth round. Just over two weeks later, this brilliant broadside appeared at the East Tawas [Michigan] Family Theatre, advertising the film reel of the brutal bout. The orange light cardboard sign boasts bold, eye-catching text and graphics, and remains in terrific condition with light moisture staining along the top border and a single tack hole at upper right. A horizontal crease at center is due to the poster being folded for mailing to the cinema, though it is barely visible upon display. Overall dimensions 17x26".
1936 Louis vs. Schmeling Bout Newsreel Poster. The first of two unforgettable bouts between these giants of the fight game ended with the German delivering Louis' very first defeat, a loss that the Brown Bomber would avenge with a first-round knockout two years later. This one went twelve rounds before Louis was floored, however, making for a film reel worth paying for. This bold and beautiful broadside announced the showing at the East Tawas [Michigan] Family Theatre just a month after the bout took place. Light wear is to be expected for a piece of this purpose and vintage, but there is nothing that could be aptly described as damage, leaving the light cardboard piece to display magnificently. A horizontal crease at center is due to the poster being folded for mailing to the cinema, though it is barely visible upon display. Overall dimensions 17x26".
Joe Louis Fight Worn Bronzed Glove Attributed to Rocky Marciano Bout. When Joe Louis, considered by most fight experts to be one of the greatest Heavyweights of all time, passed away at age sixty-six in 1981, it was his longtime friend Reverend Gene Ewing who delivered the Brown Bomber's eulogy. The exceptionally close relationship between the boxer and this clergy member is illustrated not only by the fact that "The Reverend Gene Ewing" appears on the cover of the included internment services program for Louis' Arlington Cemetery burial, but also in that he was made the beneficiary of an incredible gift from the widow Louis. The gift in question is a bronzed glove that has been fashioned into a trophy, presented to Louis by the boxing press that followed his historic career. A brass plate affixed to the wooden base is engraved with the words, "Presented to Joe Louis, Man of the Half Century in Boxing by the Boxing Writers Association, May 11, 1975." What the plaque fails to mention is the most noteworthy fact of them all--this glove was once worn by Louis in the ring, purportedly in his last professional bout as he was knocked out by the great Rocky Marciano in the eighth round of a Madison Square Garden bout in 1951.
The provenance is compelling. First, we offer a photo of Louis inscribed by his widow to Reverend Ewing. It reads, in full, "Given our choice of presidents, kings, queens, sports figures and movie stars to whom we could have given Joe's glove, we chose to present it to you, Dr. Ewing, as a way of saying thank you for the kindness and friendship you have shown over the years to the Joe Louis family. Martha Louis." While this makes no mention of the glove's history, a small brass and lucite plaque from the Reverend Wayne Delatte does. It reads, "Glove from Joe Louis' Last Fight To Reverend Wayne Delatte From Reverend Gene Ewing, 12-25-93." A letter from Reverend Delatte's wife attests to the gift of the glove that Christmas.
When considering the tone of the inscription to Reverend Ewing from Louis' widow, who clearly considered the gift to be of tremendous importance, and the fact that the direct claim of the glove's history comes from both the pastor that delivered Louis' eulogy, and from a second Reverend as well, it would take quite a cynic to dismiss the story as mere hearsay. We present the story as it stands, and allow the bidder to make his own conclusions. Are these men of god merely telling tales, or is this the glove that was strapped to the right hand of the great Joe Louis when his brilliant fight career was ended for good by Rocky Marciano on October 26, 1951?
The provenance is compelling. First, we offer a photo of Louis inscribed by his widow to Reverend Ewing. It reads, in full, "Given our choice of presidents, kings, queens, sports figures and movie stars to whom we could have given Joe's glove, we chose to present it to you, Dr. Ewing, as a way of saying thank you for the kindness and friendship you have shown over the years to the Joe Louis family. Martha Louis." While this makes no mention of the glove's history, a small brass and lucite plaque from the Reverend Wayne Delatte does. It reads, "Glove from Joe Louis' Last Fight To Reverend Wayne Delatte From Reverend Gene Ewing, 12-25-93." A letter from Reverend Delatte's wife attests to the gift of the glove that Christmas.
When considering the tone of the inscription to Reverend Ewing from Louis' widow, who clearly considered the gift to be of tremendous importance, and the fact that the direct claim of the glove's history comes from both the pastor that delivered Louis' eulogy, and from a second Reverend as well, it would take quite a cynic to dismiss the story as mere hearsay. We present the story as it stands, and allow the bidder to make his own conclusions. Are these men of god merely telling tales, or is this the glove that was strapped to the right hand of the great Joe Louis when his brilliant fight career was ended for good by Rocky Marciano on October 26, 1951?
1955 Marciano vs. Moore Full Ticket PSA EX 5. Rocky's final Championship defense was also almost his first defeat, as he was dropped to the canvas by challenger and Light Heavyweight Champion Archie Moore. Marciano regained his feet and his composure however, and survived to knock out Moore in the following round. The fight grossed over $2.2 million dollars, then the second largest gate in boxing history, but this amazing relic remained unsold and unused. This fine rarity from the Yankee Stadium box office shows only light wear, and has been slabbed in an EX 5 holder by PSA for protection and unquestioned authenticity.
1965 Ali vs. Liston Full Ticket PSA EX 5. The bout responsible for the most famous photograph in the sport's history, with a snarling Ali standing over the vanquished Liston, on the canvas in Round One. Phantom punch or not, this remains among the most noteworthy of all post-war contests, and its smalltown Maine venue has made tickets from the event (much less unused ones as found here) particularly rare. Slabbed in an EX 5 holder by PSA for protection and unquestioned authenticity.
1970 Ali vs. Quarry Fight Program. Nine months after political pressures related to his boycott of the Vietnam draft forced Ali to vacate his Heavyweight Championship, the controversial superstar announced that he had signed to fight Jerry Quarry in Georgia, which had no state commission. At the time, Ali's conviction for draft evasion was on appeal to the Supreme Court. The bout took place a month and a half after Ali's announcement, and despite the tremendous personal stress of a threat of long imprisonment, the former Champ worked his old magic, stopping Quarry in the third round at Atlanta's Municipal Auditorium. This scarce program from a bout at the height of the draft-dodging crisis presents as a stunning NRMT with the single exception of a penned correction of a fight on the undercard on an interior page. Sourced from the same sportswriter's personal collection as the other Ali programs listed in this auction.
1973 Ali vs. Norton Fight Program. After a relative unknown named Ken Norton broke Ali's jaw early in their first meeting on March 31st of this year, assuming Ali's Heavyweight Championship belt by virtue of a unanimous twelve-round decision, the stage was set for a September rematch, for which this truly pristine NRMT program was issued. The cover graphics make note of the former Champ's cracked jaw, and asks "Will it be Ali's Revenge?" Indeed it would be, as Ali would manage a controversial split decision win to regain the belt he had lost. Only a tiny bit of ink on the cover, filling in the letter "o" of a printed word, changes this publication from its "as printed" state. Easily the finest example of this tough program that we've encountered. Sourced from the personal collection of a sports writer on hand to cover the bout.
1974 Ali vs. Foreman "Rumble in the Jungle" On-Site Fight Program. When our consignor contacted the Heritage offices and informed us in a rather matter of fact fashion that, among his rather sizeable collection of Ali fight programs, he had an Ali-Foreman Rumble in the Jungle issue, we must admit a healthy skepticism. Surely it's for the closed caption broadcast, we thought. There's just no way it's the one from Zaire. Well, we're not too proud to admit when we're wrong, and in this case we're thrilled to have been mistaken. We couldn't believe our eyes when we opened up the package to find black and white photographic portraits of these two boxing legends staring back at us from the cover of the "Programme Souvenir" issued at "Kinshasa-Gombe, Zaire, 30 Octobre 1974."
Unquestionably the most coveted post-war boxing program in the hobby, the on-site Rumble in the Jungle program is also the hobby's scarcest. The story of the bout, taking on mythic proportions, is familiar to even the most casual fight fan. The great Muhammad Ali, unfairly stripped of his Heavyweight crown for failing to comply with Vietnam draft laws, looks to regain it from the frighteningly powerful Foreman, who many boxing experts believe will not only knock Ali out, but might kill him in the process. Ali was no longer the the elusive jungle cat he had once been, they believed, and no man could weather the storm of Foreman. But Ali is as smart as as ever, if not as fleet of foot, and employs a plan that will come to be known as "Rope-a-Dope." Rather than eluding the sledgehammer blows of Foreman, Ali leans back against the ropes and takes on the role of heavy bag, absorbing scores of punches on his arms and shoulders while protecting his head and midsection. The chants of "Ali, bomaye" ("Ali, kill him!") of the African crowd quiet as the fight drags on, as it appears that the ex-Champ will do nothing but receive a beating. But suddenly, in the eighth round, Ali sees his opportunity as pounces on the exhausted Foreman, landing a series of heavy blows that sends the Champ cartwheeling to the canvas. And once again, after seven long years, Ali is King.
One of only a theoretical handful from the event ever to leave the continent of Africa, this sixteen-page French language program remains in simply spectacular condition, with only the lightest touches of wear at the corners, a minor bend at top left corner and a tiny area of paper loss that should not knock it from NRMT status. But when considering the fact that programs from the most famous and beloved boxer in history's most noteworthy bout are all but non-existent in the hobby, even a battered and torn copy would be cause for celebration. This "finest known" example, however, is an absolute godsend, sure to answer the prayers of the most serious boxing collector.
Unquestionably the most coveted post-war boxing program in the hobby, the on-site Rumble in the Jungle program is also the hobby's scarcest. The story of the bout, taking on mythic proportions, is familiar to even the most casual fight fan. The great Muhammad Ali, unfairly stripped of his Heavyweight crown for failing to comply with Vietnam draft laws, looks to regain it from the frighteningly powerful Foreman, who many boxing experts believe will not only knock Ali out, but might kill him in the process. Ali was no longer the the elusive jungle cat he had once been, they believed, and no man could weather the storm of Foreman. But Ali is as smart as as ever, if not as fleet of foot, and employs a plan that will come to be known as "Rope-a-Dope." Rather than eluding the sledgehammer blows of Foreman, Ali leans back against the ropes and takes on the role of heavy bag, absorbing scores of punches on his arms and shoulders while protecting his head and midsection. The chants of "Ali, bomaye" ("Ali, kill him!") of the African crowd quiet as the fight drags on, as it appears that the ex-Champ will do nothing but receive a beating. But suddenly, in the eighth round, Ali sees his opportunity as pounces on the exhausted Foreman, landing a series of heavy blows that sends the Champ cartwheeling to the canvas. And once again, after seven long years, Ali is King.
One of only a theoretical handful from the event ever to leave the continent of Africa, this sixteen-page French language program remains in simply spectacular condition, with only the lightest touches of wear at the corners, a minor bend at top left corner and a tiny area of paper loss that should not knock it from NRMT status. But when considering the fact that programs from the most famous and beloved boxer in history's most noteworthy bout are all but non-existent in the hobby, even a battered and torn copy would be cause for celebration. This "finest known" example, however, is an absolute godsend, sure to answer the prayers of the most serious boxing collector.
1975 Ali vs. Frazier "Thrilla in Manila" Full Ticket. Tickets and programs from Ali's two great foreign bouts, Zaire's "Rumble in the Jungle" and the Philippines' "Thrilla in Manila" are all but non-existent in the hobby, as very few made the journey back across the ocean to American shores. And while we're thrilled to offer an outrageously rare on-site program from the monumental Ali vs. Foreman bout in Africa in this auction, this full, unused ticket from the brutal bout with Frazier in the Philippines should be considered the scarcest of our Ali offerings. Surviving in its untorn state due only to its former ownership by a sports writer who was able to enter the arena with his press credentials, this oversized (4x8.5") ticket for the October 1, 1975 bout for a ringside seat would have granted the bearer a third row view of this titanic battle. In a display of brutal punishment and unmatched toughness and heart more suited for a Rocky flick than an actual Heavyweight Championship bout, these two legends pummeled each other four fourteen rounds before trainer Eddie Futch refused to allow Frazier to answer the bell for the fifteenth and final round, fearing for his boxer's life. Ali later commented that it was the closest he too had ever come to death in the ring, declaring Frazier as the second greatest fighter in boxing history. While solely by virtue of the bout's status as one of the boxing's most important and dramatic, this full ticket should be viewed as a genuine treasure. But when pairing this fact with the overwhelming scarcity of the piece, it gains the status of one of the most significant artifacts of the sweet science to be offered for public sale in recent memory. The ticket has a light vertical center fold, a necessity due to its large size that would have overwhelmed a standard pocket or wallet, and some patches of tape residue on verso from having been pasted into a scrapbook. But as the catalog image will clearly illustrate, the ticket presents as essentially NRMT, with no tearing or staining. Imagine, an unused third row seat to the Thrilla in Manila! Now all we need is a time machine.
1978 Ali vs. Spinks Full Ticket PSA EX 5. After surrendering his World Heavyweight Championship belt to Spinks exactly seven months earlier in Las Vegas, the great Muhammad Ali won it back in another fifteen-round bout, this time at New Orleans' Superdome. It would be the last victory in the storied career of The Greatest. This unused ticket for the event remains in fine condition, with corner wear the only noteworthy flaw. Slabbed by PSA in an EX 5 holder for protection and unquestioned authenticity.
1978 Ali vs. Spinks Fight Program. The Bill Gallo artwork on the cover of this tough program for the famed "Battle of New Orleans" between Leon Spinks and Muhammad Ali hits even harder today, as our perception of the Superdome has been forever changed by the suffering it witnessed as a result of Hurricane Katrina. But on September 15, 1978, the Big Easy landmark served as the venue for the great Muhammad Ali's last taste of glory, as the thirty-six year old fighter reclaimed his Championship belt by avenging his loss to Spinks seven months earlier. This rare program from Ali's final victory shows only light wear to the cover and two pen marks on an interior page to differ from its original state, clearly one of the finest examples extant. Sourced from the personal collection of a sports writer covering the bout.
Golf Collectibles
1938 Babe Didrikson Handwritten Letter. The greatest female athlete of the twentieth century, the gifted Babe pens a charming personal note to her folks back home in Beaumont, Texas. She references the sport for which she's best known, "I have been playing a lot of golf..." and actually writes the letter on Brentwood (CA) Country Club letterhead, where she clearly spent a great deal of time. The remainder of the letter discusses family friends, and is signed "Lotsa love, Y.B.G. [Your Baby Girl?], Babe." The single page of correspondence remains in stellar NRMT condition, with neither the paper nor the ink showing any sign of age or wear. The included mailing envelope is equally intriguing, as the legendary athlete signs her most desirable "Babe Didrikson" autograph in the return address field, then adds another signed surname as she writes her parents' names in the forwarding address field. Vintage tape repairs to the upper left corner of the envelope nip at each edge of Babe's signature, but do not obscure it from view in any way. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1945 Masters Champions Signed Photograph with Craig Wood. He's one of the most difficult autographs of all Masters winners, and one of the most valuable as well. Offered for your consideration is the finest known Craig Wood autograph on any medium, a perfect 10/10 blue ink autograph on a photo picturing Wood with Sam Snead, Bob Hamilton, Johnny Revolta and promoter Fred Corcoran, snapped at a golf exhibition in Tucson, Arizona on January 17, 1945. Each of the other gentlemen pictured has signed as well, all in pristine 10/10 quality. The photo itself shows not a single defect, and measures 7x9". A simply magnificent and very expensive matting and framing job carries the final dimensions of this unbeatable display to 22x25".
1950 Babe Didrikson Zaharias Signed Golf Pass. In 1950, Babe Didrikson Zaharias was voted the outstanding woman athlete of the century in a 1950 Associated Press poll. This same year, she signed a Massachusetts golf fan's day pass to the Woodland Golf Club in perfect pencil, "Babe D. Zaharias." The signature of golfer Marlene Bauer joins her to the left. The pass shows moderate wear at the edges, but the autograph itself is clear of all distractions and would be perfect for matting and framing with your favorite photograph of this legendary athlete. Pass measures just over 3x6" in size.
The Earliest Known Jack Nicklaus Golf Award. A full eight years before turning pro, a fourteen-year old Golden Bear was presented with the modest little medallion in his Columbus, Ohio hometown, a small, early step toward golf immortality. Evidently once placed around the victor's neck in a manner similar to an Olympic medal presentation, this charming artifact is today missing its ribbon but none of its tremendous appeal. The obverse pictures a soaring eagle in relief, with the words "United States Golf Association, Organized 1894" circling the perimeter. We must flip the piece over to find its true magic, however, where text reads, "1954, Junior Amateur Championship Sectional Qualifying Round, Columbus, Low Scorer Jack Nicklaus." The maker's mark of this sterling silver treasure is at bottom. The medallion measures just a hair under 1.5" in diameter, and is packaged in what appears to be its original small cardboard box. Condition is NRMT. A tremendously important piece for the truly advanced golf collector.
1960's Bobby Jones Signed Photograph. Though stricken with a rare and degenerative disease of the central nervous system in his mid-forties, the man most often named as the greatest golfer of all time showed the strength of character in his later years that had served him so well on the links, soldiering on with the explanation that "We all have to play the ball as it lies." While just a touch shaky, his blue ink inscription to our young collector is unimprovable in darkness and clarity, reading, "For Doug Norwine, With best wishes, Bob Jones." A few incidental creases, well clear of Jones' writing, are only visible at certain angles to the light and do nothing to detract. Signed photographs of this Golden Age god are exceptionally scarce and desirable, and this is certainly the definitive image of the Master at his prime. Photograph measures 8x10" in size. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1991 Payne Stewart PGA Championship Used Golf Bag. U.S. Air Force pilots could do nothing but helplessly shadow the doomed Lear Jet carrying Stewart and five others as an apparent pressure loss rendered all pilots and passengers on the plane unconscious and ultimately sent the plane plunging to the ground when the fuel supply was depleted. The tragic October 25, 1999 crash near Mina, South Dakota put an end to one of the finest careers in golf, leaving us all with nothing but memories of the man in matching knickers and golf hats who was ranked eighth in the world at the time of his passing. Here we present the golf bag used by Stewart at the 1991 PGA Championship at Crooked Stick Golf Club, a high-quality model in leather by "Wilson" with Stewart's name emblazoned across the front in white. Missing are the clubs and any balls that once resided inside, but the front pocket does still contain a heavily-worn glove, two pencils from other courses, and a divot replacer from the famed St. Andrews course. Use is light but definite, and the piece is certainly ready either for display or for another sunny day on the links. Included is a notarized letter from the top pro at Crooked Stick, affirming that the bag was used by Stewart, and given to his caddy (and our consignor) after the close of the PGA Championship in '91.
Soccer Collectibles
1998 Dallas Sidekicks MISL Championship Ring. Here's a piece you don't see every day, a Championship ring issued to a member of the top team in the Major Indoor Soccer League. This particular specimen once belonged to an assistant coach on the squad, as the left shank notes along with the gentleman's surname and a team logo. The right shank offers raised text reading, "Championship Soccer, 1998, 1993, 1987." An approximate .20 carat diamond rests at center of the golden soccer ball on the ring's face, which is set in a black stone and surrounded by text reading "1998 Dallas Sidekicks Champions." The ring is crafted from ten karat gold. Approximately size ten. Despite our mothers' warnings, it apparently is a good idea to kick a ball around inside.
2004 Freddy Adu Game Worn Rookie Jersey. Considered the biggest thing to hit the sport of soccer in this country since Pele signed on for the North American Soccer League, the teenaged Adu suited up in this rather high-tech "Adidas" jersey for D.C. United in his first year of service to the team. In his rookie year of pro soccer, the teenager scored five goals and became the youngest US athlete to ever play in an All-Star Game when he was named to the Eastern Conference squad at the 2004 MLS All-Star Game. The offered jersey exhibits light but definite use, with team logo patch at center of chest and "Adu 9" screened to verso. The logo patch for Major League Soccer is sewn to right sleeve. An interior sweat-wicking "sleeve" of sorts makes this jersey differ from standard fare, and is clearly professional issue. A perfect black sharpie signature on verso rounds out a special package. Will this kid someday be the biggest American sports hero in the world? LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auto Racing Collectibles
2005 IRL Champion Tony Kanaan Race Worn Fire Suit and More. From the family of 2004 IRL points champion Tony Kanaan, comes a terrific race-worn driving suit used during the Texas 500 on June 11, 2005. Also included are the racing gloves and shoes worn during the race. Although Tony finished third in this race, he has plenty of accomplishments in his relatively short career. He was the first Indy car driver to complete every lap in the season, an amazing 3,305 times around all the tracks on the tour. With fifteen consecutive top five finishes in 2004, he was the overall point leader at the end of the season. He is right near the top of the standings in 2005, figuring to be one of the top three drivers again. The suit and shoes reflect moderate use, with the gloves heavily soiled from gripping the wheel for 500 challenging miles. Outstanding graphics from the many sponsors and his Andretti Green racing team make this group a very special display.
Miscellaneous Collectibles
Circa 1840's Handpainted Rowing Porcelain Cup. The storied tradition of crew is captured in fine handpainted imagery in this wonderful porcelain cup almost certainly originating from the British Isles. Two teams work the oars in the style of striped uniform often worn by the great universities of Oxford and Cambridge as a sailboat drifts in the distance. Condition is first rate, with no chips or cracks to be found. No apparent maker's mark. Measures 3.5" tall.
1936 Berlin Summer Olympics Badges Lot of 4. The most significant Summer Games of the modern era, the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics is remembered for its villainous host Adolf Hitler and the triumph of a young American sprinter named Jesse Owens. Deriving from this unforgettable event are four gorgeously rendered badges issued to those participating in and covering the Games. Most interesting are a badge for the International Press, and another worn by a "Kampfrichter," or "Referee." Another bears just the logo of the Games, while the last, "Garmish-Partenkirchen," is a town in Germany. All are approximately 1.75" at their largest dimensions, with original pinback, and present in strong EX or better condition.
Jesse Owens Signed Track Shoe. One of the truly inspiring stories of twentieth century athletics, Jesse Owens rose from an impoverished child in the Jim Crow South to become the greatest name in track and field, figuratively slapping the face of one of the greatest villains in world history at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. His perfect blue ink inscription, "My Best Always, Jesse Owens," finds the ideal home on a vintage track shoe much like the ones worn by Owens during his reign. While Owens autographs are tough on any media, to find such a special display piece as this is a particularly rare treat. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Session 2
Baseball Collectibles
1914 Boston Braves Team Signed Baseball. After dumping both halves of an Independence Day, 1914 doubleheader to drop to fourteen games under .500, it looked as if the bumbling Braves would not even equal their fifth place finish of the previous season. But something in the fireworks that lit up the sky that night over Brooklyn where the series would resume two days later rained a bit of magic down upon the Braves squad, and they came storming back to win both July 6th games. And they just kept winning. In the month since that dismal Fourth of July, the Braves won twenty-one of twenty-six contests. The next month, they took twenty of twenty-seven. At season's close, they found themselves ten and a half games in front of Matty and McGraw's New York Giants, and poised to take on the powerhouse Philadelphia Athletics, winners of three of the previous four World Series. Surely now, pronounced the sportswriters, the Miracle Braves will see their luck run out. But this was far from the case. After a four-game sweep of the Mack Men, the Boston Braves had completed one of the most incredible comebacks in the history of sport, and were crowned as Champions of the World.
We are thrilled to have this exceedingly rare opportunity to present an ONL (Tener) baseball autographed by eighteen members of this storied squad. Among the Miracle Men present are Maranville, Davis, Cather, Tyler, Deal, Cocreham (twice), Schmidt, Whitted, Rudolph, Martin, Connolly, Mitchell, Hughes, Tyler, Gilbert and a few others too light to discern. Signature quality of those listed ranges from 4/10 to 8/10, still quite impressive given the truly advanced age of the piece. To the best of our knowledge, not a single other example of this incredible team sphere has ever been offered at public auction, making this quite literally a once in a lifetime opportunity. LOA from PSA/DNA.
We are thrilled to have this exceedingly rare opportunity to present an ONL (Tener) baseball autographed by eighteen members of this storied squad. Among the Miracle Men present are Maranville, Davis, Cather, Tyler, Deal, Cocreham (twice), Schmidt, Whitted, Rudolph, Martin, Connolly, Mitchell, Hughes, Tyler, Gilbert and a few others too light to discern. Signature quality of those listed ranges from 4/10 to 8/10, still quite impressive given the truly advanced age of the piece. To the best of our knowledge, not a single other example of this incredible team sphere has ever been offered at public auction, making this quite literally a once in a lifetime opportunity. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1922 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball. It was the Yanks' last season rooming with the Giants at the Polo Grounds, and their meeting that October marked the first time an entire World Series was played at a single park. Likely signed in the shadow of Coogan's Bluff, this "Cock of the Walk" brand baseball features a selection of the pennant-winning Yankees, with an early "Babe" Ruth autograph appearing in 7/10 black ink on the sweet spot. The balance of the signatures have not survived the decades quite as well as the young Bambino's, but among the more legible names are Schang, McNally, Fewster, Scott, Shawkey and Bush. We can also make out Carl Mays, but the few others have been lost to the ravages of time. Nonetheless, the ball deserves accolades merely for its early-1920's Yankees vintage, and the Ruth signature is certainly nothing to squawk at, and worth the cost of admission by itself. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1927 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball. Depending upon your frame of mind, you can either blame or thank Mark Koenig for keeping this amazing artifact out of the $15,000 range, which it would certainly realize if the Yankee shortstop hadn't ghost signed for the Babe on the sweet spot of this OAL (Johnson) baseball. We choose to see the glass as half full, a golden opportunity for a collector to acquire the absolute cream of the pinstriped crop without paying the price of a midsized sedan for the privilege. Let us concentrate on the importance of a team that wins any poll asking the identity of the game's greatest. Let us consider the absolutely authentic signature from American League MVP Lou Gehrig, the incredibly tough Urban Shocker, dead before the close of the 1928 season. Earle Combs is here, with Tony Lazzeri and Waite Hoyt, adding to the Cooperstown appeal. Dutch Ruether, in his last season, and Wilcy Moore and Julie Wera in their first, assure 1927 vintage. The balance of the starting team--Collins, Dugan, Koenig and Meusel are present as well. All listed are clearly legible, ranging from 3/10 to 8/10 in strength. The all-important Gehrig and Shocker are each a solid 7/10. Clearly it's a team sphere that packs some serious punch, and one that would find an appropriate home in any advanced Yankees collection. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1929 Philadelphia Athletics Team Signed Baseball. Leaving even Ruth, Gehrig and the rest of the mighty Yanks in the dust this season, the monumentally talented Mack Men took the American League flag with eighteen games to spare, and then closed out the season in a four games to one butchery of the Chicago Cubs. Eighteen signatures on this OAL (Barnard) ball include some of the game's greatest figures, notably Foxx, Cochrane, Grove, Collins, Mack and more. All listed signatures present as 8/10 or better in quality with the exception of Mack, who is a couple points lighter as 6/10. Only one autograph from those remaining falls below this level. The ball itself retains that milky white tone that collectors crave, making for one of the most attractive team balls in this auction. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1930 Philadelphia Athletics Team Signed Baseball. This World Championship sphere offers the dreamiest display value possible, as Cochrane, Grove and Foxx are stacked on the sweet spot of an Official Atlantic City League ball. Those who can pull their attention away from the sight of this triumvirate will encounter further legends such as Collins and Simmons on the side panels, with starters Haas, Dykes, Miller, Bishop and Boley nearby. Signature quality ranges from barely visible to 8/10, with all Hall of Famers at least 5/10. But again, while there may be a few 1930 A's balls out there in superior condition, this is the first we've ever seen that offers such a perfect sweet spot for display. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1931 Philadelphia Athletics Team Signed Baseball. A third consecutive American League flag for Connie Mack's powerhouse club, considered by many baseball historians as one of the best in the game's history. A quick look at the autographs on the offered ball lends credence to this theory: Foxx, Cochrane, Simmons, Grove, Collins, Hoyt and Mack himself all call Cooperstown home. Twenty signatures in all range from 3/10 to 8/10, with all entirely complete and legible. Ball is an OAL (Harridge) model, which has mellowed to a creamy, even tone with just a small patch of foxing that only affects Joe Boley's signature.
1933 St. Louis Browns Team Signed Baseball. How many Depression-era baseballs have you seen that can boast signatures as strong as the twenty-one found here on this OAL (Harridge) ball? Not too many. Punctuated by a spectacular sweet spot autograph from the great Rogers Hornsby, the bold vintage ink continues on to include our Signature auction star Muddy Ruel, Ski Melillo, Bump Hadley and Sam West. Ball has dark stamping, red and blue lacing, and even the original box that has held this sepia toned sphere for the past seven decades. After a lifetime hidden away in a dark attic, this rare treat is ready to be enjoyed. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1933 New York Giants Team Signed Baseball. Tired of their neighbors on the other side of the Harlem River hogging all of the World Championship glory, the residents of the Polo Grounds made it an October to remember in 1933, steamrolling the Washington Senators by a margin of four World Series games to one. Vintage ink dates this ONL (Heydler) ball to "Sept - 24 - 33," just ten days before the start of the Series, as the Giants met the Boston Braves in uptown Manhattan to split a doubleheader. Twenty-six strong black ink signatures feature all the superstars that made this season a success, including Ott, Hubbell, Terry, Jackson (clubhouse), O'Doul, Ryan, Moore, Davis and plenty more. All but three autographs (none listed) remain in midnight-black ink, averaging 8/10 or better, while those falling below are still easily discernible. The ball itself is toned an attractive and relatively even shade. The last Series victory for the squad until Willie Mays won it in '54. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1934 St. Louis Cardinals Team Signed Baseball. The grand and glorious Gashouse Gang is well represented on this ONL (Heydler) ball, with a cast of legends including Dizzy Dean, Grimes, Haines (twice), Vance, Medwick, Martin and more. Durocher and Frisch are of the clubhouse variety. Twenty-five signatures appear in all, with quality an average of an entirely legible 5/10. A few signatures do dip below into a rather ghostly realm, though none of these are among the names listed. Only a very few pre-war teams--the 1919 White Sox, the 1927 Yankees, the 1929-30 Athletics capture the imagination of the baseball historian in quite the way this traveling circus of Dizzy, Daffy and Dazzy does. Included is the remarkably solid and complete original box that has housed the ball for over seventy years, a treasure in itself. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1934 Tour of Japan Multi-Signed Baseball with Babe Ruth. It was a story made for Hollywood, with the most famous man in America, his faithful Yankee sidekick, a few other baseball legends, and a secret agent moonlighting as a Big League catcher. No serious baseball collection could possibly live without an artifact from the amazing 1934 Tour of Japan, and here we offer a captivating piece from the far side of the vast Pacific. The Babe fittingly occupies the sweet spot of this "Spalding" baseball signed on the historic Tour, appearing in the boldest black ink imaginable. His traveling teammates follow suit, with Manush, Sewell, Averill, Gehringer and Higgins all rating 9/10 or better. Light shellac is to be given credit for the superb signature quality, and the attractive sepia tone of the ball. Clearly one of the finest Ruth signatures ever found on a baseball, with historical value to add even further to the ball's tremendous appeal. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1930's Baseball Legends Multi-Signed Baseball with Ruth, Gehrig. Upon first glance, it would seem that this godly sphere derives from the 1934 Tour of Japan, and we still aren't entirely convinced that there is no connection. The cast of characters just bears too close of a resemblance to the team that crossed the Pacific: Ruth, Gehrig, Foxx, Gomez, Gehringer. But perhaps it is just that greatness tends to stick together, as other names of superstars that stayed stateside are here as well: Dickey, Cochrane, Manush, Simmons, Cronin, Grove, Lopez, Lyons and Rick Farrell among them. Fourteen Hall of Famers in all have made their mark on this deeply toned OAL (Harridge) orb, with only three others present that have been locked outside the gates of Cooperstown. The improbability of finding a single baseball with such a baseball pantheon borders on the astronomical, and just a fraction of that theoretical population could match the strong condition of the signatures found here. Only Farrell (1/10), Gehringer (3/10) and Lopez (3/10) cause any amount of eye strain, with the remainder of the Cooperstonians averaging 7/10 in quality. So many great hands have held this remarkable piece--will yours be next? LOA from PSA/DNA.
1935 First Major League Night Game Used Baseball Signed by Cincinnati Reds Team. Just the day before Babe Ruth rode off into the sunset with a three-home run performance that would mark the last of his storied career, the baseball world was forever changed as President Franklin D. Roosevelt flipped a switch in the White House and flood lights illuminated the diamond at Cincinnati's Crosley Field, bringing Major League Baseball into the night for the first time. It was a twenty-four hour period that saw the end of one great era and the beginning of another, as the sport traded its biggest star for a technological innovation that would allow the average working man to attend the games he would otherwise be unable to see. One could easily argue that nighttime baseball was the biggest thing to happen to baseball since the arrival of Ruth himself, and so Heritage is very pleased to offer what we believe to be the only known baseball to have seen action that groundbreaking evening.
This ONL (Frick) ball shows fabulous use from the historic match between the Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies, and bears the signatures of twenty-two members of the host team. Among the honored: Lombardi, Dressen, Riggs, Kampouris, Schott, Hollingsworth, Goodman, Byrd, Frey, MacFayden and even George "Highpockets" Kelly, the former Reds great drawn like a moth to the bright bulbs that bathed his former stomping grounds in light. A pair of vintage inscriptions, penned in the same ink as the autographs, mark the occasion: "1st Night Game National League May 24, 1935" on the side panel, and a simple "May 24, 1935" on the sweet spot. We must note that the name beneath the vintage words "Presented to" was removed some time later and replaced with the new owner's, but other than this minor consideration the ball shows no alteration from its date of action.
Now that nighttime baseball is the rule rather than the exception, it's easy to forget just how significant this date in baseball history was. True baseball historians will understand however, and will take great interest in this once in a lifetime opportunity to add this important piece to their collections. LOA from PSA/DNA.
This ONL (Frick) ball shows fabulous use from the historic match between the Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies, and bears the signatures of twenty-two members of the host team. Among the honored: Lombardi, Dressen, Riggs, Kampouris, Schott, Hollingsworth, Goodman, Byrd, Frey, MacFayden and even George "Highpockets" Kelly, the former Reds great drawn like a moth to the bright bulbs that bathed his former stomping grounds in light. A pair of vintage inscriptions, penned in the same ink as the autographs, mark the occasion: "1st Night Game National League May 24, 1935" on the side panel, and a simple "May 24, 1935" on the sweet spot. We must note that the name beneath the vintage words "Presented to" was removed some time later and replaced with the new owner's, but other than this minor consideration the ball shows no alteration from its date of action.
Now that nighttime baseball is the rule rather than the exception, it's easy to forget just how significant this date in baseball history was. True baseball historians will understand however, and will take great interest in this once in a lifetime opportunity to add this important piece to their collections. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1938 Pittsburgh Pirates Team Signed Baseball. An absolutely astounding array of Hall of Fame talent took the Bucs to the brink of N.L. Championship glory, though the hated Cubs nipped the Pirates at the wire to take the flag by a two-game margin. One look at this ONL (Frick) ball will leave you wondering how any team could possibly top this one, as we encounter coach Honus Wagner, manager Pie Traynor, both Waner brothers, Arky Vaughan, Heine Manush and many more. Twenty-six signatures are here in all, with the vast majority falling well within the realm of NRMT, with all listed notables among the strongest on the ball. Clearly one of the highest grade balls to surface from this power-packed team. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1938 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball. A four-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the World Series this season would be the final thrill for the Iron Horse, though he would call himself the world's luckiest man in a July fourth farewell speech the coming season. The brave and tragic baseball hero appropriately occupies the sweet spot of this Official Joe DiMaggio League ball, perhaps a touch light but still entirely legible and unmistakable. Joining him are twenty-two of his pinstriped pals, most notably DiMaggio, Henrich, Ruffing, Dickey (clubhouse), Gomez (clubhouse) and Crosetti. The vast majority of the signatures rate 5/10 or better, with only a couple slipping a notch or two below. The ball itself is mellowed to an attractive, even sepia tone. A fine artifact from one of the best ballclubs ever assembled in the Bronx. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1938 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball. This OAL (Harridge) ball represents one of the greatest Yankee dynasties, currently in their third season of a four-year residency as Champions of the baseball world. Stored for decades in a dark, dry place, the ball remains in spectacular condition, with a solid average signature quality of 7/10 on the lightly toned hide. Hall of Fame residents Gehrig and Ruffing share the sweet spot, with Dickey, DiMaggio, Combs, McCarthy (clubhouse), Henrich and Gomez further representing Cooperstown. Twenty-eight autographs in all. A particularly important ball for Gehrig collectors, as this season marked the beginning of the end for the brave and durable superstar. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1939 Cincinnati Reds Team Signed Baseball. The National League Champs of the historic Centennial season! Stacked on the side panel of this ONL (Frick) ball are two of the most significant signatures of the twenty-seven present, Hall of Famer Ernie Lombardi and the very difficult Willard Hershberger, who would slit his own throat the following season in despair over his recent poor play. Other noteworthy names include Hall of Fame manager Bill McKechnie, Al Simmons and Johnny Vander Meer. Signature quality is admittedly a bit light, averaging 4/10, but all names remain entirely discernible. A very tough ball with some high dollar autographs. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1939 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball. The World Champions of the historic Centennial Season. Tremendous Hall of Fame talent proved an unstoppable force for the American League competition and the N.L. Championship Reds, who all failed to weather the onslaught of DiMaggio, Dickey, Ruffing, Gomez and Gehrig, though the latter two, it must be noted, appear secretarially on this OAL (Harridge) ball. The balance of the twenty-one total signatures found here are the genuine article and range from 4/10 to 8/10, with most comfortably at the center of that span. Pitcher Oral Hildebrand charmingly inscribes the ball, "To our little Pal Seymour From all the Yanks," and little Seymour later coated the ball in shellac to make sure his heroes' autographs stayed safe. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1939 American League All-Star Team Signed Baseball. In proper deference to the great Iron Horse, whose heartwrenching farewell took place upon the same Yankee Stadium diamond that would host the All-Star Game exactly a week later, Gehrig's secretarial signature was added to this OAL (Harridge) ball listing the best the Centennial season had to offer. The tragic Yankee, along with fellow Hall of Famer Lefty Gomez, are the only autographs here not penned in the superstar's own hand, with Foxx, Dickey, Ruffing, Feller, Appling, Grove, Cronin, DiMaggio and Greenberg the genuine article. Twenty-two signatures are here in total, averaging 8/10, with none dropping below an entirely legible 6/10. The ball remains remarkably white and clean, with a surprising lack of toning. July of 1939, what a month it was! LOA from PSA/DNA.
1940 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball. Though Bill Dickey claimed the sweet spot of this "Reach Official League Ball" for his own, young Joe DiMaggio was having none of it, squeezing into the space just above his fellow Hall of Famer to annex his rightful acreage. Surrounding this battling duo are twenty-four of their pinstriped pals, notably Combs, McCarthy, Ruffing, Gomez and Crosetti. Signature quality ranges from 2/10 to 7/10, with the average an entirely legible 5/10 to 6/10. A tremendous amount of Hall of Fame talent here from a team that came just two games away from another American League pennant. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1940 Philadelphia Athletics Team Signed Baseball. Despite the service of Hall of Famers Connie Mack and Al Simmons, both of whom appear in wonderfully dark blue ink on this "Reach Official League" ball, the lowly A's could not avoid another season in the American League basement, coming up on the short end of the box score exactly one hundred times during the 1940 campaign. Thirty EX-MT to NRMT autographs also feature such notables as Hadley, Siebert, Moses and Hall of Fame offspring Earle Mack and Eddie Collins, Jr. Certainly not one of Mack's finest ballclubs, but clearly one of the finest team signed baseballs you'll find from his fifty years of service. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1940's Babe Ruth & More Signed Baseballs from Sabu Collection. Best remembered for his roles in Hollywood blockbusters "The Jungle Book" and "The Thief of Baghdad," Sabu was the nation of India's greatest star actor. His love of America however resulted in an oath of citizenship, a tour of duty as a World War II tail gunner and a great appreciation for the game of baseball. This last passion is evident in this selection of artifacts from Sabu's personal collection, most notably an ONL (Frick) baseball with a 6/10 black ink signature from the great Babe Ruth. Several other signatures are apparent as well, yet much lighter, with many teetering on the brink of invisibility. Still discernible are fellow Hall of Famers Durocher and Cuyler. A second baseball of OAL (Harridge) persuasion has a penned inscription reading "To Sabu from Boston Red Sox," but we cannot make out any of the signatures. Finally there are five EX-MT to NRMT 8x10" vintage photos of the turban-wearing Sabu with various baseball figures, most notably Babe Ruth, and a great comical photo of several Cardinals playing their Louisville Sluggers as pan flutes to make Sabu feel at home (two identical prints of this photo). An appealing lot that blurs the boundaries of sporting and entertainment collectibles. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1940 Washington Senators Team Signed Baseball. An All-Star season for the right-handed "Dutch" Leonard, who occupies the sweet spot of the "Reach Official League Ball" he shares with fourteen of his fellow teammates. All signatures rate a strong EX-MT or better, with notables including West, Bloodworth, Travis, Carrasquel and Bluege. A clean and attractive team ball for the condition sensitive collector. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1941 Boston Red Sox Team Signed Baseball. Offered the opportunity to sit out the final game of the 1941 season to protect a season average of an even .400, Ted Williams showed the same unflappable courage that made him a great fighter pilot and strode to the plate, going six for eight in a doubleheader to close the season at a phenomenal .406. Here the young Splinter finds himself sandwiched between two other legends of the game, Jimmie Foxx and Bobby Doerr, who appear in equally strong NRMT ink with twenty-five more BoSox. Other notables include Cronin, Grove, Dom DiMaggio and even a faint but entirely legible secret agent Moe Berg. With the exception of Berg and two others (not listed), the autographs are uniformly dark and bold, due in part to a clear coating that was passed over the signatures on this "Reach Official League Ball" decades ago. A special ball from a special year. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1941 Brooklyn Dodgers Team Signed Baseball. The first of eight Brooklyn teams to meet the Yankees in a Fall Classic Subway Series, the Bums won them when it counted during the regular season this year, going eighteen and eight in the final month to take the National League flag. A magically preserved ONL (Frick) ball offers twenty-two EX or better signatures on its creamy white hide, with notables included Hall of Fame manager Durocher on the sweet spot, Lavagetto, Casey, Medwick (clubhouse), Dressen, Reiser and Camilli. Who knows what this team might have accomplished had the onset of World War II not thrown the baseball world into chaos in 1942? LOA from PSA/DNA.
1941 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball. One of the greatest seasons in the history of a franchise with no shortage thereof, this squad is often thought of as the finest of the dynasty that took home seven American League pennants in an eight-year stretch. Certainly part of the appeal derives from Joe DiMaggio's outrageous fifty-six game hitting streak registered during the '41 campaign, and Marilyn's future husband is present and accounted for on this important team ball. Among the twenty-nine teammates appearing with him are Dickey, Henrich, Gomez, Crosetti, Rizzuto, Ruffing and many more. Of particular note is the fact that this ball is stamped with the bold words "Brooklyn Dodgers," signifying that it must have been purchased by a fan in the Ebbets Field gift shop and signed by the Yanks during the first October Subway Series these two teams shared. Signature quality is first-rate, with the average squarely in the 8/10 range, and all readily legible. Please note that the signatures of McCarthy and Combs have been deemed secretarial. A very special ball of 1941 World Series vintage. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1942 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball. The second World War would rob the Yankees of much of their Hall of Fame firepower the following year, but the fine work of DiMaggio, Dickey, Rizzuto and Gomez brought one more American League flag home to the Bronx before Uncle Sam came calling. All four of these Yankee legends are present among the whopping thirty signatures filling every inch of this OAL (Harridge) ball, as well as Ruffing, McCarthy (clubhouse), Combs, Crosetti, Keller, Gordon and Hassett. Signature quality is a consistent and entirely legible 8/10, with none veering more than a point in either direction. The ball is evenly and attractively toned. The last great pre-war Yankees squad. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1943 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball. The loss of Joe DiMaggio to the war effort couldn't slow down the mighty Yanks, who cruised to yet another World Championship in his absence this season. Twenty-seven victorious Bombers join forces on this "Official Pro League" ball, notably Dickey, McCarthy (clubhouse), Murphy, Gordon, Chandler, Sears, Stirnweiss, Keller and more. Condition ranges from 2/10 to 9/10, with the average in the 6/10 to 7/10 range, and only a few that drop significantly below. Not a perfect specimen, but War-era balls are tough to come by and this should be factored into one's decision to bid. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1944 New York Giants Team Signed Baseball. Tell us that you have a bolder Mel Ott autograph, and we'll call you a liar. It just doesn't get any better than the booming sweet spot signature from the third man to summit the 500 home run plateau. He is joined by a ragtag crew of twenty-four wartime teammates on this ONL (Frick) ball, including fellow Hall of Famer Ernie Lombardi, Buddy Kerr, top ace Bill Voiselle and seasoned vet Billy Jurges. Given the placement of the Ott signature, it could almost be said to present as a single, and one that would surely command a sum approaching (or even exceeding) $25,000 in this outrageous condition. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1944 St. Louis Cardinals Team Signed Baseball. With their ranks decimated by the draft, the Cardinals managed to convince their old star Pepper Martin to come back from four years of retirement to lead his old team one last time. The move paid off in a big way, as the Cardinals earned a World Championship in the most glorious fashion possible, by topping their crosstown rivals the St. Louis Browns. Martin appropriately occupies the sweet spot of this ONL (Frick) ball from that season to remember, joined by seventeen of his teammates including Musial, Brecheen, Cooper, Sanders, Antonelli and Marion. Light shellac has managed to keep the majority of autographs in the 8/10 or better range, with just a few dropping a couple of points below. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1944 St. Louis Browns Team Signed Baseball. Cynics will blame it on a talent pool depleted by military service, but a pennant is a pennant, and if it took the greatest war mankind has ever known to bring the Brownies their only flag, then so be it. This ONL (Giles) ball, likely signed during their World Series meeting with crosstown rivals the Cardinals, offers nineteen exceptional blue ink signatures, not a one grading below 8/10. Among the notables are manager Sewell, Potter, Kreevich, Galehouse and Byrnes. War time balls are tough, and this is one of the finest we've seen. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1944 World Series Game Used Baseball Signed by McGowan. A "Subway Series" of a different sort, as the Fall Classic headed west for six games at the shared Sportsman's Park home of the Cardinals and Browns. The offered OAL (Harridge) ball shows use from this wartime Series, and bears a sweet spot notation that reads, "All St. Louis World Series 1944 Umpires." And sure enough, filling the side panels are seven of the men in black that called the balls, strikes and outs that October. Most notable is the legendary Bill McGowan, a tough Hall of Fame autograph that books for a conservative $450 on an index card. Former 1927 Yankees pitcher George Pipgras is just below. All signatures rate a strong EX or better, with McGowan a legitimate NRMT. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1946 St. Louis Cardinals Team Signed Baseball. "Country" Enos Slaughter's Mad Dash in Game Seven of the World Series this season was the physical manifestation of the Bambino's Curse, extending the Red Sox' Championship drought for another year. The Hall of Fame speedster appears here on this ONL (Frick) ball with twenty-one of his World Championship teammates, notably Series pitching hero Brecheen, Musial, Schoendienst, Marion, Beazley, Kurowski and Harry "The Hat" Walker. Signature quality averages 7/10, though a few (none listed) fall as low as 3/10. A rather imperfect application of shellac gives the ball a mottled look, though it has served its intended purpose of autograph protection to some degree. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1946 World Series Game Seven Used Baseballs Lot of 2. Historic pair saw action in one of the most unforgettable Octobers in baseball history. With the war finally over, and the superstars swapping their army fatigues for Major League flannels, baseball was ready for a big splash, and got it in this meeting between the St. Louis Cardinals and the "cursed" Boston Red Sox. Though Game Seven's "Mad Dash" makes Enos Slaughter the name most folks remember from this event, we cannot overlook Harry "The Cat" Brecheen, the unflappable Cardinals ace who pitched a nine inning win in Game Six to stay alive, and then shut down the Red Sox as a reliever in Game Seven to earn his third, and most important, "W" of the Series. The first of these two baseballs makes note of the star hurler, an ONL (Frick) baseball inscribed in vintage block lettering, "1946 World Series, Cardinals Victors, Harry "The Cat" Brecheen Pitching." While it cannot be stated with absolute certainty, one is compelled to infer from this inscription and the clear game use of the baseball that this ball saw action during that famous "Mad Dash" Game Seven, as the notation seems to state the the Cardinals won the entire Series, and not just one of the other three games in which Brecheen claimed victory. The same could be said of the second ball, offering a shorter notation in the same hand as the first: "1946 World Series, Cardinals Victors." This Frick ball also features ten EX-MT blue ink signatures from Cards such as Brazle, Kurowski, Dusak, Dyer, Adams and Kluttz. It too shows apparent game use. To the best of our knowledge, these baseballs represent the first and second from this famous game ever to surface in the collecting hobby. One lucky collector will corner the tiny market on them with this purchase. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1947 Cincinnati Reds Team Signed Baseball. Any National League team ball from this season is particularly noteworthy for the appearance in the League that season by the great Jackie Robinson, who forever changed the face of the game with his bravery. Surely the twenty-seven Reds appearing on this ONL (Frick) ball had strong and varied viewpoints on the subject, but Jackie surely made them all play a little harder. Present in 8/10 or better blue ink are manager Neun, Kluszewski, Riddle, Blackwell, Gumpert, Vander Meer and more. Ball is lightly but evenly toned and presents beautifully. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1947 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball. A teenage boy's pride and joy, this baseball signed by the World Champion 1947 Yankees was acquired in person as the youngster from the Motor City earned a trip to Briggs Stadium for winning a contest in model car design. Included with the baseball is various paperwork relating to the contest, as well as the pristine scorecard from that day at the ballpark, listing the Yanks as the visiting team. The resultant OAL (Harridge) sphere boasts eighteen blue ink signatures from such stars as DiMaggio, Reynolds, Bevens, Chandler, Stirnweiss, Raschi and Houk. A few signatures are lightly bled, but the bulk appear in NRMT ink, and all are easily legible. A special lot that allows us to see the 1940's game through the wide eyes of a young baseball fan. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1948 Boston Braves Team Signed Baseball. Despite a pitching rotation that featured two stars and an assortment of bums, giving birth to the refrain, "Spahn and Sain, and pray for rain!" the Braves made it all the way to the National League flag this season. The dynamic pitching duo clocks in in strong blue ink on this ONL (Frick) ball, two of twenty-four 8/10 or better autographs that appear on this impressive horsehide. Others include Torgeson, Elliott, Dark, Mike McCormick and more. Definitely one of the finest representations of this important team ball. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1948 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball. In one of the tightest pennant races in American League history, three teams all remained within striking distance of the flag with a week to go. Sadly, the Yanks ended up two and half games out at the wire, but that cannot diminish the fact that the squad is one of the finest ever assembled in pinstripes. Joltin' Joe takes his customary sweet spot role on this OAL (Harridge) ball, with twenty-five teammates surrounding him bearing names like Rizzuto, Henrich, Berra, Crosetti, Reynolds, Lopat, Raschi and more. Joe Page has been deemed a clubhouse variety. Signature quality ranges from 4/10 to 9/10, with the all-important DiMaggio at the higher end of that spectrum. The ball is pleasingly and evenly toned. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1951 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball, PSA NM-MT 8. After seeing a 1951 Yankees team sphere graded PSA Mint 9 realize a price a few dollars short of $30,000 in the Heritage May 2005 Signature Auction, one wise collector decided it was time to present this nearly identical representation for sale. Happy to oblige his wishes, we present this superb example of the most collectible post-war Yankee ball on earth, pairing a final season sweet spot DiMaggio with his youthful successor in center field, a rookie named Mantle. Surrounding this deific duo are twenty-two World Championship teammates, notably Martin, Henrich, Rizzuto, Mize, Berra, Stengel (clubhouse), Houk, McDougald, Crosetti, Coleman, Collins and more. Both the OAL (Harridge) baseball and the autographs that take residence there have been graded "8" by the authenticators at PSA/DNA, accounting for the final score as listed. Indisputably one of the finest examples known. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1951 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball. The departing Joltin' Joe takes his rightful place upon the sweet spot of this OAL (Harridge) ball, signed during yet another World Championship season for the Bronx Bombers. Twenty-three of his fellow Champs join him, and though young Mickey is absent, superstar signatures from Berra, Rizzuto, Mize, Martin, Reynolds and Houk certainly soften that blow. Signature quality is a consistent 6/10 throughout, and the ball is lightly, evenly and attractively toned. One of the most important of New York Yankees squads. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1953 Brooklyn Dodgers Team Signed Baseball. With such a large percentage of Brooklyn team balls spawned from the single hand of clubhouse man Charles DiGiovanna, it's always a thrill to see the genuine article, as we present here for your bidding pleasure. Twenty-six Bums have checked in on this ONL (Giles) ball, including such diamond immortals as Robinson, Campy, Reese, Snider, Hodges, Podres, Black, Lavagetto, Hall of Famer and coach Billy Herman and even poor Dick Teed, the "Moonlight" Graham of the Dodgers fold who would get his single career at-bat this season on July 24, 1953, and strike out for a lifetime .000 average. Signatures average 8/10, with most notables on that level or higher, and only a few dipping a shade below. A fine specimen from this National League Championship powerhouse. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1954 Cleveland Indians Team Signed Baseball. Despite falling to Willie Mays' unstoppable New York Giants in October, this Indians squad is widely considered one of the best ever assembled, as their 111 regular season win total rather convincingly illustrates. Having four Hall of Fame legends on the mound that season certainly had much to do with the squad's raging success, and Feller, Wynn, Lemon and Newhouser appear in NRMT blue ink on this OAL (Harridge) ball along with fellow Cooperstonian Al Lopez. Twenty-three 8/10 or better signatures coat this pearly white sphere, and four others, which we do not include in the count, appear to have been signed with inferior ink and are all but invisible as a result. Still a beautiful ball with all Hall of Famers wonderfully represented. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1956 Milwaukee Braves Team Signed Baseball. UPDATE: Please note that this ball is mislabeled in the catalog, and in vintage ink on the ball itself, as 1954. It actually dates to 1956. No, it's not trick photography, and the images have not been doctored in any way--the ball truly is as bold and as perfect as it appears in the catalog imagery. Not a single autograph of the twenty-four present dips below a perfect 10/10 in boldness, including such highlights as a twenty-year old rookie Aaron, Mathews, Burdette, Tanner, Conley, Pafko and Haney. Spahn and Logan have been deemed clubhouse variety. The ONL (Giles) ball exhibits a single patch of toning that does not affect any signatures, otherwise it remains milky white and as youthful as the autographs themselves. You won't find too many fifty-year old balls that look like this! LOA from PSA/DNA.
1954 National League All-Star Team Signed Baseball. In one of the most dramatic episodes in Midsummer Classic history, featuring five lead changes and six long balls, the Nationals came up on the short end of an eleven to nine stick. Nonetheless, there's still a bit of talent between the seams of this OAL (Harridge) ball, namely Jackie Robinson, Roberts, Spahn, Hodges, Reese, Mays, Schoendienst, Kluszewski and more. Nineteen autographs in all, with only Spahn dropping below 7/10 in quality. The ball itself is lightly toned to a milky shade. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1954 New York Giants Team Signed Baseball. The World Championship of Major League Baseball comes to the borough of Manhattan for the last time. This exceptional ONL (Giles) ball holds the strong 8/10 to 10/10 signatures of twenty-nine members of the Coogan's Bluff crew, most notably a young Willie Mays (signing twice), who recorded the most famous catch in baseball history in Game One of the Series this season. Also present are Maglie, Dark, Wilhelm, Westrum and a great "Capt. Al Dark" signature sharing space with Durocher (stamped) on the sweet spot. "1954 New York Giants World Champs" has been neatly written by a fan in block lettering near the "Spalding" logo. A top-grade representation of this crucial team ball. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1956 National League All-Star Team Signed Baseball. The 500 Home Run Club is well represented on this high-grade OAL (Harridge) baseball signed at Griffith Stadium as the Nationals rolled to a seven to three victory over Mickey, Ted and the rest of the Americans. Swinging for the fences here are such longball legends as Mays, Aaron, Frank Robinson, Mathews and Banks. Joining this power-packed grouping in Cooperstown are Snider, Alston, Roberts and Spahn. Twenty-one signatures are here in total, all presenting in impressive 7/10 to 9/10 strength. A special relic from baseball's most star-studded event. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1956 New York Giants Team Signed Baseball. The second to last season at the Polo Grounds for this storied ballclub, documented here in fine fashion with a ball that appears as if it was signed yesterday. Thirty-two strong (9+/10 average) signatures on an ONL (Giles) ball include Mays, Lockman, Rhodes, Grissom, Dark and more. The winning bidder may well wish to submit this one for grading. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1956 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball. Fans in the Bronx certainly got their money's worth this season, as the great Mickey Mantle clubbed his way to the Triple Crown, and Don Larsen capped the season with a World Series perfecto. Each of these heroes of the '56 season is among the twenty-five strong blue ink signatures that hug the curves of this OAL (Harridge) ball. Other notables include beloved skipper Stengel, Berra, Martin, Howard, Rizzuto, Skowron, Richardson, Crosetti and more. A light coating of shellac has kept the ink quality at an impressive average of 8/10 to 9/10. With a large percentage of Yankee team balls from this era plagued by secretarial signatures, the appearance of an entirely authentic specimen such as this is a noteworthy event. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1956 National League All-Star Team Signed Baseball. Even a pair of sixth inning home runs from Mantle and Williams could not derail the freight train that was the National League All-Stars, powered to a seven to three victory by such baseball immortals as Mays, Snider, Aaron, Campanella, Mathews, Banks, Frank Robinson, Spahn, Roberts and manager Walt Alston. That's ten Hall of Famers! All are present and accounted for on this OAL (Harridge) ball offering twenty-nine NRMT signatures from the victorious squad. Ball shows light toning and just the slightest hint of foxing, but is certainly among the finest surviving specimens from this Midsummer Classic. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1957 Milwaukee Braves Team Signed Baseball. Big bats and superstar pitching arms led the Braves all the way to the promised land this season, topping the Yankees in the Series for the club's first World Championship since the Miracle Braves of 1914. Eighteen strong (8/10 average) blue ink signatures represent this long awaited victory, notably Aaron, Spahn, Mathews, Burdette, Haney (who adds the words "World Champs Braves" to his sweet spot signature) and the only man to win an MLB and an NBA Championship, Gene Conley. The OAL (Harridge) ball exhibits light foxing that only adds to the vintage patina. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1958 Boston Red Sox Team Signed Baseball. Ted Williams takes his appropriate place on the sweet spot of this nicely toned OAL (Harridge) baseball, a spot he shares with manager Pinky Higgins, who led the club to a respectable third place finish this season. Joining the party are "Fear Strikes Out" star Piersall, Jensen, White, Gernert, Runnels, Malzone and Buddin. Twenty-five blue ink signatures are here in all, none falling short of a strong 8/10 rating. A fine memento from the waning years of the Splendid Splinter's Hall of Fame career. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1958 Milwaukee Braves Team Signed Baseball. The National League Champs matched Mickey Mantle's Yanks step for step all the way into the eighth inning of Game Seven, when the boys in pinstriped managed to pull away for good. But it takes a tremendous amount of talent to put up that sort of scrap, notably guys like Aaron, Mathews, Schoendienst, Spahn, Burdette and Conley, each of whom appears on the lightly toned hide of this ONL (Giles) ball. Twenty-five signatures are here in all, with the average a strong EX, and only a few (none listed) falling notably below this mark. Certainly one of the most star-studded teams of the 1950's. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1958 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball. After losing World Series Game Seven to the Milwaukee Braves the season before, the Bronx Bombers turned the tables this season, coming back from a three games to one October deficit to win the Series in seven. The "never say die" squad celebrates their hard-fought victory with the application of twenty-eight blue ink signatures to this OAL (Harridge) ball, with the mighty Mickey alone on the sweet spot, and Howard, Berra, Ford, Richardson, Kubek, Slaughter, Duren, Crosetti, Larsen and Trucks among the others chiming in. Stengel, Maas and Johnson have been deemed clubhouse variety. Only Bobby Shantz dips below a consistent 9/10 quality, making this a fine remembrance of a great Yankee comeback. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1958 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball. Setting this Yankee team sphere well apart from the rest is the presence of not only a rare authentic Casey Stengel sweet spot autograph, but that of his wife as well, who faithfully signs "Mrs. Casey Stengel" in a rather similar style to her husband's. Joining these lovebirds are twenty-four members of the World Championship squad, namely Mantle, Berra, Ford, Slaughter, Richardson, Bauer, Larsen and even Hall of Fame executive Lee MacPhail. The ONL (Giles) ball (along with MacPhail's autograph) all but assures that the autographs date to the 1958 World Series, in which the Yanks avenged their loss the previous October to the Milwaukee Braves. Signature quality averages an impressive 8/10, with many better and only a few a shade worse. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1960's New York Yankees Legends Signed Baseball. Devoted Yankee fans couldn't possibly resist this special sphere, the work of one devoted New Yorker who tracked down the greatest names ever to wear pinstripes and convinced them to add their names to this OAL (Cronin) roster. Beginning with an appropriate DiMaggio sweet spot signature, we continue the Cooperstown collection with Dickey, Ruffing, Gomez, Mize, Hoyt, Henrich and Rizzuto. Noteworthy but plaque-free are Billy Martin, Skowron, Reynolds, Rolfe, Selkirk, Bauer and McDougald. Twenty-five signatures are here in total, with perhaps a single unlisted name dropping below 8/10 in quality. Looks like there is room for a few more autographs, so bring this ball to the next Larsen or Jeter event. They'll surely be flattered to join this cast of characters. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1965 Pittsburgh Pirates Team Signed Baseball. Twenty-one NRMT signatures from the residents of Forbes Field include the essential Clemente, Stargell, Face, Virdon, Friend, Pesky, and Harry "The Hat" Walker on the sweet spot. The ONL (Giles) ball that houses the autographs remains impressively white, with just a few spots of age apparent. Not a pennant-winning squad, but some legendary names nonetheless, and the signature strength is definitely Championship quality. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1966 National League All-Star Team Signed Baseball. When Maury Wills singled in the winning run in the bottom of the tenth inning the day this baseball was signed, even the American League players and fans breathed a sigh of relief. With the mercury holding steady at 105 degrees at game time in St. Louis' impressive new Busch Stadium, dozens of fans in the stands had already passed out from the intense heat by the time the twenty-five men who signed this ONL (Giles) ball were declared the victors. Hall of Fame talent abounds, with this historic sphere passing through the sweaty hands of Clemente, Koufax, Stargell, Alston, Perry, Aaron, Bunning, Gibson, McCovey and Mays. Bob Gibson is the only Cooperstown resident to dip below the 9/10 standard of signature quality, though he remains an entirely legible 4/10. A remarkable baseball, both in terms of the quality of talent and of the autographs they left behind. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1968 St. Louis Cardinals Team Signed Baseball. Roger Maris bids farewell to Major League Baseball with a superb 10/10 blue ink signature that joins twenty-three equally pristine autographs from the balance of the National League Championship squad. Superstar talent abounds with Brock, Gibson, Flood, Carlton, McCarver, and a sweet spot signature from manager Red Schoendienst. The blank (no maker's stampings) baseball remains as white as snow with only a tiny spot of toning and fit for submission to PSA for grading. Definitely among the finest examples known. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1969 Oakland Athletics Team Signed Baseball with DiMaggio. Joltin' Joe adds his star power to the sweet spot of this OAL (Cronin) ball, announcing his position as Executive Vice President and coach of the newly relocated Athletics squad. Basking in his brilliance are twenty-five further blue ink signatures, notably Odom, Monday, Campaneris, Hunter, Rudi, Fingers and more (no Reggie). Signature quality rates a consistent 8/10. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1969 Syracuse Chiefs Team Signed Baseball with Thurman Munson. An exceptionally tough pre-rookie signature from the tragic Yankees captain. Munson batted an impressive .363 in twenty-eight games for the Chiefs in 1969, as he split time between baseball and service in the U.S. Army. Called up to the Yankees in August of that season, Munson would go on to earn Rookie of the Year honors in 1970, and lead the team back to their rightful status as World Champions after a fifteen-year drought in 1977. Munson's blue ink signature on the side panel of this non-official ball is a flawless 10/10, joined by twenty teammates including future Yanks Klimkowski and Lyttle. All but three signatures rate NRMT or better. With the Munson market surging, this scarce minor league autograph is clearly a rock solid investment. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1970 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball with Rookie Munson. The legendary Yankee backstop exhibited such brilliance in his first full season of work that only a single ballot kept Munson from a unanimous Rookie of the Year victory. The twenty-three year old future team captain appears on a side panel of this "Official Pro League" ball with twenty-two fellow Bronx Bombers, notably Murcer and Stottlemyre on the sweet spot, White, Michael, Clarke, Biefary and more. Signature quality averages a bold and consistent 8/10. The ball itself remains brilliantly white, without even a hint of age toning. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1971 Pittsburgh Pirates Team Signed Baseball. Roberto Clemente came through in the clutch at the close of this season, opening a lead that the Pirates would never lose with a solo shot in the fourth inning of Game Seven of the World Series. Surrounding him on this ONL (Feeney) ball are twenty-three of his grateful World Championship teammates, notably Stargell, Mazeroski, Ellis, Murtaugh, Sanguillen and Oliver. All signatures rate EX or better, and while a bit of scuffing affects several of the signatures, none of those listed are among them. Roberto Clemente on a World Championship team ball--nothing more needs to be said. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1972 National League All-Star Team Signed Baseball. Hammerin' Hank thrilled his hometown crowd at Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium this day, blasting a sixth inning home run which he would later describe as the most dramatic of his career to date. Still it almost wasn't enough, as the Nationals had to come up with a run in the bottom of the ninth to tie, and another in the bottom of the tenth to continue their historic dominance of the American League. Presented here are thirty signatures from that "never say die" squad, all appearing in NRMT ink on an ONL (Giles) ball. Perhaps most notable is the great Roberto Clemente, whose life would come to an end in just five months' time. Other Hall of Famers include Koufax, Seaver, Stargell, Gibson, Mays, Jenkins, Carlton, Morgan, Bench, Brock, Aaron, Sutton, future inductee Joe Torre and old timers Reese, Gomez and Schoendienst. Counting Torre, that's seventeen enshrinees! Certainly one of the greatest assemblies of talent ever seen on a single horsehide sphere. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1972 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball. The great Thurman Munson is the key signature on this OAL (Cronin) baseball featuring twenty-five signatures from the team building toward the heroic League and World Championship squads of 1976-78. Joining the famed Yankee backstop are Lyle, Murcer, Felipe Alou, Blomberg, Stottlemyre, Swoboda and Houk (clubhouse). Signatures are a consistent and entirely legible 7/10. Munson in particular (and the 1970's Yanks in general) continues to climb the charts in value and desirability, so smart collectors are investing now, well before the hypothetical peak comes. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1973 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball, PSA NM-MT+ 8.5. From the same young Yankees fan that consigned the incredible Thurman Munson jacket also in this auction comes this high-grade team ball straight from the Bronx dugout. Most notable is Munson himself, whose autograph continues to climb in value with each passing month. Also present are Lyle, Blomberg, Nettles, Murcer, Stottlemyre, Howard, Houk (clubhouse) and the consignor's main squeeze Pat Dobson. A full roster of twenty-seven autographs fill every inch of this OAL (Cronin) ball, with an average quality of 9/10 as deemed by top authenticators PSA/DNA. The ball itself grades a similarly impressive 8/10 for the combined grade of NM-MT+ 8.5. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1974 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball, PSA Mint 9. Another Yankees team ball from the teenaged beauty that consigned the Thurman Munson jacket to this auction. Simply spectacular in condition, this ball left the authenticators at PSA/DNA with no choice but to rate the signature quality an unimprovable 10/10, with the rather stingy grade of 8/10 on the ball itself accounting for an overall grade of PSA Mint 9. The celebrated backstop Munson is again the big hero here, though Chambliss, Nettles, Lyle, Murcer, Blomberg, Piniella, Whitey Ford, Elston Howard and Mel Stottlemyre (clubhouse) are certainly no slouches either. A monumental assortment of twenty-nine flawless autographs are here in all, finding a home on an OAL (MacPhail) baseball. Certainly one of the finest specimens on earth. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1976 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball. The Yanks return to their rightful place atop the American League heap, thanks to the finest convergence of talent in the Bronx since the days of Mantle and Maris. Noteworthy names on this non-official ball include Munson, Guidry, Lyle (clubhouse), Randolph, Chambliss, Rivers, Howard, Lemon and Martin (clubhouse). Scattered occurrences of foxing are apparent, though this does little to affect the signatures, which rate an average of 7/10. With the value of Munson in particular continuing to climb through the stratosphere, any piece bearing his autograph is a rock solid investment. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1981 Negro League Reunion Multi-Signed Baseball. Not since the active days of the Negro Leagues had such a convergence of top talent occurred as it did at the '81 Ashland, Kentucky reunion, when the greatest in the game met up to swap stories and see each other for perhaps the last time. Documenting that historic meeting is this special baseball, stamped "1981 Negro League Players Reunion" and signed by no fewer than twenty-six of the men in attendance. Perhaps most notable is the exceptionally tough Hall of Famer Hilton Smith's autograph, a signature that books for a conservative $3,500 on a single. Others include O'Neil, Paige, Judy Johnson, Irvin, Leonard, Jethroe, Trouppe, Webster MacDonald, Ford Smith and Cool Papa Bell. Not a single signature drops below 8/10 in quality, with most a point or two better. With surviving Negro Leaguers an increasingly endangered species, there is nowhere for the value of a piece like this to go but through the roof. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Baseball Cards
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 Sy Sutcliffe SGC EX/NM 80. Along with Larry Twitchell, whose Old Judge card is also found within these pages, Sutcliffe celebrated a World Championship as a member of the Detroit Wolverines the season this card was issued, though he appears here as a member of the Cleveland Blues. This fine specimen is one of just two to achieve an EX/NM 80 rating from SGC, with none ever grading higher.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 Jersey Bakley SGC EX/NM 80. A true "Jack of All Trades," Jersey assumed the role of pitcher, shortstop, first baseman and outfielder during his six seasons of Big League ball, though he is listed here as a pitcher for the Cleveland Blues. With expected wear at the corners essentially the only mitigating factor, this card still finds only three specimens above it on SGC's population charts.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 Sun Daly SGC NM 84. Though he appears as a member of the 1887 Minneapolis squad, baseball records seem to suggest that Daly's professional playing career spanned just the first two weeks of October 1892 as an outfielder for Ned Hanlon's Baltimore Orioles. This "Moonlight Graham" type character shall live forever though as a member of this coveted set, with this representation the finest of the tiny population. Just light corner touches make this one a far cry from the creased and stained examples you typically see from this issue.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 Dan Dugdale SGC NM 84. At five-foot eight and a sturdy 180 pounds, it's no wonder that this young ballplayer ended up behind the plate as the club's catcher. Though his short career might suggest less than world class skills, the card upon which he appears here is unquestionably the finest known, outpacing the rest by a wide margin to assume top ranking on SGC's population charts. Just mild wear at the edges to be noted, otherwise this one is remarkably pristine.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 Jay Faatz SGC EX/NM 80. Another pose from the Captain of the Cleveland Blues, this time fielding a ground ball in a stance our Little League coaches always warned us against. An imperfect factory cut is largely to blame for this card's absence at the NM 84 level, though it still does remain at the very top of the population charts in this condition, sharing space with the other Faatz card in this auction.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 Jay Faatz SGC EX/NM 80. The Cleveland Blues first baseman illustrates the wide-gripped batting style that was used to such great effect by Dead Ball batters like Ty Cobb. With super-clean surfaces and terrific image clarity, the card loses points only for light corner touches and slightly imperfect centering, which was par for the course given the era's antiquated machinery. One of only two such cards to rank at such an impressive level, with none climbing higher.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 Thomas Flanigan SGC EX 60. Another pose from Mr. Flanigan, who seems ready to fire the baseball which he holds in his right hand right into the photographer's lens. A strong candidate for an upgrade, this representation still retains a good deal of its original gloss, and corners are touched, but only gently. The only other Flanigan to top this one appears in this Signature auction as well.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 Thomas Flanigan SGC EX+ 70. Another Cleveland Blues representative, this time a right-handed pitcher who demonstrates his delivery for the studio photographer. Typical edge and corner wear does little to diminish overall eye appeal, leaving this card in highly collectible condition. The highest grade ever issued by SGC, with no other specimens sharing that title.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 Thomas Flood SGC NM 84. Yet another king of the mountain here, with no competitors for the crown of finest known. SGC's top ranked Thomas Flood card pictures the youthful St. Joseph's pitcher in sharp contrast on a clean and uncreased surface, with just the slightest hints of wear at edges and corners.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 Bobby Gilks SGC NM 84. A twenty-two year old rookie when this photo was snapped, Gilks earned a top ten spot in winning percentage as a pitcher for the Cleveland Blues this season. Offered here is one of just two representations to achieve the impressive rating of NM 84, with not a single such card ever rating higher. A potential candidate for a re-grade, as this one is certainly capable of a bump up the ladder to earn the undisputed Championship of the pop reports.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 A.C. Jantzen SGC NM 84. In keeping with the theme of Old Judge cards offered in this Signature auction, this too ranks as the single highest graded card on the service's population charts. And like the others, this specimen offers only touches on the corners to suggest well over a century of life. Centering, registration and surfaces are all particularly strong in this example.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 W.T. Jordan SGC EX/NM 80. A stern batting pose from this Minneapolis catcher, who characterizes the classic look of Victorian age ballplayers in his fine studio portrait. Another candidate for a potential upgrade, this example seems to have more in common with the NM 84 cards than those with the EX/NM 80 header. A smart investment for the savvy card collector.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 Ed McKean SGC NM 84. The rookie shortstop of the lowly Cleveland Blues tosses a ball in the air as a photographer snaps his photo for this vast and beautiful set. With the spectacular condition in which this card remains following close to 120 seasons of baseball since its birth, it boggles the mind that even a single card could top this one on the population charts. With clean surfaces, razor-sharp contrast and even strong centering, this is the nicest silver medalist you'll ever find.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 John O'Brien SGC NM 84. Known better by the name Darby, this young pitcher never actually saw action in 1887, cutting his rookie teeth the following season for the Cleveland Blues with an eleven and nineteen record. His fortune improved with each passing season however, ending with an American Association Championship in 1891. Yet tragically, O'Brien's life was cut short just before the start of the 1892 at age twenty-four. He lives forever here though, on the finest example of his card ever slabbed by SGC. Corner wear is the only condition issue, with all other aspects essentially and amazingly pack-fresh.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 John Reilly SGC EX+ 70. "Long John" Reilly demonstrates how he earned that moniker, extending his lanky six-foot three, 178 pound frame for the photographer's lens. Guarding the right side of the infield with Hall of Famer Bid McPhee, Reilly remained one of the biggest stars on baseball's oldest professional team. The tiniest imperfection at the upper right corner keeps this one from serving time alone atop the population charts, but as such only one example has ever surpassed it.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 Emmett Seery SGC EX/NM 80. From any distance, this actually looks like the nicest Old Judge of the bunch, with surfaces so clean that most of the original gloss is still here! At an angle to the light, however, we can spot a minor wrinkle at upper right that accounts for the slabbed grade. Without question the prettiest EX/NM 80 Old Judge you'll ever find, and still the best Seery ever graded by SGC by a good margin.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 Mike Slattery SGC EX/NM 80. As a member of the 1880's New York Giants, Slattery shared a dugout with such legends as Connor, Ewing, Ward and O'Rourke, almost certainly the finest 19th century ballclub ever assembled. Here we offer one of the finest Old Judge Slattery cards ever to surface, with only two specimens ever topping this one on the population charts. A pinched upper right corner is the culprit here, and card would likely grade two levels higher if it matched the other three.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 Charlie Sprague SGC NM 84. Back when the team that would come to be known as the Chicago Cubs answered to the surprising familiar name "The White Stockings," this twenty-two year old rookie southpaw was on the mound for manager Cap Anson. Here he poses, left arm cocked to throw, for the photographer snapping shots for the Old Judge Cigarette Factory. Again condition is unlike anything one could expect from a card of this age, one of only two at the top of SGC's population charts.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 Cub Stricker SGC NM/MT 88. Just five-foot three and 138 pounds, John "Cub" Stricker stole eighty-six bases for the American Association Cleveland Blues the year this card was issued, amazingly only earning him tenth place in those rankings. The outrageous NM/MT rating established by SGC for this card upon which he appears doesn't just top the charts, it buries them. No other specimen has graded better than EX/NM. Simply one of the most pristine Old Judge cards on earth.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 Larry Twitchell SGC NM 84. An outfielder and pitcher for the Detroit Wolverines of the National League, who met the American Association St. Louis Browns in a traveling exhibition to establish baseball dominance and earned a ten games to five victory. The World Champ poses in a throwing motion for the portrait that adorns this remarkably strong card, again the finest on earth with only a single other card to share the crown. With terrific registration, clean surfaces and even perfect centering, it is only light touches on the corners that keeps this one from standing alone at the top.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 Chief Zimmer SGC NM 84. Only one other specimen tops this one on the SGC population charts, and that one appears in this Signature auction as well. This one is a different pose as well, with the Chief in catching mode, as opposed to a throwing motion captured in the NM+ 86 card. Again, only mild corner rounding saves this nearly twelve decades old card from reaching even greater heights on SGC's strict grading scale.
1887 Old Judge Cigarettes N172 Chief Zimmer SGC NM+ 86. The Native American star catcher was representing the American Association's Cleveland Blues when he posed for the Victorian age studio photo that appears on this surprisingly strong specimen. In fact, this one stands alone atop the SGC population report, with only one other even daring to close to within a grade below. With great registration, clean surfaces and strong centering, it is only light rounding of the corners that keeps this one from climbing even higher.
1888 Goodwin Champions N162 Complete Baseball Set (8). Issued by Old Judge and Gypsy Queen cigarettes, this set remains a favorite for many 19th century card collectors due to its gorgeous Victorian age lithography, picturing the game's greatest stars standing before glorious multi-hued skies right out of a painting by Claude Monet. Four residents of Cooperstown clock in for this set: Anson (Good 30), Brouthers (Good 30), Kelly (VG 40) and Keefe (VG/EX 50). Rounding out the team are Andrews (Fair 20), Caruthers (Fair 20), Glasscock (EX 60) and Dunlap (EX+ 70).
1908-09 Rose Co. Postcards Ty Cobb SGC VG 40. One of the most graphically appealing of all baseball issues is the supremely rare Rose Company postcard, so sought after by collectors that even the obscure nobodies book for close to $400 in VG condition. Here, however, we offer the key card in the set, the great Ty Cobb, one of only a handful still known to exist. In fact, not only is this offering the highest graded specimen ever to be certified by SGC, it is also the only one. A search of the population report of PSA likewise turns up not a single other example. Perhaps a cause for the supreme scarcity, besides the approaching centennial of its issue, is the fact that these are postcards, and as such were typically mailed rather than simply collected as tobacco cards of the age were. And while the 3.5x5.5" size of Rose Co. postcards made them more susceptible to wear (and particularly creasing/folding) than the tiny T-cards, our offering has weathered the decades wonderfully, with only edge and corner wear, and slight rubbing of the surfaces to gain the rather stingy grade of VG 40.
1909-11 T206 Sherry Magee (Magie) Error Card PSA VG 3. To give some idea of the incredible scarcity of this important tobacco card, we'll note that only fifty-five have ever been encapsulated by the PSA grading service, just over twice as many as the twenty-five representations of the famed Honus Wagner card, considered one of the rarest pieces of cardboard on earth. Severely abridged print runs are the common thread that causes the skimpiest of supplies of each, as Wagner personally put a stop to his own appearance in the set, and the misspelling of Magee's last name was caught and corrected early in the process. Even the most advanced collections of T206 sets are often short of the coveted "Magie," and so we expect spirited bidding for this nice example. Typical corner wear is the only noteworthy condition issue, as the surfaces present as well as a card of much loftier rank.
1909-11 T206 White Border Partial Set (400/521). Offered here is a partial set of the American Tobacco Company's classic T206 white border issue. This is an outstanding representation of the most recognized and most widely collected vintage issue in the hobby. A total of 66 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $15,325. Includes: Graded Cards -PSA NM-MT 8: Doc White (Chicago, Pitching). PSA NM 7: 6 cards w/ Beckley, Gasper, Leach, McGinley, Persons (So. League), Puttman. PSA EX-MT 6: 15 cards w/ Chance (Port. Red), Fritz (So. League), King (So. League), Mathewson (Dark Cap), Rockenfeld (So. League), Walsh. PSA EX 5: 17 Cards w/ Bender (Trees), Bresnahan (Port), Chance (Port. Yellow), Crawford (Throwing), Griffith (Portrait), Collins, Huggins (Hands at Mouth), Keeler (Port), Speaker (mk), Wallace, Willis, Young (Port). PSA VG-EX 4: 17 cards w/ Baker, Bender (Port), Brown (Chicago), Chesbro, Cobb (Port. Green), Cobb (Port. Red), Cobb (Bat on Shoulder)(mk), Evers (Port), Joss (Port), Marquard (Port), McGraw (Finger in Air), Tinker (Hands on Knees), Waddell (Throwing), Young (Glove). PSA VG 3: 5 Cards w/ Bresnahan (Bat), Brown (Port), Joss (Pitching), Mathewson (Port), Tinker (Port). PSA Good 2: 5 Cards w/ Evers (Bat), Johnson (Hands at Chest), Lajoie (Throwing), Lajoie (Port), Tinker (Bat Off). Note: Many of the cards present stronger than their technical grade but suffer from some discoloration on the verso. Ungraded Cards - Highlights include: Chase (Blue Port) (VG-EX), Chase (Pink Port) (VG-EX), Cicotte (VG), Clarke (Bat) (EX), Crawford (Bat) (EX), Elberfeld (Wash) (Good), Jennings (One Hand) (EX-MT), Jennings (Port) (VG-EX), McGinnity (VG-EX). Grades 20% EX or better, 60% VG-EX, 20% VG or lesser.
1915 Cracker Jack Fred Clarke #70 SGC NM/MT 88. Perhaps having athletes like Honus Wagner under your command makes the job a little easier, but it still took talent to manage the Pirates to four National League flags and a World Series Championship. Strong corners and outstanding color help this example jump off the page and leave just a single card in the history of SGC to rise above its NM/MT 88 stature. A very tough card from this early Cooperstonian.
1922 American Caramel Co. E121 Babe Ruth Holding Ball SGC Poor 10. The most valuable of the four variations of Babe Ruth cards in this tough candy set. While the technical grade of Poor 10 derives from genuine issues of wear, the overall effect does little to diminish the visual appeal of the card, which boasts a bold and marvelously contrasted black and white image of the Babe in early 1920's Yankee pinstripes. And while it might be possible to find a finer example, we'd anticipate quite a lengthy search in locating it, and a very sizeable price tag at the end of that rainbow.
1922 American Caramel Co. E121 "Babe" Ruth SGC-Graded Lot of 3. Note the quotation marks around the word "Babe" in our listing title, as it is relevant to the value of the cards. These particularly rare candy cards were printed in versions both with and without the punctuation in question, and we offer the scarcer and more desirable variations here. Included are "Babe" Ruth (photo montage) in SGC Fair 20, "Babe" Ruth (holding bird) in SGC Good 30 and "Babe" Ruth (holding ball) in SGC Good 30. Please note that the grading labels on the card holders are incorrectly dated.
1922 American Caramel Co. E121 SGC-Graded Lot of 8. Produced by American Caramel Co., circa 1922, the cards offered here represent a Who's Who from baseball of the era: G.C. Alexander VG 40, Ty Cobb G 30, Walter Johnson G 30, "Rabbit" Maranville EX 60, E.S. Rice EX 60, George Sisler VG-EX 50, Tris Speaker VG 40, Zach Wheat VG-EX 50. Please note that the grading labels on seven of the eight card holders are incorrectly dated.
1922 American Caramel Co. E122 Babe Ruth SGC VG 40. Actually a parallel of the E121 American Caramel set, the Babe is still far and away the key card in the set. Interestingly, though the caption on front reads "Babe Ruth, R.F. - New York Americans," the photographic image is of the Babe pitching in a Red Sox uniform, an image that is also used in his 1915 Sporting News rookie card. Condition is remarkable for a treasure of such advanced age, though any representation would top the want list of all caramel card collectors.
1922 American Caramel Co. E122 SGC-Graded Lot of 4. Nearly identical to the parallel issue of 80 cards released a year prior; this group produced by American Caramel Co., circa 1922, includes luminaries Harry Heilman (Heilmann) EX 60, Harry Hooper VG 40, John McGraw VG-EX 50, Eppa Rixey Jr. VG-EX 50. Overall a strong group, given the condition-sensitive nature of the issue.
1922 Neilson's Chocolate V61 Babe Ruth Type II SGC Poor 10. Printed in both light paper stock (Type I) and cardboard (Type II) varieties, we offer the more desirable style here, listed in the Standard Price Guide as carrying a fifty percent premium over the printed figures. Its exceptionally scarce nature forces us to excuse concerns about condition, though we should defend the beauty of this representation despite its technical Poor 10 rating. While some foxing and creasing are present, the elegant design and fine black and white photographic imagery shine through admirably. One of only two such cards ever to find a home in an SGC slab.
1933 Goudey Napoleon Lajoie #106 PSA VG 3. Only the famous Honus Wagner card of the T206 set could claim a more vast divide among card collectors between those who fervently desire a specimen and those that actually own one. Both the T206 Wagner and the 1933 Goudey Lajoie are so exceedingly scarce that listed full set prices for the issues fail to take them into consideration, beaten into submission by the knowledge that the cards just can't be found. Well, we've located one for our Heritage bidding clientele, allowing one lucky customer to switch teams to the "haves" from the "have nots." Thanks must be offered to one young Depression-era set builder, who would not be deterred by the fact that card number 106 was not available in standard wax packs. It took a letter, mailed to the Boston offices of Goudey Gum Co., to earn this toughest of all cards from this Big Three set, accounting for their terrific rarity today. While the edge and corner wear typical of the vast majority of cards from this issue is present here, nothing can disguise the fact that the image area, utilizing the design features that characterize the '34 set, presents well above its technical VG 3 rating. Of course, any griping over condition when it comes to a card of such minimal population is a bit ridiculous, as any collector knowledgeable in the field would surely agree. A rare and special chance to set oneself apart from (and above) the rest of the pack.
1935 Diamond Stars Charlie Gehringer #77 GAI Mint 9. One of the true Golden Ages of baseball card design is ably represented by this bold portrait of the Hall of Fame Tiger. All of the typical problems seen with this issue are absent here, as corners remain stunningly sharp, centering is magnificent, and registration could not be improved. Global header notes that this is the first such card they have graded, and what a way to start!
1948 Bowman Yogi Berra #6 SGC Mint 96. It just doesn't get any better than this! While any high-grade rookie is cause for celebration, the finest known rookie from a Hall of Famer is something else entirely. And then consider the fact that the card is also from the first great post-war baseball issue, and you can practically hear the angels singing. Unsurprisingly, this pack fresh rarity finds itself at the top of the SGC population charts, one of just four to achieve such lofty status. Simply pristine.
1948 Bowman Stan Musial #36 PSA Gem Mint 10. When the Bowman Gum company launched its inaugural issue just three years after the close of World War II combat, the technology at work in printing their cards and cutting them from the sheets was antiquated at best. Printing errors, miscuts and general defects were the rule rather than the exception, leaving only a small percentage of the cards issued in the running for Gem Mint status from the moment of conception. Then we must consider how few of that already slim population survived to see the twenty-first century in any decent state of wear whatsoever, much less those that traveled the decades entirely unscathed. Perhaps the PSA population report could shed a bit of light--of the 5,835 cards submitted from the 1948 Bowman set as of the time of this writing, just thirteen have found a home in a Gem Mint 10 slab. And the figure for Stan Musial, the most valuable card in the set of forty-eight by a wide margin, is one. And so, for the most sophisticated of collectors, we offer the finest possible specimen of the key card from the first great post-war baseball issue. As such, the significance of this singularly perfect card could not possibly be overstated, and its ownership places the lucky high bidder among the top elite of the hobby.
1948 Leaf Alvin Dark #51 PSA NM 7. Very little opportunity to cast stones at this sharp rookie from the '48 Leaf set. Condition is so stellar, with such little wear to be found, that we must assume it is the slightly imperfect printing process that accounts for this grade not being even higher. Nonetheless, it is notable that only four unqualified cards picturing this pennant-winning Boston Brave have ever surpassed our offering.
1948 Leaf Dom DiMaggio #75 PSA NM 7. Joe's bespectacled brother takes a swing on this boldly colored issue from the earliest days of post-war card collecting. Only three examples of this card have ever graded higher than the offered specimen, making this a cause for celebration among those looking to build a high-grade set.
1948 Leaf Larry Doby #138 PSA NM 7. Not just a high-grade star card from tough set, but a rookie as well! The Hall of Fame ex-Negro Leaguer was in his first full season of service to the Cleveland Indians when this card was issued, and it has seen little action since then. Wear is all but entirely absent, with only slightly imperfect centering to deny an even higher grade. Only six unqualified cards have ever graded higher.
1948 Leaf Eddie Joost #62 PSA NM 7. A top ten candidate for American League MVP when this card was issued, Joost's fine service to Connie Mack made him one of the most beloved sports figures in post-war Philadelphia. Here he stretches for a high liner on this high-grade example of his '48 Leaf. Only six unqualified examples have ever graded higher than this truly magnificent offering.
1948 Leaf John Wyrostek #19 PSA NM 7. Another high-grade example from this artistically adventurous post-war set. The speedy slugger it pictures cracked the top ten for triples this season, giving fans in his new Cincinnati home something to cheer about. Collectors are similarly blessed with this offering, as only two unqualified representations of this card have ever graded higher.
1949 Bowman Stan Musial #24 PSA NM-MT 8. The bold and simple beauty of the Bowman company's sophomore effort brings color into the mix, capturing this Hall of Fame Cardinal against a midnight blue background. Sharp corners, perfect centering and top notch surfaces and registration put this example into an elite class.
1950 Bowman Jackie Robinson #22 GAI NM-MT 8. Arguably one of the finest portraits of this true baseball hero can be found on his '50 Bowman card, which appears in near-pristine form in this offering. Surfaces are clean as a whistle, and registration razor-sharp. Only the slightest difference in border width prohibits this beauty from climbing even higher in the grading process.
1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253 PSA VG-EX 4. The Mick's true rookie! While the 1952 Topps card is the one that gets all the ladies, you can't deny the appeal of this even earlier card, with the edge of the fateful number "6" visible on Mickey's back. The color and registration of the image area are that of a NM or better card, with light touches at the corners and a minor wax stain on verso all that brings this card down from the stratosphere. A solid team player of a card, just like the man himself.
1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253 SGC NM/MT 88. "Mickey is the Yankee rookie of whom so much is expected in 1951." So begins the text on the back of this essential card, the first to bear the likeness of the legendary Hall of Famer. It's safe to say that the Yankees' expectations were well met. And any expectations a serious card collector might have will be similarly satisfied with this top representation of Bowman's #253 card from their 1951 issue. Print lines and centering problems, two issues that affect a large percentage of cards from this set, have taken a vacation in this case. Microscopic touches on the corners take an eagle eye to spot, as does the slightest hint of a rough cut on the bottom edge. From any distance greater than six inches, it's impossible to see anything veering from perfection. We'll just leave it at this: only three cards have ever graded higher at SGC and that should say it all.
1951 Bowman Willie Mays #305 GAI Mint 9. Along with fellow Hall of Fame rookie Mickey Mantle, Mays is responsible for a large percentage of the value in this gorgeously rendered set, firmly in most collectors' top ten list of favored issues. But it's not often that one lays eyes upon any card from the set quite so pristine as the offered specimen, much less one of the heroic rookies. Print defects and gum and wax staining, so often a problem with this issue, are entirely absent here. Centering defects are similarly not a concern. In fact, a studied attempt to find a single flaw to mention, however minor, is in vain. Only a small percentage of "pack fresh" cards are as fine as the one you see before you, and what a card to do it!
1952 Bowman Baseball Complete Set (252). Count us among those collectors who believe that the artwork of early 1950's Bowman cards represent the peak of the hobby's design. A total of five cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $1500. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA EX 5: #196 Stan Musial. PSA VG-EX 4: #1 Yogi Berra, 44 Roy Campanella, 101 Mickey Mantle, 218 Willie Mays. Ungraded Cards Highlights include - #8 Reese (EX), 43 Feller (VG-EX), 80 Hodges (EX), 116 Snider (VG), 156 Spahn (EX), 217 Stengel (F), 232 Slaughter (VG-EX), 252 Crosetti (EX). Remaining cards grade 35% EX or better with the balance a consistent VG/VG-EX or better with few exceptions.
Baseball Collectibles
1952 Topps Willie Mays #261 PSA NM-MT 8. The all-important rookie card from the National League Rookie of the Year. Over 750 examples have tried, and fewer than ten have been successful in topping this high-grade specimen and third most valuable card in Topps' debut issue. With a crisp, clear image, strong centering and sharp corners, this card bears a strikingly close resemblance to the Mint 9 cards that sell for over $20,000 at auction. And we'll say a big "Hey" to that!
Baseball Cards
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 PSA Authentic. The most important and desirable of all post-war trading cards, the Topps Mickey Mantle rookie will remain a dream for many a collector, as the scarcity and demand for the card has driven the price tag well above many a budget. For those intent upon sharing in the joy, but unwilling to part with five figures to do so, we present this rather nice looking example graded "Authentic" by PSA. We assume that the collector that submitted this card chose to go the "Authentic" route rather than ask for a grade as the scattered wrinkles and ink stain at the lower right border would have resulted in a PSA 1 (MK) designation otherwise. Despite these flaws, however, the catalog image should back our claim that it's actually a lot nicer than the details might have you believe.
1952 Topps Hoyt Wilhelm #392 GAI NM+ 7.5. A grand era in baseball card collecting begins with the debut of the world famous Topps company. Any high-grade specimen from this set is a treasure, but Hall of Famers hold particular appeal, and this legendary knuckleballer's card is certainly no exception. Ultra-clean surfaces give this one eye appeal surpassing even its lofty NM+ grade.
1953 Bowman Color Stan Musial #32 SGC NM+ 86. Only six cards have ever surpassed this remarkable specimen from the Bowman company's bold first step into the realm of color photography. Stan the Man is pictured in crystal-clear contrast, with perfect clean, glossy goodness. In fact, with such sharp corners and clean edges to boot, we're left to assume it is the 65/35 top/bottom centering that accounts for a grade that is not a level or two higher. It's such a pack-fresh beauty that there could be no other explanation.
1953 Bowman Color Baseball Partial Set (112/160). This lot contains a complete 1st Series (1-113) run from the historic Bowman issue. Each card is marked with player's uniform number on the verso. A total of 5 cards have been graded by PSA. Includes: Graded Cards -PSA NM 7: 2 cards w/ #'s 33 Reese (mk), 44 Berra/Bauer/ Mantle (mk). PSA EX-MT 6: 2 cards w/ #'s 46 Campanella (mk), 59 Mantle (mk). PSA EX 5:# 32 Musial (mk) . Cards are graded with exception of markings on verso. Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s 9 Rizzuto (VG-EX), 10 Ashburn (VG-EX), 92 Hodges (EX), 93 Rizzuto/Martin (VG-EX), 97 Mathews (VG-EX), 99 Spahn (VG-EX). Grades 10% NM to NM-MT, 50% EX to EX-MT, 40% VG-EX or lesser.
1953 Topps Baseball Complete Set (274). The beautifully designed Topps set, originally intended to consist of 280 cards, is missing six numbers (253, 261, 267, 268, 271 and 275) most likely due to its continuing legal battles with Bowman. A total of 5 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $1600. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA EX-MT 6: #280 Milt Bolling. PSA EX 5: #114 Phil Rizzuto. PSA VG-EX 4: #220 Satchell Paige, 244 Willie Mays. PSA VG 3: #82 Mickey Mantle. Ungraded Cards Highlights include - #1 Robinson (VG), 27 Campanella (VG), 37 Mathews (VG), 54 Feller (VG), 76 Reese (VG), 104 Berra (VG), 147 Spahn (VG-EX), 207 Ford (VG), 263 Podres (VG). Remaining cards grade 30% EX or better with the balance a consistent VG/VG-EX or better with few exceptions.
1954 Bowman Mickey Mantle #65 PSA NM 7. A fantastic color photographic portrait of the Mick issued during his fourth season in the Majors makes this a fan favorite in the hobby. Fewer than seventy unqualified cards of the 1150 graded by PSA have topped this offering, which boasts fine corners and edges, a strong surface and only 40/60 left/right centering to keep it from grading even higher. A fantastic specimen.
1954 Bowman Baseball Complete Set (224). In 1954 Bowman followed up the success of the stunning 1953 color set with another classic. This set is filled with timeless images of some of the greatest players of post war baseball. A total of 15 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $4,350. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA NM-MT 8: 5 cards w/ #'s 37, 68, 93, 101 Larsen, 104. PSA NM 7: 5 cards w/ #'s 66 Williams, 75, 95 Roberts, 119, 189. PSA EX-MT 6: 5 cards w/ #'s 65 Mantle, 69, 89 Mays, 90 Campanella, 105. Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s 1 Rizzuto (EX-MT), 132 Feller (EX-MT), 161 Berra, (EX), 170 Snider (NM), 177 Ford (NM) Grades 25% NM to NM-MT, 60% EX to EX-MT, 15% VG-EX or lesser.
1954 Topps Baseball Near Complete Set (224/250). Offered is a mid grade 1954 Topps set. This classic presents both portrait and action shots on each card. The issue includes key rookie cards of Aaron, Banks, and Kaline. A total of 11 cards have been graded by PSA. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA NM-MT 8: 6 cards w/ #'s 119 (oc), 178, 181, 201 Kaline, 212, 229. PSA NM 7: 2 cards w/ #'s 71,189. PSA EX-MT 6: 3 cards w/ #'s 32 Snider, 132 Lasorda, 185. Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s 1 Williams (VG-EX), 17 Rizzuto (EX), 20 Spahn (EX-MT), 30 Mathews (EX-MT), 37 Ford (EX), 128 Aaron (EX-MT). Missing Cards - 8, 9, 10 Robinson, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 48, 49, 50 Berra, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 88, 89, 90 Mays, 91, 92, 93, 94 Banks, 95, 248, 249, 250 Williams. Grades 10% NM to NM-MT, 60% EX to EX-MT, 30% VG-EX or lesser.
1955 Bowman Mickey Mantle #202 GAI NM-MT 8. Known throughout the hobby as the "T.V. cards," the '55 Bowman set was once considered the cutting edge of design, and now appears charmingly dated a half century later. Of course the signs of age are apparent only in the graphic sensibilities, as the evidence of wear is so minimal as to merit the lofty grade of NM-MT by the graders at Global. Remarkably strong centering further distances this important card from the rest of the pack.
1955 Bowman Baseball Partial Set (224/320). This lot contains a complete run of the low numbers (1-224) from this last bowman baseball issue. A total of 15 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $1,500. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA NM-MT 8: 3 cards w/ #'s 34, 59 Ford, 71. PSA NM 7: 6 cards w/ #'s 12, 33 Fox, 67 Larsen, 103 Mathews, 130 Ashburn, 191 Lemon. PSA EX-MT 6: 4 cards w/ #'s 37 Reese, 168 Berra, 184 Mays, 202 Mantle. PSA EX 5: 2 cards w/ #'s 28, 134 Feller. Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s 1 Wilhelm (EX), 22 Campanella (EX-MT0, 23 Kaline (NM), 179 Aaron (EX-MT). Grades 10% NM to NM-MT, 70% EX to EX-MT, 20% VG-EX or lesser.
1954 Topps Ted Williams #250 GAI NM-MT 8.5. An important card from the Splendid Splinter's first full season back at Fenway after his tour of duty as a fighter pilot in Korea. Unchanged from the state in which it found itself upon emergence from its waxen womb, this high-grade star card fails to climb higher still due only to a mild rough cut along the left edge that gives the lower left corner the false look of a touch. Otherwise gloss, surfaces and even centering are first-rate. Global notes on its header that this is the first such specimen ever graded, and we'd be surprised if one has topped this example since.
1955 Topps Baseball Complete Set (206). This was Topps' first horizontally oriented baseball issue. The format presented dual portrait and action photos along with a facsimile signature. The format was a hit and was used again for the 1956 Topps issue. A total of 8 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $2,800. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA NM-MT 8: # 31 Spahn . PSA NM 7: 3 cards w/ #'s 4 Kaline, 47 Aaron (oc), 194 Mays. PSA EX-MT 6: 3 cards w/ #'s 50 Robinson, 123 Koufax (oc), 124 Killebrew, 164 Clemente. Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s 2 Williams (EX), 28 Banks (NM-MT), 155 Mathews (EX), 210 Snider (EX). Grades 15% NM to NM-MT, 65% EX to EX-MT, 20% VG-EX or lesser.
1956 Topps Yankees Team #251 PSA NM-MT 8. Only five unqualified representations of this card have ever surpassed this high-grade beauty on the PSA population charts, which should give some indication of just how lovely this one is. Long a favorite for Larsen's perfect game and Mantle's Triple Crown, the 1956 Yankee team has never looked better. Clean, glossy, and an almost complete absence of wear.
1956 Topps Baseball High-Grade Partial Set (261/340). This high-grade partial set represents the second consecutive year that Topps employed the horizontal cards featuring both a portrait and an action scene. This offering includes the first 3 series' and is missing the 4th series of 261-340. Fortunately, none of the key cards are located in the final series, which only includes two Hall of Famers: 292 Aparicio, and 307 Wilhelm. A total of 66 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $9,000. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA Mint 9: 5 cards w/ #'s 81, 89, 94, 135 Mantle(oc), 190 Furillo. PSA NM-MT 8: 46 cards w/ #'s 17, 20 Kaline, 22, 29, 31 Aaron, 37, 38, 44, 45, 47, 54, 55, 56, 58, 60, 77, 80, 90 Reds, 91, 96, 121 Pirates, 125, 128, 130 Mays(oc), 138, 145 Hodges(oc), 160, 162, 164 Killebrew(oc), 165, 180 Roberts, 188 White Sox, 206, 212, 214, 217, 221, 222, 228, 230, 234, 236 A's, 242, 243, 244, 249. PSA NM 7: 12 cards w/ #'s 30 Robinson, 33 Clemente, 41, 78, 79 Koufax, 113 Rizzuto, 143, 148, 150 Snider, 153, 158, 175. PSA EX-MT 6: 5 cards w/ #'s 15 Banks, 110 Berra. PSA EX 5: #5 Williams . Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s 101 Campanella (EX), 166 Dodgers (EX-MT), 200 Feller (EX), 240 Ford (EX), 251 Yankees (NM), 260 Reese (EX-MT). Grades 50% NM to NM-MT, 50% EX to EX-MT.
1957 Topps Yankees' Power Hitters #407 GAI NM-MT 8. Two pinstriped Hall of Famers for the price of one in this stellar card from the Topps company's first flirtation with photography. Terrific registration and clean surfaces conspire with sharp corners and strong centering to achieve that NM-MT designation.
1957 Topps Baseball High-Grade Partial Set (295/407). This is the first Topps issue to feature full color photographs with a nice mix of action and portrait images. The 407 card issue represented their largest offered to that date. A total of 39 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $5,200. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA Mint 9: 4 cards w/ #'s 64, 129, 150, 163. PSA NM-MT 8: 31 cards w/ #'s 2 Berra, 13, 18 Drysdale, 24, 34, 41, 45, 51, 54, 57, 68, 72, 80 Hodges, 82, 83, 112, 120 Lemon, 131, 137, 160, 162, 166, 174, 353, 355, 356, 358, 371, 386, 387, 402. PSA NM 7: 4 cards w/ #'s 76 Clemente, 95 Mantle, 107, 122. Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s 1 Williams (EX), 10 Mays (VG-EX), Aaron (EX), 35 F. Robinson (EX), 125 Kaline (EX), 170 Snider (VG-EX), 400 Dodgers Sluggers (NM) Missing: 20 Aaron, 170 Snider, 302 Koufax, 328 B. Robinson, 407 Yankee Sluggers. Most of 2nd series 265-352 Grades 25% NM to NM-MT, 60% EX to EX-MT, 15% VG-EX or lesser.
1957 Topps Don Drysdale #18 PSA NM-MT 8. A frightening new era begins for National League batters, as one of the most vicious beanballers in the game's history throws his cap into the ring. We're pleased to present one of the very finest Drysdale rookies known here, as the PSA population reports tell us that only eight have topped our offering out of the more than one thousand that have been submitted. Marvelous image quality, strong centering and a minimum of wear make this one a cut above the rest.
1957 Topps Hank Aaron #20 PSA Mint 9. Long a collector favorite for its "error card" status, as the right-handed Home Run King is pictured in a left-handed stance due to a reversed negative. Of course, the tremendous talents and historical significance of the subject play some role in making this one of the most valuable cards in the glorious 1957 Topps set as well. Here we present the finest specimen known, ranking in the top two percentile of all '57 Aarons submitted to the PSA grading service, with never a single representation surpassing it. Catalog imagery cannot do justice to the exceptional gloss of the card, though the splendid centering, sharp corners and razor-sharp registration should be evident.
1957 Topps Del Ennis #260 PSA Gem Mint 10. An idea of the ridiculous scarcity of a Gem Mint 10 card from this issue? At the time of this writing, over 93,000 cards from the 1957 Topps issue have been sealed in PSA slabs. Ninety-one rest below a Gem Mint 10 header. That's fewer than one in one thousand that have made the cut. A long explication of the details of the card becomes redundant with this realization. Pure perfection, and nothing short of it.
1957 Topps Sandy Koufax #302 PSA NM-MT 8. The Brooklyn fans, like Sandy, were still smiling when this card was issued, but in a year those smiles would turn upside down as the Ebbets faithful watched Koufax and the rest ride west into the sunset. Recalling those last days in Flatbush is this pack-fresh beauty, offering flawless color and registration and nary a hint of wear. In fact, fewer than one percent of '57 Koufax cards have ever rated higher on the PSA population charts.
1957 Topps Yankees Power Hitters Mantle & Berra #407 PSA NM-MT 8. Two Yankee Hall of Famers for the price of one! One of the most popular cards among Big Apple kids of the day, this one is particularly tough to find in high grade as a result. The last star card in this ultra-popular set, this Mantle/Berra representation has been topped just eight times on the PSA population charts in well over one thousand attempts. So this card is quite a power hitter in its own right.
1957 Topps Checklist 1/2 Big Blony PSA NM-MT 8. The reasoning for the low incidence of high-grade checklists from the era should be clear to any collector. Created with the intention of being used for keeping track of one's collection, most were marked up by young hobbyists, or simply discarded as useless "filler." Consider that Hall of Fame submissions from this issue almost without fail each top 1,000 on the PSA population charts, with not a single checklist cracking triple digits. And only a single representation of this specific card has ever topped the one we offer here, making this a rare opportunity for a serious set builder.
1957 Topps Baseball PSA-Graded Mint 9 Lot of 8. All grade Mint 9 with no qualifiers. 1) Les Moss #213. 2) Dixie Howell #221. 3) George Susce #229 (only one graded higher). 4) Art Fowler #233 (none graded higher). 5) Orioles Team #251 (only one graded higher). 6) Walt Dropo #257 (none graded higher). 7) Mickey McDermott #318 (none graded higher). 8) Bob Speake #339 (none graded higher).
1957 Topps Baseball High-Grade Complete Set (411). The popular 1957 Topps issue was their first with the now standard 2.5" x 3.5" sizing. This high-grade offering exhibits strong corners, centering, and surface throughout as the graded representations will exhibit. A total of 74 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $8,380. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA NM-MT 8:53 cards w/ #'s 2 Berra, 4, 8, 9, 12, 14, 18 Drysdale (mc), 30 Reese, 44, 58, 71, 74, 123, 142, 144, 151, 163, 180, 183 Cubs, 189, 192, 196, 198 Tigers, 199, 200, 201, 211, 224, 231, 234, 237, 241, 244, 246, 250 Mathews, 252, 253, 259, 264, 270 Senators, 284, 289, 292, 317 Giants, 336, 337, 357, 359, 376, 396, 398, 399, 401. PSA NM 7: 16 cards w/ #'s 10 Mays, 20 Aaron, 35 F. Robinson, 55 Banks, 76 Clemente, 80 Hodges, 95 Mantle, 97 Yankees, 100, 120 Lemon, 121, 125 Kaline, 210 Campanella, 286 Richardson, 302 Koufax, 400 Dodgers Sluggers. PSA EX-MT 6: 4 cards w/ #'s 1 Williams, 25 Ford, 277, 338. PSA EX 5: 407 Mantle/Berra. Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s Grades 65% NM to NM-MT, 30% EX to EX-MT, 5% VG-EX or lesser.
1958 Topps Baseball High-Grade Near Complete Set (484/494). Offered is a high grade near set of 1958 Topps baseball. This issue is noted for bright colors and numerous star cards, including high profile rookies of Maris, Cepeda, and Flood. This example includes 13 Yellow Letter variations: 13, 20, 23, 33 (PSA 8), 50, 53, 58 (PSA 8), 61 (PSA 8), 77, 78, 79, 85 Aparicio (PSA 8), 101. Note: Clemente is not yellow letter, PSA tag is a misprint. A total of 53 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $7,350. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA MINT 9: #387. PSA NM-MT 8: 39 cards w/ #'s 18, 19 Giants, 24, 25 Drysdale, 28, 30 Aaron, 33 Yellow Letter, 37, 39, 40, 48, 52 Clemente, 58 Yellow Letter, 59, 60, 61 Yellow Letter, 67, 71 Dodgers, 75, 80, 85 Aparicio Yellow letter, 93, 106, 303, 307 B. Robinson (oc), 369, 375 Reese, 377 Braves, 385, 388, 389, 398, 399, 421, 425, 428 Reds, 434, 439, 455. PSA NM 7: 10 cards w/ #'s 47 Maris, 88 Snider, 97, 150 Mantle, 277, 351 Aaron/Mathews, 386, 418 Aaron/Mantle, 440 Mathews, 463. PSA EX-MT 6: 2 cards w/ #'s 310 Banks, 370 Berra. PSA EX 5: # 187 Koufax. Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s 1 Williams (EX), 5 Mays (EX), 70 Kaline (NM-MT). Missing: #'s 485-494 Grades 40% NM to NM-MT, 50% EX to EX-MT, 10% VG-EX or lesser.
1958 Topps High-Grade Complete Set (494). The 1958 Topps set was numbered to 495, but one card (145) was not issued after Ed Bouchee was suspended from baseball. The set includes the addition of 20 "All-Star" (as selected by Sport Magazine) cards. A total of 38 cards have been graded by SGC with an aggregate SMR value of $5350. Includes: Graded Cards - SGC MT 96: #240 Skowron. SGC NM-MT+ 92: #329, 428 Cincinnati Redlegs, 487 Mantle All Star, 491. SGC NM-MT 88: #47 Maris, 307 B. Robinson, 310 Banks, 351 Brave Fence Busters, 380, 400 Fox, 401, 407, 482 Banks All Star, 492. SGC NM+ 86: #80, 300, 304 Tigers Big Bats, 314 Dodgers' Boss & Power, 375 Reese, 476 Musial All Star. SGC NM 84: #70 Kaline, 84, 187 Koufax, 270 Spahn, 436 Rival Fence Busters, 485 Williams All Star. SGC EX-NM 80: #1 Williams, 5 Mays, 30 Aaron, 52 Clemente, 150 Mantle, 418 World Series Batting Foes, 486 Mays All Star. SGC EX 60: #25 Drysdale, 370 Berra. SGC VG-EX 50: #152 Hodges, 271 Martin. Ungraded Cards Highlights include - #71 Dodgers Team (EX), 88 Snider (EX), 246 Yankees Team (EX), 285 F. Robinson (VG-EX), 288 Killebrew (OC), 320 Ford (VG-EX), 321 Sluggers Supreme (EX), 343 Cepeda (VG-EX), 440 Mathews (EX), 488 Aaron All Star (EX). Remaining cards grade 80% EX/EX-MT or better with the balance a consistent VG-EX or better with few exceptions.
1960 Leaf Complete Set (144). While known to the hobby as "Leaf" cards, this set of 144 carries the copyright of Sports Novelties Inc., Chicago. A total of 13 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $475. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA NM 7: #25 Grant (right photo), 94 Baseball's Two Smiths, 125 Anderson, 128 Cepeda, 141 Flood, 144 Bunning. PSA EX-MT 6: #25 Grant (wrong photo), 27 B. Robinson, 37 Snider, 69 Wilhelm, 115 Tanner. PSA EX 5: #1 Aparicio, 52 Green. Balance of the remaining cards in the set grade EX or better with few exceptions.
1960 Topps Baseball Complete High-Grade Set (572). The 1960 Topps issue was the last year that Topps produced a horizontal issue and has always been a collector favorite due to its multiple Hall of famers along with its colorful design. A total of 35 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $3,900. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA Mint 9: # 122. PSA NM-MT 8: 20 cards w/ #'s 28 B. Robinson, 54, 137, 146, 148 Yastrzemski, 160 Mantle/Boyer, 180, 200 Mays, 202, 250 Musial, 377 Maris, 462, 475 Drysdale, 479, 480 Berra, 523, 555, 563 Mantle A.S.(oc), 564 Mays A.S., 569. PSA NM 7: 11 cards w/ #'s 210 Killebrew, 254, 300 Aaron, 326 Clemente(oc), 343 Koufax, 350 Mantle, 420 Mathews, 445 Spahn, 464, 513 Cubs, 566 Aaron A.S. PSA EX-MT 6: 3 cards w/ #'s 240, 282, 565 Maris A.S. Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s 10 Banks (EX-MT), 35 Ford (NM), 50 Kaline (NM), 73 Gibson (EX), 316 McCovey (EX). Grades 25% NM to NM-MT, 70% EX to EX-MT, 5% VG-EX or lesser.
1962 Topps AL Home Run Leaders #53 PSA Mint 9. Fans of the M&M boys are certain to crave this cardboard, as both are pictured with captions boasting their remarkable 1961 season home run totals. Quality is the second reason to celebrate, as the problematic full bleed graphics of the issue are no problem here. There was no choice for the graders at PSA but to give this card a grade of Mint 9, never topped a single time on the population charts.
1964 Topps Bob Gibson #460 PSA Mint 9. A World Championship season for this Hall of Fame pitcher, who again beats all comers with this pristine, pack fresh example. Razor sharp corners, perfect gloss and registration. Not a single card has ever topped this one on the PSA population charts.
1965 Topps Willie Mays #250 PSA Mint 9. If you're looking for a finer specimen than the offered card, you'll have to track down the single representation to top this one on the population charts. If you don't have that kind of time to spare however, we offer this likewise pristine card picturing the era's most dominant star. With this card boasting centering, corners and surfaces all as fine as could be, we can't imagine what that single PSA 10 could offer that this example does not.
1966 Topps Roger Maris #365 PSA Mint 9. Though the hero of the 1961 season may no longer find himself atop the single-season home run record chart, he does find himself at the top of the PSA population chart with this spectacular example, one of only eight to achieve the grade of Mint 9, with none grading higher. Absolutely pack fresh, with gloss for miles!
1967 Topps Willie Mays #200 PSA Mint 9. Fewer than one percent of the examples of this coveted card have gained the lofty status of Mint 9, with not a single example of the more than 1,000 that have tried topping the offered representation. After all, like the baseball talents of the man himself, what's left to improve upon? Gloss, registration, surfaces and corners are all as perfect as can be. No wonder the Say Hey kid is smiling!
1968 Topps Nolan Ryan Rookie #177 PSA Mint 9. Far and away the most important and valuable card in the 1968 set is the one that introduced the future strike out king to the baseball world. Presented here is one of just forty-seven unqualified Mint 9 examples to pass through the offices of PSA, representing just over one percent of all such cards that have made the attempt. Not a single card, of the close to 4,000 submitted, have achieved a Gem Mint 10 status, making this example the undisputed Heavyweight Champ.
1970 Topps Nolan Ryan #712 PSA Mint 9. After the Mets' amazin' 1969 season, this card was a favorite among young collectors impressed by the fireball this young kid could throw. Collectors will be equally impressed with the high quality of this card some thirty-five years later. Only a single example has ever graded higher on PSA's population chart.
Baseball Collectibles
1869 Buckeye Base Ball Club of Cincinnati Passes Lot of 2. Monumentally historic pair of passes is about all that remains of this early competitor to the first professional baseball team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings. The Buckeyes, founded in 1860, actually predate the Reds, arriving on the scene a full six years before the latter team was established. Yet sadly, it was the Red Stockings that would prove to be the Buckeyes' undoing. When the Reds decided in 1869 to field an all-salaried team many of the Buckeyes players jumped ship for the money, and the mighty Buckeyes were left with no option but to fold. But records do show that the teams met twice on the field of battle in 1869 before the Buckeyes called it quits, with the Reds winning both contests by the comical scores of seventy-one to fifteen, and one-hundred three to eight. Presented here are two passes for entry to games from the Buckeyes' final season (perhaps the meetings with the Red Stockings!). Each reads, "Buckeye Base Ball Club, 1869, Admit ___ and Lady to All Games of the B.B.C. of Cincinnati" on the face, and are signed by the team Treasurer B.O.M. DeBeck on verso. According to Harry Ellard's "Base Ball in Cincinnati," B.O.M. DeBeck played third base for the 1866 Buckeyes, and must have later become an executive with the club. The passes remain in marvelous, undamaged condition, and are accompanied by a 1957 handwritten letter from the son of the Buckeye Treasurer to a writer for the Cincinnati Post. He notes that he found the passes in some old papers of his father's, and wonders if he may know "some one who is interested in the early history of baseball--amateur and prof.--in this area." Well, we think that we might know a few of those folks, so we are thrilled to be able to present what may well be the earliest baseball tickets ever offered for public sale. With the origins of professional baseball historically established as 1869 Cincinnati, to find this date and this town in print on any baseball-related artifact is a discovery on a par with King Tut's tomb, and a pair of NRMT tickets for one of the earliest baseball teams, bar none, is beyond most collectors' wildest dreams.
19th Century Stevengraph Baseball Silk. Heartwarming piece of Americana pictures an early game in progress, as yellow-uniformed men on first and third execute a hit and run against their red-suited opponents. Well-dressed gentlemen and ladies fill the stands as American flags flutter in the wind. The small but impressive 2x6" piece is part of a series of sports-themed silks by the Stevengraph company, considered to be among the best woven silk manufacturers of the day. Originally the silk would have been mounted on a cardboard backing similar to a cabinet card, though that is absent here, with the silk presented in a turn of the century frame instead (7x11"). A small imperfection at the top edge turns into a 1.5" tear that does little to detract from overall eye appeal, and another small hole an inch to the left is similarly benign. A bit of light toning at the right end of the piece is barely noticeable. A fine piece that really captures the charm of the game's origins.
1880's Baseball Occupational Shaving Mug. For those unfamiliar with the term, the "occupational shaving mug" is an artifact unique to the late 19th and early 20th century, when it was common for gentlemen to get their shaves at the local barber. Each patron had his own shaving mug, which was left at the barbershop on a shelf and used only when he would visit the establishment. Very often the patrons would pay an artist to have his name and an image of his profession handpainted on the side of the mug, and these mugs have become very popular with collectors of Americana for the simple, charming look they offer into the former owners' daily lives. Among the scarcest and most desirable of all occupational mugs is the baseball theme, which is presented here in a simply perfect manner. The period details of the early game are more than most collectors of such pieces would have dared to dream, from the gloveless fielders, to the striped caps and socks to the early grandstands visible in the distance. A degree of wear to the gold paint at top and bottom has obscured the ornate calligraphy that spells the patron's name, but the baseball game painting itself has been mercifully spared and remains in NRMT condition. Otherwise the mug shows no chipping or cracking, and presents beautifully. Maker's mark on underside of mug is impossible to discern. Measures 4" in height.
1880's J.D. Shibe Base Balls Box. For millions of Philadelphia fans, the words "Shibe" and "baseball" will be forever linked, as the famous surname was bestowed upon the ballpark that housed the Athletics and later the Phillies for over six decades. Furthering that mental association is this beautiful and marvelously rare display box that once housed a dozen baseballs bearing the Shibe trademark. The historical significance of this box cannot be overstated, as it was Shibe that developed the machinery than made mass production of baseballs a possibility. It is also worth noting that a dozen standard sized baseballs could not possibly be held within this box, leading to the undeniable conclusion that the balls held within were the smaller sized specimens associated with the very earliest days of our National Pastime. A fine Victorian portrait of Mr. Shibe himself appears amidst the fantastic period font on one end, and an image of the baseballs it held appears on the other. Condition is quite remarkable for a piece of this age and delicacy, with expected edge and corner wear but no crushing or significant structural problems. A handwritten blue ink "Patches for Quilts" has been penned on the lid, though the blue ink is rather well camouflaged against the blue background. A beautiful display piece very rarely seen in the hobby. Quite possibly the oldest existing baseball box in the world, bar none. Measures 5.5x5.5x8.5".
1881-1940 Spalding Official Base Ball Guide & Official Base Ball Record Lot of 19. From the personal library of Hall of Fame baseball executive Bill Veeck comes this exciting archive of publications founded by fellow Cooperstown resident A.G. Spalding. Each is jam-packed with period text and imagery, tracking the evolution of our National Pastime. All were rebound in hard covers decades ago, with the vast majority remaining in otherwise very strong condition, and only a small portion since coming partially or entirely loose from the new bindings. All are 100% legible front to back. The date of each volume is handwritten in white on the spine, and the inside back cover is stamped with facsimile signatures of "Mary Frances & Bill Veeck." First, the Base Ball Guides present: 1881,1883, 1891, 1893, 1897, 1914, 1918, 1923, 1928, 1931, 1935, 1938, 1938, 1940. And the Base Ball Records: 1910, 1912, 1918, 1922. Rarely does such a special library of early Spalding books come to market, much less one from a Hall of Fame source.
1885-1937 Reach Official American Association & American League Baseball Guides Lot of 22. An exceptional assortment of very early baseball reading material for the avid historian. The bulk of the offering features the Reach Official American League Baseball Guide, with the following years present: 1905, 1907, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1929, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1936 (2), 1937. Many have been rebound, with all but one in hardcover form. Three are essentially held together with rubber bands, but all are entirely complete and legible. Also here are a rebound copy of Reach's Base Ball Guide for 1894, Reach's Official American Association Base Ball Guide for 1885, and finally Spalding's Official Base Ball Record for 1916. Again, condition averages Fair to Good, but all are legible and complete. The vast majority are stamped in the back by their former owner, Bill Veeck, as are the Spalding Guides also in the auction.
The Only Known 19th Century Memorial Game Tickets Lot of 2. The entire population of known 19th century memorial game tickets is presented here, allowing one lucky hobbyist to bring his collection to a place where no others could follow. Of the two professional baseball games known to have been played for the purpose of raising money for the families of deceased ballplayers, only a single example of a ticket from each has ever been found. First is a memorial to Lewis Henke, with a photographic image on the front and text reading, "1st Baseman of the Atlanta Base Ball Club, 1885, fatally hurt by accident in the game of August 14th with the Nashvilles, died Saturday, August 15th, 1885 at 6 o'clock P.M. God Rest His Soul in Peace!" The later ticket, for William Smith, also features a fine sepia photographic portrait with text that reads, "3rd Baseman of the Toronto Base Ball Club. Fatally injured while bathing on Hanlan's Island, Toronto, August 8th, 1886. Died Monday, August 9th, at 3.30 A.M. God rest his soul in peace." Each notes on the verso that the bearer should not give up the ticket at the gate, but to "Keep it in memory of the honest player," for the benefit of whose family it is issued. The Henke ticket has some fading of the photo and mild soiling, but the ticket is uncreased, with sharp corners. Henke's death represents the first on-field fatality in the history of professional baseball. Smith's ticket presents even better, with no noteworthy defects, EX-MT. While the benefit game for the family of the tragically lost Hall of Fame pitcher Addie Joss in 1911 is well documented in baseball lore, these early memorial events are known only to the most devout baseball historians and represent the absolute pinnacle of scarcity. Each ticket is encapsulated in a PSA holder for protection and unquestioned authenticity.
1880's Heubach Large Baseball Statue. Produced by Gebruder Heubach, an active manufacturer in Lichten, Germany from 1840 to 1925, this scarce Victorian-era artifact represents the rarest and most desirable of early baseball figurines. While a scant few smaller representations of this bisque doll have managed to reach the auction block, almost never do we see the large fourteen-inch variation, which we offer here. Clearly this is due to a limited production run resulting from the considerable price tag on the larger figurines at the time of initial sale. We must also consider that the ravages of time have played their part in diminishing what were never sizable ranks--the nature of the piece is certainly quite delicate and fragile. Our offering has been spared even a hint of damage, however, and presents in legitimate NRMT condition, looking not a day older than it did when the last dabs of hand painted detail were applied by the skilled artisan who made it.
1894 Temple Cup Figural Stickpin. Representing the ultimate prize for serious collectors of 19th century baseball artifacts is any piece related to the short-lived predecessor to the World Series, the Temple Cup. Named after Pittsburgh team owner William Temple, the prize was awarded to the winner of a seven-game playoff between the top two teams in the National League. Several factors conspire in the extreme scarcity of such pieces, most notably the passing of almost eleven decades since the series' demise in 1897. But player apathy and lackluster support from the fans clearly played a part as well, with terrible attendance at the park for Temple Cup games the main cause of the discontinuation. Well, if they didn't care about the Temple Cup back then, collectors surely do today, so we're pleased to present one of only two figural stickpins from the event known to exist. Dating from a meeting of the Baltimore Orioles (featuring Hall of Famers Ned Hanlon, Dan Brouthers, Wilbert Robinson, John McGraw, Joe Kelley and Wee Willie Keeler) and the New York Giants (with Hall of Famers Monte Ward and Amos Rusie), this pin was proudly worn by a fan of the latter, as it boldly boasts, "1894, It's Ours, The Temple Cup" in text that frames the image of a tiny ballplayer. The figural area of the pin, the Temple Cup in miniature, measures an inch tall by one-half inch wide, and remains in tarnished but otherwise terrific condition. Any 19th century baseball piece of this aesthetic quality would carry significant value in the collecting marketplace, but the offered pin's connection to the prestigious Temple Cup puts it quite squarely in a class of its own.
1908 "Our Home Team" Chicago Cubs Accordion Postcard. Shall we love this piece more because of its scarcity and remarkable design, or because it represents the last Chicago Cubs team to bring home the World Championship? We see it as a toss-up, because frankly this piece is only slightly less rare than a Cubs Series victory, and it's a marvel of engineering to boot. Only five teams from this series are known to exist--both Chicago teams, both St. Louis teams, and the Detroit Tigers. Here we present the most desirable of the five, again due to its representation of the last Cubs Champions. The standard vintage baseball equipment and game image that appears on all five teams' cards fills the background, with the flap reading "Our Home Team" opening to reveal a hinged ribbon of paper picturing sixteen members of the historic squad, notably Tinker, Evers, Chance and Mordecai "Three Fingers" Brown. A schedule of home games rises between the player images and the top flap. The design of the postcard necessitates bending it at center to free the folded ribbon of player images from the cardboard ridge that holds it in place, and as such there is a heavy crease here. Wear at the edges and corner rounding is also to be expected for this ancient rarity. A penned message fills the back of the postcard, with a 1908 Chicago postmark evident. The ribbon of player images, however, measuring 2x16" when fully extended, is essentially NRMT.
Circa 1909 Polar Bear Tobacco Large Tin Display Box. The perfect companion piece to your high-end tobacco card collection, this large and beautiful tin box quite possibly held Cobb, Matty and maybe even Honus himself in its days of service at the local smoke shop. Though the wear of the decades is certainly evident, the fantastic period graphics shine through with undeniable force and appeal. Measuring an impressive 12x14x18" in size, the box is still solid and complete, with functioning hinged lid on front. Polar Bear backs have always been our favorites of the T206 varieties, and we can picture an incredible display with this box at the center of a selection of such cards. Can't you?
1910 Philadelphia Athletics Oversized Presentational Print from Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. While on rare occasions one will encounter the similarly themed 1911 porcelain plate featuring Connie Mack riding an elephant "tattooed" with images of the club members, this is our first sighting of this 16x20" print, almost certainly issued only to players and V.I.P.'s. While the size, pedigree, and undeniable charm of the piece's composition should be enough to start the bidder paddles waving, we must also remember that the 1910 team was the first to bring a World Championship to the City of Brotherly Love, thanks to a power-packed roster of names like Plank, Bender, Collins and the piece's former owner, Home Run Baker. The piece has been mounted to a cardboard backing, which has minimized the effects of scattered and rather insignificant tearing. Toning and general wear likewise do almost nothing to detract. Quite likely a once in a lifetime opportunity, and a chance to set the serious Philadelphia Athletics collector apart from the herd.
Circa 1910 Dode Paskert Baseball Occupational Shaving Mug. For those unfamiliar with the term, the "occupational shaving mug" is an artifact unique to the late 19th and early 20th century, when it was common for gentlemen to get their shaves at the local barber. Each patron had his own shaving mug, which was left at the barbershop on a shelf and used only when he would visit the establishment. Very often the patrons would pay an artist to have his name and an image of his profession handpainted on the side of the mug, and these mugs have become very popular with collectors of Americana for the simple, charming look they offer into the former owners' daily lives. Presented here is one of the few known to derive directly from a Major League ballplayer, one of the biggest stars on the Cincinnati Reds of the Clark Griffith era. As such, the collecting appeal, both to baseball enthusiasts and to those who collect occupational shaving mugs exclusively, is simply off the charts. Paskert is pictured in uniform in a touchingly simple portrait beneath golden calligraphy that spells "D. Paskert." Minor wear to the gold detailing is the only condition issue worth noting, as the mug is otherwise undamaged and presents perfectly. Measures 3.5" in height.
Circa 1910 Brooklyn Superbas Celluloid Mirror. Stengel, Wheat and Daubert were the big stars of Brooklyn when this rare souvenir was made available to fans of the team that would come to be known as the Dodgers. Pictured are Charles H. Ebbets, Jr., whose name is certainly recognizable to any baseball historian, and Henry W. Medicus, the team treasurer. Together this pair bought out Harry Von der Horst and Hall of Fame manager Ned Hanlon to gain controlling interest in the team in the first decade of the twentieth century. The image of this entrepreneurial duo remains in splendid NRMT condition, with the only signs of wear or aging in the form of minor loss of silvering to the mirror on verso. Undoubtedly the finest example of the hypothetical handful of such pieces that could possibly exist today.
1912 Fenway Park Souvenir Pennant. While Tris Speaker, Harry Hooper and Smokey Joe Wood traveled to Detroit to further their World Championship cause, the Benevolent Order of Elks took over the grounds of the brand-new Fenway Park, issuing this remarkably fine felt pennant to a participant visiting the state-of-the-art baseball facility. Only a tiny handful of Fenway memorabilia dating to its inaugural year is known to exist, and very few pieces could match the condition of this offering, which features the original tassels and a complete absence of tack holes to go along with its essentially flawless screen printing. Length is 17.5". Advanced Red Sox collectors only, please.
Enormous 1914 Boston Braves World Champions Pennant. The intimate details of this incredible piece have been lost to history, such questions as manufacturer and original purpose (did it fly at the stadium?), but three things are for certain--it's huge, it's original to 1914, and it's as rare as rare can be. Stretching the tape measure to an unbelievable fifty-five inches from stem to stern, this mammoth felt pennant represents not only the largest we've seen from this era, but the best we've seen from the Miracle Braves, a last place team that won four out of every five games for the second half of the 1914 season to win the pennant and the Series in the greatest turnaround in Major League Baseball history. Bold block lettered text spells out the terms of glory, reading, "Boston, Worlds Champions 1914." A batting figure appears at left. Condition is admittedly imperfect, though this is to be expected for a piece of this size, construction and vintage, and the pennant still displays very nicely despite the scattering of holes and tears which should be clearly visible in our catalog imagery. Given the importance and overwhelming scarcity of the piece, concerns over condition must be given a minor role at best. Like the team it commemorates, the very existence of the pennant itself is a genuine "Miracle."
1914 "Miracle" Boston Braves World Championship Leather. Exceptionally rare in any condition, and essentially unheard of in the spectacular EX-MT+ state in which this specimen finds itself today, this incredible fringed leather pillow top celebrates the team responsible for one of the most incredible comebacks in the game's long history. Ten games below .500 at the midpoint of the season, the Braves stormed back in the second half to win sixty-one of the final seventy-seven to take the pennant by a landslide. A four-game sweep of the all but invincible Philadelphia Athletics in October accounts for the bold "World Champions" text that, along with "Boston Braves" above, frames the incredible photographic image imprinted on the body of the piece. Easily identifiable in the front row are Hall of Famers Johnny Evers and Rabbit Maranville, with image clarity one wouldn't expect in this medium. Factory cut tassels and a stitched leather band, used to secure the piece to a pillow, ring the perimeter of this exceptional piece. Both of these features are original and unrestored, with no additional stitching as is often seen. A few darkened patches, each approximately the size of a dime, appear on the image, with a larger patch just above the word "World," but these are of minor consideration given the impressive overall visual quality and the tremendous scarcity of this relic. Total dimensions are 23x24". The winning bidder should rest quite easily in the belief that he owns the definitive example of this piece.
Circa 1909 Forbes Field Stadium Seat. Honus Wagner, Pie Traynor and Rabbit Maranville are among the many baseball luminaries to call Forbes Field home during the long service of this gorgeous seat from the defunct Pittsburgh ballpark. Remaining in highly desirable unrestored condition, this masterpiece in iron and wood is a marvel of early century design. It retains its final incarnation of green paint, which has given way to an appealing degree of oxidation on the figural sides and has peeled slightly from the slats of wood that make up the seating surface. A tiny and original number "15" plaque remains imbedded in the top slat. A tough and highly desirable specimen.
Circa 1909 Shibe Park Stadium Seat. This masterfully restored seat with the coveted "ribbon" figural side is among the most attractive of all stadium seats from the Dead Ball era. Imagine the history taking place within the crack of a bat from this mute witness, as Connie Mack led his $100,000 infield anchored by Hall of Famers Eddie Collins and Home Run Baker to four pennants and three World Series victories in the years immediately following the ballclub's move to Shibe. Today the seat appears exactly as it did back in those Philadelphia Athletics glory days, with perfect red paint and a yellow number "3" stenciled on the top slat. A perfect companion to any and all of the amazing Athletics pieces available in this auction.
Polo Grounds Stadium Seat with Figural Side. Though the Coogan's Bluff ballpark is no more, a bit of the magic of that storied ballpark lives on in the iron and wood of this masterfully restored seat that bore witness to everything from Merkle's Boner to Willie Mays' catch. While any seat from the Upper Manhattan landmark carries tremendous collecting appeal, this one takes the proverbial cake with the highly desirable figural side that was only present on seats bordering the aisles. Designed as a wall mount chair, this rare artifact has been mounted to tastefully understated stanchions to allow it functionality. All wood and iron is original, with only the high-quality paint job not original to the days of Matty and McGraw. What better seating for your trophy room than this genuine work of art?
The Ultimate Yankee Stadium Seat. Close your eyes and picture in your mind the finest Yankee Stadium seat in the hobby, and it will likely be a carbon copy of the offered specimen. Purchased during the mid-1970's stadium renovation sale, this seat remains exactly as it was during its days of service with the sole exception of the brass plaque affixed, reading "Yankee Stadium, 'The House That Ruth Built,' 50th Anniversary, 1923-1973, Bronx, N.Y." The Yankee blue overcoat of the paint gives way in a beautiful mottled pattern to reveal an earlier turquoise coat underneath, and Mickey Mantle's heroic number "7" is stenciled to the uppermost slat. The wrought iron sides are similarly and charmingly worn, with just the proper sprinkling of oxidation. One of the slats of the seat is cracked, but not to the degree that it threatens structural integrity, and it certainly does not affect the unbeatable display value. So much more desirable than the repainted, reworked seats much more commonly seen in the hobby.
1915-22 New York Giants, Yankees Polo Grounds Lease Archives. Between the New York Highlanders departure from Hilltop Park at the close of 1913 (whereupon the club changed its name officially to the New York Yankees), and the team's departure for the Bronx in 1923, the New York Americans bunked with the National League Giants at Manhattan's Polo Grounds. It began as an amicable relationship, due largely to the fact that Matty and McGraw's team was far superior to Frank Chance's ragtag crew. The relationship quickly soured however, as Yankee team owner Jacob Ruppert and American League president Ban Johnson grew annoyed with the Giants' refusal to sign a long-term lease, leaving the American League ball club in fear of eviction at the close of each season. Matters only grew worse when the arrival of Babe Ruth suddenly turned the tables, and the Yankees began to outdraw the Giants at the ticket kiosks. Then came a face-off in the 1921 World Series, and the bitterness grew. In fact, the positioning of the gorgeous new Yankee Stadium just several hundred yards across the river from the Polo Grounds was a calculated move on Ruppert's part to rub the Giants' noses in the Yankees success. And after two consecutive Series defeats at the Polo Grounds, the Yankees' new home was christened in 1923 with a pinstriped victory.
Forty-two documents in all comprise this compelling archive, as follows: 1) Four letters signed by Ban Johnson. Signatures range from 6/10 to 9/10, with three of the four at the high end of that scale. 2) Five telegrams. 3) 1921 wire photograph of Jacob Ruppert laying claim to the Bronx land that would come to hold Yankee Stadium. 4) Two copies of the 1915 Polo Grounds lease, one signed by Ruppert and both by Yankee co-owner Tillinghast Huston. Signatures rate 8/10 to 9/10. 5) Two copies of the 1916 lease (each unsigned) and other addendums and such related to the lease agreements. Also present in the archive, and deriving from the estate of Hall of Fame Yankee executive Ed Barrow are: 1) An envelope, a 1916 International League financial statement, and a letter to club owners dated 1911, all related to Barrow's presidency of the International League. The letter has an attached financial statement signed by Barrow (9/10). 2) List of players purchased from the Federal League by the Yankees, listing salaries and contract issues. Three pages. 3) Copy of the 1911 lease between the Giants and Harriet Coogan for the land where the Polo Grounds was built. 4) 1914 letter and telegram from Huston to John Bruce regarding future purchase of Yankees by Ruppert and Huston. Many documents listed are unsigned file copies. Condition is strong and solid, with no serious condition issues to note. Of tremendous value to a serious baseball historian, this archive offers a rare inside look at the business of running the New York Yankees of old.
Forty-two documents in all comprise this compelling archive, as follows: 1) Four letters signed by Ban Johnson. Signatures range from 6/10 to 9/10, with three of the four at the high end of that scale. 2) Five telegrams. 3) 1921 wire photograph of Jacob Ruppert laying claim to the Bronx land that would come to hold Yankee Stadium. 4) Two copies of the 1915 Polo Grounds lease, one signed by Ruppert and both by Yankee co-owner Tillinghast Huston. Signatures rate 8/10 to 9/10. 5) Two copies of the 1916 lease (each unsigned) and other addendums and such related to the lease agreements. Also present in the archive, and deriving from the estate of Hall of Fame Yankee executive Ed Barrow are: 1) An envelope, a 1916 International League financial statement, and a letter to club owners dated 1911, all related to Barrow's presidency of the International League. The letter has an attached financial statement signed by Barrow (9/10). 2) List of players purchased from the Federal League by the Yankees, listing salaries and contract issues. Three pages. 3) Copy of the 1911 lease between the Giants and Harriet Coogan for the land where the Polo Grounds was built. 4) 1914 letter and telegram from Huston to John Bruce regarding future purchase of Yankees by Ruppert and Huston. Many documents listed are unsigned file copies. Condition is strong and solid, with no serious condition issues to note. Of tremendous value to a serious baseball historian, this archive offers a rare inside look at the business of running the New York Yankees of old.
1920's Ty Cobb "Stall and Dean" Advertising Display. With the last sighting of this piece at auction remaining the 1999 Barry Halper sale, where a slightly superior example to our offering realized a price of $19,550, the presentation of this terrifically rare countertop display piece is certain to cause a commotion among both Cobb and advertising piece collectors. The Peach's rather controversial nature made him a bit of a gamble for product endorsement, so it is quite rare to see Mr. Cobb working solo on an advertising piece despite his tremendous talents. And in that short supply, no other piece could hold a candle to the leaping image of the Tigers legend, fixed against a background of a baseball and signature model glove, with Cobb's name in bold and heroic text. The cardboard rarity is die-cut to dimensions of approximately 10x15.75" and it presents quite beautifully despite an expected degree of wear most apparent at lower left, where water damage has affected a section of the piece just short of 1x3" in size. Easel back is still in place on verso, and fully operational. Those wishing to add this very special piece to their collections would be well advised to chase this specimen, as the wait for the next one could well exceed the six years between the last sale and this one.
1930's House of David Baseball Broadside. One of the most bizarre and intriguing chapters in baseball history was populated by a barnstorming band of long haired Israelites who traveled the country preaching the gospel and taking on Industrial, Negro and Major League teams on the way. Offered here is a broadside for one of their many tour dates, picturing most notably Jesse Lee "Doc" Tally, who revolutionized the use of baseball as a way to bring the masses out to listen to the House's missionary sermons. The photographic image at top is hugely significant as well, as the House of David was the first to play at night, carting massive electric lights across the country to illuminate the local sandlots, as is pictured here. Condition is remarkably strong for a piece of this size and vintage, with the entirety of the minimal wear confined to the narrow borders of the piece. When framed, the 14x22" poster will present as NRMT.
1946 Bob Feller All-Stars vs. Satchel Paige All-Stars Program. More speed than the Indianapolis 500, as the two hardest-throwing pitchers in baseball faced off in this celebrated barnstorming exhibition. This tough twenty-page (including front and back cover) program remains in marvelously strong condition almost sixty years after it was purchased by a fan anxious to see this Hall of Fame duo in the flesh. A light vertical bend at center has resulted from an ancient fold, but this is barely visible upon display. Interior has penciled names for line-ups, but is not scored. Sadly, the days of Big League barnstorming have been lost to the days of $2 million average salaries, but once upon a time even the greatest in the game did what they could to make a few extra bucks, and what a way to do it!
1946-77 All-Star Game Press Pins Lot of 19. UPDATE: Please note that while the count of 19 pins is correct, there is not a 1962 Chicago pin included in this lot, as is listed in the auction catalog copy. From the same Balfour source that provided us with the incredible collection of Mint in Box World Series press pins comes this offering of equally pristine All-Star Game pins, Again, each remains in its original packaging, untouched by the elements or human hands. The list of All-Star Games with pins present: 1946 Boston, 1960 Kansas City, 1960 New York, 1961 Boston, 1961 San Francisco, 1962 Washington, 1963 Cleveland, 1965 Minnesota, 1966 St. Louis, 1967 California, 1968 Houston, 1969 Washington, 1970 Cincinnati, 1971 Detroit, 1972 Atlanta, 1973 Kansas City, 1974 Pittsburgh, 1976 Philadelphia, 1977 New York.
1946-79 World Series Press Pins Lot of 39. Acquired from a former lifelong Balfour employee, this exceptional groupings of World Series press pins represents a rare opportunity for the serious collector or savvy dealer. Amazingly, every last pin, dating back to the tragic 1946 Boston pin, remains untouched in its original box, stone cold Dead Mint. Without further ado, the list: 1946 Boston, 1959 Los Angeles, 1959 Chicago, 1960 Pittsburgh, 1960 New York, 1961 New York, 1962 San Francisco, 1962 New York, 1963 New York, 1964 St. Louis, 1964 New York, 1965 Los Angeles, 1966 Los Angeles, 1966 Baltimore, 1967 St. Louis, 1967 Boston, 1968 St. Louis, 1968 Detroit, 1969 New York, 1969 Baltimore, 1970 Cincinnati, 1970 Baltimore, 1971 Pittsburgh, 1971 Baltimore, 1972 Cincinnati, 1972 Oakland, 1973 New York, 1973 Oakland, 1974 Los Angeles, 1974 Oakland, 1975 Cincinnati, 1975 Boston, 1976 Cincinnati, 1976 New York, 1977 Los Angeles, 1977 New York, 1978 Los Angeles, 1978 New York, 1979 Pittsburgh, 1979 Baltimore.
1948 All-Star Game Press Pin. Sportsman's Park served as the venue for this historic battle between Musial and Mize of the Nationals and DiMaggio and Williams of the Americans. A three-run fourth for the latter proved to be the difference, as the A.L. claimed a five to two victory. This tough gold and enamel pin bore witness to this convergence of greatness, remaining in marvelous NRMT condition over half a century later. So often missing from old press pins, this example even has the button that screws onto the threaded post, with its stamped "St. Louis Button Co." maker's mark. Enamel remains complete and uncracked, with just the slightest touch of wear to the golden edges to suggest its age.
1948 Babe Ruth Wristwatch & Baseball Packaging. Released shortly after the sad passing of this baseball icon, this special wristwatch by Exacta counts the hours of Ruth's eternal reign over the baseball world. The child's size sterling silver timepiece offers a great portrait of the Bambino on the face, and presents in fully-functional NRMT condition. The plastic baseball in which it was packaged is present as well, showing a small degree of wear that rates the piece EX overall. Cardboard insert is missing. Included with the lot is a page removed from a period Life Magazine that advertises the watch at a price of $7.95. Inflation will find the bid price a bit higher here.
1940's-50's "Baseball Magazine" Premium Photographs Lot of 56. The work of such legendary lensmen as Charles Conlon and the best of the wire services find a second life in these highly collectible premiums distributed by "Baseball Magazine." Each image measures 7x9" with borders taking the dimensions of the page to 9.5x12". All the biggest names are here: Ruth, Gehrig, Cobb, Mathewson, DiMaggio, Mays, Young, Williams, Walter Johnson and Jackie Robinson to name a few. Condition is a strong EX-MT across the board with a few exceptions. These premiums are often found with tack holes, which are not an issue with this grouping. Great break down value here, or a fantastic way to decorate your home with quality vintage photographic imagery.
The Earliest Known Mickey Mantle Batting Trophy. We have all seen those science fiction movies in which the protagonist goes back in time and changes one seemingly minor thing, only to find that this action derails the proper course of events and sets another in motion, changing everything forever. And so, as we consider this rather modest looking trophy, we wonder what the baseball world would be like if it had never existed. Suppose a nineteen-year old kid from small town Oklahoma named Mickey Mantle had chosen basketball instead, or settled for a life in the mines as his father had. Millions upon millions of young baseball fans would have had to search for a new idol to worship, but nobody could have been quite the same, quite as good. Had this trophy never existed, then neither would have the love and devotion that brought grown men to tears at the mere sight of Mickey decades after he hung up his spikes. And who knows if the Yanks would have earned those twelve pennants and seven World Championship rings? The legend of the Mick, one of the two or three greatest names in the history of our National Pastime, begins here.
Though Mickey Mantle's rookie season was 1951, few fans know that the Mick actually traveled with the Yankees for the final two weeks of the 1950 season, though he didn't play. Mickey's fielding that season had been sub-par to be sure, miscast in the roll of shortstop for the Joplin (Missouri) Yankees of the Class C Western Association, where he committed an average of one error every two games at the position. But it was his batting that made the Big League team take notice, as he improved from an impressive .313 average in 1949 to an outstanding .383 in his second, the figure for which he was awarded both this trophy and the opportunity to make the Bronx his home. "I never saw a player with greater promise," Yankees manager Casey Stengel told the press, "He should lead the league in everything. With his combination of speed and power he should win the triple batting crown every year. In fact, he should do anything he wants to do."
The simple, understated design of the loving cup that was presented to Mickey Mantle in 1950 belies its tremendous value as one of the most historically significant awards in baseball. It stands ten inches tall including its plain wooden base, to which a brass plaque reading "Mickey Mantle, Western Association Batting Champion 1950" is affixed. For years this trophy was on display at Mickey Mantle's famous Holiday Inn of Joplin, Missouri, well known to be one of Mantle's most prized possessions. Tarnishing and minor pitting of the metal of the cup can do nothing to detract from the massive appeal, nor can some incidentally nicks and bumps to the wooden base. Rock-solid provenance including notarized affidavits track this exceptional artifact from the hotel to the estate of Mickey's mentor and principal hotel shareholder H.D. Youngman, and finally to the estate of the late Louis McDonald, who purchased the trophy from the Youngman holdings in 2000.
Those who have called this piece "The Holy Grail" of Mickey Mantle collecting are not far off base, as this simple yet monumentally significant cup does inspire a sort of religious awe among devotees of Number Seven. While most collectors have been trained to believe that the game worn jersey is the absolutely height of the hobby, we would respectfully argue the case for this trophy instead, as without it those fabulous flannels would have another, lesser name sewn into the collar. All great stories begin at the beginning, as they say. This is the beginning of the story, and the glory, of Mickey Mantle.
Though Mickey Mantle's rookie season was 1951, few fans know that the Mick actually traveled with the Yankees for the final two weeks of the 1950 season, though he didn't play. Mickey's fielding that season had been sub-par to be sure, miscast in the roll of shortstop for the Joplin (Missouri) Yankees of the Class C Western Association, where he committed an average of one error every two games at the position. But it was his batting that made the Big League team take notice, as he improved from an impressive .313 average in 1949 to an outstanding .383 in his second, the figure for which he was awarded both this trophy and the opportunity to make the Bronx his home. "I never saw a player with greater promise," Yankees manager Casey Stengel told the press, "He should lead the league in everything. With his combination of speed and power he should win the triple batting crown every year. In fact, he should do anything he wants to do."
The simple, understated design of the loving cup that was presented to Mickey Mantle in 1950 belies its tremendous value as one of the most historically significant awards in baseball. It stands ten inches tall including its plain wooden base, to which a brass plaque reading "Mickey Mantle, Western Association Batting Champion 1950" is affixed. For years this trophy was on display at Mickey Mantle's famous Holiday Inn of Joplin, Missouri, well known to be one of Mantle's most prized possessions. Tarnishing and minor pitting of the metal of the cup can do nothing to detract from the massive appeal, nor can some incidentally nicks and bumps to the wooden base. Rock-solid provenance including notarized affidavits track this exceptional artifact from the hotel to the estate of Mickey's mentor and principal hotel shareholder H.D. Youngman, and finally to the estate of the late Louis McDonald, who purchased the trophy from the Youngman holdings in 2000.
Those who have called this piece "The Holy Grail" of Mickey Mantle collecting are not far off base, as this simple yet monumentally significant cup does inspire a sort of religious awe among devotees of Number Seven. While most collectors have been trained to believe that the game worn jersey is the absolutely height of the hobby, we would respectfully argue the case for this trophy instead, as without it those fabulous flannels would have another, lesser name sewn into the collar. All great stories begin at the beginning, as they say. This is the beginning of the story, and the glory, of Mickey Mantle.
1955 Brooklyn Dodgers "Welcome Home" National League Championship Banner. Absolutely magical artifact from the most glorious October in Flatbush history was posted on the exterior wall of the Ebbets Field ballpark as the Bums finally got the better of the Yanks. Even the most casual collectors of baseball memorabilia understand that any piece relating directly to the Bums' season of 1955 carries tremendous value and allure, but few pieces could compare, both in terms of visual appeal and historical significance, to this remarkable canvas banner that bore witness to the miracle. Measuring a regal 34x35" in size, the banner is clearly the finest of the one or two other examples that could hypothetically exist today, with only the slightest hints of age or toning to mark its days of service under the Brooklyn sun, or its years of storage since the borough's happiest day. Booming text screenprinted in red and blue announces, "Welcome Brooklyn Dodgers, 1955 National League Champions." Fantastic imagery of the Ebbets Field rotunda and the Brooklyn Bridge adds further visual power. Stamped on the back of the upper hem is the manufacturer's information: "Carly Bros., Flags and Decorations, 815 Nassau Avenue, Brooklyn 22, N.Y." Metal grommets at the corners allowed for ease of presentation. Amazingly, we have been able to locate a photograph of fans celebrating the Dodgers' Yankee Stadium Game Seven victory back home in Brooklyn, while a banner identical to this one (perhaps this one exactly!) hangs on the wall of Ebbets above them. Such a look of joy on the faces of the Brooklyn faithful. We can only hope that the winning bidder of this monumentally historic piece will feel a similar sense of jubilation upon ownership, as well he should.
1950's Baseball Card Vending Machine. If you were a young baseball fan in the 1950's, surely you pestered the heck out of your mother for spare change every time you saw one of these machines at the local market, tempting you with the siren's song of baseball cards and gumballs. Now that your juvenile panhandling days are behind you, we offer this rare opportunity to bring such sentimental machinery into your trophy room. Glass windows on either side of the gum compartment feature colorful 1956 Topps cards, though feel free to decorate the windows as you'd like. Key is included to retrieve the nickels you feed it, and a little handiwork will get it attached to the included wrought iron base. Very light external wear is evident, giving the piece the perfect ration of vintage patina.
1957 Milwaukee Braves World Championship Ring Presented to Duffy Lewis. Few World Series have seen a greater convergence of Hall of Fame legends. The Braves brought to this October '57 battle Aaron, Mathews, Schoendienst and Spahn, while the Yankees attempted to counter with Mantle, Berra, Slaughter and Ford. But Game Seven saw the Yankee bats fall silent, earning the Braves club the coveted World Championship ring. Here we offer the shimmering prize once proudly sported by traveling secretary Duffy Lewis, who added it to the three he had already won as an outfielder for the 1912, 1915 and 1916 Boston Red Sox. The rather simple, elegant design of this ring is so much more attractive and dignified than the gaudy style one typically sees today, with a half-carat brilliant cut diamond at the center of a basepath theme with rubies for the bases. Raised text running the perimeter reads, "Milwaukee World Champions." The left shank offers an engraved "G.E. Lewis" and the words "Trv. Sec." framing the Braves logo, while the right screams with the Braves logo Indian head and the year "1957." Inside the band is stamped "Balfour 14K." Approximately size twelve. A small degree of wear to the gem stones is not visible except upon close inspection, leaving the display value simply unbeatable. And the ring's connection to this greatest of Braves teams, as well as to the very noteworthy Duffy Lewis, places it firmly in a class by itself.
1950's Ted Williams "Champ" Prophylactics Lot. Despite Ted Williams' strong Catholic New England fan base, the makers of "Champ" brand prophylactics figured it would be a good idea to use The Kid's image to help folks keep from having kids themselves. Presented here is a fun assortment of pieces from this marketing campaign which made unauthorized use of Ted's image. First we have five unopened three-packs of condoms. Next are three light cardboard sleeves, each made to hold four packs. And finally, and most scarce, is the original counter-top box, which once held "One Gross Rubber Prophylactics." While the "Champ" logo is featured prominently, the box is the only piece that does not picture Williams specifically. The box shows some crushing and seam separation but still presents very well. The balance of the pieces present as NRMT.
The Finest Known "61 in '61" Large Pinback on Earth. Perhaps the most collectible of all post-war baseball pinbacks, this mammoth specimen incorporates all we love about collectible buttons into one delectable package. Size is the first factor to consider, with this one stretching the tape measure to a whopping half-foot, enough to strain the lapels of even the most sturdy jacket. Second is subject matter, with three of the most famous men to wear pinstripes assembled for your enjoyment. Third is the pinback's vintage, deriving from the height of one of the most spellbinding stories in baseball history, the dual assault on the Babe's single season home run record. But finally, we must speak, in the case of this specific example, to the absolutely astounding condition in which the pinback remains. Any search for scuffs, oxidation, stains or damage of any sort will be in vain. The easel on back remains as it was upon production, never popped out and assembled. The small center tongue of cardboard has risen a quarter of an inch from its perforations, but this is only noted to illustrate the lengths to which one must go to find anything worthy of mention. The button's surface presents as Mint from any distance whatsoever, but under magnification or at certain angles to the light, one can manage to spot the faintest hints of scratching to the glossy surface. To even mention this fact is to overstate it, and we invite you to visit our website and magnify the scan of the piece to get a sense of how truly minor this consideration is. It is for this reason that we unhesitatingly bestow up this representation the title of "Finest Known."
1961 Bill "Moose" Skowron New York Yankees World Championship Presentational Rolex Watch. Number three on the Yankees' home run chart with twenty-three in 1961, the stocky first baseman certainly played a key role in the Bombers' eventual World Championship this season, a feat for which he was presented this fine Rolex by the Commissioner of Baseball. The watch is crafted in fourteen karat gold in a "Bombay" style, with hand-engraved "551493" between the case lugs. The face of the watch is emblazoned with the Yankees' bat and hat logo, while the back is engraved, "Presented to William J. Skowron, Jr. by the Baseball Commissioner." The band is not original to the watch, and is crafted from gold-plated stainless steel. Condition is unimprovable, with not a single defect to be found, and the watch is perfectly operational. The provenance is likewise superb, as the watch is accompanied by a handwritten letter from Skowron attesting to the details of its presentation and sale to a collector.
1962 Mantle & Maris Sneakers in Original Box. In the wake of perhaps the most exciting season in Yankee history, the M&M boys became the darlings of Madison Avenue as well as the Bronx. One savvy marketer secured the rights to the pair's names and images to endorse sneakers, a pair of which is offered here in its original Mint in Box state. These size eleven shoes bear a striking resemblance to the famous Chuck Taylors favored by NBA stars of the day, except the Mantle/Maris logo appears where the Taylor star typically would. Even the original tissue paper separating the shoes is here! The box, with its 1962 copyright clearly marked, shows a bit more wear than the pristine shoes themselves, though nothing can undermine the appeal of this hard-slugging duo's images on the box top, featured again at either end, along with their facsimile autographs. Though the Mick's face bears the brunt of the damage to the lid, the balance of the wear does not affect the rest of the Mantle/Maris graphics in any noteworthy way. If you're planning on waiting for the next offering due to these minor concerns, you will likely have a very, very long wait ahead of you. We can't recall when we've seen another.
1961-64 New York Yankees Championship Black Bats. Issued only to team members and VIP's, the coveted Championship black bat has been part of the spoils of war for decades of baseball history. Here we offer four bats slated for presentation to a member of the 1961 and 1962 World Championship and the 1963 and 1964 American League Championship Yankees, each still amazingly accompanied by the rarely seen congratulatory cards from Hillerich & Bradsby attached by blue ribbons. All present magnificently, with no visible defects, NRMT. Along with the other black bats offered in this auction, these were sourced from a Hillerich & Bradsby insider. Identical to those presented to Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris!
1961, 1972, 1975 & 1976 Cincinnati Reds Championship Black Bats. Issued only to team members and VIP's, the coveted Championship black bat has been part of the spoils of war for decades of baseball history. Here we offer three bats slated for presentation to a member of the Cincinnati Reds for winning the World Series in 1975 and 1976, and capturing the National League flag in 1961 and 1972. All present magnificently, with no visible defects, NRMT. Along with the other black bats offered in this auction, these were sourced from a Hillerich & Bradsby insider. Identical to those presented to Pete Rose, Johnny Bench and the rest of the Big Red Machine!
1963, 1965, 1966 & 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers Championship Black Bats. Issued only to team members and VIP's, the coveted Championship black bat has been part of the spoils of war for decades of baseball history. Here we offer four bats slated for presentation to a member of the 1963 and 1965 World Championship and the 1966 and 1974 pennant-winning L.A. Dodgers, two still amazingly accompanied by the rarely seen congratulatory cards from Hillerich & Bradsby attached by blue ribbons. All present magnificently, with no visible defects, NRMT. Along with the other black bats offered in this auction, these were sourced from a Hillerich & Bradsby insider. Identical to those presented to Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale!
1964 & 1968 St. Louis Cardinals Championship Black Bats. Issued only to team members and VIP's, the coveted Championship black bat has been part of the spoils of war for decades of baseball history. Here we offer two bats slated for presentation to a member of the St. Louis Cardinals for winning the World Series in 1962, and capturing the N.L. flag in 1968. All present magnificently, with no visible defects, NRMT. Rarely seen but present here are the original Hillerich & Bradsby congratulatory cards. Along with the other black bats offered in this auction, these were sourced from a Hillerich & Bradsby insider. Identical to those presented to Hall of Famers Bob Gibson and Lou Brock!
1966, 1969 & 1970 Baltimore Orioles Championship Black Bats. Issued only to team members and VIP's, the coveted Championship black bat has been part of the spoils of war for decades of baseball history. Here we offer three bats slated for presentation to a member of the Baltimore Orioles for winning the World Series in 1966 and 1970, and capturing the A.L. flag in 1969. All present magnificently, with no visible defects, NRMT. Along with the other black bats offered in this auction, these were sourced from a Hillerich & Bradsby insider. Identical to those presented to Hall of Famers Jim Palmer and Brooks and Frank Robinson!
1969 & 1973 New York Mets Championship Black Bats. Issued only to team members and VIP's, the coveted Championship black bat has been part of the spoils of war for decades of baseball history. Here we offer two bats slated for presentation to a member of the 1969 World Championship and 1973 National League Championship Mets, each still amazingly accompanied by the rarely seen congratulatory cards from Hillerich & Bradsby attached by blue ribbons. The earlier bat shows scattered patches of wear to the surface that does obscure a couple of names, VG. The later bat is much nicer, with no visible defects, NRMT. Along with the other black bats offered in this auction, these were sourced from a Hillerich & Bradsby insider. Identical to those presented to Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver!
1972-74 Oakland Athletics World Championship Black Bats. Issued only to team members and VIP's, the coveted Championship black bat has been part of the spoils of war for decades of baseball history. Here we offer three bats slated for presentation to a member of the "three-peating" World Championship Oakland A's, each still amazingly accompanied by the rarely seen congratulatory cards from Hillerich & Bradsby attached by blue ribbons. All present magnificently, with no visible defects, NRMT. Along with the other black bats offered in this auction, these were sourced from a Hillerich & Bradsby insider. Identical to those presented to Reggie Jackson, Rollie Fingers and Catfish Hunter!
1967 St. Louis Cardinals World Series Championship Trophy. As much as we love Championship rings, there's a very special place in our hearts for the much tougher World Series trophy, which offers unlimited aesthetic appeal to match its regal heritage as a tangible symbol of Major League dominance. The offered specimen was once the proud possession of a front office worker for the mighty Cards, who were led to the promised land by three complete game wins orchestrated by the great Bob Gibson, who allowed only three earned runs in twenty-seven innings of work. The flag of the vanquished, still cursed Boston Red Sox appears beside the Cardinals in the front positions of this fine award, with pennants representing the remainder of the Leagues' twenty teams ringing the perimeter. A golden crown and silvery baseball command the center, as a brass band ringing the base proclaims, "World Series Champions, St. Louis Cardinals 1967." Condition is first rate, with not a single defect to note. Twelve inches in height, with an historic appeal that's immeasurable.
1973 President Nixon's All-Star Baseball Team Posters Lot of 100+. Our thirty-seventh President was also one of the White House's biggest baseball fans, a fact that is evidenced by his astute choice of the game's finest players, which he made public during his presidency. One enterprising young lady took it upon herself to create a poster featuring images of baseball cards of Dick's picks. Presented here are over 100 of these posters in overwhelmingly EX-MT or better condition, with only a small percentage exhibiting mild to moderate wear. The 1972 booklet, complete with embossed Presidential logo, that presents Nixon's choices is also here, in original White House mailing envelope. Also included is a letter of thanks on White House letterhead from a Nixon assistant thanking the creator of the subsequent poster for her thoughtfulness.
Fenway Park Green Monster Large Piece from Jimmy Fund Charity. Red Sox Hall of Famers Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski proved themselves to be heroes off the field as well as on, dedicating money, resources and their considerable star power to fight childhood cancer with the charitable "Jimmy Fund" organization. Their humanitarian efforts have proven to be a great boon to memorabilia collectors as well, as they spearheaded the efforts to sell pieces of the famed Green Monster left field wall, removed during the 1976 Fenway renovations, to benefit the charity. Check the film footage of Carlton Fisk's dramatic 1975 World Series home run, and you might be able to spot this square foot of the most noteworthy architectural structure in baseball. Far more rare than the still scarce 3x5" pieces that occasionally surface at auction, this 12x12" slab even includes the somewhat tattered yet still complete original box, bearing a similar design to the plexiglass plate that sandwiches the Monster against its polished wooden mount.
1984 Detroit Tigers World Championship Ring. A dead ringer (no pun intended) for the prize awarded to Alan Trammell for the star shortstop's part in bringing a World Series victory to the Motor City fans. The gold plated salesman's sample offers a faux diamond at center of a blue stone on the face, surrounded by raised text reading, "Detroit Tigers World Champions." The left shank offers an image of the Tiger mascot with the year "1984," while the right features the Old English letter "D" below the word "Trammell." Approximately size eleven and a half. This was the last World Series victory for the Tigers, and another does not appear to be forthcoming in the foreseeable future, so bid now!
1990 Oakland Athletics A.L. Championship Ring. The genuine article, presented to star right-hander Mike Norris, who earned a second place finish in the Cy Young voting a decade earlier despite a better winning percentage, an ERA seven-tenths of a point lower, and thirty-one more strike outs than the victor Steve Stone. This ring marked the end of the line for Norris, whose ten-year Major League career came to a close after its presentation. Crafted from stunning ten karat gold, the design features a tiny elephant with two brilliant cut diamonds weighing approximately .08 carats each, and a third weighing about .15 carats. The diamonds represent three consecutive American League pennants, with the larger diamond representing the 1989 World Championship. "Oakland American League Champions" spans the perimeter. The left shank offers the A's logo, framed by the word "Norris" and notations related to the A.L.C.S. sweep: "A-4 B-0." The right shank pictures Oakland Coliseum in miniature, with the words "1990 Athletics" and the incredible season attendance figure of 2,900,217." The interior band is engraved "10K Jostens." Approximately size nine. A special prize rarely made available in the collecting hobby.
Circa 1890 Cleveland Professional Baseball Cabinet Photograph. Large and fantastic image pictures eleven ballplayers sporting period uniforms with the expanse of outfield grass and bleachers in the distance behind them. Noted experts have identified some of the players as Chief Zimmer (Cleveland Blues 1887-88, Cleveland Spiders 1889-99), Ed McKean (Cleveland Blues 1887-88, Cleveland Spiders 1889-98), and perhaps most notably Larry Twitchell, whose single season in Cleveland as a member of the 1890 Players League franchise the Cleveland Infants makes this one of the very few known images of a player from that league in uniform. The mounted photo measures just over 9x12" in size and presents very well despite a degree of wear that is largely contained to the outermost edges of the image, leaving the central focus in EX or better condition. It is gorgeously matted and framed to final dimensions of 14x17".
The Earliest Known Ty Cobb Baseball Photograph. The letter "R" on the gentleman's sweater in the front row is for "Royston," the small Georgia town that grew the legendary Peach. And though a vintage ink notation on verso mistakenly locates the young Tyrus Cobb as seated at far left, the fierce, determined looking young man standing in the back row wearing a straw bowler and bow tie is clearly the future terror of the American League. We date this exceptionally scarce sepia toned photograph to the 1902 to 1904 range, when Ty was fifteen to seventeen years old. He huddles with the team manager and the other eight players of the Royston Nine for this posed studio shot, originally acquired from the estate of a Cobb teammate. A certain degree of wear is to be expected from a century-old photo, though the scattered small holes and assorted wrinkles do not dare to cross paths with the young Cobb. Dimensions are 4x5.5". For only the most advanced baseball photography collectors.
Truly Exceptional Oversized 1905 Cleveland Naps Team Photograph by Van Oeyen. From one of the true pioneers of baseball photography, and likewise one of its greatest practitioners, comes this simply monumental work that will thrill all from the casual enthusiast to the most discerning of collectors. With the varied attributes of the piece each competing for praise and celebration, it is hard to know where to begin, but perhaps a brief word about the photographer himself is a proper place to start.
Louis Van Oeyen rose from staff photographer of the Cleveland Press in the opening years of the twentieth century and later rose to prominence as the official photographer of the American League, documenting almost all of the greats of the first fifty years of the 1900's in his artful and distinctive style. Any Van Oeyen work carries a significant premium among baseball photography collectors, particularly those bearing his personal stamp on verso, as this treasure does.
Secondly, we must point to the heroic proportions of this century-old print, slightly greater than 10x14" in size. The tremendous difficulty and expense in creating a piece of this magnitude in these early days made such a production an extremely rare occurrence. One can safely surmise that this piece was gifted to a very important figure, and our reasoning to suspect that it was an investor in the team will be addressed as we flip the photograph over to study the back.
Here we find a handwritten note in pencil from an unknown author. In its entirety, it reads, "Atlanta, GA, 1905, Dear Sir, The Players that are numbered are those who are now playing with the Cleveland American League Ball Club. The others having been sold or released to other clubs. 1 Hess, 2 Congalton, 3 Townsend, 4 Flick, 5 Eells, 6 Turner, 7 Rossman, 8 Bemis, 9 Jackson, 10 Bay, 11 Barbeau, 12 Clark, 14 Stovall, 15 Rhoads, 16 Joss, 17 Lajoie, 18 Bernhard, 19 Bradley." We could certainly be wrong, but the care taken in identifying only those players still active on the roster, combined with the magnitude of the piece, seems to support our hypothesis that the presentee had some sort of new financial interest in the club.
Finally, and most notably, we come to the image itself, which stands as the absolute embodiment of the gruff and grizzled Dead Ball era. These are not prep school boys. There is an almost menacing air in this gang of immigrants' sons, bundled against the cold in matching pea coats as they wait impatiently for Van Oeyen to finish his work. Addie Joss and Nap Lajoie, standing front and center, appear in simply flawless contrast and registration, as do the balance of this rough looking crew. To compare this work to the stark and powerful images that made Dorothea Lange's 1930's Dust Bowl series a national treasure would not be entirely unjustified. Certainly the line that separates photojournalism from "art" has evaporated in this case as well, and as such this remarkable piece would find a fitting home in both a museum of sporting artifacts and a gallery of fine photographic works.
Condition: Only upon quite close inspection will one spot the occasional occurrence of a minor edge tear or light wrinkling. Photograph presents as NRMT.
Louis Van Oeyen rose from staff photographer of the Cleveland Press in the opening years of the twentieth century and later rose to prominence as the official photographer of the American League, documenting almost all of the greats of the first fifty years of the 1900's in his artful and distinctive style. Any Van Oeyen work carries a significant premium among baseball photography collectors, particularly those bearing his personal stamp on verso, as this treasure does.
Secondly, we must point to the heroic proportions of this century-old print, slightly greater than 10x14" in size. The tremendous difficulty and expense in creating a piece of this magnitude in these early days made such a production an extremely rare occurrence. One can safely surmise that this piece was gifted to a very important figure, and our reasoning to suspect that it was an investor in the team will be addressed as we flip the photograph over to study the back.
Here we find a handwritten note in pencil from an unknown author. In its entirety, it reads, "Atlanta, GA, 1905, Dear Sir, The Players that are numbered are those who are now playing with the Cleveland American League Ball Club. The others having been sold or released to other clubs. 1 Hess, 2 Congalton, 3 Townsend, 4 Flick, 5 Eells, 6 Turner, 7 Rossman, 8 Bemis, 9 Jackson, 10 Bay, 11 Barbeau, 12 Clark, 14 Stovall, 15 Rhoads, 16 Joss, 17 Lajoie, 18 Bernhard, 19 Bradley." We could certainly be wrong, but the care taken in identifying only those players still active on the roster, combined with the magnitude of the piece, seems to support our hypothesis that the presentee had some sort of new financial interest in the club.
Finally, and most notably, we come to the image itself, which stands as the absolute embodiment of the gruff and grizzled Dead Ball era. These are not prep school boys. There is an almost menacing air in this gang of immigrants' sons, bundled against the cold in matching pea coats as they wait impatiently for Van Oeyen to finish his work. Addie Joss and Nap Lajoie, standing front and center, appear in simply flawless contrast and registration, as do the balance of this rough looking crew. To compare this work to the stark and powerful images that made Dorothea Lange's 1930's Dust Bowl series a national treasure would not be entirely unjustified. Certainly the line that separates photojournalism from "art" has evaporated in this case as well, and as such this remarkable piece would find a fitting home in both a museum of sporting artifacts and a gallery of fine photographic works.
Condition: Only upon quite close inspection will one spot the occasional occurrence of a minor edge tear or light wrinkling. Photograph presents as NRMT.
Circa 1911 Christy Mathewson Wire Photograph. Feel what it was like to stare down Big Six as he let one fly. The definitive image of this Dead Ball legend was pulled from the files for a story about the opening of the 1930 New York Giants season, as date stamped newspaper clipping pasted to verso illustrates. At some point after its initial issue, the photograph was affixed to a card stock backing for protection, though this has obscured from view the original news service stampings. The face of the image shows various editor's markings and is trimmed to a manageable 5x8" in size. It screams with vintage wire photographic appeal, and would look like a true museum piece when paired with an elegant mat and frame.
1912 Ty Cobb Wire Photograph. The definitive photographic portrait of the Dead Ball Era's most ferocious superstar. Crystal-clear first generation print delivers the tough sneer that newspaper editors thought appropriate for inclusion beside an article about Cobb's 1912 suspension, imposed by American League president Ban Johnson's following Cobb's brutal attack upon an armless man that had been heckling him at the New York Yankees' Hilltop Park. Handwriting on verso makes reference to "the incident," and stamping on verso crosses three decades of this photo's use. Such an active life has led to some rough edges and mild creasing, but the image could quite easily be matted to assume a NRMT appearance. Photo was snapped by noted photographer Paul Thompson, a contemporary of Charles Conlon and George Grantham Bain. Size is 6.5x8".
Circa 1913 Christy Mathewson Wire Photograph. Perhaps it should have been called "The Dirty Ball Era," rather than "The Dead Ball Era," as the horsehide sphere that the Giants superstar pitcher pinches between his fingers is brown as tobacco spit. Matty is pictured warming up on an apparent chilly day before a see of dark-coated bodies in the Polo Grounds grandstands, with a misspelled caption at the head of this small but powerful 3.5x5" image. Stamping on verso attributes this shot to the famed "Culver Pictures," with "Feb. 26, 1914" date stamp faintly apparent, though clearly this must mean that the actually photograph was snapped at an earlier time. A minor chip of the border at the upper right is the most noteworthy condition issue, leaving the bulk of the image to present as NRMT.
The Earliest New York Yankees Photograph on Earth. One of the most significant pieces relating to the New York Yankees franchise to be offered in recent months, this remarkable photograph captures for eternity the moment that the New York Highlanders officially became known as the New York Yankees. As we all understand, the American League ballclub of New York had been known since its 1903 inception as the New York Highlanders, so called for their Hilltop Park home in upper Manhattan which stood, unsurprisingly, on a raised plot of land. It was only upon their 1913 move to the Polo Grounds, where they began a rather troubled timeshare with the New York Giants, that the American League ballclub officially adopted the name that is the most famous in sports today. Presented here is a simply amazing artifact dating capturing the pre-game ceremonies welcoming Hall of Fame manager Frank Chance to the organization on April 17, 1913. Chance stands smiling at center, with his new staff of ballplayers looking on at far right. At left can be spotted a couple members of the visiting Washington Senators, while behind him is a squadron of young ballplayers wearing uniforms bearing the notorious Tammany name of Boss Tweed fame. Arching above a gorgeous presentational certificate to Chance is an elaborate wreath of flowers that spells, "Success Frank L. Chance, The Peerless Leader, New York Americans 1913." Perhaps most intriguing about this exceptional piece is its enormous size for the era, measuring 11x14". This leaves us with no other option but to conclude that the photo was a presentational piece of some sort, quite possibly to Chance himself. There seems to be no other logical reason for the photo's vastness. The image remains in fine condition, though a degree of "silvering" is visible at angles to the light. Some years after the photograph was printed, it was affixed to a cardboard backing, which surely accounts for the absence of creasing or tearing as found today. The photograph is tastefully matted and framed to 17x21". Any true Yankees historian could not possibly allow this once in a lifetime opportunity to pass by, as a piece of which we could have never even dared to dream has arrived.
1921 Cleveland Indians "World's Champions" Panoramic Photograph. Tops on the list of countless game worn jersey collectors is the style sported by Tris Speaker and his crew, who boast of their glorious October of 1920 with the slogan "World's Champions" emblazoned across their chests. As youngsters clamber for a look at the storied ballclub from behind the sideline fence, we get a far superior view from our vantage point, with such legends as Speaker, Joe Sewell, Coveleski, Smokey Joe Wood and Bill "Wamby" Wambsganss, who did his part in earning the jersey he wears by executing World Series history's only unassisted triple play. While the vast majority of the player images themselves remain in unmolested NRMT condition, the photo does display some condition problems, with water damage that is most apparent at far right and along the bottom of the left side. We must also note that a former owner has traced in ink over some of the white identifying captions beneath each player, though this is a minor concern. Only one player's image, the man standing at far right, is affected by the damage in a significant way, and overall eye appeal is still very strong regardless. This exceptionally rare panorama measures 9x36", with a museum quality matting and framing job to carry the final dimensions to 19x45".
1925 Cleveland Indians Panoramic Photograph. The legendary Tris Speaker takes center stage on this fabulous panoramic photo picturing all members of the club for which he took managerial and center field duties. Fellow Hall of Famer Joe Sewell appears as the team's shortstop, with other notables including future Philadelphia Athletics Champion Homer Summa and veteran "Tioga" George Burns. Only a rather inconsequential degree of water staining to the right of center and a vertical crease that just nicks the foot of the trainer at far right are worth noting in terms of condition, leaving the piece to present exceptionally well. In original frame, the dimensions come to 8x48".
Massive 1926 World Series Panoramic Photograph Dating from Babe Ruth's Greatest Game! Presented here, for the first time to the collecting community, is the piece that may well take the prize for Best Sporting Photograph Auctioned in 2005. This absolutely massive piece, in terms of physical dimensions, importance and desirability, was unbelievably found ten years ago at a St. Louis area yard sale, where the lucky consignor purchased it for a song. While this leaves the exact trail of provenance a mystery, we can be almost certain that its original home was a wall of the clubhouse at Sportsman's Park, where this image was captured during the bottom of the third inning of Game Four of the World Series, October 6, 1926. The image's quality and its simply tremendous size--over nine inches high and fifty-six inches wide! (not including the frame)--certainly leaves no doubt that the piece was produced for a serious and powerful V.I.P. The original frame carries the final dimension to 14x61", over five feet in width! Considering that the average panoramic photograph of the day measures three feet wide, we begin to understand just how rare and special this piece is.
But again, the majesty of this one of a kind artifact extends well beyond its tremendous girth. Clearly it was a stroke of luck that the photographer working the complicated panoramic camera happened to be stationed in the right field stands this day, as he couldn't possibly have known it would prove to be one of the game's most historic. As we look out past the expanse of outfield grass, beyond where the Babe stands positioned twenty yards from the left field foul line, we come upon the stadium scoreboard. It lists a run for each team in the first inning, none in the second, and another run for the Yanks in the third. Check the record books and you will note that this could have only been that famous game in which the Babe clubbed three home runs, establishing a record that has been equalled but never beaten. Known to baseball historians as "The Johnny Sylvester Game," it is named for the bedridden young boy to which the Babe made a promise to hit a home run in Wednesday's game. The heartwarming tale figures prominently in Hollywood films "The Pride of the Yankees" and "The Babe," both of which find the eleven-year old baseball fan miraculously healed by the Babe's performance in this game. The two runs posted on the scoreboard for the Yankees at the point this photograph was taken each represent Ruth homers; the third would come in the sixth inning.
Babe Ruth, clearly recognizable in the outfield grass, is not the only Hall of Famer present in this image, not by a long shot. Holding Billy Southworth close to the bag on first is Lou Gehrig. Tony Lazzeri plays deep at second. Earle Combs stands at far right of the image, deep in center field. On the mound, in the blur of his delivery, is Waite Hoyt. The only right handed batter for the Cardinals to appear at the plate with a man on first, as is the case here, is Rogers Hornsby, who would strike out in this at bat. Even the man behind the plate, as listed on the outfield scoreboard, is Hall of Fame ump Bill Klem. We then take a wider view of the scene to note image quality so clear and distinct that each of the thousands of fans jamming the grandstands, dressed in coats and hats, is individually discernible. Standing on top of the upper stands' roof are a number of photographers silhouetted against the pale sky. The detail is simply phenomenal, and no catalog description or greatly minimized photograph could possibly convey this.
The photograph has remained protected behind the glass of its original frame since the time of its creation, and the catalog images should capture the several vertical bands of light grey toning that are only particularly visible against the white of the sky, and as such do very little to detract. The toning was likely caused by humidity which has caused parts of the photo to become ever so slightly wavy, though this is only noticeable when viewed at a rather steep angle, essentially invisible when viewed from directly in front. At far left, there is an inch wide area that has lightened a couple shades from apparent exposure to light. And at upper right, a three-inch crack in the glass encounters only empty sky as well. None of these considerations interfere with the tremendous visual appeal of the piece in any noteworthy fashion. It still presents far, far better than most panoramic photographs of the day, which are almost invariably plagued by deep creases, tearing or other such unwelcome visitors. And the few considerations of condition that are present here must be excused when viewed in light of the tremendous importance and quality of the photo. At bottom right is found the photographer's mark, reading "C[opyright] 1926, A.H. Sanders." The original oak frame also shows only light wear which only adds to the vintage patina.
This never-before-seen image, allowing the viewer to take a seat in the right field stands of Sportsman's Park for one of the most famous games in World Series history, must be seen in person to be truly appreciated, and we hope that serious bidders for this monumental artifact will visit our Dallas offices in advance of the October 29th live auction date to do just that. Who will be the lucky winning bidder that gets to go see Ruth and Gehrig play in the World Series any day he chooses?
But again, the majesty of this one of a kind artifact extends well beyond its tremendous girth. Clearly it was a stroke of luck that the photographer working the complicated panoramic camera happened to be stationed in the right field stands this day, as he couldn't possibly have known it would prove to be one of the game's most historic. As we look out past the expanse of outfield grass, beyond where the Babe stands positioned twenty yards from the left field foul line, we come upon the stadium scoreboard. It lists a run for each team in the first inning, none in the second, and another run for the Yanks in the third. Check the record books and you will note that this could have only been that famous game in which the Babe clubbed three home runs, establishing a record that has been equalled but never beaten. Known to baseball historians as "The Johnny Sylvester Game," it is named for the bedridden young boy to which the Babe made a promise to hit a home run in Wednesday's game. The heartwarming tale figures prominently in Hollywood films "The Pride of the Yankees" and "The Babe," both of which find the eleven-year old baseball fan miraculously healed by the Babe's performance in this game. The two runs posted on the scoreboard for the Yankees at the point this photograph was taken each represent Ruth homers; the third would come in the sixth inning.
Babe Ruth, clearly recognizable in the outfield grass, is not the only Hall of Famer present in this image, not by a long shot. Holding Billy Southworth close to the bag on first is Lou Gehrig. Tony Lazzeri plays deep at second. Earle Combs stands at far right of the image, deep in center field. On the mound, in the blur of his delivery, is Waite Hoyt. The only right handed batter for the Cardinals to appear at the plate with a man on first, as is the case here, is Rogers Hornsby, who would strike out in this at bat. Even the man behind the plate, as listed on the outfield scoreboard, is Hall of Fame ump Bill Klem. We then take a wider view of the scene to note image quality so clear and distinct that each of the thousands of fans jamming the grandstands, dressed in coats and hats, is individually discernible. Standing on top of the upper stands' roof are a number of photographers silhouetted against the pale sky. The detail is simply phenomenal, and no catalog description or greatly minimized photograph could possibly convey this.
The photograph has remained protected behind the glass of its original frame since the time of its creation, and the catalog images should capture the several vertical bands of light grey toning that are only particularly visible against the white of the sky, and as such do very little to detract. The toning was likely caused by humidity which has caused parts of the photo to become ever so slightly wavy, though this is only noticeable when viewed at a rather steep angle, essentially invisible when viewed from directly in front. At far left, there is an inch wide area that has lightened a couple shades from apparent exposure to light. And at upper right, a three-inch crack in the glass encounters only empty sky as well. None of these considerations interfere with the tremendous visual appeal of the piece in any noteworthy fashion. It still presents far, far better than most panoramic photographs of the day, which are almost invariably plagued by deep creases, tearing or other such unwelcome visitors. And the few considerations of condition that are present here must be excused when viewed in light of the tremendous importance and quality of the photo. At bottom right is found the photographer's mark, reading "C[opyright] 1926, A.H. Sanders." The original oak frame also shows only light wear which only adds to the vintage patina.
This never-before-seen image, allowing the viewer to take a seat in the right field stands of Sportsman's Park for one of the most famous games in World Series history, must be seen in person to be truly appreciated, and we hope that serious bidders for this monumental artifact will visit our Dallas offices in advance of the October 29th live auction date to do just that. Who will be the lucky winning bidder that gets to go see Ruth and Gehrig play in the World Series any day he chooses?
Circa 1927 Babe Ruth Wire Photograph. Razor-sharp contrast allows the viewer to see even the ribbing of the Babe's wool stirrups in this fine image snapped in front of the Yankee dugout in the Bronx. Ruth is shown greeting a well-dressed gentleman as the stands at Yankee Stadium begin to fill up for an afternoon of baseball. The flawless image quality and large size (8x10") are typical of the high caliber of work for which Culver Pictures, Inc. was known, and stamping on verso attributes this photo their studios. Photo shows some nominal wear at the corners, mainly wrinkling that is only visible at certain angles to the light. Otherwise the piece presents as NRMT.
1920's Babe Ruth Photograph from Culver Archives. Sourced from the archives of the premier sports photography service "Culver Pictures" comes this fantastic photograph of the Babe creating supplies for future Heritage auctions. The masterful interplay of light and shadow makes this a museum quality image, and a fantastic piece to frame in a shadow box with your beloved Ruth single. Very minor wear at the corners and edges leaves the image area free of defects, and certain to present as NRMT after matting and framing. Measures 8x10" in size.
1930 Homestead Grays Real Photo Postcard. Marvelously rare artifact pictures this most noteworthy of Negro League franchises at the apex of its considerable powers. Sourced from the estate of team owner Cum Posey, this unmailed card pictures such Hall of Fame talent as Smokey Joe Williams (top, fourth from right), Oscar Charleston (bottom, far right), and player-manager Judy Johnson (top, second from right). Posey himself is here as well (top, far right). Note that the legendary Josh Gibson did not join the squad until late in the 1930 season, and as such does not appear here. White lettering at bottom reads, "Homestead Grays of 1930, 3-20-30," and photographer is identified at lower right as "Harrison, Hot Springs, Ark." Photographic quality is crisp and clear, and the card remains in strong EX-MT condition.
1931 Babe Ruth Barnstorming Photographs (2) from Walsh Estate. Pair of 8x10" photographs picture the biggest name in baseball sporting the uniform of "Babe Ruth's Universal Stars," a barnstorming club formed to promote the Bambino's film career in the early days of the Great Depression. The first photo pictures the Babe posing with his teammates. Directly to his left is a nattily dressed Christy Walsh, known in baseball history as the first sports agent. To Walsh's left is another of his clients and a member of the Babe's other team, the great Lou Gehrig. The second photo is a posed studio shot of Ruth in uniform, offering a fine study of the Babe's boyish features. Each offers some mild wear to the white borders, but could be matted and framed to a NRMT appearance. Letter of provenance from Christy Walsh, Jr.'s widow states that each derives from the estate of her late husband's father.
1930's Ruth, Gehrig & Baker Wire Photographs Lot of 3. No shortage of pinstriped home run power in this trio of photographs. 1) 1932 Ruth and Baker photograph, 6x8". 2) 1939 Gehrig and McCarthy photograph, 8x10". 3) Circa 1939 Gehrig at home photograph, 5x6". All are crystal-clear first generation images, and are in incredible NRMT condition.
1935 Lou Gehrig Vintage Photograph. It's spring in St. Petersburg, and Larrupin' Lou is gearing up for his first season without the Babe. He swings for the fences in his home pinstripes, appearing in crystal-clear contast. Image is trimmed to dimensions of 6x9". A perfect image to pair with your treasured Gehrig autograph.
1937 New York Yankees Team Wire Photograph. Paper caption on verso reads in part, "Members of Marse Joe McCarthy's New York Yankee squad pictured as they paused to give the photographer a break during a workout preceding their World Series opener with the New York Giants at Yankee Stadium in New York Oct. 6." Just five days from yet another World Championship, Gehrig, DiMaggio and the boys seem rightfully unintimidated by their neighbors across the Harlem River, the New York Giants. Photo by the Associated Press measures 7x9" in size, and rates an impressive NRMT.
1938 New York Yankees Team Wire Photograph. Little could Lou Gehrig have known as this photograph was being snapped, presumably at Wrigley Field for the start of the 1938 World Series, that his glory days were almost at an end. He poses here in road greys with the rest of this World Championship squad, including a young DiMaggio and a kid named Babe Dahlgren, to whom Gehrig would hand over the reins near the start of the 1939 season. Paper caption and stamping on verso are dated in late December of 1938, with the former making note of the club's four to nothing sweep of the Cubs the previous October. Condition is an eminently displayable NRMT, and size is 7x9".
1939 Lou Gehrig Wire Photograph. The definitive portrait of the brave and tragic Yankees Hall of Famer, snapped just two months before he was forced to bench himself and end his historic consecutive games streak for the good of the team. We've always thought it a bit of a shame to frame a vintage autograph beneath a modern photographic print, so if you feel the same way, this would make a perfect pairing for your Gehrig autograph. U.P.I. stamping on verso, with handwritten date of "3/4/39." Condition is an impressive NRMT, with dimensions of 7x9".
1939 Lou Gehrig's Streak Ends Wire Photograph. Heartbreaking image pictures the Iron Horse putting on a brave face as he turns over first base duties to young Babe Dahlgren. Paper caption on verso reads, "Larrupin' Lou Steps Down. Detroit, Mich. Lou Gehrig voluntarily laid down his bat today and ended his long continuous reign over the initial sack. Lou (Left) after playing 2,130 consecutive games, gave up his post to Babe Dahlgren here May 2nd, Full Credit Line (Acme) 5/2/39." Monumentally important photo has insignificant editor's ink marks on Dahlgren's pants, but otherwise presents as NRMT. Measures 7x9" in size.
Circa 1941 Fenway Park Photographic Panorama. Masterfully rendered work captures the entire expanse of the Boston baseball temple's outfield wall, from the towering left field wall to the 420 foot marker in deep right. The vastness of the subject would have been far too much for a standard camera, but one enterprising photographer managed to line up five separate shots that seamlessly lead into one another, each print (ranging from 7.5x7" to 7.5x9") hinged to one another by vintage tape on verso to create a piece a full 42" in length. The design of the advertisements for such products as Calvert Whiskey and Gem Blades leads us to place the date in the early 1940's, as does the posted warning to "Read and Heed Air Raid Instructions." This is the view that Ted Williams faced every time he stepped to the plate in those historic early years. Each individual photograph presents as a strong EX-MT or better, creating a panorama just begging to be properly displayed.
1941 Babe Ruth "The Pride of the Yankees" Photograph. The Bambino poses beside early sports agent Christy Walsh and fellow Murderer's Row member Bob Meusel on the set of the Lou Gehrig biopic at Los Angeles' Wrigley Field. Image quality is superb, thanks to "Pride" set photographer Hal McAlpin, whose stamp is on verso. Also on verso is a stamped attribution to Walsh, from whose collection this photograph originally derived. With minimal wear only evident at the extreme lower border, the photo could accurately be described as presenting as NRMT. Measures 8x10" in size.
Early 1940's Joe DiMaggio Personal Snapshots Lot of 17. A great assortment of never before seen images of the Yankee Clipper, deriving directly from the Hall of Famer's personal collection. Four picture Joltin' Joe in uniform, with the balance in civilian clothing, posing solo and with friends and family. Image quality is first-rate, as is the physical condition of the prints, which range in size from 2.5x3.5" to 3.25x4.75". Almost all picture Joe with a big smile on his face, rather rare for a guy known as a serious, unemotional competitor.
1949 Joe DiMaggio and Son Wire Photograph. Joe Junior and Joe Senior head to the locker room at Ebbets Field after the Yanks closed out a five-game World Series against the Dodgers. No less charming when considering the fact that father and son were estranged for many years leading up to the Yankee legend's death, this photo beautifully captures the pride of being Joltin' Joe's boy. Stamping on verso dates the shot to October 9th exactly, the date of Game Five, though interestingly it appears that the photograph was used again in 1951 and falsely portrayed by editors as an image showing DiMaggio walking off the field for the last time following the final game of that year's World Series. Image shows hand-inked touches intended to make the photo present better in newspapers, and top and right borders are trimmed to give the photograph overall dimensions of 6.25x9.5". "Acme Newspictures" stamping on verso, along with the various date codes noting photo printing and press runs. EX-MT.
1940's-50's Ford Smith Negro League Photograph Archive. Best known as a star pitcher for the 1946 pennant-winning Kansas City Monarchs, John Ford Smith (1919-83) also saw action with the Chicago American Giants, the Indianapolis Crawford, and the famed Santurce squad of the Puerto Rican League. Here we offer his personal scrapbook of photographs and other artifacts related to his fascinating career. Best are an autographed photo of Smith in a Monarchs jersey (signed, "From Convict #1, As Always, John," and an oversized (8.5x15") photo of a brawl between the Santurce team and another with the unbelievable moniker of "Sambo." About twenty photographs in all, with several action shots and other posed photos with notables like Monte Irvin. A telegram regarding contract negotiations and some pieces related to a stint with the 1950 Jersey Giants of the minor leagues closes out the collection.
Early 1950's Jackie Robinson Wire Photographs Lot of 2. The heroic Dodger doing what he did best--dodging catchers. Pair of wire photographs issued by Acme Newspictures and the United Press respectively captures the fleet-footed Robinson kicking up dirt as he heads for home. Each photo measures 7x9" and presents in fine NRMT condition, with paper captions affixed to verso. With wire photographs enjoying a surge in popularity and value, definitive images of baseball legends such as these are a sure-fire investment.
1950's Mickey Mantle Original Photographs from Mantle Collection. Never before seen outside of the Mantle home is this great pair of 8x10" images dating from 1953 and 1957 respectively. The earlier color image pictures the twenty-two year old slugger sitting to the right of his friend and mentor Harold Youngman, who is frequently mentioned in the biography "The Mick." Date stamp is on verso. The later image pictures Mantle and his buddy Billy Martin sitting on opposite sides of starlet Julie London at New York City's Harwyn Club. It remains in its original matte and frame. Both photos present as NRMT and offer the serious Mantle collector an opportunity to take a rare look into the personal life of a legend.
1960 Mickey Mantle Wire Photograph. Clipped newspaper caption glued to verso reads, "Mickey Mantle, strong armed Yankee slugger, smiles Friday despite a reported salary cut. He's at St. Petersburg, Fla., with his pet bats, ready to make up for his poor 1959 season." The date of "Sa Mar 12 1960" is stamped above it, and even higher the single word "Dead," apparently the custom among newsmen when a photograph's subject passes on. The classic image of the Mick, smiling benevolently, would make a perfect pairing for your favorite Mantle autograph, and measures a trimmed 6x6.75" in size.
1962 Roger Maris & Mickey Mantle Wire Photograph. The M&M boys prove that their 1961 fireworks weren't just a fluke, each smacking a pair into the outfield seats in early July of 1962. Affixed to the verso of this A.P. image is the original newspaper caption from the photo's July 7, 1962 run, and another from December 22, 1985, dating from the photo's use along with a story of Maris' passing. The word "Dead" is stamped twice in a morbid affirmation of this fact. Image has been trimmed to dimensions of 6x6.5", and otherwise presents as NRMT.
1900's Baseball Postcards Lot of 5 from the Casey Stengel Collection. The five most significant postcards from Casey's collection are presented here for the serious collector. Best is an amazing 1906 real photo postcard snapped as the Cubs and White Sox warmed up before the "World's Championship Series," as the caption at bottom notes. Very light corner crease at bottom right and some rubbing of the caption, though the image itself is NRMT. This is one of the very few original photographs from the "Chicago Subway Series" known. The balance of the lot is comprised of team shots and collages featuring such early teams as the 1905 Cleveland Naps (Lajoie, Joss, EX-MT), 1906 Boston Pilgrims (Young, Jimmy Collins, EX-MT), 1906 Chicago Cubs (Tinker, Evers, Chance, VG with handwritten "Cubs 1906" on front) and 1907 Brooklyn Superbas (Rucker, Ebbets, VG, writing on back). Some really tough postcards here featuring the class of the Dead Ball era.
1900-1960 Baseball Postcards Lot of 100+ from the Casey Stengel Collection. Tremendous value is to be found in this large lot of postcards representing Stengel's love of collecting. Many date to the earliest years of the twentieth century, with some unbelievable team images of Cherokee and Cheyenne Indian squads, and even a 1911 real photo postcard picturing Stengel as a member of the Aurora club of the Class C Wisconsin-Illinois League. Stengel has noted his presence in his unmistakable NRMT hand with "C.D.S." Other highlights include a Japanese issued postcard picturing the American team that visited the country in 1922, and dozens of early linen postcards picturing just about every big league ballpark. Many are postally used, most are not. Condition is quite strong with very few exceptions. Almost certainly some hidden gems here.
1910's Casey Stengel Military & School Ephemera from the Casey Stengel Collection. Four pieces date from very early in the career of this legendary manager. 1) Oversized (4.5x6.5") pinback pictures a very young Stengel as a dental student. Pin is missing, but otherwise EX-MT. 2) Studio photo of Stengel as a student. Image measures 5x6.5" on a light card mount. Photo is NRMT, mount is VG. 3) Studio photo of Stengel in Navy uniform during World War I. Image measures 4x6". NRMT condition, with original envelope showing wear. 4) World War I ration book with only two stamps missing. Signed by Stengel ("C.D. Stengel") in 10/10 ink. Booklet shows wear but is undamaged.
1910's Casey Stengel Brooklyn Dodgers Photographs Lot of 8 from the Casey Stengel Collection. Casey poses in the uniform of the team with which he broke into the Bigs. Stengel's not the only superstar to consider here, however, as the men behind the camera are worth noting as well. The misty style of George Burke is unmistakable on an 8x10", stamped on verso by the photographer. Another smaller Burke is here as well. Two shots stamped by Charles Conlon and a single Barney Stein, the Dodger's official photographer, are here as well. An early wire photo pictures Stengel and Wilbert Robinson with the gang in windowpane patterned flannel. Eight images in all, ranging from a 4x6" Christmas card to 8x10". Condition ranges from VG to NRMT, though all will present beautifully if matted and framed.
Magnificent 1913 World's Series Newsreel Large Poster from the Casey Stengel Collection. Arguably the crown jewel of the treasure trove that is The Casey Stengel Collection is this never-before-seen poster advertising the film footage of the historic October 1913 meeting of the Philadelphia Athletics and the New York Giants. Each considered among the finest baseball teams ever assembled, and certainly near the top of the Dead Ball list, they boasted talent pools that read like a who's who of Cooperstown: Home Run Baker, Eddie Collins, Chief Bender, Eddie Plank, Christy Mathewson and Rube Marquard to name a few. And, of course, featured prominently in their own large circular portrait windows are the two greatest baseball minds of the era, John "Mugsy" McGraw and Cornelius "Connie" Mack. Below these portraits they appear once more in exceptional team photographs, Mack in his unmistakable black suit and hat, and McGraw sitting beside his star pitcher Matty. Fabulous art deco font announces, "1913 World's Series Base Ball Games, Giants vs. Athletics, Champions, Commercial Motion Pictures Co. (Inc.). In the bottom border is the printer's mark, reading "Cooke & Joste, The Metro Litho. Co. N.Y."
To give some notion of the scarcity of this piece, we printed a facsimile of the poster to scale to display at the National Sports Convention in Chicago in July, where it was viewed by essentially every top expert in the hobby. Hundreds of collectors absolutely fawned over it, many making offers to buy our copy. Not a single person had ever seen this poster before, or frankly, anything from the era that bore even a passing resemblance. A search of results of all major auctions in the past five years also finds nothing similar. So our thanks must go out to young Casey, a twenty-two year old Dodgers rookie at the time, for hanging onto this remarkable artifact and ensuring its survival almost a century later.
While it is almost sacreligious to throw even a single stone at a piece of this beauty and scarcity, we must note certain flaws in condition. As the images attached to this listing will truthfully attest, the display value is absolutely first-rate, but heavy fold lines still remain despite an ancient linen-backing, and the border area shows a definite degree of wear with some paper loss and tack holes that do not infringe upon the colored areas of the poster. Toning and minor moisture staining also remains confined almost entirely to the border region. Again, none of this can put even the slightest damper on the majesty of this offering. A kingly one-sheet poster, 27x41" in size.
To give some notion of the scarcity of this piece, we printed a facsimile of the poster to scale to display at the National Sports Convention in Chicago in July, where it was viewed by essentially every top expert in the hobby. Hundreds of collectors absolutely fawned over it, many making offers to buy our copy. Not a single person had ever seen this poster before, or frankly, anything from the era that bore even a passing resemblance. A search of results of all major auctions in the past five years also finds nothing similar. So our thanks must go out to young Casey, a twenty-two year old Dodgers rookie at the time, for hanging onto this remarkable artifact and ensuring its survival almost a century later.
While it is almost sacreligious to throw even a single stone at a piece of this beauty and scarcity, we must note certain flaws in condition. As the images attached to this listing will truthfully attest, the display value is absolutely first-rate, but heavy fold lines still remain despite an ancient linen-backing, and the border area shows a definite degree of wear with some paper loss and tack holes that do not infringe upon the colored areas of the poster. Toning and minor moisture staining also remains confined almost entirely to the border region. Again, none of this can put even the slightest damper on the majesty of this offering. A kingly one-sheet poster, 27x41" in size.
1916 Brooklyn Robins Oversized Team Photograph from the Casey Stengel Collection. Exceptionally crisp and clear image pictures the first squad to bring the National League flag home to Ebbets. A paper arrow affixed to the face points out a young Casey, who sits at the left shoulder of another Hall of Fame manager, the great Wilbert Robinson. Detail is simply remarkable, from the fantastic windowpane pattern of the team's home flannels, to the men in dark suits that watch the proceedings from the pedestrian walkway above the field box seats. Image size is 11x14", and photo is affixed to a cardboard mount that brings total dimensions to 16x20". Note that condition is exactly as we found it in Casey's possessions, and this includes wear and chipping at the edges of the photo, which has come loose in spots from the mount. Tape stain running diagonally across the left side of the image may have held another affixed arrow or caption at one point, similar to the "Outfielder Casey" and "Brooklyn's First Pennant Winners, 1916" examples that remain. Clearly this enormous (for the era) photographic image was produced for presentation only to players and V.I.P.'s, and this is the only such example we have ever encountered. Quite possibly the only surviving specimen on earth.
1916 World Series Program from the Casey Stengel Collection. From Casey's first taste of October action comes this stellar example of a program on most collectors' wish lists. Uncle Robbie commands the cover of this scarce artifact, where an offer of a free motorcar is made if the Robins managed to sweep the BoSox, though a young superstar named Babe Ruth had other plans. Note that there is even a stamped correction to this offer, with the words "the first four games" replaced by a more specific "four straight games." Wear is evident only in mild rubbing to the surface, corners and edges, though there is no tearing or noteworthy creasing beyond light bends, and the binding is still tight and solid. Center scoresheets are unmarked. Surely one of the finest examples available, and all the more appealing due to its previous ownership.
1922-23 World Series Wire Photographs Lot of 5 from the Casey Stengel Collection. The New York Giants vs. New York Yankees Subway Series, as seen by the news media. Five 8x10" photos capture the biggest stars in action, with a pair of Ruth images including a great slide at the plate, and a couple of Stengel crossing the plate after a homer. All have stamping on verso and affixed paper captions. Average technical VG-EX with better appearance.
1923 Casey Stengel World Series Home Run Large Wire Photograph from the Casey Stengel Collection. Voted number sixty-six on ESPN's list of the one hundred greatest home runs is Casey Stengel's ninth inning inside-the-park game-winner in the first game of the '23 Series. With a full count and two outs, Casey blasted a shot deep into the outfield grass of Yankee Stadium and took off in an odd and awkward sprint around the bases. Fans and teammates watched with excitement and confusion, wondering both if Casey would make it all the way home, and why the heck he was running in a manner not unlike a duck. Most assumed it was Stengel's recent broken leg that caused this comical stride, but in fact it was symptomatic of his shoe disintegrating on his foot as he ran. Regardless of the reason, this bizarre and brilliant event became the stuff of legend. In this huge (11x14") and remarkable image, we see the sliding end of his historic circumnavigation of the diamond, the ball bounding away from Yankee catcher Wally Schang as the entire tribe of New York Giants surges forward from the visitor's dugout to watch the play at the plate. Identified in vintage pencil at far left is Hall of Fame teammate "Geo Kelly." A single 3" tear rises from the bottom of the photo but encounters nothing but empty ground. A few minor edge wrinkles and some border chipping account for the balance of the wear, and none of this does anything significant to detract. "International Newsreel" stamping on verso, along with vintage tape and a pencil notation that reads, "Stengel's 1st Home Run Series 1923."
1923 World Series Program from the Casey Stengel Collection. The first of many Octobers in the Bronx saw fans clutching this historic publication in their hands as they watched the Babe deliver World Championship glory to the New York Americans. The diminutive Miller Huggins and fellow Hall of Fame manager John McGraw appear on the cover of this specimen, scored in pencil at center for Game Three. Wear at the spine and edges and a light center vertical bend necessitate a technical grade of VG, though the piece presents much more strongly, and the interior pages are essentially NRMT. Ink writing on verso.
1924 Baseball Goodwill Tour of Europe Program from the Casey Stengel Collection. Never before have we seen a copy of this historic program, and in the smallest of possibilities that another does exist, we would be stunned if that hypothetical specimen could hold a candle to Casey's. This twenty-page publication begins with a treatise on the mission of the Tour, noting that men of many nations were introduced to this uniquely American game "on the battle scarred fronts in the great World War" that ended six years earlier. Unscored line-up pages at center feature such names as Stengel, Travis Jackson, Frisch, Ruel (whose uniform from the Tour is featured in this Signature auction!), Rice, Faber and Lyons. Also featured inside are photographic images of Comiskey Park and the Polo Grounds, the American homes of the touring White Sox and Giants respectively, Hall of Famers Landis, Comiskey, McGraw, Evers and Jennings, and some great period advertisements. Only the lightest touches of wear are to be found, with no tears or staining, and the spine still as tight as the day it was bound. A very conservative EX-MT, and an undreamed-of treasure for the advanced program collector.
1920's Tour of Europe & Japan Photographs Lot of 10 from the Casey Stengel Collection. Baseball crosses the oceans in this great assortment of rare photos. Particularly special is a wire photo of Casey shaking hands with King George of England in 1924. Others include three images of the American team dining with geishas, a uniformed team shot, and a posed batting shot of Stengel which he has inscribed "Taken by D. Koshiba, Mita Club, 1922." Also a wire photo from the 1955 New York Yankees tour of Japan. Sizes range from 6x8" to 8x10", in EX average condition.
1922 Baseball Tour of Japan Photographic Archive from the Casey Stengel Collection. More than 200 snapshots offer the first look for many of us at this early tour of Japan, here seen through the eyes of the great Casey Stengel. Rather evenly mixed between typical tourist snapshots of scenery and pictures of such stars as Waite Hoyt and George "Highpockets" Kelly both in and out of uniform, the collection also includes several Japanese issued postcards of the players in suited up for battle that are worth the cost of admission alone. In many cases, the players pictured are identified in an unknown hand on verso. Condition is terrific overall, as the photos have passed the decades packaged in a fat stack, leaving little chance of creasing or tearing. Any description in text of this lot is guaranteed to fail in conveying the volume and appeal contained within, so we would hope that those capable of attending lot viewing will explore this archive in person.
1927 Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig Wire Photograph from the Casey Stengel Collection. This may well be our very favorite photograph of this pinstriped pair that we've ever seen. Though a picture is worth a thousand words, we'll add a few more, and fawn over the piece in much the same way that Lou and the Babe fawn over the adorable baby that poses with them. Image quality is just outstanding, with the season's M.V.P. and its home run god rendered in crystal-clear contrast. A somewhat damaged paper caption on verso, dating the image to "7-2-27," notes that Gehrig is leading the home run race with twenty-six, and that the youngster in the shot is the "nation's finest baby." The exceptional charm and quality of the image is impossible to deny, and while the left border has been trimmed, and minor chipping is present at the top border, the image area itself presents as flawless. As if the photo needed any further appeal, it is granted such by virtue of its former life on the wall of the great Casey Stengel. Measures 8x10".
1929 Casey Stengel Handwritten Letter from the Casey Stengel Collection. A short handwritten letter to his mother on both sides of a single sheet of paper regards Casey's managerial tenure with the bumbling Toledo Mud Hens. "...My club is drawing terrible and playing worse," he laments. Interestingly, he notes the sale the day before of a player named Johnny Neun, who would go on to serve fourteen games as the New York Yankees interim manager in 1946. He goes on to discuss various other trades, and discusses briefly some family money troubles, closing with "...Love & good wishes to all so don't worry, C.D.S." All ink is as bold and dark as the day it was applied, and page has original mailing folds but otherwise NRMT. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1929-31 Casey Stengel Toledo Mudhens Contract & Addendums from the Casey Stengel Collection. "Say, I've got a tip on the market for you fellows," Casey is quoted as telling his 1929 Toledo Mudhens team, "buy Pennsylvania Railroad because by tomorrow night about a dozen of you bums will be riding on it." Though clearly not as prestigious as his job as skipper of the Yankees, the days with the Mudhens are noteworthy as the Hall of Famers' first taste of team leadership. Here we offer his 1931 Uniform Player's Contract for the Double-A squad, which pays Stengel $10,000 for the season. It is signed at the close by two team officials and by "Charles D. Stengel, Mgr." Stengel then writes his home address in Glendale below. Also here are addendums for 1929 and 1930, signed by the team's acting president, though not by Stengel, stipulating that Stengel may leave at the close of the season if he wishes, and that he is entitled to a bonus should the team have a success financial year. All three documents remain in terrific condition, with just some light, expected edge wear for paper artifacts of this vintage. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1930 Casey Stengel Handwritten Letter from the Casey Stengel Collection. Spectacular content in the offered four-page (two sheets front and back) letter to Casey's mother makes this the finest correspondence from this baseball icon we have ever encountered. He begins with talk of the Brooklyn Dodgers, "...spent Saturday with Robby [Wilbert Robinson]...They also introduced me to Mr. McKeever [Dodgers owner] & he gave me a good welcome but did not ask me to manage their club..." Later he mentions the New York Giants, "...Spent Sunday at Polo Grounds saw Meusel & boys & took dinner at McGraw's..." Finally, he offers hope in the aftermath of the recent Wall Street crash, "...Don't worry about stocks, etc., they will come back as the country comes out of this spell..." His closing signature is the oddly formal yet highly desirable "Charles D. Stengel." All ink remains in fine NRMT condition, and pair of pages of hotel letterhead offer original mailing folds but are otherwise free of any creasing, staining or tearing. A microcosm of 1930 baseball and America straight from the head and hand of the great Casey Stengel. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1930's Casey Stengel Presentational Watch from the Casey Stengel Collection. The height of art deco fashion, this watch was proudly sported on the left wrist of the celebrated Hall of Famer after he received it as a gift from a local jeweler. The gold-filled rectangle Bulova is highly collectible simply as a fine timepiece, but the appeal is magnified tremendously by the impressive provenance. Engraved on the verso of the case are the words, "Presented to Casey Stengel by The Heesen Co. Jewelers." Though the watch does not seem to be currently functional, a skilled watch repairman could certainly get it ticking again, and the fine condition otherwise will make it a real stunner. Original leather wristband is here as well.
1936 New York Giants World Series Press Pin from the Casey Stengel Collection. Though Casey had just completed his third season as manager of the hapless Brooklyn Dodgers when this fabled Subway Series took place, his V.I.P. status earned him an all-access invite to the Polo Grounds to see Mel Ott and Travis Jackson face off against Lou Gehrig and a rookie kid named DiMaggio. This gold and enamel masterpiece from the jewelers Dieges and Clust remains in terrific condition, with none of the typical enamel loss you see from pins of this era, and just a few molecules of gold rubbed away at the upper gold border. If not for the lightly bent post on verso, we would not hesitate to grant a grade of EX-MT+. A tough pin made even more desirable by the owner of the lapel where it once was affixed.
1936 Casey Stengel Handwritten Letter from the Casey Stengel Collection. A very personal letter to Casey's mother discusses a worrisome job situation, as he had just been fired at the close of the '36 season by the Brooklyn Dodgers after a third consecutive losing campaign. He begins with talk of his drunken father in law, "...The father got a load on today & they have him down town trying to sober him up. Guess he will be o.k. for Thanksgiving..." and closes with his recent employment woes, "...I have not signed with anyone; have not heard about my contract but will lay idle if I have to pay back all my salary from another job. I intend to take care of that business but I know best for a number of jobs will come up later during season if I don't get what I want. Well love & good health to all and stop worrying about my job. Your loving son, C.D.S." Five pages (three sheets, front and back) are written in NRMT pencil, with paper showing original mailing folds but no condition issues otherwise. Also included is original mailing envelope with "Brooklyn National League Baseball Club, Inc." return address, and ink handwritten "Mrs. L.E. Stengel" mailing address that qualifies as an autograph of sorts. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1936 Casey Stengel Testimonial Dinner Photograph & Program from the Casey Stengel Collection. The Baseball Writers of Brooklyn and New York bid farewell to Casey, whose tenure as skipper of the Brooklyn Dodgers came to an end only days before the event. Included in the lot is an oversized (9.5x17") photo of the gang on hand to wish Stengel the best, with Casey himself clearly visible at the back table. Mild corner creasing means a technical VG-EX, though the photo presents much better. The program offers some creasing and staining as well but is similarly presentable, with no noteworthy damage.
1939 Casey Stengel Color Presentational Photograph by Burke from the Casey Stengel Collection. Collectors of the work of legendary Chicago baseball photographer George Burke are certain to swoon at this simply exceptional colorized image deriving from the personal collection of Stengel himself. Casey poses in the Boston Bees' road greys, with the celebrated Centennial patch clearly visible on the left sleeve. Image size is approximately 7x10", printed on special photographic paper that stretches final dimensions to 11x14". Minimal wear and aging to the white borders, though the image itself remains in unimprovable condition. Burke stamp on verso.
1930's-60's Casey Stengel Personal Photographs Lot of 100+ from the Casey Stengel Collection. Vast assortment of photographs is a mix of wire and personal, and while largely baseball related, Casey is mainly found in civilian attire, with definite exceptions. Some of the important images include Stengel at the midst of Shea Stadium construction, as a guest on the television program "This Is Your Life," marching onto the field with the Boston Braves, and goofing off with Hall of Famers from Honus Wagner to Joe DiMaggio. A few uniformed team shots are here, and some nice photos from Cooperstown. Image size is overwhelmingly in the 7x9" and 8x10" range, though again with a few exceptions. Condition is strong across the board, with the occasional bend or crease but nothing that would prevent any from presenting nicely in a frame.
1948 Oakland Oaks Team Signed Sheet from the Casey Stengel Collection. One of the most famous squads in minor league history was the '48 Oaks, who roared to their first Pacific Coast League pennant in twenty-one years under the solid guidance of Stengel. Casey's remarkable leadership of this team is directly responsible for his placement in the managerial role of the New York Yankees in 1949, and the rest, as they say, is history. Almost never seen in the hobby, and certainly never from such a noteworthy source, is this pamphlet issued in celebration of the team's long overdue Championship, signed on the rear cover by all twenty-eight members of the team in legitimately pristine 10/10 blue ink. Heading the list, appropriately, is Stengel himself, joined by second baseman and future Yankee skipper Billy Martin. Also present are Hall of Fame catcher Ernie Lombardi and Dodger star Harry "Cookie" Lavagetto. A light corner crease at upper left does nothing to detract. Undoubtedly the finest '48 Oaks sheet in existence, for myriad reasons. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Circa 1948 Oakland Oaks Game Worn Cap from the Casey Stengel Collection. It was the Ol' Perfessor's success with the Pacific Coast League squad that convince the Yanks to bring him on in 1949, beginning an unprecedented five-year run of World Championship glory. Velvety-soft cap shows tremendous wear from Casey's days by the Bay, with "Wilson" label inside headband. No visible size markings or markered attribution, but unquestionably from the wise head of the Hall of Fame manager. LOA from MEARS.
1948-49 Casey Stengel "The Sporting News" Presentational Award Certificates Lot of 2 from the Casey Stengel Collection. The Ol' Perfesser is dubbed the "No. 1 Minor League Manager in 1948" by the top sporting periodical in the nation, which praises him for his Oakland Oaks' Championship season, and notes that this victory earned him the job "in the majors as the pilot of the New York Yankees." The second certificate names Casey the "No. 1 Major League Manager in 1949," again praising him for overcoming adversity and "intelligent employment of knowledge gained from years of experience as a player and pilot." Each certificate is hand inked in gorgeous calligraphy, and measures 14x17" in size. The later certificate has a very minor corner bend, but when framed each will present as NRMT. A very special offering that marks the beginning of an incredible New York Yankees World Championship "five-peat."
1949, 1950 & 1960 World Series Press Pins from the Casey Stengel Collection. Three Octobers of unforgettable baseball action are remembered with this trio of pins from the collection of the man calling the shots for the Yanks. The 1949 pin presents very well despite some very minor wear to the gold of the bat and hat logo. Screw is missing from threaded post, otherwise EX-MT. Short of the lightest touch of oxidation at the very bottom of the pin, the 1950 specimen rates a solid NRMT. The 1960 specimen is the strongest of the three, a solid NRMT-MT.
1940's-50's Casey Stengel New York Yankees Wire Photographs Lot of 5 from the Casey Stengel Collection. Five great images of Casey at the height of his fame, as he led the Bronx Bombers to an unprecedented five straight World Championships. Each first generation photo has paper caption attached on verso. Size ranges from 6.5x8.5" to 7x9", and all are in NRMT condition. Other notables pictured include Mantle, Mize, Berra, Rizzuto and more. This lot is not part of the Casey Stengel Collection.
1951-52 Casey Stengel New York Yankees Contract from the Casey Stengel Collection. After bringing home two World Championships in his first two seasons as manager of the Yanks, it came as little surprise that the Bronx brass wanted to keep Casey in the fold, offering his an impressive $50,000 per season for the years of 1951 and 1952. Executed just three days after a 1950 World Series four-game sweep of the Phillies, this historic contract is signed at the close by team president George Weiss and by "Charles D. Stengel," who goes on to add his Glendale, California address below. All ink is 10/10, and Uniform Manager's Contract shows minor handling wear and original storage folds, but is otherwise in wonderful condition. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1953 World Series Press Pin Cufflinks from the Casey Stengel Collection. The letter "V" in the design of the 1953 press pin doesn't stand for "Victory," though it may as well, as the Yanks did take four of the first six World Series games from the Dodgers this year. Instead, the "V" is the roman numeral "five," counting the consecutive appearances in the Series (and ultimately World Championships) since Casey came to town. What Stengel once proudly wore about town can now be yours, as we present this classy and classic pair of press pins, each rating a legitimate NRMT. The threaded posts on verso have been removed, with apparent fourteen karat gold cufflink hardware soldered in its place.
1953 New York Yankees World Championship Black Bat from the Casey Stengel Collection. Those Yankee fans who, in 1949, had cursed the Yankee brass for bringing in some bum who had never managed better than a fifth-place finish in the Major Leagues had certainly changed their tunes by the time Casey was presented with this black bat, representing his fifth consecutive World Championship in his five years in the Bronx. This beautiful gift from Hillerich & Bradsby features the block lettered names or facsimile signatures of all members of this storied squad, with Stengel's triple the size of the rest. Light handling wear cannot diminish the visual or historic appeal. EX-MT.
1953 & 1955 World Series Programs from the Casey Stengel Collection. Pair of Subway Series programs remember fierce October battles between the Yanks and the Bums. Each remains tightly bound and free of any noteworthy damage, with just the typical light edge and surface wear (the 1953 issue has a small area of dotted imprints at upper left). Neither program is scored at center. Fine, strong examples with a noble heritage.
1954 Casey Stengel Game Worn New York Yankees Pants from the Casey Stengel Collection. How often do you get a chance to own genuine Hall of Fame Yankee pinstriped flannel at a price you can afford? Important artifact dates from the calm eye of a storm that saw the Yanks win nine of ten consecutive American League pennants. Furthermore, we should note that an included letter of authenticity from the consignor states that she delivered the full uniform to the funeral home where Casey lay in state, and that the matching jersey was buried with Stengel. The same is true of the Mets pants also in this auction. These Yankees pants show even, consistent wear with "A.G. Spalding & Bros. [size] 38" tagging inside the waistband with a washing instructions label to the left and "Set 1 1954" flap tag dangling below. Pants show none of the damage so often associated with decades-old flannel, and display perfectly. LOA from MEARS.
1954-55 Casey Stengel New York Yankees Contract from the Casey Stengel Collection. The price tag on Stengel's managerial services takes a fifty percent bump from the 1951-52 season, as this Uniform Manager's Contract posts his salary as $75,000 per annum. Identical in every other regard to the earlier example, this one is signed by Weiss alone at the close and is dated the 22nd of September, 1954, just four days after the Cleveland Indians clinched the American League pennant to put the Yankees incredible five season World Championship streak to an official end. Short or original storage folds, the contract is in NRMT condition.
1955 World Series Oversized Wire Photographs Lot of 13 from the Casey Stengel Collection. Though it didn't end well for the Yankees this season, fans of the Bronx Bombers still couldn't help but love this baker's dozen of high-quality 11x14" photos stamped on verso by The New York Times. Magnificent images capture Casey in his element, guiding the troops both on the field and from the dugout. An occasional border crease is found here and there, but nothing major, with the majority problem-free. All but one would mat and frame to a NRMT appearance. These are gallery-quality photos, definitely some of the best we've ever seen of this fascinating Hall of Famer.
1955 New York Yankees Presentational Belt Buckle from the Casey Stengel Collection. The Bums finally got the better of the Yankees this season, but rather than seeing the glass half empty, the Bronx Bombers chose to celebrate their A.L. pennant, offering this splendid fourteen karat gold belt buckle to their distinguished leader. The "hat and bat" logo appears at center, shimmering with patriotic gemstones that form the hat's striping. Engraved text reads, from top to bottom, "American League Champions, 1955 Yankees, Charles D. Stengel." The buckle finds itself in flawless NRMT condition, and is housed in its original hinged leather case with gold embossed Yankees logo. Buckle measures 1.25x2" in size.
1955 New York Yankees Tour of Japan Uniform Patch from the Casey Stengel Collection. Collectors of Major League Baseball uniform patches will be hard-pressed to find another example of this exceptionally scarce artifact, lifted from a Yankee pinstriped gamer that saw action on the same battlegrounds that Ruth and Gehrig had visited two decades earlier. Our Japanese is a little rusty, so we can't help with the translation of the text at bottom, but the classic Yankees logo certainly speaks for itself. Measures 3.5x7" at its largest dimensions, in fine EX-MT condition.
1955 New York Yankees Presentational Christmas Stein from the Casey Stengel Collection. Though just a couple months after the Yankees' only loss to the Brooklyn Dodgers in what would total seven October meetings, the Bronx Bombers still managed to find some holiday cheer, as is proven by this weighty pewter mug bearing the Yankee logo and the engraved words "Christmas 1955." Presented only to Yankee team members and V.I.P.'s, very few of these mugs have found their way into collectors' hands. This one remains in splendid condition. Five inches in height.
1950's Presidential First Pitch Photographs Lot of 6 from the Casey Stengel Collection. Casey gets up close and personal with the Commander in Chief in these half dozen wire photographs snapped at Opening Day and World Series games. Five picture Casey with Dwight D. Eisenhower, with the best image being an oversized (10x13") shot of Casey and Duke Snider posing with Ike at the opening game of the 1956 World Series at Ebbets Field. The oldest image pictures Casey beginning the 1951 season in Washington with a first pitch from President Truman. Most appear to be wire photos of some form, and measure 8x10" with the single noted exception. A very presentable EX-MT overall.
1950's Casey Stengel Sign from Locker Door at Yankee Stadium. This green and white laminated fiberboard composite sign was removed from Stengel's locker door at the close of his tenure and kept in storage at Yankee Stadium until the 1973 renovation, when it was obtained by a New York City sportswriter through famed equipment manager Pete Sheehy. Moderate wear is to be expected for the years of service in baseball's most hallowed park. Measures 3.5x10". Letter of provenance from noted collector Dan Knoll is included.
Miscellaneous Collectibles
1956 Babe Didrickson Zaharias Signed Book to Casey Stengel from the Casey Stengel Collection. While the title of greatest male athlete of the twentieth century is sure to spur a heated debate among supporters of a dozen different figures, there would be no such difficulty in coming to a consensus where women are concerned. The author of the autobiography "This Life I've Led" is the winner of that survey by a landslide, making hers the most essential and valuable autograph of female athletes, bar none. Here we present one of the most appealing specimens of that small supply, as a great inscription on the opening page of the hardcover first edition reads, "For the greatest man in Sports that I know--Casey Stengel. Your friend, 'Babe', 'Babe' Zaharias, 1956." All ink is a perfect 10/10. Book itself shows wear only to the dustjacket, with the rest remaining in terrific condition. Clearly a cherished keepsake of the Hall of Fame manager. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Baseball Collectibles
1958 New York Yankees World Championship Black Bat from the Casey Stengel Collection. One might be tempted to jump to the conclusion that the massive size of the Casey Stengel engraved autograph, dwarfing all other teammates', is due to the bat's former ownership, but the fact of the matter is that this bat is identical to those issued to Mickey, Yogi and the gang. This one surely held special meaning to the Ol' Perfesser, as it represents the last of his seven World Championships as Yankee skipper. The beautiful presentational piece from the fine folks at Hillerich & Bradsby exhibits only light handling wear, and still presents as a very solid EX-MT specimen.
1958 Ty Cobb Handwritten Letter to Casey Stengel from the Casey Stengel Collection. Our first inclination is to transcribe the entire contents of this simply remarkable letter verbatim, as it is so absolutely perfect, bursting with first-rate baseball content, that it seems a shame to do anything less. But given limitations of time and space, we will offer just a tease, and leave the pleasure of the full text to the lucky winning bidder. "...to me you really did something in the Series, that has to be your high water mark in your very wonderful career, your team in the short series of 4 games deciding was flat on their backs, down 3 to 1 and boy you pulled them up, shook them together and came through so grandly. I caught you on the bench at times T.V. once when Larsen was staggering, I saw the old boy fighting, shaking his fists, advising, encouraging, etc. Casey I like that kind of fight & spirit. I say to you that to you alone belongs the credit for winning this last series. I mean this from my heart. I enjoy telling you this because you are a battler for the game and you do belong to that inner circle of those of baseball that really has the right spirit..." Cobb goes on to lament Tris Speaker's death a couple of weeks earlier, describing him as well as playing "the game as it should be played." Only at the very end does Ty apologetically veer from glowing praise, noting that shortstop Tony Kubek's batting stance should have been corrected during the Series (Kubek hit a dismal one for twenty-one). All writing, on Cobb's personal letterhead and in his distinctive green ink, is a perfect 10/10, and short of original mailing folds, all four pages themselves are similarly pristine. Without question one of the most desirable Ty Cobb letters ever offered for public sale. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1959-60 Casey Stengel New York Yankees Contract from the Casey Stengel Collection. Again, less than a week after returning the World Championship to its rightful Bronx home, the Yankee management quickly got Stengel's autograph on the dotted line, assuring his services for 1959 and 1960 at the rate of $75,000 per year. The Uniform Manager's Contract is likewise signed at the close by Yankees president George Weiss and "Charles D. Stengel," who also adds his Glendale, California address. Condition is first rate, with only original storage folds and a tiny dog ear of the corner to note, with neither issue affecting the authorizing signatures. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1960 World Series Press Pin Cufflinks from the Casey Stengel Collection. How's this for a dilemma? On the one hand, Casey thinks, how many guys can flash their wrists at a party and impress the folks with two golden portraits of himself keeping his cuffs fastened. But then, on the other hand, a guy named Mazeroski sort of put a damper on the 1960 Series. Perhaps this second thought accounts for the spectacular condition in which this matched pair finds itself, with each gold and enameled face presenting as NRMT. The threaded posts on verso have been removed and replaced with cufflink hardware in apparent fourteen karat gold. Casey might not have wanted to wear these, but we bet you will!
1960 New York Yankees Line-Up Cards Lot of 2 from the Casey Stengel Collection. Despite the year "1959" appearing at the top of one of this pair of line-up cards once posted in the Yankee dugout, the appearance of "Maris" in the number three spot assures us of 1960 vintage. The two cards present differing strategies in batting order, with Mantle batting second and Maris clean-up on one, and Maris third and Mantle fourth on the other. All is written in Stengel's 10/10 pencil, complete with his authorizing signature. Each card measures approximately 3.5x5", and presents no noteworthy condition problems. A fascinating look into the inner workings of this American League Championship team. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1960 New York Yankees Line-Up Cards Lot of 2 from the Casey Stengel Collection. Pair of line-up cards handwritten and signed by the Hall of Fame Yankee manager presents the same terrifying batting order to opposing pitchers: Kubek, Mantle, Maris, Berra, Cerv, Skowron, McDougald, Richardson and Ditmar/Ford. One tremendously appealing card is filled out entirely in pen, the other offers a penned date of "1960," with the remainder of the names and the authorizing signature in pencil. Each measures approximately 3.5x5", and presents no noteworthy condition problems. A fascinating look into the inner workings of this American League Championship team. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1960 New York Yankees World Series Game Five Line-Up Card from the Casey Stengel Collection. An early melt-down saw Art Ditmar driven from the mound in the second inning, having surrendered three runs to the Pirates in Game Five at Yankee Stadium, a lead that Pittsburgh would carry through to the end of the game. Stengel's troubled work is clearly noted on this card that hung in the Yankee dugout that day, as he he writes "Arroyo P 2 inn" to note the change, then "Stafford P 3 in" after Arroyo gave up a run in the third. Then he notes that Hector Lopez pinch hits in the seventh for Stafford with "Lopez Bat 7 inn," and finally "Duren P 8 inn." The rest of the line-up stays largely constant, with Maris and Mantle penciled into the number two and four spot in the batting order respectively. A notation beside number six batter Howard reads "Berra 8 inn Bat" to note the Hall of Famer's stepping in as a pinch hitter. Amidst these frenzied notations resides a flawless "Stengel" autograph, authorizing the order. This is one of two World Series line-up cards from the collection of Stengel that we offer in this Signature auction, and they represent, to the best of our knowledge, the only post-season specimens ever to reach the auction block. Measures approximately 4x5", with no noteworthy condition problems. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1960 New York Yankees World Series Game Seven Line-Up Card from the Casey Stengel Collection. To gaze upon this amazing historical document is to relive a bad dream if you were a Yankee fan in October of 1960. Feverishly notated, the line-up card clearly reveals the desperation of manager Casey Stengel, scrambling to work any angle to keep the outclassed Pirates from completing their World Series miracle. All five pitching changes, looking to stem a four-run Pittsburgh flood in the first and second, and a five-run eighth, are crammed into the lower margin, as Stengel switched from Turley to Stafford to Shantz to Coates to Terry. Pinch hitters and pinch runners fill the right column. One look and it's instantly clear that this was no ordinary game--instead, it was the most dramatic, stomach-churning Game Seven in World Series history. Though we all remember the game for the Mazeroski blast that ended it, this only tells a small part of the story. After dropping to a four to nothing deficit, the Yankees rose to a seven to four lead in the top of the eighth, before giving up five in the bottom half of the inning. Then the Yanks, with their backs against the wall, miraculously tied the score at nine in the top of the ninth, paving the way for Mazeroski's definitive moment. The pale blue 3.75x7" card with the word "Pittsburgh" at top and Stengel's 10/10 pencil below, remains in fine, undamaged condition. To hold this card in your hand, with no fewer than thirty-three Yankee surnames scrawled by Stengel in his furious battle against fate, is the baseball equivalent of slugging down a quart of espresso. Forty-five years later, the nerves still pulse with the thought of it all. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1961 "Casey at the Bat" Manuscript Lot from the Casey Stengel Collection. An intriguing inside look at the creation of the definitive Casey Stengel autobiography. Present are five chapters of the typewritten manuscript from the hands of The Saturday Evening Post reporter and Stengel's "ghost writer" Harry T. Paxton. Each chapter is stamped with the date and the Post's name on the first page. Interestingly, Stengel has used the back of the final page of Chapter Five to make some handwritten notes of a very personal nature, with partial text reading "Sign contract; but if my health or setback would arrise (sic) up to two months of the opening of the season would resign...prefer not to sign and retire from active manageing (sic)." The original mailing envelope also has some handwritten notes from Casey. Also here is the plastic bound uncorrected proof of the book direct from Random House. This was Stengel's last chance to read and make corrections or suggestions before going to print, though the complete lack of notations indicates that Casey liked what he saw. Each piece in this lot shows a minor degree of wear but remains solid and complete and bursting with appeal.
Casey Stengel Association of Professional Ball Players of America Life Membership Pass from the Casey Stengel Collection. With over fifty years in a professional baseball uniform, Stengel's presentation of a pass conferring lifetime membership to the APBPA is practically a moot point. Nonetheless, it makes for a great piece of memorabilia, as this rather ornate and colorful brass plaque marks an official recognition of the remarkable contributions Stengel made to the game he loved. Still housed in its original plain black leather wallet, the pass shows a minimum of wear and presents beautifully.
Collection of New York Yankees Neckties (15) from the Casey Stengel Collection. Blurring the line between sports collectible and fashion accessory is this large selection of neckwear from the closet of the man who brought seven World Championships to the Bronx. Wear one the next time you have a business meeting with that big Yankee fan. "Hey," you'll say, "guess who used to wear this tie..." All remain in fine condition. Also included are a presentational pillowcase (!) reading "To Casey From the Verdigo Club, 1951" and a California Angels silk handkerchief dating from the earliest days of the franchise's existence.
1950's-60's Casey Stengel Game Worn New York Yankees & Mets Caps from the Casey Stengel Collection. Can't decide between a Yanks or Mets cap from this ageless legend? Why not take both? Yankees gamer shows light wear, with "Pro KM [size] 7 1/8" labeling inside leather headband. Mets issue shows a bit more wear, with snapped cardboard in visor (though this does not affect display). "Tim McAuliffe [size] 7" labeling in leather headband. Neither has any visible attribution to Stengel (penned jersey number, etc.), but size and provenance link them definitively to the Ol' Perfesser. LOA from MEARS.
1962 Casey Stengel New York Mets Presentational Silver Tray from the Casey Stengel Collection. Spectacularly rendered presentational piece dates from the inaugural season of the New York Mets and derives from the personal collection of their Hall of Fame manager. Clearly the club spared no expense in creating a gift worthy of Stengel, as the skilled craftsmen of "Gorham" painstakingly engraved the vast expanse of the Polo Grounds at center in detail you rarely see in this medium. The Mets logo is engraved above in similarly expert fashion, with text reading "Old Timers Day, July 14, 1962, Polo Grounds - New York, 1911-1962, Casey Stengel." The dates listed refer to the lifespan of the newest incarnation of the Polo Grounds, from its rebuilding following a devastating early 1911 fire to the arrival of the Mets franchise. The masterful craftsmanship, the pedigree of its former owner and the relationship to the first season of the Mets' existence makes this piece an absolute treasure for the serious hobbyist. Measures 14x17" in size.
1962 Casey Stengel Game Worn New York Mets Pants from the Casey Stengel Collection. Uniform collectors that will settle for nothing less than a jersey may well change their tunes with the offering of this splendid rarity, a pair of road grey flannel pants worn by the legendary skipper as he guided the Mets to a dismal 120-game loss inaugural season. The combination of Hall of Fame pedigree and Mets franchise relevance is impossible to dismiss. Furthermore, we should note that an included letter of authenticity from the consignor states that she delivered the full uniform to the funeral home where Casey lay in state, and that the matching jersey was buried with Stengel. The same is true of the Yankees pants also in this auction. These Mets pants show even, consistent wear with "Wilson [size] 40" label inside the waistband beside the all-important embroidered swatch announcing "37-1962" (Stengel's uniform number and year, respectively). Pants show none of the damage so often associated with decades-old flannel, and display perfectly. LOA from MEARS.
Early 1960's Casey Stengel Game Worn Mets Undershirt #1 from the Casey Stengel Collection. Soft wool undershirt is the style seen in every picture of Stengel in the Mets dugout. Twin "Duofold" and "Rawlings" size "44" labels inside collar, where the letters "NY" are penned in black marker. Behind collar is further notation reading "37 Stengel" in vintage block lettering. Terrific, undamaged wear throughout. LOA from MEARS.
Early 1960's Casey Stengel Game Worn Mets Undershirt #2 from the Casey Stengel Collection. Soft wool undershirt is the style seen in every picture of Stengel in the Mets dugout. "Tim McAuliffe [size] L" label at base of button placket. No markered number or notation, though size and provenance clearly tracks the shirt to Stengel. Nice wear with a few very minor holes that do not affect display. LOA from MEARS.
1960's New York Mets Game Worn Collection from the Casey Stengel Collection. For Hall of Fame game used uniform collectors on a budget, we offer this humble lot of garments from Casey's days leading the hapless Mets. Two pairs of white socks and blue stirrups kept Stengel looking sharp, even in defeat, and a pair of boxers embroidered with his first name and the Mets logo proved him a New Yorker to the core. Finally we have a masterfully knitted pair of wool socks celebrating the 1949 World Championship, with every player's name painstakingly spelled out in block lettering. All show wear but present beautifully.
Circa 1962 Casey Stengel Game Worn Mets Cap from the Casey Stengel Collection. Fantastic wear on this earliest of Mets caps suggests an entire, painful season of use as Casey suffered through the team's incredibly rocky infancy. Number "37" is boldly applied in handwritten marker to the underside of the visor, which has a single crack to the cardboard at center. "New Era" tagging (with no size designation) inside leather headband. LOA from MEARS.
1963 Casey Stengel Birthday Presentational Bowl from the Casey Stengel Collection. The Ol' Perfesser gets a year older. Though the play of his bumbling Mets gave him more grey hairs than seventy-three years of life could do on its own, Casey was certainly touched by the presentation of this beautiful Sterling bowl engraved with the team logo and the words "Happy Birthday Casey Stengel, July 29, 1963." Note that the Mets couldn't even get this right, however, as Casey's birthday is actually July 30th. Nonetheless, it's a gorgeous display piece, showing no noteworthy condition issues short of expected minor tarnishing. "Wallace Sterling" maker's mark on base. Bowl is 10" in diameter, and stands 5" tall.
1964 Casey Stengel Original Artwork by Mullin from the Casey Stengel Collection. Nothing less than a masterful portrait of the great Casey Stengel could be expected from famed "The Sporting News" cartoonist Willard Mullin, who presented this original work to his subject following the image's publication. The artist twice expresses to Stengel regrets for his departure, signing the piece no fewer than three times as a result. Editing markings in the front margins and on the back only add to the appeal, with the image itself showing no noteworthy imperfections. A truly special piece from one legend to another, marking the end of one of baseball's most storied careers. Measures 14x22" in size.
1965 Casey Stengel Handwritten Note to Mickey Mantle from the Casey Stengel Collection. On September 18, 1965, Joe DiMaggio and Robert Kennedy are among 50,000 plus on hand at Yankee Stadium to see Mantle play in his 2,000th game. Among the gifts Mickey receives are a barbecue grill in the shape of a prairie schooner and a six-foot Kosher salami weighing one hundred pounds. It's unclear why this special gift, kind words from the Mick's first Big League manager, remained in Casey's personal collection, but we're pleased to be able to offer it here. The handwritten note in pencil on the back of an envelope from Stengel's personal stationery reads, "To Mickey Mantle, c/o Yankee Stadium. Regardless of being the greatest distance hitter. Regardless of winning pennants for the Yankees and Casey Stengel, the two thousand games will be known as your greatest day, Casey Stengel." A few stray pencil marks cross the second of Stengel's two autographs, otherwise the highly desirable note remains in the same condition it was the day Casey composed it. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1965 Casey Stengel Signed Last Career Game Line-Up Card. On September 17, 1912, a twenty-two year old center fielder named Casey Stengel entered the line-up for the Brooklyn Dodgers for his Major League debut, clubbing four singles and two runs batted in to top Honus Wagner's Pittsburgh Pirates seven to three. Almost fifty-three years later, on July 24, 1965, the Ol' Perfesser filled out and signed this line-up card for his New York Mets, not realizing at the time that it would be his last of his 5,043 games in a Major League Baseball uniform. The card was acquired by the Executive Secretary of the Baseball Writers Association of America, a gentleman named Jack Lang, whose letter of provenance is nicely matted with the line-up card.
The letter reads, "On July 24, 1965, the New York Mets, managed by Casey Stengel, played the Philadelphia Phillies at Shea Stadium. Tom Parsons started for the Mets and lost, 5-1. On that date, the Mets also were celebrating Oldtimers' Day and that night hosted a party at Toots Shor's Restaurant. During the party, Stengel slipped on a wet floor in the men's room and broke his hip. He would never manage another game. The next afternoon, visiting with interim manager Wes Westrum in Stengel's office, I noticed the lineup card from the previous day's game. I asked Westrum if I could have it and he told me to take it. I realized it might be the last lineup card Stengel would ever fill out. The following week, the club arranged for a group of Casey's writers to visit him at Roosevelt Hospital. When I showed him the lineup card, he just smiled and said "keep it, kid." In my nearly 50 years of covering major league baseball, that lineup card was one of my proudest possessions."
The line-up card presents wonderfully forty years after Casey's final big league game, with all ink, from the names of Kranepool and Swoboda, to Stengel's unmistakable signature, rating a strong 8/10. The card itself is NRMT, and is carefully affixed to an orange mat board backing, making for a marvelous display in Mets colors. Overall dimensions of the piece are 14x19", however the importance of this piece remembering the final day of a fifty-three year baseball career is clearly immeasurable. LOA from PSA/DNA.
The letter reads, "On July 24, 1965, the New York Mets, managed by Casey Stengel, played the Philadelphia Phillies at Shea Stadium. Tom Parsons started for the Mets and lost, 5-1. On that date, the Mets also were celebrating Oldtimers' Day and that night hosted a party at Toots Shor's Restaurant. During the party, Stengel slipped on a wet floor in the men's room and broke his hip. He would never manage another game. The next afternoon, visiting with interim manager Wes Westrum in Stengel's office, I noticed the lineup card from the previous day's game. I asked Westrum if I could have it and he told me to take it. I realized it might be the last lineup card Stengel would ever fill out. The following week, the club arranged for a group of Casey's writers to visit him at Roosevelt Hospital. When I showed him the lineup card, he just smiled and said "keep it, kid." In my nearly 50 years of covering major league baseball, that lineup card was one of my proudest possessions."
The line-up card presents wonderfully forty years after Casey's final big league game, with all ink, from the names of Kranepool and Swoboda, to Stengel's unmistakable signature, rating a strong 8/10. The card itself is NRMT, and is carefully affixed to an orange mat board backing, making for a marvelous display in Mets colors. Overall dimensions of the piece are 14x19", however the importance of this piece remembering the final day of a fifty-three year baseball career is clearly immeasurable. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1960's Mickey Mantle & Joe DiMaggio Christmas Cards from the Casey Stengel Collection. Trio of holiday greetings come from the two greatest Yankees to serve under Casey's rule. Two are from the Mantle family, with each featuring whimsical and imaginative three-dimensional design, while Joltin' Joe's is a simple and understated design, all in keeping with the sender's personality. DiMaggio's card has some staining on the cover, with Mantle's specimens NRMT. None have personal notes or signatures.
Baseball Cards
Casey Stengel Signed Index Cards Lot of 10 from the Casey Stengel Collection. Dealer lots don't get much more appealing than this collection of ten Mint signed blank index cards direct from the personal stash of the wise and wacky Hall of Fame manager. We surmise that Casey signed these and left them with his wife or secretary to drop in the mail for answering autograph requests when he was on the road with the Mets. All present beautifully, particularly so in the special PSA slabs with the "Stengel Collection" header. Clearly the most desirable Stengel signed index cards on the market.
1962-65 Topps Cards Signed by Casey Stengel from the Casey Stengel Collection. We expect that Stengel kept these cards in his archives to fulfill autograph requests through the mail, leaving them with his wife to forward to young collectors as he traveled the nation with his new Mets squad. Forty years later, we present them to our bidding clientele, who will surely enjoy them as Casey had intended. Each is signed in dark blue ink, with the earliest card showing a touch of wear to the autograph and the others presenting marvelously. Each is slabbed in a PSA holder with either a rating of VG 3 (1963 #233 and 1964 #324) or VG-EX 4 (1962 #29 and 1965 #187). Keep them together as a run of signed Mets cards, or break them up to sell at your leisure.
Baseball Collectibles
1966 Casey Stengel New York Mets Contract from the Casey Stengel Collection. Seventy-five years old, and his managerial duties handed over to Wes Westrum, Casey continued to serve the Mets in the capacity of "Executive-Scout," for which he was paid the rather generous sum of $50,000 annually. This is the only contract from the Stengel collection dating to his service of the Metropolitans, and is likewise the only one to show noteworthy wear. It appears to have been caught in a flood, leaving the document stained, lightly torn at the spine and a bit scuffed. Still the authorizing signatures of George Weiss, now a Met, and "Charles D. Stengel" are as pretty as can be, as is the rather tough Warren Giles signature on the front. Three signatures, three Hall of Famers. You can't complain about that! LOA from PSA/DNA.
1966 Handwritten Notes for Casey Stengel's Hall of Fame Induction Speech from the Casey Stengel Collection. Titanically important offering is believed to represent the first time a Hall of Famer's induction speech notes have ever been offered for public sale. Unceremoniously "filed" in a tremendous stack of Stengel's paperwork (see other lots in this auction for these offerings), these three pages were spotted by a sharp Heritage staffer who recognized them for what they are. An 8.5x11" lined yellow page begins with the words, "Hall of Fame & Museum, Cooperstown, N.Y., July 25th 1966," and goes on to mention a fellow inductee "Ted Williams, perfect swing, can hit distance, greatest batter hitting L. handed in my experience in the American League." He discusses "old bats, gloves, shoes, uniforms and shape of shirts with collars, mustaches, sliding pads, woolen shirts...This year am enducted (sic), Chosen by B.B.W.A. of America." A second yellow page seems to be a false start, but begins much like the first. Another page approximately the size of a legal pad continues with notes like "New Building, Abner Doubleday, game of Base-Ball, One-Cat Two-Cat or Rounders." Later he lists the names of all original inductees, "Wagner, Grover Alexander...," noting "one alive." Far too much terrific content to include here, but whether these pages were on the podium with Casey when he accepted the greatest honor in baseball, or were just early drafts, the tremendous importance and value of these pages cannot be denied. All ink is in 10/10 condition, and pages are oddly folded but show no noteworthy damage.
Cooperstown Hall of Fame Photograph & Pin Collection from the Casey Stengel Collection. Terrific assortment of ten Hall of Fame pins worn at induction ceremonies is highlighted by two with gold embossed ribbons reading "Member." One show moderate foxing that does little to detract. The remainder are for guests, and range from 1964 to 1973. Also here is an album of Stengel's personal snapshots of the 1971 induction ceremonies, picturing Casey with the rest of the living Hall of Famers sitting opposite Satchel Paige and the rest of the new class. Fourteen photos in all. Everything remains in fine, undamaged condition unless otherwise noted.
Vast Collection of Personal Speeches, Notes, Etc. from the Casey Stengel Collection. Any attempt to describe this lot in the body of a paragraph of catalog copy will fall well short of the goal, as there is no possible way to convey the vast and varied nature of the collection. There is easily over one hundred individual pieces of paper, ranging from index card to legal pad size, with thousands and thousands of handwritten words written over a course of decades. The subject matter is almost exclusively baseball, and much of it appears to be notes for speeches for everything from dinner banquets to clubhouse pep talks. Just about every Hall of Famer Stengel ever met is mentioned with cryptic references: "Hack Wilson Life Buoy sign, Wilbert Robinson grapefruit..." Occasionally Casey signs his name, but more often does not. A list he made reads, "1) Physical condition. 2) Eating & sleeping. 3) Hustle. 4) Control of temper. 5) Obligation to baseball. 6) Your manager. 7) Your organization." A scouting report on his Yankees includes notes like, "Blanchard, Berra, Howard C, O.K. except speed," and "Boyer SS good on throwing, double play great, question hitting distance." Understand that calling this the tip of the iceberg would be a tremendous understatement. It would take hours upon hours just to read this monumental archive, and weeks and months to decipher the details. Breakdown value is simply tremendous, though it seems a shame to scatter this archive to the winds. Our greatest hope would be that a baseball historian or biographer would come to claim this unique find and share this intriguing look into the mind of Charles Dillon Stengel with the world.
1969 N.L.C.S. Game Three Full Tickets Lot of 2 from the Casey Stengel Collection. Plenty of reasons to love this matched pair of tickets, never used and leaving seats one and two of Field Box 65, Row B unoccupied. First, they derive directly from the personal collection of original Mets manager Casey Stengel. Second, this was the very first year of the League Championship Series. And lastly, these tickets were for Game Three of a three-game sweep of the Atlanta Braves, meaning that they were issued for the day the New York Mets earned their first National League pennant. The tickets do show a degree of wear from storage, but nothing that detracts significantly from visual appeal, and certainly not from the incredible historical importance. A letter of provenance from the consignor will attest to the Stengel connection.
1969 World Series Games Four & Five Full Tickets, PSA EX 5 from the Casey Stengel Collection. It's no surprise that the man who labored through the painful birth of the New York Mets would have no need to pass through the turnstiles like any other fan when the Amazin' October finally came, so this pair of tickets was spared the wrath of the gatekeeper and remain untorn and as issued. Make no mistake, these are Stengel's personal tickets even though they are not marked as such, and a letter of provenance from our consignor will back this claim. Each shows mild storage wear but is safe for eternity now, slabbed in an EX 5 holder from PSA for protection and unquestioned authenticity.
Assorted Presentational Pieces and Other Artifacts from the Casey Stengel Collection. An intriguing assortment of pieces from the life of this ageless baseball figure includes: 1) Wooden box with plaque engraved "Presented to Casey Stengel by the New York Mets, World Champions 1969." We are unsure of what the contents may once have been. Box measures 2x4x5". 2) Smaller (1x2.5x3") presentational box with Yankees logo embossed on lid. Again, we are unsure of former contents. 3) Belt buckle with engraved letter "S." 4) Yankees logo money clip. 5) Yankees pin (1.5" diam.). 6) 1927 Babe Ruth 60 Home Runs souvenir pen knife. 7 & 8) Presentational pocket knife and mechanical pencil from two different Governors of Florida. 9 & 10) Two baseball themed collectible spoons. One has "M" logo at top; other has word "Boulder" engraved in bowl of spoon. All pieces show expected wear from thirty-plus years of storage, yet still present very well.
Presentational Bourbon and Beer Bottles (2) from the Casey Stengel Collection. More gifts from admiring friends and fans, these offerings of the alcoholic nature. 1) Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (empty), with label reading, "Especially for Casey Stengel With All My Love, Leo Durocher." A neat piece from one Hall of Famer to another. 2) Ballantine Burton Ale (complete with contents) with label reading, "Brewed Especially for Casey Stengel on May 12, 1946, Bottled November 1960."
Casey Stengel Monogrammed Glassware Set of 37 from the Casey Stengel Collection. Cocktail hour just got even more appealing, as we present the personal glassware set of a man who once remarked, "They say some of my stars drink whiskey, but I have found that ones who drink milkshakes don't win many ball games." Present in this special collection are twelve highball glasses (5" tall), nine martini glasses (4.5" tall), nine rocks glasses (3" tall) and seven aperitif glasses (4" tall). All are beautifully etched "CDS" with golden inlay. None have chips or damage of any sort. So let's all drink a toast to the Ol' Perfesser! No milkshakes!
Presentational Television, Radio and Leather Case from the Casey Stengel Collection. More gifts and goodies bestowed upon the Hall of Fame manager by his grateful teams and admirers. 1) Fully-functioning "Admiral" brand black and white nine-inch screen television with affixed plaque reading, "Casey Stengel, 1960 World Series Reunion, Three Rivers Stadium, August 7, 1971." 2) Transistor radio with affixed enamel plaque bearing Yankees logo and the words "Christmas 1957." It is unclear whether or not the radio still works, as batteries are long dead. 3) Leather case (2x6x8") with embossed Yankee logo with "World Champions 1951" circling the perimeter. Monogram "C.D.S." is below. Lid has become disattached, as has carrying strap, though the former is still present.
Social Security Card, Baptismal Certificate & More from the Casey Stengel Collection. While it's likely that only a few members of the Heritage bidding family could rightfully pass for 115 years old, we offer here just about everything one would need to assume the identity of the Hall of Fame manager. 1) 1937 Social Security card. Typed on back is "Boston Nat'l League B.B. Club, Boston, Mass." 2) 1906 Baptismal Certificate from St. Mark's Church, Kansas City, Mo. 3) 1961 Certified Copy of Birth Record. 4) 1962 California Automobile Registration Certificate. All pieces show moderate wear, with the exception of the automobile registration, which is Poor to Fair. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1970's Casey Stengel Signed Checks Lot of 3 from the Casey Stengel Collection. Illustrating the great trust that Casey had in his caretaker, he would simply sign blank checks for expenses she might incur in her duties. Offered are three of these checks, unused and bearing the rare and highly desirable "Charles D. Stengel" autograph in the legend's 10/10 blue ink hand. A vertical wrinkle runs the length of the block of three checks two inches from the left edge, but this imperfection does not affect the autographs in any way. Other than this issue, the checks present as EX-MT or better. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1975 Casey Stengel Funeral Guest Book & Sympathy Cards from the Casey Stengel Collection. The baseball world bids a sad farewell to one of the game's most beloved figures. Featured in the lot is the register of funeral guests, signed by scores of mourners including Tommy Lasorda, Mr. and Mrs. Babe Herman, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Haney, Andy Carey, Buzzy Bavasi, George Kelly, Maury Wills, Billy Martin, Lee MacPhail, Jocko Conlan, Rod Dedeaux and various members of the Los Angeles Dodgers and local Southern California newspapers. Surely some hidden gems amongst the fifteen pages packed with attendees' autographs. Also here are sympathy cards once attached to flowers sent by everyone from The American League Staff, Boston exec Tom Yawkey, Stanley Coveleski, Buck Leonard, and one from "Mickey, Whitey, Yogi and Billy." Note that these cards are not actually signed by the people listed as the book is. Finally, the lot includes an assortment of nine Western Union telegrams expressing the sympathies of everyone from Eleanor Gehrig to Bill Dickey. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1951 American League All-Star Team Signed Baseball from the Casey Stengel Collection. Detroit's Briggs Stadium served as the battleground for this war between the Leagues, with the great Casey Stengel at the helm of the Americans. Answering the dreams of managers the world over, both Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams shared his dugout for this unforgettable game, along with fellow Hall of Famers Kell, Doby, Lemon, Henrich, Rizzuto and Doerr. All have signed this OAL (Harridge) ball, as well as Stengel himself, who has also added the text, "All Star 1951" in his own hand. Twenty-three signatures appear in total, at an average quality of 8/10 with a few minor exceptions. Light shellac is largely responsible for the top quality of the autographs after a half a century. The ball has been encapsulated in a special PSA ball cube with a "Stengel Collection" label. A full PSA/DNA letter of authenticity attesting to the Stengel provenance is included as well.
1951 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball, PSA EX-MT+ 6.5 from the Casey Stengel Collection. Battling with the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers for the status of most desirable post-war team ball is the '51 Yanks, which makes a strong play for the title by virtue of the club's status as the only one to feature the talents of both Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. Each of these Hall of Fame center fielders checks in on this OAL (Harridge) ball featuring twenty-three autographs from the Champions of the World. Among the balance of autographs are Berra, Rizzuto, Reynolds, Lopat, Bauer, Silvera, McDougald, Woodling and Houk. The authenticators at PSA have designated the autographs as 7 and the ball as 6, for the combined grade as listed. They also note that the DiMaggio signature is secretarial. The ball has been encapsulated in a special PSA ball cube with a "Stengel Collection" label, noting the impressive EX-MT+ 6.5 status. A full PSA/DNA letter of authenticity attesting to the Stengel provenance is included as well.
1951 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball, PSA NM 7 from the Casey Stengel Collection. Though Stengel has penned "1950 World Champions" along with his autograph in the space surrounding Joe DiMaggio's secretarial sweet spot signature, the appearance of Mickey Mantle's signature just to the left leaves no doubt as to this sphere's 1951 vintage. One could even logically conclude that such an inscription on the Ol' Perfesser's part would only come very early in the season, potentially even in spring training, establishing that we have here one of the earliest Mickey Mantle autographs as a New York Yankee. Twenty-one fellow teammates join this Hall of Fame trio, highlighted by Berra, Rizzuto, Silvera, Lopat, Bauer, Houk, McDougald, Woodling, Sain and Reynolds. Signature quality ranges from 7/10 to 9/10, with those enshrined at Cooperstown near the top of that scale. The OAL (Harridge) ball that serves as home for these historic autographs is lightly and evenly toned, with Stengel's number "37" penned over the "Reach" logo for identification. The authenticators at PSA have designated the autographs as 8 and the ball as 6, for the combined grade as listed. The ball has been encapsulated in a special PSA ball cube with a "Stengel Collection" label, noting the impressive NM 7 status. A full PSA/DNA letter of authenticity attesting to the Stengel provenance is included as well.
1951 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball, PSA NM+ 7.5 from the Casey Stengel Collection. A stellar 10/10 rookie signature from a twenty-year old kid named Mickey Mantle gives us plenty of reason to love this OAL (Harridge) ball signed by twenty-seven members of this World Championship squad. While the Mick's counterpart Joltin' Joe DiMaggio is absent from the festivities, a tough (on a team sphere) signature from the team's manager and former owner of this ball goes far in softening this blow. Also present and accounted for are Mize, Berra, Rizzuto, McDougald, Sain, Raschi, Houk, Reynolds, Silvera and future Yankee manager Billy Martin. A second Stengel signature has been deemed secretarial. The authenticators at PSA have designated the autographs as 8 and the ball as 7, for the combined grade as listed. The ball has been encapsulated in a special PSA ball cube with a "Stengel Collection" label, noting the impressive NM+ 7.5 status. A full PSA/DNA letter of authenticity attesting to the Stengel provenance is included as well.
1952 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball from the Casey Stengel Collection. A fourth consecutive World Championship season for the great Casey Stengel, who was just about the most beloved man in the Big Apple at the time this OAL (Harridge) ball was signed. Twenty-eight signatures are here in total, most notably Stengel himself with Mantle in his tough early style just above, Martin, Ford, Stengel again, Mize, Berra, Sain, Houk, Rizzuto, Reynolds, Bauer and more. "World Champion 1952" and Casey's jersey number "37" are also penned in Stengel's hand. Light shellac has accomplished its intended purpose of maintaining the autographs in 9/10 and better condition, and the application has given the ball a pleasant light amber shade. The ball has been encapsulated in a special PSA ball cube with a "Stengel Collection" label. A full PSA/DNA letter of authenticity attesting to the Stengel provenance is included as well.
1953 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball from the Casey Stengel Collection. The Bronx Bombers take their consecutive World Championship streak to five. Skipper Stengel could do no wrong with this squad, which even now looks super-sharp with an autograph grade of 8/10 from PSA. All the top stars are here as well, like Stengel himself, Mantle in his coveted early autograph style, Rizzuto, Mize, Berra, Ford, Martin, Reynolds and more. Also penned in Casey's NRMT hand is his jersey number "37" and the words "World Champs 1953." The ball shows mild, even toning, accounting for a baseball grade of 5/10, and a final tally of 6.5/10. The ball has been encapsulated in a special PSA ball cube with a "Stengel Collection" label and the noted grade. A full PSA/DNA letter of authenticity attesting to the Stengel provenance is included as well.
1953 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball from the Casey Stengel Collection. The unbeatable Yankees make it five World Championships in a row, a fact that the manager notes beside his autograph with the handwritten words, "World Champs, 1953." Surrounding him are thirty of the men who made him look like the game's greatest genius, including Mantle (clubhouse), Ford, Mize, Berra, Rizzuto, Martin, Sain, Bauer and more. Ink quality averages 8/10 to 9/10, with none falling below that lofty status. The OAL (Harridge) ball that serves as their home is likewise lovely, toned an even, milky shade. The ball has been encapsulated in a special PSA ball cube with a "Stengel Collection" label. A full PSA/DNA letter of authenticity attesting to the Stengel provenance is included as well.
1959 American League All-Star Team Signed Baseball from the Casey Stengel Collection. Stengel, the manager of the American League squad this season, had quite a talent pool with which to work his magic this year, as is evidenced by the thirty autographs that fill every nook and cranny of this OAL (Harridge) ball from the event. Later finding a home in Cooperstown are Stengel himself, Bunning, Wilhelm, Wynn, Aparicio, Kaline, Fox and Killebrew. Mantle, Williams and Berra are present as well, but have been deemed clubhouse versions. Stengel has also penned "All-Star Washington 1959" on the sweet spot. Signature quality ranges from 7/10 to 10/10, with most at the precise center of that scale. The ball has been encapsulated in a special PSA ball cube with a "Stengel Collection" label. A full PSA/DNA letter of authenticity attesting to the Stengel provenance is included as well.
1959 American League All-Star Team Signed Baseball from the Casey Stengel Collection. Casey took skipper duties for the Midsummer Classic at Forbes Field this season, a year before he would suffer a crushing defeat at that locale at the hands of Bill Mazeroski. A late inning surge from the Nationals sank this ship as well, but the talent present on this OAL (Harridge) ball is so superb, we'll forgive the loss. Among the thirty-one signatures present are Stengel, Bunning, Wilhelm, Ford, Minoso, Fox, Wynn, Killebrew, Kaline, Aparicio and more. Mantle, Williams and Berra have been deemed clubhouse signatures. Quality of autographs is a consistent 8/10 to 9/10, and the hide is lightly and evenly toned. The ball has been encapsulated in a special PSA ball cube with a "Stengel Collection" label. A full PSA/DNA letter of authenticity attesting to the Stengel provenance is included as well.
1960 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball from the Casey Stengel Collection. The M&M boys join forces for the first of seven seasons in pinstripes together. You couldn't ask for better placement for display either, as the Mick's sweet spot signature ends a quarter inch from Roger's. Also sharing space on this OAL (Cronin) ball celebrating another American League flag are Berra, Ford, Howard, Kubek, Terry, Lopez, Boyer, Skowron, Richardson, Duren and more. Only Whitey Ford (4/10) dips below the 7/10 mark of the twenty-five present, with the overall average a point higher at 8/10. Tough to find Mantle and Maris together on team balls with neither being a clubhouse specimen, but they're both 100% authentic here. The ball has been encapsulated in a special PSA ball cube with a "Stengel Collection" label. A full PSA/DNA letter of authenticity attesting to the Stengel provenance is included as well.
1963 New York Mets Team Signed Baseball from the Casey Stengel Collection. If only the team was as high quality as the ball. The ballclub that inspired Casey to quip, "Been in this game one-hundred years, but I see new ways to lose 'em I never knew existed before" has never looked better than they do on this ONL (Giles) ball, rated an unbelievable Mint+ 9.5 by PSA. Casey's sweet spot signature is as sweet as it gets, with Duke Snider, Cookie Lavagetto and Choo Choo Coleman among the other twenty-six chiming in. Undoubtedly one of the finest team balls from the Mets' second season of existence. The ball has been encapsulated in a special PSA ball cube with a "Stengel Collection" label. A full PSA/DNA letter of authenticity attesting to the Stengel provenance is included as well.
Brooklyn & Los Angeles Dodgers Legends Signed Baseball from the Casey Stengel Collection, PSA Mint+ 9.5. When the notoriously stingy graders at PSA grant a grade of Mint+ 9.5 to anything at all, you'd better believe that it's the absolute cream of the crop. It's certainly the case with this blank (no maker's marks) pearly white baseball coated with twenty-six signatures from the great rivals of Casey's New York Yankees. The super-tough Walter O'Malley appears on the sweet spot with his trusted manager Walt Alston and coach Babe Herman just below. Surrounding this powerful trio are Reese, Drysdale, Snider, Koufax, Newcombe, Marichal, Slaughter, Amoros, Moon, Branca, Roe, Erskine and Hall of Fame umpire Jocko Conlan. The ball has been encapsulated in a special PSA ball cube with a "Stengel Collection" label. A full PSA/DNA letter of authenticity attesting to the Stengel provenance is included as well.
Billy Martin Single Signed Baseball from the Casey Stengel Collection. From one legendary New York Yankees manager to another. Tough and desirable in any form, this fine single from the hand of the troubled Bronx legend was a gift to Stengel, who kept it in a place of honor in his trophy room until his death. The sweet spot signature with a side panel sentiment reading "The best always" rates an impressive 9/10 on a lightly toned Official Little League ball. The ball has been encapsulated in a special PSA ball cube with a "Stengel Collection" label. A full PSA/DNA letter of authenticity attesting to the Stengel provenance is included as well.
St. Louis Cardinals & New York Yankees Legends Signed Baseball from the Casey Stengel Collection. Remembering some classic World Series showdowns, these rival squads made peace for the time it took to fill this ONL (Feeney) ball with autographs. Hall of Fame talent abounds, with Medwick on the sweet spot, Dizzy Dean with his brother Paul together on a side panel with Slaughter, Rizzuto, Stengel, Dickey, Henrich, Gomez, Musial and Haines. That's ten Hall of Famers in all, of the seventeen present, with no signature dipping below a strength of 8/10. The ball itself is moderately and evenly toned, and has been encapsulated in a special PSA ball cube with a "Stengel Collection" label. A full PSA/DNA letter of authenticity attesting to the Stengel provenance is included as well.
Hall of Famers Multi-Signed Baseball from the Casey Stengel Collection. Thirteen signatures, and every last one from a Hall of Famer. This incredible baker's dozen begins with Casey himself, and goes on to feature Marquard (twice), Lloyd Waner, Hoyt, Hafey, Wynn, Haines, Rice, Frisch, Giles, Hooper and Medwick. All but Casey have signed in 8/10 or better orange ink, with the man of the hour a shade lighter in 7/10 black ink. Obviously a very special piece to Mr. Stengel, who took his Hall of Fame brotherhood very seriously. The ball has been encapsulated in a special PSA ball cube with a "Stengel Collection" label. A full PSA/DNA letter of authenticity attesting to the Stengel provenance is included as well.
Incredible Old Timers Signed Baseball with Mantle, DiMaggio, Maris & More from the Casey Stengel Collection. If you consider yourself a Yankees fan and yet still don't bid upon this rare jewel of a baseball, turn in your pinstripes, hop on the "7" train and head to Shea instead. One of the greatest congregations of Yankees Hall of Famers appear on this Official Little League ball, as well as some of the greatest stars never fortunate enough to call the Bronx home. The ball was apparently intended as a gift from Stengel, as a side panel inscription in his hand reads, "To Greg, Old Timers Day, St. Louis 7/9/72, Casey Stengel." Thankfully, Greg never got his hands on this special sphere, leaving one lucky Heritage bidder to take his place. Just below Stengel's signature is that of Roger Maris, while fellow Yankee sluggers DiMaggio and Mantle share the sweet spot. A list of the balance of Cooperstonians: Slaughter, Hafey, Gomez, Musial, Mize, Henrich, Schoendienst, Medwick, Paige, Ruffing, Marquard, Dean and Dickey. That's sixteen Hall of Famers total! All twenty-three signatures rate a fabulous 9/10 or better, and the ball is toned an even, moderate shade. The ball has been encapsulated in a special PSA ball cube with a "Stengel Collection" label. A full PSA/DNA letter of authenticity attesting to the Stengel provenance is included as well.
Circa 1908 Reading (PA) Tristate Club Cabinet Photograph with Frank Baker from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. UPDATE: Please note that it has been suggested by a top Frank Baker expert and biographer that this photo is, in fact, an earlier and even more scarce and valuable image of Baker with the 1905 Ridgely, Maryland baseball team. The earliest known baseball photograph of this Hall of Fame immortal pictures the young infielder at center of a fantastic team shot snapped shortly before Baker left Reading for Connie Mack's Philadelphia squad. The Old English letter "R" appears over each player's heart, and fantastic period bats, gloves and baseballs dot the foreground. Though the crystal-clear image leaves no question as to Baker's identity, an included scrapbook that mistakenly lists the third baseman from Trappe, Maryland as "Freddie Baker" sings the praises of this talented Reading star. And, of course, the fact that this image derives directly from the collection of Baker himself should establish the provenance to the satisfaction of all. The sepia-toned image, measuring 7x9" in size, and the cardboard mount to which it is attached (11x13"), remain in spectacular NRMT condition, suggesting that this was one of Baker's most prized photos. Only a small handful of Dead Ball Hall of Famer photographs predating ascension to the Major Leagues have ever surfaced in the hobby, making this a true treasure for the advanced collector.
1909 & 1955 Frank "Home Run" Baker Autographs Lot of 2 from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. A pair of autographs spanning almost a half century of this Hall of Famer's life is offered for the discerning collector, direct from the personal collection of the early home run hero himself. The earlier specimen is a handwritten postcard, postmarked "Dec 14, 1909, Phoenix, Ariz." and featuring the brief note, "When you get this we will be close home, Frank." The later autograph appears on the verso of a terrific black and white snapshot of an elderly Baker posing with a bat on his shoulder, most likely at the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame. It is unclear how it ended up in Baker's collection, as it appears to be notated by the fan who got the autograph personally, but regardless, the "Frank Baker" blue ink autograph stayed with the man who penned it. All ink remains in 10/10 condition, and the only noteworthy wear is on the postcard, likely from its travels across the country, and this wear does not affect the writing in the slightest. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Circa 1910 Frank Baker Studio Photograph by Horner, Used for M116 Sporting Life from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. Though the most famous photograph snapped by celebrated early baseball photographer Carl Horner is the image of Honus Wagner used for the million dollar T206 card, we must note an equal mastery of technique in his study of the great Frank "Home Run" Baker we offer here. And, like the Wagner image, this too found a second life in a trading card set, notably the M116 Sporting Life, which again features a colorized version of the black and white shot. Baker appears in the uniform of the World Champion Philadelphia Athletics for this seated portrait, a crystal-clear image with the delightful interplay of light and dark that illustrates the great talents that Horner possessed. The image measures 3.75x5.5" on a mount that brings the final dimensions of the piece to 5x7". The artist's stamp of "Carl Horner Co., Wash'n Bldg, 387 Washington St., Boston" appears at lower right. Only the lightest wear to the edges cannot derail a grade of NRMT. Included in the lot is an EX example of the resultant M116 card.
Circa 1910 Harry Krause Studio Photograph by Horner from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. UPDATE: Please note that the auction catalog copy incorrectly identifies the man pictured as Jack Coombs. There was nobody more unhittable than Krause in 1909, as he beat out Walsh, Bender and Joss to take the blue ribbon with a microscopic 1.39 earned run average. Like his fellow Dead Ball star Honus Wagner, Krause saw his portrait from the great Carl Horner utilized in the fabled T206 set. The image and mount size are likewise 3.75x5.5" and 5x7" respectively, and Horner's mark appears again at lower right. Condition of this masterful photographic work is an essentially flawless NRMT.
Circa 1910 Eddie Plank Imperial Cabinet Photograph from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. The definitive photographic portrait of this Hall of Fame southpaw, who grew up playing baseball on the former killing fields of Gettysburg and registered 326 wins during his seventeen season career. The image dates from the Athletics' World Championship era, when Plank was in his mid-thirties, and the years of a hard baseball life are evident in his face. The image itself measures a tremendous 10x14", and presents as a legitimate NRMT. The mount, which brings the final dimensions to 14x18", has not fared as well, losing chips of various sizes on three of the four corners. A proper matting and framing job will disguise these shortcomings however, delivering a stirring and trouble-free display.
Circa 1910 Frank "Home Run" Baker Studio Portraits Lot of 2 from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. Masterfully rendered studio photographic portraits capture a nattily dressed Hall of Famer in the most razor-sharp contrast possible. Clearly the work of a trained professional, the shadowy interplay of light and dark that characterizes the pair would make them appealing artworks regardless of the famous subject. Each 3.75x5.5" image appears on a mount with "Wagner's Studio, Philada., P.A." imprint, which is affixed inside a light cardstock booklet. One of the mounts shows a hint of foxing, otherwise each is NRMT.
Circa 1910 Philadelphia Athletics Locker Room Photograph from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. Imagine the treasures held within this room at Shibe Park where the Mack Men prepared for battle. The great Frank Baker is accosted by a player we believe to be Stuffy McInnis in this 8x10" photo, while around them we see painted identifiers over lockers belonging to McInnish, Bender and Collins. The sepia toned image is top quality, both in terms of the image sharpness and the print itself, which has only a 1/16th inch chip in the white border at lower right that cannot deny the piece a NRMT rating.
The Finest Known 1910 World Series Program (Chicago) from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. What a fine coincidence that the most beautifully preserved program from the seventh installment of the World Series derives from the personal collection of one of its Hall of Fame participants. Though we must admit, it's not as if there is a great deal of competition for the blue ribbon. Our database of auction records notes that the last sale dates to the famous Barry Halper auction in the Fall of 1999, where a VG copy realized a winning bid of $10,925. We would grade our copy a conservative EX, due only to some mild rubbing wear on the front and rear cover, and a half-inch tear at the left border of the front cover that is essentially invisible upon display. Whereas the Halper program had interior pages loose from the bindings, our copy is completely solid, with a minimum of wear of the pages within, and the score sheets free of marking. If not for a few bends at the absolute tips of the last several interior pages, we would assess a grade of NRMT to all residing between the covers. The program's quality, former ownership, and status as the style issued the day Connie Mack's Athletics closed out their first World Championship makes it a treasure worthy of a place in the most advanced of sporting artifact collections.
1910 Philadelphia Athletics World Championship Celebratory Dinner Program from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. Elegantly rendered program impresses with the embossed images of the team's mascot white elephant, the flags of the United States and the City of Philadelphia, and golden raised text reading "Dinner to the American Base Ball Club of Philadelphia, Champions of the World, by the Citizens of Philadelphia. November 5th, 1910, Bellevue-Stratford." We open the cover to find a terrific collage of photographic images of Mack, Collins, Plank, Bender and the program's former owner, Home Run Baker. The pages to follow list the evening's dinner menu and those honored guests, including the entirety of the 1910 squad and representatives of the Athletics Champions of 1883 and 1871, most notably A.J. Reach. Short of some minor foxing to the cardstock cover, the program remains in terrific, undamaged condition and stands as a special artifact of Connie Mack's first great dynasty. Measures 7x9.5" when closed.
Late 1910's Frank "Home Run" Baker New York Yankees Photographs Lot of 3 from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. Direct from the personal collection of the early Hall of Fame slugger comes this trio of images picturing Baker in the pinstripes of the New York Yankees. A pair of wire photographs represent a fine portrait (5x7") and a fielding pose (6.5x8.5"). Each has news service stamping on verso, and the latter has the lower corners and a piece of the top border affixed with tape, technical Poor to Fair though the image itself could be matted to an EX-MT appearance. The portrait has some minor surface wear, VG-EX. Best is the third image (6.5x8.5"), a NRMT print bearing the stamp of legendary baseball photographer Charles M. Conlon on verso.
1910's-1950's Frank Baker Photographs Lot of 4 from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. Direct from the early home run king's personal archives comes this assortment of four photographs picturing the man himself. Best are a pair of small (3x4" and 3.5x5") snapshots dating to the era of Baker's reign. One pictures him carrying out his third base duties as a member of the famous Athletics $100,000 infield (VG due to horizontal crease) and another has Baker in a small boat at sea (NRMT). A 1950's print of a 1910's batting image measures 8x10" (NRMT), and finally another 8x10" image of an elderly Baker at a baseball function (NRMT) closes out the grouping.
1911 Addie Joss Day Panoramic Photograph from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. Arguably the most desirable baseball photograph in the hobby, and with good reason. This simply remarkable panoramic photograph captures the greatest stars of the American League Dead Ball era, all of whom had convened at Cleveland's League Park on July 24, 1911 for a benefit game to raise money for the widow of Hall of Fame pitcher Addie Joss, whose life had been tragically cut short three months earlier in a virulent bout with meningitis. It must be noted that panoramic photographs were very expensive to produce at this time in history, and as such only those participating in the event were given a copy. Frank "Home Run" Baker's personal photo, offered here, is one of the very few to survive the many decades since. Baker is easy to spot, twelfth from right, dressed in the road grey uniform of his Philadelphia Athletics. Three men to his right is the great Walter Johnson in the midst of a season that saw him pitch six complete game shutouts. Other early gods of the diamond present include Shoeless Joe Jackson, Cy Young, Napoleon Lajoie, Eddie Collins, Smokey Joe Wood and the fiery Ty Cobb, who wears a borrowed Cleveland Naps jersey after forgetting to bring his Tigers togs to the ballpark. Behind the chicken wire that separates the stands from the playing field, scores of fans in dark suits and straw hats clamor to get a look at this outrageous assembly of talent, essentially the first All-Star Game in baseball history. The image quality is exceptional, with every button on the high-collared baseball jerseys clearly visible, and this quality carries over to that of the condition of the piece, which offers only a lower border stain near the left end of the piece and a few scattered and very minor wrinkles. None travel the full vertical length. Only in two instances at the left end do the wrinkles even begin to break through the photographic emulsion, leaving the two or three other cases essentially invisible. Even the more significant imperfections will be greatly minimized by a proper framing job, leaving the stain as the only flaw to be seen on anything other than very close inspection. We do not hesitate to say that the piece will otherwise present as an incredible NRMT, making this simply the finest of the handful of Addie Joss panoramas to see the light of day. Measures 8x41".
1911 Philadelphia Athletics Photographic Display from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. This thrilling display dates from the very season in which Frank Baker earned his "Home Run" moniker for clubbing key long balls in Games Two and Three of that year's World Series. The Championship team is pictured at center, with a nattily-dressed Connie Mack surrounded by his greatest Dead Ball squad. A photo of Hall of Fame pitcher Chief Bender is matted to the left, with Baker himself balancing the display on the right. Block lettered text below reads, "Philadelphia Athletics, World's Champion Base Ball Team 1911." The team photograph measures 6x9", with the individual shots at 4.5x6", with each offering such supreme contrast and clarity that one can see the ribbing of the players' socks and individual blades of grass. Short of some minor edge wear and a single wrinkle that does not affect any of the photographs, the piece remains in spectacular condition, and could easily be framed to exceed even an EX-MT appearance. Once the proud possession of Home Run Baker himself, this piece will be accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Baker's granddaughter.
1912 Frank "Home Run" Baker Home Run Baseball from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. It's difficult to imagine in the modern age, when ballplayers like McGwire, Sosa and Bonds have turned outfield bleachers into veritable hard-hat zones with their endless long balls, that a man could merit the nickname "Home Run" when he managed to hit fewer than one hundred in his entire thirteen-season career. It shows us just how much this game has changed from the Dead Ball era that saw the Hall of Fame third baseman as one of the most menacing batters in the sport's history. The arrival of Babe Ruth on the scene, just as the physical make-up of the horsehide spheres changed, and the balls "came to life," was lamented by players like Ty Cobb, who believed that the national fascination with the home run that Ruth inspired in baseball fans was an affront to the very nature of the game. But before the Babe and the lively ball began their historic partnership, there was Frank "Home Run" Baker, rising to the top of the home run charts every season from 1911 through 1914 with eleven, ten, twelve and nine respectively. To be historically correct, even though Baker was the Home Run Champ four straight seasons, it was actually game-winning home runs against Hall of Fame pitchers Marquard and Mathewson in the 1911 World Series that earned him his famous moniker. As a member of Connie Mack's famous $100,000 Infield, Baker was certainly expected to perform at a high level of expertise, and his efforts were largely responsible for four pennants and three World Series Championships during his days in Philadelphia. And there likely would have been more had not the competition of the newly founded Federal League raised ballplayer salaries, causing Mack to sell off his precious team, and Baker to sit out the 1915 season before being sold to the Yankees in 1916 for $35,000. There he remained until the end of his career, briefly sharing a dugout with the Babe after his arrival in 1920. And it was there that the torch was passed. Home Run Baker was the last of a dying Dead Ball breed, and the Babe was the future. And the long balls began to fall like raindrops from the sky. We are privileged and honored to offer two of the ninety-six home run baseballs that the great Frank "Home Run" Baker hit during his Hall of Fame career. They are consigned directly by the Baker family, and have never before been offered to the collecting public. We certainly do not need to convince the knowledgeable collector just how rare an opportunity this presents. These historic spheres represent two of the earliest home run baseballs ever to see public auction, if not the earliest, bar none. Given the rarity of any well-documented game used baseballs from this era, and the scarce occurrence of the fabled home run in pre-1920 games, there seems little chance that any others could exist that predate this pair. And, if so, how could they possibly compete with a "Home Run" from Baker himself?
The scene was Shibe Park in Philadelphia. In the dugout, Connie Mack, dressed in a dark suit in the summer heat, looked on as his very expensive third baseman stepped to the plate in the bottom half of a double-header. "Earn your money, Baker," Mack mumbled to himself. Hall of Fame pitcher Ed Walsh was on the mound for the Chicago White Sox, just tearing through the Athletics order. With an ERA just over two, Walsh was one of the most unhittable hurlers there was. Baker dug in and cocked his bat. "Big Ed" squinted in under the visor of his cap to check the sign, and fired one in. Baker tensed and uncoiled like a striking snake. This is the ball that traveled from a Hall of Famer's pitching hand, to a Hall of Famer's bat, and then into the record books as one of ten home runs in a League-leading season for Frank "Home Run" Baker. Vintage ink, believed to be that of Baker's wife, spans the sweet spot: "Home Run off Ed Walsh, July 12th, 1912." Though coated with mottled brown patches of age and ancient ballpark dirt, the baseball offers an inscription that is an easily legible 8/10. The red and blue stitching has held solid, and remnants of the old "Reach" stamping are clearly visible, while the "Official American League" on the opposing sweet spot leaves behind only a barely discernible ghost. In every regard, the ball has the proper look and specifications to match its historic pedigree. A piece of monumental importance, and again, quite possibly the oldest documented home run baseball ever offered at public sale. The ball is accompanied by a notarized letter of Authenticity from the family of Frank Baker. LOA from MEARS.
The scene was Shibe Park in Philadelphia. In the dugout, Connie Mack, dressed in a dark suit in the summer heat, looked on as his very expensive third baseman stepped to the plate in the bottom half of a double-header. "Earn your money, Baker," Mack mumbled to himself. Hall of Fame pitcher Ed Walsh was on the mound for the Chicago White Sox, just tearing through the Athletics order. With an ERA just over two, Walsh was one of the most unhittable hurlers there was. Baker dug in and cocked his bat. "Big Ed" squinted in under the visor of his cap to check the sign, and fired one in. Baker tensed and uncoiled like a striking snake. This is the ball that traveled from a Hall of Famer's pitching hand, to a Hall of Famer's bat, and then into the record books as one of ten home runs in a League-leading season for Frank "Home Run" Baker. Vintage ink, believed to be that of Baker's wife, spans the sweet spot: "Home Run off Ed Walsh, July 12th, 1912." Though coated with mottled brown patches of age and ancient ballpark dirt, the baseball offers an inscription that is an easily legible 8/10. The red and blue stitching has held solid, and remnants of the old "Reach" stamping are clearly visible, while the "Official American League" on the opposing sweet spot leaves behind only a barely discernible ghost. In every regard, the ball has the proper look and specifications to match its historic pedigree. A piece of monumental importance, and again, quite possibly the oldest documented home run baseball ever offered at public sale. The ball is accompanied by a notarized letter of Authenticity from the family of Frank Baker. LOA from MEARS.
1913 Philadelphia Athletics World Championship Celebratory Dinner Imperial Cabinet Photograph from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. Less than three weeks after slaying Matty and McGraw's New York Giants, the White Elephants were feted by the Philadelphia glitterati in an elegant banquet at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel. Seated in the distance beyond a sea of tuxedoed gentlemen eating oysters on the half shell can be spotted Mack, Baker and the gang. A massive thirty-foot high banner in the background, recycled from two seasons earlier, reads "Philadelphia Americans, 1911, Champions of the World." The image, measuring 10.5x18.5", shows only very mild surface rubbing and merits a very conservative EX-MT rating. The cardboard mount, which brings the final dimensions to 14x22", shows considerably more wear, with mottled toning, edge wear, and a chipped lower left corner. A proper framing job, however, will turn this piece into a real beauty. Clearly only produced to be issued to players and V.I.P.'s, this photo is the first of its kind that we have encountered.
1914 Frank "Home Run" Baker Home Run Baseball from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. The scene was Philadelphia's Shibe Park, a warm summer's day in late June, just two days before the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo would set Europe on a collision course with the first World War. The Senators were visiting the Philadelphia Athletics, and on the mound was Washington's number two ace Yancy Ayers, better known around the League as "Doc." As the greatest power slugger in the American League, a man who would top the home run chart for the fourth consecutive season in 1914, stepped to the plate, Ayers cradled this OAL (Johnson) ball in his right hand. Baker dug in, his mighty bat cocked above his left shoulder. In an instant, this ball and Baker's bat met in a tremendous collision, sending the former into the record books as one of a League-best nine homers that the Hall of Famer would hit this A.L. Championship season.
Somehow, the game's first great long ball slugger was able to retrieve this ball after his round trip of the bases, and he quickly scribbled the details of the event on the side panel for posterity. The quite light but legible script reads, "Home Run off Doc Ayres (sic), June 26th, 1914." This style of notation matches exactly the scant few other Baker home run baseballs to reach the market. The ball shows tremendous use from that day but still presents wonderfully over nine decades later as one of the earliest documented home run baseballs in the hobby. This fact, and the identity of the man that sent this ball on its wild ride, makes it a piece worthy of the Baseball Hall of Fame, or of the finest game used memorabilia collections in the world. LOA from MEARS.
Somehow, the game's first great long ball slugger was able to retrieve this ball after his round trip of the bases, and he quickly scribbled the details of the event on the side panel for posterity. The quite light but legible script reads, "Home Run off Doc Ayres (sic), June 26th, 1914." This style of notation matches exactly the scant few other Baker home run baseballs to reach the market. The ball shows tremendous use from that day but still presents wonderfully over nine decades later as one of the earliest documented home run baseballs in the hobby. This fact, and the identity of the man that sent this ball on its wild ride, makes it a piece worthy of the Baseball Hall of Fame, or of the finest game used memorabilia collections in the world. LOA from MEARS.
1914 Boston Red Sox Panoramic Photograph from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. One need only look at the staff that comprised the 1914 BoSox to gain a clear indication of just how powerful were Baker's Philadelphia Athletics of that season, which finished the season eight and a half games ahead of Speaker, Hooper and Smokey Joe Wood. The team that welcomed Babe Ruth to the Majors appears on this fantastic 8x35" image culled from the personal collection of Home Run Baker, each player identified by surname below his image, with a caption reading, "Boston 'Red Sox' American League at Fenway Park, Aug. 19, 1914." The image is as razor-sharp as it is charming, complete with a bulldog mascot and gawking fans in the brand new ballpark's stands in the background. Only at the outermost edges are there any signs of wear, a couple short vertical creases on either side and a .75" tear at the left end. The vast bulk of the photo presents as NRMT, making this certainly the finest example of the two or three such examples that could possibly still exist.
Early 1920's Babe Ruth & Frank Baker Wire Photograph from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. Though it was Baker who held the "Home Run" moniker, he was quoted in November of 1921 as saying of the Babe, "I hope he lives to hit one-hundred homers in a season. I wish him all the luck in the world. He has everybody else, including myself, hopelessly outclassed." This razor-sharp portrait of the Hall of Fame duo dates from either 1921 or 1922, the only seasons the pair shared a dugout. News service stamping is partially visible beneath the linen backing that suggests how important this image was to Baker, and it serves to minimize a 1.5" tear at the left side of the photo. Otherwise a few tiny, scattered wrinkles create the look of an EX image. Measures 6.5x8.5".
1929 Philadelphia Athletics Presentational Award. While there surely once was a similar prize in the personal collections of Jimmie Foxx, Mickey Cochrane and Lefty Grove, this mysterious sculpted sphere is the first such specimen we have ever encountered in the hobby. It comes to us from the family of Sammy Hale, who took third sacker duties that World Championship season and is also responsible for the amazing signed panoramic photograph of the '29 Athletics that appears in this auction as well. We use the word "mysterious" to describe this piece as the composition of the piece is tough to discern--it appears to be some sort of polished, iridescent stone, but it may even have a metallic content. Perhaps it is obsidian. Regardless, this weighty round ball has been crafted to the size and look of a baseball, with the team logo "A" and block lettered "S. Hale" adorning one of the panels. A small divot appears just to the left, and a hairline crack forms an equator around the ball but does not appear to threaten structural integrity. Even advanced Philadelphia Athletics collectors are likely to find themselves encountering this piece for the very first time.
1929 Philadelphia Athletics Team Signed Panoramic Photograph. Highly collectible and capable of realizing prices approaching $2,000 in its unsigned state, this glorious panorama from the collection of third baseman Sammy Hale takes on an elephantine appeal with the addition of twenty-eight autographs, representing every last man pictured, all the way down to the young mascot that kneels at center. Those familiar with the composition of this squad, prominent in any educated discussion of the all-time greatest teams, will be intimately familiar with the cast of characters: Mack, Foxx, Cochrane, Collins, Grove, Simmons, Bishop, Dykes, Earnshaw, Miller, Boley and Haas. The signature quality ranges from a perfectly respectable 4/10 to a flawless 10/10, with each entirely legible and all but a few falling quite comfortably into the 6/10 to 8/10 range. Among the Hall of Famers, only Simmons' 5/10 fails to meet that standard, while Grove surpasses it with a conservative 9/10. The photograph itself, measuring 9x31.5" in its original frame, is likewise very well preserved, with a light touch of toning at far left and a single inch-long tear at far right leaving the wide expanse in between free of flaws. An absolute dream piece for the uncompromising collector. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1950's Frank Baker Photographs Lot of 4 & Governor's Hall of Fame Letter from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection. Grouping of four NRMT 8x10" photos picture the early slugger in the golden years of his life, posing with his collection of bats, balls and trophies, talking baseball with a friend, and being honored at some sort of banquet. Though perhaps best is a copy of a letter sent by the Governor of Maryland to the publisher of The Sporting News, requesting that Baker be considered for induction in 1955, a request that did indeed come to fruition that year. This page too is NRMT.
1915 Muddy Ruel American League Player's Contract, Rookie Season, from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection. The nineteen-year old kid everyone called "Muddy" gets his big break, as his hometown St. Louis Browns offer to pay him $125 a month for his services. Appearing in only ten games, and hitless in fourteen at-bats, Ruel would be benched by the squad and would not resurface until 1917 as a member of the Yankees. As a result, artifacts from Golden Age star's days in St. Louis are essentially non-existent, and this contract surely represents the absolute pinnacle of the hypothetical surviving supply. Clearly only a tiny handful of contracts from "name players" predating 1920 exist, period, making this rookie contract all the more exceptional. Those concerned about condition need not worry, as this historic document has not aged a day since it introduced Ruel to the professional baseball world, and shows wear only the blank bat side where it was carefully removed from a scrapbook. Joining Muddy's flawless ink signature accepting the terms are that of team president Robert Hedges and, acting as a witness, Muddy's father "Geo A. Ruel." LOA from PSA/DNA.
1920's Muddy Ruel "Action" Wire Photographs Lot of 5 from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection. Fantastic selection of five shots picture this supremely talented catcher nailing runners at the plate. Note how perfectly he blocks the runners' paths! Best is a two-photo montage from a Yankees/Giants World Series that has the sliding runner missing the plate entirely as Ruel applies the tag. Size ranges from 5x7" to 8x10". Captions are removed, but news service stamping is present on some. Some photos are trimmed for editing, otherwise EX.
1920's Babe Ruth & Muddy Ruel Wire Photograph from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection. One of the most incredible Ruth images we've ever seen, picturing the Bambino sliding safely home as the man who stood behind him as he clubbed his sixtieth homer of 1927 trying to apply the tag in vain. The photo is stamped by "National Photo" on the verso and is affixed at top to a scrapbook page. Upper right corner has a small tear, but when framed the photo will present as EX-MT or better. Another wire photo is affixed to the opposite side of the scrapbook page, a VG-EX image of a rundown during the 1924 World Series. Original paper caption is affixed.
Circa 1920 New York Yankees Photographs Lot of 6 from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection. Direct from the archives of Muddy himself comes a half dozen images of the star catcher in pinstripes. All are quality first-generation vintage images, the best of which bears the stamping of noted shutterbug Charles M. Conlon on verso. Three photos are affixed to a pair of scrapbook pages, but could be easily removed if desired. Condition ranges from a technical (but much better looking) VG to EX-MT, though all could be matted and framed to great effect. Size ranges from 4.75x6.75" to 6.75x10", with most on the largest end of that scale.
1924 Washington Senators Large Photograph from from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection. Enormous (12x20") photograph pictures the team that brought the first and only World Championship to the District of Columbia, coming to us direct from the estate of the man who scored the Game Seven-winning run that sealed the deal. The heroic Muddy Ruel is pictured in this posed image with such fellow legends as Walter Johnson, Bucky Harris, Sam Rice and Goose Goslin. The photograph has been rolled for decades, and at some point crushed, which has left several hard vertical creases on the image. A skilled conservationist could surely remedy these imperfections quite simply, though even a simple framing job would do wonders and leave the piece in wonderfully displayable condition.
1920's-40's Muddy Ruel & Walter Johnson Wire Photographs Lot of 3 from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection. Muddy and the Big Train's friendship extended well beyond their association as the Senators' most effective battery. Trio of wire photos capture: 1) Circa 1924 Senators posed shot. 7x9", EX-MT. 2) Early 1940's posed shot with Ruel in uniform, Johnson in civilian clothing. 7x9", EX. 3) 1946 Johnson funeral procession with Ruel as pallbearer. 6.5x8.5", EX.
1924 World Series Program (Washington) from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection. Walter Johnson finally tastes World Championship glory! Official scorecard is a compelling relic from the Senators' only World Series victory, with only mild edge and spine wear and touches of foxing on rear cover to bear witness to eight decades of life. Clearly Muddy Ruel, who scored the Series-winning run in the bottom of Game Seven's twelfth inning, took great care to ensure that this publication would be well protected. Interior pages are overwhelmingly NRMT, with the exception of one page which has a border chip as a result of a mechanical malfunction in the printing process. Without question one of the finest surviving examples, and given this specimen's provenance, arguably the single most desirable one.
1924 World Series Program (New York) from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection. From the man who scored the Series-winning run this glorious October comes a well-loved copy of the program sold to fans at the New York Giants' Polo Grounds home. Wear is clearly evident in the vintage tape repair of the spine and what appears to be a coffee stain on the cover that affects the first several inner pages as well. Center score sheets are unmarked. Clearly not the most pristine example in the hobby, but just try to find one with a more appealing heritage.
1924 Muddy Ruel Game Worn Tour of Europe Uniform from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection. It's among the most exceptional pre-war flannels to reach the auction block in recent memory, believed to be one of only two White Sox uniforms from the historic 1924 Goodwill Tour of Europe extant. But while fellow Washington Senator Sam Rice's identical full uniform has found a permanent home in the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, this exceptional rarity will soon become the private holding of a discerning uniform collector. As is every piece offered under the heading of "The Muddy Ruel Collection," this jersey and matching pants are consigned directly by Muddy's son, and are offered for the very first time to the collecting public.
Baseball statisticians will instantly note that Ruel never actually played for the Chicago White Sox, the team represented by the offered uniform. After all, Ruel was the big star of the Washington Senators that season, plating the Game Seven run that earned Walter Johnson and the District of Columbia their only World Championship. But Muddy, by virtue of his superior skills and his heroic turn in October, and his teammate Rice, a future Hall of Famer, were offered positions with the team when members of the Sox opted out of the transatlantic journey. Interestingly, both the daughter of Rice and the son of Ruel have confirmed that the White Sox Tour of Europe uniforms were the only ones their fathers kept from their playing days, almost certainly because it represented the only time that the club did not collect each player's gamers at the close of a season. Though, of course, one could also reasonably surmise that the exceptional beauty and historic nature of the uniforms would prompt the pair to hold on to these fantastic keepsakes.
Though not as widely known as the Tour of Japan that would bring Ruth, Gehrig and the gang to the Far East a decade later, the Goodwill Tour of Europe was tremendous baseball news at the time, featuring a cast of characters swimming with Hall of Fame credentials. Representing the opposing New York Giants were the managers John McGraw and Hughie Jennings, future manager Casey Stengel, Hack Wilson, Frank Frisch and Travis Jackson, while the White Sox boasted owner Charles Comiskey, manager John Evers, Sam Rice, Red Faber, Eddie Collins and Ted Lyons. So when it came time to pick a catcher to replace an absent Buck Crouse of the White Sox, the club sought out the best backstop in the American League at the time, Herold "Muddy" Ruel.
The heavy wool flannel uniform issued to the superstar "ringer" is of the utmost quality and aesthetic appeal, simply one of the most gorgeous ever to be worn on the baseball diamond, foreign or domestic. The jersey front offers a red and navy felt lettered "Chicago," utilizing the full city name and Old English font not seen on White Sox jerseys since the club moved exclusively to the "Sox" over the heart for both homes and roads in 1917. While, coincidentally, the club did dabble with patriotic coloring for the jerseys worn in the World Series of 1917, it should be likewise noted that the red, white and blue also represents a serious departure from any style used by the club, though the reasoning for the choice of this color palette in the context of the Tour is obvious. The pullover-style offers a four-button front, topped by a cadet collar with blue and red piping and a small and fantastic red and blue star on each side of the button. Though perhaps most glorious of all design features are the simply sensational American flag patches on each sleeve, constructed entirely of four colors of hand-cut felt. A "Spalding" label is sewn inside the collar, below which is a machine stamped swatch reading "Chicago, Ruel 40." Finally, a black thread embroidered "Ruel" is located in the rear tail.
The matching pants continue in the same dramatic vein, with red and blue piping matching that of the jersey's collar and sleeve cuffs running the lengths of the outseams. Some very light rust toning at the waistband clasp is hardly worth mentioning, and is not visible upon display. Again we find the "Spalding" label inside the waistband, with a similar machine stamped tag to the jersey's, reading "Chicago Ruel 36." The button path of the fly holds an embroidered "Ruel" identical to that in the jersey tail.
Wear is appropriately light, and careful storage of the jersey in the Ruel family for eight decades has left it in unimaginably perfect NM-MT condition. And as if the news could get any better, accompanying the lot is a second-generation 8x10" photograph of Ruel wearing this uniform as he bows slightly and shakes the hand of England's King George V. The authenticators, having seen it all, unhesitatingly pronounced it one of the most special pieces they've ever handled, calling it "unimprovable." The grade echoes their sentiments. MEARS A10. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Baseball statisticians will instantly note that Ruel never actually played for the Chicago White Sox, the team represented by the offered uniform. After all, Ruel was the big star of the Washington Senators that season, plating the Game Seven run that earned Walter Johnson and the District of Columbia their only World Championship. But Muddy, by virtue of his superior skills and his heroic turn in October, and his teammate Rice, a future Hall of Famer, were offered positions with the team when members of the Sox opted out of the transatlantic journey. Interestingly, both the daughter of Rice and the son of Ruel have confirmed that the White Sox Tour of Europe uniforms were the only ones their fathers kept from their playing days, almost certainly because it represented the only time that the club did not collect each player's gamers at the close of a season. Though, of course, one could also reasonably surmise that the exceptional beauty and historic nature of the uniforms would prompt the pair to hold on to these fantastic keepsakes.
Though not as widely known as the Tour of Japan that would bring Ruth, Gehrig and the gang to the Far East a decade later, the Goodwill Tour of Europe was tremendous baseball news at the time, featuring a cast of characters swimming with Hall of Fame credentials. Representing the opposing New York Giants were the managers John McGraw and Hughie Jennings, future manager Casey Stengel, Hack Wilson, Frank Frisch and Travis Jackson, while the White Sox boasted owner Charles Comiskey, manager John Evers, Sam Rice, Red Faber, Eddie Collins and Ted Lyons. So when it came time to pick a catcher to replace an absent Buck Crouse of the White Sox, the club sought out the best backstop in the American League at the time, Herold "Muddy" Ruel.
The heavy wool flannel uniform issued to the superstar "ringer" is of the utmost quality and aesthetic appeal, simply one of the most gorgeous ever to be worn on the baseball diamond, foreign or domestic. The jersey front offers a red and navy felt lettered "Chicago," utilizing the full city name and Old English font not seen on White Sox jerseys since the club moved exclusively to the "Sox" over the heart for both homes and roads in 1917. While, coincidentally, the club did dabble with patriotic coloring for the jerseys worn in the World Series of 1917, it should be likewise noted that the red, white and blue also represents a serious departure from any style used by the club, though the reasoning for the choice of this color palette in the context of the Tour is obvious. The pullover-style offers a four-button front, topped by a cadet collar with blue and red piping and a small and fantastic red and blue star on each side of the button. Though perhaps most glorious of all design features are the simply sensational American flag patches on each sleeve, constructed entirely of four colors of hand-cut felt. A "Spalding" label is sewn inside the collar, below which is a machine stamped swatch reading "Chicago, Ruel 40." Finally, a black thread embroidered "Ruel" is located in the rear tail.
The matching pants continue in the same dramatic vein, with red and blue piping matching that of the jersey's collar and sleeve cuffs running the lengths of the outseams. Some very light rust toning at the waistband clasp is hardly worth mentioning, and is not visible upon display. Again we find the "Spalding" label inside the waistband, with a similar machine stamped tag to the jersey's, reading "Chicago Ruel 36." The button path of the fly holds an embroidered "Ruel" identical to that in the jersey tail.
Wear is appropriately light, and careful storage of the jersey in the Ruel family for eight decades has left it in unimaginably perfect NM-MT condition. And as if the news could get any better, accompanying the lot is a second-generation 8x10" photograph of Ruel wearing this uniform as he bows slightly and shakes the hand of England's King George V. The authenticators, having seen it all, unhesitatingly pronounced it one of the most special pieces they've ever handled, calling it "unimprovable." The grade echoes their sentiments. MEARS A10. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1924 Muddy Ruel Game Worn Tour of Europe Sweater from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection. Absolutely exceptional specimen is the companion piece to Ruel's full Chicago White Sox uniform worn in service of the team during this historic Tour. And, in similar fashion, the gorgeous wool cardigan-style sweater remains in tremendous NM-MT condition, without a single noteworthy flaw daring to challenge the beauty of this important artifact. The maroon body of the sweater is punctuated by dark royal blue trim in patriotic fashion, with a seven-button front (not including three smaller buttons at the throat to cinch the collar high on the neck if desired). The sleeve cuffs are also constructed in blue, a color that is likewise found in the piping that trims the two front pockets along with a similar band in white. "Chicago" appears over the heart in 1.5" high white felt lettering, copying the same font style apparent on the jersey front from the tour. Note that the letter "H" in "Chicago" bears a vintage ink "M R" to identify it to its former owner. The classic "Sox" used in the team's jersey design as early as 1912 appears below. The left sleeve offers perhaps the most thrilling component of all, the gorgeous stars and bars shield that came to characterize the Tour. Constructed of tri-color felt, the patch shows only a couple of tiny imperfections only noticeable upon very close inspection, certainly nothing that detracts at all from the tremendous visual appeal. Inside the collar is a simple black tag reading "A.G. Spalding & Bros.," remembering the Hall of Fame legend responsible for the first Baseball Tour of Europe and an early pitching star, manager and president of the Chicago American League team. Lauded by the authenticators at MEARS as "absolutely perfect," this remarkable and exceptionally scarce artifact is appropriate for only the most serious and advanced uniform collectors. MEARS Authentic. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1925 World Series Program from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection. The Senators were unable to repeat as World Champs this season, but just taking two American League flags from Ruth, Gehrig and the boys was a monumental accomplishment. This tough publication is made all the more scarce by the rather frail paper stock of which is it composed, and while the cover page shows chipping and some staining, and has come loose despite vintage tape reinforcement, just finding a complete specimen is cause for celebration. Taking the cover page out of consideration, the balance of the pages is overwhelmingly EX-MT or better, and offers some terrific photographic imagery of the ballclub representing our nation's capital at the height of the Roaring Twenties. Center scorecard is unmarked. Letter of provenance from Muddy Ruel's son.
1925 Banquet Program & 1932 Exhibition Program from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection. Never before seen pair of artifacts from Ruel's storage locker is highlighted by a dinner menu/program issued for the celebration of the Senators' second straight American League pennant, clinched just four days earlier when the Philadelphia Athletics were mathematically eliminated from contention. American League MVP Roger Peckinpaugh poses atop a battered elephant on the cover, beside the phrase "Bring on th' Pirates for dessert." The elegant twenty-page booklet offers great individual and team photos inside, along with a dinner menu and listing of attendees. Just the mildest amount of wear is present, with a few areas of minor staining and a broken but still attached ribbon at the solid and stapled binding. Also here is an unscored program for an exhibition game between the current 1932 Senators and the 1924 Champs. Heavy horizontal center crease from having been folded, otherwise very strong.
1927 Hunting Trip with Babe Ruth Snapshots Lot of 6 from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection. After calling the pitch that the Babe clubbed for his sixtieth in 1927, Muddy signaled that there were no hard feelings by joining the triumphant Yankee on a winter hunting trip in Canada. Six snapshots (each 4x5") from that trip are affixed to a scrapbook page, with Ruth, sporting three days of beard growth, in all but one of them. We are unsure of the identities of the other gentlemen pictured, but they are almost assuredly fellow ballplayers as well. All remain in terrific condition, with only the Ruth-free photo (this one picturing Muddy himself) showing any hint of damage in the form of a half-inch chip at the lower right corner. Some fascinating one of a kind images of the game's greatest player, snapped just after his most storied season.
1927 Muddy Ruel "The All America Team" Presentational Certificate Signed by Babe Ruth from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection. An absolutely exceptional piece, bursting at the seams with historical significance. Muddy and the Babe are linked in baseball eternity by the famous photographic image of Ruth clouting his sixtieth home run as Ruel rises behind him to watch it sail into the record books, and once again by this remarkable certificate that embodies the tremendous respect the Babe had for Ruel's abilities behind the plate. Dating from only weeks after the Babe's legendary long ball dropped into the cheap seats, this elegantly crafted document names Ruel as Ruth's personal choice for the top catcher in the Major Leagues, besting even such competitors for the title as Hall of Fame icons Mickey Cochrane and Gabby Hartnett. Ten signatures endorsing the bestowal of this great honor appear at the bottom of the document, most notably that of Babe Ruth himself, whose monumental 9/10 ink signature is a treasure on any medium, much less on a presentational certificate to this man during this season. Short of the slightest hint of foxing at the bottom border, the certificate remains in exceptionally strong condition, housed to this day in the original frame (15x20") that once hung on Ruel's wall. We imagine this piece taking a position of great honor in an advanced collector's trophy room, hung beside a poster-sized image of the pair at the plate at Yankee Stadium on that early fall day, 1927. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1930 Washington Senators Large Photograph from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection. Another sizeable (10x20") photographic treasure from the personal collection of the team's star backstop. Again the legendary Big Train appears at center, with Ruel, Joe Cronin and Sam Rice posing for the photographer's lens as well. Far superior in condition to the 1924 offering, this piece confines the vast majority of its mild wear to the borders and outermost edges. A small tear at upper left does barely breach the image area, as do a few minor wrinkles, but when matted and framed these concerns will be essentially negated. A fine, crystal-clear panorama.
1936 Chicago White Sox Panoramic Photograph from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection. Forty years old and two seasons retired from playing, Muddy turned his considerable baseball skills toward more cerebral pursuits, using his wisdom rather than his skilled throwing arm to win games. Coach Ruel poses with Ted Lyons, Monty Stratton and the gang in this 8x35" image at the Pittsburgh Pirates' Perris Hill Ball Park training facilities in San Bernardino, California. A five-inch tear at far right crosses Muddy's image and his two neighbors to his right, but the photo is otherwise quite strong, with only a few moderate vertical wrinkles caused by the rolled image being crushed at some point. Matting and framing should leave this latter concern all but invisible.
1931 Tour of Japan Photographs Lot of 4 from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection. Larrupin' Lou Gehrig is the big star in this quartet of photographs snapped on this lesser documented (and therefore more difficult for collectors) Tour of Japan. The celebrities don't end there however, as Mickey Cochrane, Frank Frisch, Lefty Grove, Rabbit Maranville and Al Simmons are among the other Hall of Famers present. Muddy himself, of course, makes a couple of appearances too. A great photo (7x9") of Muddy with Gehrig, Cochrane, Maranville, Simmons and more has a handwritten notation at upper left that reads, rather cryptically, "The 'Seven Mules' -- In other words, 'The Unholy Seven.'" A pair of 4x6" photos are affixed to opposing sides of a scrapbook page, while the third of that approximate size, picturing Gehrig trying to operate chopsticks, shows remnants of a scrapbook page on verso. All present as EX-MT or better.
Circa 1910's Baseball Full Uniform in Carrying Bag. An intriguing look into the traveling life of a semi-pro ballplayer. This unique satchel was once the personal possession of Richard Cole, centerfielder for the Iowa Hawkeyes for the incredible span of twenty-seven seasons. Uniquely designed, the canvas bag with "Spalding" tagging unrolls to expose a heavy wool flannel jersey with Cole's name sewn in felt across the chest. Also here are the pants, the cap and the woolen stirrups, all as they were left after Cole's last game. In a belted pocket is a pair of well worn spikes and an ancient jock. Condition of all pieces is particularly strong, with any wear clearly from game action rather than the perils of age. Loaded with the charm of the early game, and perfect for display.
1929-30 Syl Johnson Game Worn Uniform. A nineteen-year veteran of the Big Leagues, Johnson's career was plagued by injury, as line drives broke his cheekbone, ribs, big toe, and three fingers on his pitching hand. The starter and workhorse reliever did have six consecutive healthy seasons from 1928 to 1933, a time that accounted for almost half of his career wins, and during which he appeared in three Cardinals World Series. Though this full uniform dates from this period of relative health, it appears that a line drive did find Johnson while he was wearing this incredible home white flannel uniform, as the lower front of the jersey exhibits a rather significant spattering of blood. The jersey presents beautifully despite this rather gruesome battlefield stain, with classic birds and bat logo and "Cardinals" in chenille on the chest, and a felt sleeve patch that has bled slightly. Light but definite wear. "Sainz" label inside collar, a local St. Louis sporting wear manufacturer. Jersey was sourced with matching pants that identify the former owner with "S. Johnson" sewn into button path of fly. Heavy wear evident particularly in patching of knees. Some incidental rust staining at waist is from the metal clasp, and the mate to the clasp has since been lost, though these flaws will not be visible upon display. A tough two-year style, losing a point only for the blood staining, which many will see as a positive attribute. MEARS A9. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1935 Chuck Klein Game Worn Jersey. Chicago Cubs fans have been trained through decades of crushing disappointment never to expect miracles when it comes to their beloved ballclub. But the closest thing to a miracle since the days of Tinkers, Evers and Chance did in fact happen the year that Hall of Famer Chuck Klein suited up in this road grey jersey. Locked in a head to head pennant race with the St. Louis Cardinals on September second, the Cubbies proceeded to win the next twenty-one straight games, establishing a winning streak record that has never been equaled. And by a margin of four games, and for the second to last time in history, the Chicago Cubs were National League Champions.
Proudly presented here is one of only a handful of jerseys known to exist from that historic season, worn by the club's greatest home run threat and the 1933 winner of the coveted Triple Crown. The heavy road grey wool flannel was, unbelievably, a hand-me-down to a Chicago area industrial team, who stripped the "Chicago" from the chest but left the jersey otherwise unaltered. Klein's original number "4" on the verso remains unmoved from its original application at the start of the heroic '35 season, as do the embroidered "Klein" beside the "Spalding" label inside the collar, and the number "35" chain stitched in similar fashion in the rear tail. The body style is a pullover with four-button front, with matching blue and red piping at the collar and sleeve cuffs. The fabric that comprises the body of the shirt remains free of any noteworthy damage, offering wear described by the authenticators as "moderate." The shadow of the removed city name is still quite visible upon the chest, and if the winning bidder is interested in restoration, we can direct him or her to an expert capable of returning the piece to the spitting image of its former self. It is only due to the loss of this team identifier that the jersey does not receive a perfect rating, losing five points for a final grade of MEARS A5. Should the winning bidder choose to have the CHICAGO professionally restored, it would increase the MEARS grade to A8. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Proudly presented here is one of only a handful of jerseys known to exist from that historic season, worn by the club's greatest home run threat and the 1933 winner of the coveted Triple Crown. The heavy road grey wool flannel was, unbelievably, a hand-me-down to a Chicago area industrial team, who stripped the "Chicago" from the chest but left the jersey otherwise unaltered. Klein's original number "4" on the verso remains unmoved from its original application at the start of the heroic '35 season, as do the embroidered "Klein" beside the "Spalding" label inside the collar, and the number "35" chain stitched in similar fashion in the rear tail. The body style is a pullover with four-button front, with matching blue and red piping at the collar and sleeve cuffs. The fabric that comprises the body of the shirt remains free of any noteworthy damage, offering wear described by the authenticators as "moderate." The shadow of the removed city name is still quite visible upon the chest, and if the winning bidder is interested in restoration, we can direct him or her to an expert capable of returning the piece to the spitting image of its former self. It is only due to the loss of this team identifier that the jersey does not receive a perfect rating, losing five points for a final grade of MEARS A5. Should the winning bidder choose to have the CHICAGO professionally restored, it would increase the MEARS grade to A8. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1956 Randy Jackson Game Worn Uniform. The glorious Brooklyn Dodgers home flannel, coveted by thousands, owned by few. Here we present a gorgeous representation from this teammate of Jackie, Campy, Pee Wee and the Duke, a full uniform worn at Ebbets Field's hot corner by "Handsome Ransom" Jackson. Crafted from pillow-soft white flannel, the jersey body is affixed with the classic blue felt "Dodgers" script on the chest with a red number "2" below, a digit that is repeated on verso in blue. Below the "Spalding [size] 42" tagging in the left front tail appears a blue chain stitched "Jackson" identifier, followed by a strong black ink signature from the jersey's former owner. Interior tail has a straight-stitched washing instructions tag with an affixed flap tag reading "Set 1 1956." The matching pants have the "Set 1 1956" flap tag dangling from below the "Spalding" label, which rests above an embroidered swatch reading "Jackson 56." At left and right of the manufacturer's tag are washing instructions and a size "34" tag respectively. The uniform is in spectacular condition despite its fifty years of existence, with only a small scattering of barely visible light stains and tiny moth holes, nothing that is instantly noticeable upon display. It was worn in the 1956 World Series, best remembered for Don Larsen's perfect game, and was also used in a Tour of Japan after the Series. After the return to his native Georgia from Japan, Jackson kept the uniform, which is the principle reason for its fantastic condition and the fact that it was retained at all. A letter of provenance from Jackson himself attests to this special history. An incredible offering from this honored member of the Brooklyn Dodgers Hall of Fame. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Mid-1950's Yogi Berra Game Worn Catcher's Mitt. As tough as Hall of Fame jerseys are to locate and acquire, the game used glove or mitt has always been considerably more difficult. The reasoning is simple to understand. The attachment between a Big League ballplayer and his mitt is a visceral thing. Whereas most see uniforms as inconsequential, nothing more than mere clothing, the glove is an instrument of the trade, a constant companion, a friend. Bats get cracked, uniforms are torn or outdated, but the glove only improves with age, and remains the least likely game used piece with which any ballplayer is likely to part. Thankfully for one lucky Heritage bidder, the great New York Yankees catcher did indeed part with this "Spalding 1413" model mitt at some point in the early 1960's, giving it to his buddy Mickey Mantle for display at his fellow Hall of Famer's Holiday Inn hotel in Joplin, Missouri. It was later transferred for display to another Holiday Inn in which Mantle was an investor, this hotel in Baxter Spring, Kansas. When this location was either closed or sold, Mantle's mentor and co-investor Harold Youngman donated the glove to the town's Little League Museum in the early 1980's before finally being purchased from that location about ten years ago.
The mitt shows strong use from its days of Yankee action, and one can only imagine what historic games it saw. The mid-1950's, the era from which this mitt derives (this model appearing first in the 1954 catalog as a Bill Dickey model), was filled with pinstriped glory, from pennants to World Championships to a perfect game! We can make no claims about this glove's specific use in historic games, but odds are strong that any mitt from this era would have seen Championship action. Speaking to the physical specifics of the mitt, we begin with the "Larry Yogi Berra" facsimile signature stamped into the heel below the pocket. The model number appears above the pocket, with "Professional Model" stamped at the three o'clock position. "Form Pocket" and "E-Z Flex" are stamped in the use-darkened pocket of the mitt. A "Spalding" patch remains stitched to the right side of the wrist guard on the back. All in all, a picture perfect example of the glove with which the stocky Yankee backstop earned a piece of immortality. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Joe Phillips.
The mitt shows strong use from its days of Yankee action, and one can only imagine what historic games it saw. The mid-1950's, the era from which this mitt derives (this model appearing first in the 1954 catalog as a Bill Dickey model), was filled with pinstriped glory, from pennants to World Championships to a perfect game! We can make no claims about this glove's specific use in historic games, but odds are strong that any mitt from this era would have seen Championship action. Speaking to the physical specifics of the mitt, we begin with the "Larry Yogi Berra" facsimile signature stamped into the heel below the pocket. The model number appears above the pocket, with "Professional Model" stamped at the three o'clock position. "Form Pocket" and "E-Z Flex" are stamped in the use-darkened pocket of the mitt. A "Spalding" patch remains stitched to the right side of the wrist guard on the back. All in all, a picture perfect example of the glove with which the stocky Yankee backstop earned a piece of immortality. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Joe Phillips.
1958-59 Nellie Fox Game Worn Glove. This little glove was as good as Gold for the Hall of Fame second baseman, who sported it during the era of his American League M.V.P. season. Nobody was more "automatic" than the sly Fox in the late 1950's, as he posted fielding percentages that saw him flawless ninety-nine times out of one hundred, earning him the prestigious Gold Glove in '59. We must also note that 1959 was a pennant year for the ChiSox, furthering the argument that we offer here the finest Fox leather on earth. The Wilson A2050 shows excellent wear throughout, with Nellie's name imprinted on the pinky above the words "Personal Model." The trail of provenance follows this glove from Fox' left hand to Yankee third baseman Andy Carey, who then made a gift of the Cooperstown-quality artifact to Chicago deep-dish pizza founder Lou Malnati. As a Louisville Slugger bat is to the Babe, this Wilson fielder's glove is truly an instrument of greatness. LOA from MEARS.
1959 Boston Red Sox Game Worn Jersey, Number 18. The seventh of eight seasons on the Fenway mound for the All-Star pitcher Frank Sullivan. This classic home white flannel offers the Old English style "Red Sox" in a gentle arc across the chest, with number "18" in red and navy felt on verso. Tail has "Tim McAuliffe" label with "'59" year and "48 L" size tags below. Oddly, the underarm areas of this jersey appear to have never been attached, leaving perfectly tailored empty holes in their place--apparently a custom request on the pitcher's part. One of eight offered Boston Red Sox flannels rescued from the club's Winter Haven, Florida spring training grounds by a Cypress Gardens theme park water skier. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1959 Boston Red Sox Game Worn Jersey, Number 30. Home white flannel exhibits nice wear from either outfielder "Big Bill" Renna, or pitcher Al Schroll, who was traded to the Cubs for home run hero Bobby Thomson after the close of the 1959 season. "Red Sox" arches across the chest in red and navy felt, with number "30" on verso. Tail has "Tim McAuliffe" label with "'59" year and "48" size tags below. One of eight offered Boston Red Sox flannels rescued from the club's Winter Haven, Florida spring training grounds by a Cypress Gardens theme park water skier. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1960 Boston Red Sox Game Worn Jersey, Number 5. Most likely worn by six-foot seven inch, 225-pound first baseman Ron Jackson due to the large size of this shirt, though manager Pinky Higgins also wore number "5" this season after Jackson's departure from the team mid-season. This classic home white flannel offers the instantly recognizable "Red Sox" arching across the chest, with number "5" in red and navy felt on verso. Tail has "Tim McAuliffe" label with "'60" year tag, though size tag is missing. Very minimal spotting on chest. Light but definite wear. One of eight offered Boston Red Sox flannels rescued from the club's Winter Haven, Florida spring training grounds by a Cypress Gardens theme park water skier. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Circa 1960 Boston Red Sox Game Worn Jersey, Number 26. Removed year and size tags keep us from making a definitive statement about the former owner's identity, but this home white Red Sox flannel would have seen use on the mound by either Murray Wall (1957-59) or Earl Wilson (1959-66). Very strong wear suggests the possibility of multiple seasons of wear. Team nickname spans the chest in red and navy felt, with number "26" sewn to verso. One of eight offered Boston Red Sox flannels rescued from the club's Winter Haven, Florida spring training grounds by a Cypress Gardens theme park water skier. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1960 Ted Williams Game Worn Jersey. Like a classic Hollywood film, the career of the legendary Ted Williams ended, on Wednesday, September 28, 1960, with a glorious last burst of greatness. No longer The Kid anymore, Williams' relationship with the Fenway fanatics had grown ever more combative as his Hall of Fame skills diminished from years of tough play and tours of combat in two wars. His numbers, amazing by any other standard, fell short of what was expected from a man capable of hitting for power and average unlike anyone the game had ever seen. But in his final at-bat, the legend reminded the crowd assembled at the venerable Boston ballpark that he still was, and always would be, the greatest hitter that ever lived. An instant after Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jack Fisher delivered a one and one pitch in the bottom of the eighth, the Splendid Splinter connected with a tremendous crack of his bat, depositing the ball into the right center field seats behind the Boston bullpen, four hundred fifty feet away. Williams did not tip his hat as he rounded the bases to the roaring ovation, nor did he step from the dugout as the crowd called his name. A substitute was sent into the field for Ted in the ninth. And with that, one of the greatest careers in the history of the sport of baseball is over.
While we are certainly not presenting this historic flannel as the one that the Red Sox icon was wearing as he clubbed the last of his 521 home runs on the final day of his playing career, we likewise cannot state definitively that it is not. It's just one component in the incredible appeal of this jersey, that there is the distinct possibility that it rode the powerful shoulders of this supreme baseball legend around the diamond at Fenway for the very last time. Clearly the importance of this piece is tremendous even in the absence of an answer to this question, as is the importance of any game worn artifact consecrated by the touch of Ted. The heroic number "9" on the verso, never to be worn in Boston again, strikes a deep chord with any baseball fan, Red Sox or otherwise.
Speaking to the specifics of the piece itself, we begin with the classic red on midnight navy felt that makes up the classic Old English "Red Sox" arching gently across the chest, and that unforgettable number "9" on verso. Red piping surrounds each sleeve end and also runs a dual course of the entire neckline and the button path. Two points of interest germane to authenticity determinants of this jersey as a Williams gamer should be stressed in the analysis of the jersey body:
1. The sleeves are cut extremely short which was the preferred style by Williams throughout much of his career. The underarm gusset seams on this jersey are stout and factory customized. In turn, the undersleeve and shoulder panel girth both are significantly smaller than normally found on a size 48 jersey. This, in fact, was a Williams customization feature.
2. Williams stood 6'3" and weighed over 220 at the end of his career. Williams wore a late career size 48 (he was predominantly 44 in the 40's and 46 in the 50's), and this jersey has at least 4-5" extra length. Most well documented Williams' gamers dating back to the 1940's had significant extra length. In the group of Red Sox 60's jerseys which were sourced with this Williams, standard size 48's were 29" in length. Another "extra length" size 48 belonging to Haywood Sullivan was 31" and this Williams was 34" in length, apropos for his gamers.
It should be noted that the numeral is straight stitch affixed and its interior stitching pattern matches that of the jersey front (R-E-D S-O-X) identifier. The interior stitching has been reinforced in a 2-1/4" vertical area on the right side of the nine and an inch section of the top of the horizontally dominant enclosed rectangle that forms the top of the nine. There are three other sub 1/8" reinforcing threads but the remainder of the approximately 36" of circumference thread is intact and original. In total, about 9% of the affixing has been reinforced, leaving over 90% intact. The reinforcing thread appears to be period or shortly thereafter, and it probably accounts for the slight irregularity on the outer felt lines. In fact, it is quite consistent with most two-color, all felt, numeric identifiers from the era.
The lower left front tail sports the Tim McAuliffe principle label with two additional designators, a size label (48) and a year label Swiss embroidered in red color ('60). Of note is the fact that the size label is small and this style was used back in the '40's and early '50's as both a size designator as well as a 1940 year designator. All are intact, unaltered and original.
Overall, a solid Ted Williams home flannel from his final season with the requisite extra length and shortened sleeve customization features. The reinforced back numeral does not affect the jersey's authenticity, although it would put it into the category of having a "slight" team instituted alteration, probably at the minor league level in the ensuing seasons. LOA from Lou Lampson.
While we are certainly not presenting this historic flannel as the one that the Red Sox icon was wearing as he clubbed the last of his 521 home runs on the final day of his playing career, we likewise cannot state definitively that it is not. It's just one component in the incredible appeal of this jersey, that there is the distinct possibility that it rode the powerful shoulders of this supreme baseball legend around the diamond at Fenway for the very last time. Clearly the importance of this piece is tremendous even in the absence of an answer to this question, as is the importance of any game worn artifact consecrated by the touch of Ted. The heroic number "9" on the verso, never to be worn in Boston again, strikes a deep chord with any baseball fan, Red Sox or otherwise.
Speaking to the specifics of the piece itself, we begin with the classic red on midnight navy felt that makes up the classic Old English "Red Sox" arching gently across the chest, and that unforgettable number "9" on verso. Red piping surrounds each sleeve end and also runs a dual course of the entire neckline and the button path. Two points of interest germane to authenticity determinants of this jersey as a Williams gamer should be stressed in the analysis of the jersey body:
1. The sleeves are cut extremely short which was the preferred style by Williams throughout much of his career. The underarm gusset seams on this jersey are stout and factory customized. In turn, the undersleeve and shoulder panel girth both are significantly smaller than normally found on a size 48 jersey. This, in fact, was a Williams customization feature.
2. Williams stood 6'3" and weighed over 220 at the end of his career. Williams wore a late career size 48 (he was predominantly 44 in the 40's and 46 in the 50's), and this jersey has at least 4-5" extra length. Most well documented Williams' gamers dating back to the 1940's had significant extra length. In the group of Red Sox 60's jerseys which were sourced with this Williams, standard size 48's were 29" in length. Another "extra length" size 48 belonging to Haywood Sullivan was 31" and this Williams was 34" in length, apropos for his gamers.
It should be noted that the numeral is straight stitch affixed and its interior stitching pattern matches that of the jersey front (R-E-D S-O-X) identifier. The interior stitching has been reinforced in a 2-1/4" vertical area on the right side of the nine and an inch section of the top of the horizontally dominant enclosed rectangle that forms the top of the nine. There are three other sub 1/8" reinforcing threads but the remainder of the approximately 36" of circumference thread is intact and original. In total, about 9% of the affixing has been reinforced, leaving over 90% intact. The reinforcing thread appears to be period or shortly thereafter, and it probably accounts for the slight irregularity on the outer felt lines. In fact, it is quite consistent with most two-color, all felt, numeric identifiers from the era.
The lower left front tail sports the Tim McAuliffe principle label with two additional designators, a size label (48) and a year label Swiss embroidered in red color ('60). Of note is the fact that the size label is small and this style was used back in the '40's and early '50's as both a size designator as well as a 1940 year designator. All are intact, unaltered and original.
Overall, a solid Ted Williams home flannel from his final season with the requisite extra length and shortened sleeve customization features. The reinforced back numeral does not affect the jersey's authenticity, although it would put it into the category of having a "slight" team instituted alteration, probably at the minor league level in the ensuing seasons. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1960 Boston Red Sox Game Worn Jersey, Number 30. Great catcher's wear is particularly evident where the chest protector straps crossed the red and navy felt number "30" on the back of this home white flannel worn by Haywood Sullivan, who appeared behind the plate in fifty games this season. Classic "Red Sox" font crosses the chest. Tail has "Tim McAuliffe" label with "'60" year and "48" size tags below. One of eight offered Boston Red Sox flannels rescued from the club's Winter Haven, Florida spring training grounds by a Cypress Gardens theme park water skier. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1962 Boston Red Sox Game Worn Jersey, Number 33. Perhaps best remembered for pitching eight innings for the New York Giants in the game that would come to be immortalized by Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'round the World," Sal the Barber took up with the BoSox in a coaching capacity following the close of his ten-season playing career. The home white flannel offers classic "Red Sox" in red and navy felt on chest, with number "33" appearing on verso. Tail has "Tim McAuliffe" label with "'62" year and "48" size tags below. Appropriate wear for a coach's jersey. One of eight offered Boston Red Sox flannels rescued from the club's Winter Haven, Florida spring training grounds by a Cypress Gardens theme park water skier. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1963 Boston Red Sox Game Worn Jersey, Number 33. The former Cincinnati Reds catcher Al Lakeman suited up in this home white flannel in a coaching role for the '63 season. Old English "Red Sox" arches across chest in the same red and navy felt that makes up the number "33" on verso. Tail has "Tim McAuliffe" label with "'63" year and "48" size tags below. Appropriate wear for a coach's jersey. One of eight offered Boston Red Sox flannels rescued from the club's Winter Haven, Florida spring training grounds by a Cypress Gardens theme park water skier. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1965 Al Ferrara Game Worn Jersey. Though "The Bull," who grew up as a fan of the Dodgers in the Brooklyn of his childhood, did not see action during the season of 1964, the nice wear on this home white flannel leads us to conclude that the jersey was recycled for the 1965 season. It is listed as a '65 gamer for that reason. "Dodgers 20" appears in classic blue and red felt on the chest, with number "20" repeated on the verso. "Spalding [size] 44" labeling and an embroidered "Ferrara 64" appear on the outside of the front left tail, while inside is found a washing instructions label with "Set 1 1964" flap tag affixed. A few inconsequential moth holes are present in the blue felt on front and verso, doing very little to hinder eye appeal. A solid representation of a jersey almost certainly worn during the Dodger's World Championship season. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1965 Bob Miller Game Worn Jersey. A World Championship season gamer from the talented right-handed reliever that closed out games for guys like Koufax, Drysdale and Podres. Terrific wear is to be expected, as Miller took the mound in sixty-one regular season games, and twice in the '65 World Series. "Dodgers 15" appears in classic blue and red felt on the chest, with the numeral showing some surface loss. Number "15" is repeated on the verso in blue. "Tim McAuliffe" label is stacked upon "'65" and "42" tags, denoting year of issue and size respectively. An embroidered swatch below spells "Miller" in blue chain stitched thread. Losing points only due to the damage to the front numerals, the jersey has been deemed a solid A7 by SCD Authentic. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1965 Los Angeles Dodgers Game Worn Uniform. A middle reliever who took over the mound when guys like Koufax and Drysdale got into trouble, Howie "Diz" Reed suited up in this road grey flannel Los Angeles Dodgers jersey during the amazing 1965 World Championship season. The jersey chest sports a scripted "Los Angeles" in blue felt, with number "39" in red below. If this number rings some serious bells in your mind, it should--a guy named Campanella wore it once upon a time, and it wasn't until 1972 that the team would correct an oversight and retire the jersey in his name. Number "39" appears again on the jersey's verso. "Rawlings [size] 46" label in tail rests above a blue embroidered "Reed 65" sewn directly into the tail. The matching pants are actually the former possession of fan favorite Tommy Davis, who wore them the previous season. "Rawlings [size] 36" label appears beside a washing instructions tag in the waistband, while a flap tag below discloses "Set 1 1964." Embroidered swatch reads "T Davis 36/38 27 ins." Finally, we have a well-worn cap dating from the era of the offered uniform. There appears to be no player identifier present. "Wilson [size] 7 1/8" tag is inside headband. Imagine how great this ensemble will look on a full-sized mannequin in the corner of your trophy room! LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1966 Roger Maris Game Worn Pants. Perhaps the most collectible of all post-war ballplayers failing to be inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame is this hero of the 1961 home run chase, who suited up in this pair of home pinstriped Yankee pants during his final season in the Bronx. While a jersey is undeniably more appealing to the collector than is a pair of pants, the price tag for the few known Maris jerseys will be quite daunting, leaving the smart collector to consider other options to get his Maris game used Yankee uniform fix. For those smart shoppers we present these historic flannel pants, bearing the signs of strong use by the reigning single season home run king. The interior of the waistband holds the true appeal, as we find an embroidered swatch that reads, "Maris 9 66 36 24 ins." A flap tag spelling "Set 1 1966" is affixed at right. At front left of the waistband we find a black markered "66-9-36" and "Spalding" and washing instructions tagging. Deemed as 100% all original. MEARS Authentic. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1968 Ron Fairly Game Worn Jersey. A nineteen-year old rookie when the Dodgers brought Big League ball to the West Coast, Fairly spent eleven and a half of his twenty seasons in the Majors wearing the uniform of this storied franchise. A consistent performer who split time between outfield and first base duties, Fairly endeared himself to a generation of baseball fans, helping to bring four pennants and three World Championships to the people of L.A. Here we present a fine home white flannel gamer worn the season before his trade to the newly formed Expos, exhibiting strong wear from days under the California sun. Classic "Dodgers" script in royal blue joins a red number "6" on the chest, with that numeral repeated in blue on verso. Proper "W.A. Goodman & Sons" label in tail is set beside a pair of embroidered swatches reading "Fairly" and "1968." LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1969 Wally Moon Game Worn Jersey. Famous for his "Moon shots" as a player with the Cardinals and Dodgers, Wally suited up during the Centennial season in this jersey as a coach for the San Diego Padres, his only year with the franchise. Home white flannel offers "Padres" in brown and yellow tackle twill across the chest, and number "6" on verso. Wear is excessive, clearly from a second life in the minors, with scattered staining, a hole under the right arm, missing sleeve patches, and two replaced buttons. Embroidered in brown thread in the tail is "42 Moon 6," below which is a "Rawlings [size] 42" label and a washing tag with "Set 1 1969" flap tag affixed. A tough first-year jersey from this expansion team. Though beginning with a base grade of 10 for authenticity, the authenticators have subtracted seven points for the excessive wear, finalizing a grade of MEARS A3. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1970 Reggie Jackson Game Worn Jersey. One of baseball's most charismatic stars, Reggie Jackson had made a name for himself in "the other city by the Bay" long before he earned his Mr. October moniker with his Yankee pinstriped heroics. Charlie O. Finley's ragtag bunch of ballplayers was poised on the brink of World Championship greatness when young Reggie shucked this flannel vest from his back in the Oakland clubhouse after a game and handed it to a visiting friend. "Save this for your son's future," Jackson instructed his buddy. Already, just four years into his career, Reggie knew that he had the talent to turn this shirt into a valuable commodity.
The 1970's in Oakland was an exciting time for sports fans. The Raiders rolled with the Hell's Angels through the streets, and terrifying tough guys like Matuszak and Hendricks doled out punishment to all that stood in their way on the gridiron. In the baseball world, team owner Finley modeled himself after the great baseball innovator Bill Veeck, parading a mule named after himself around the diamond during pre-game warm-ups, and encouraging guys like Catfish Hunter and Rollie Fingers to grow crazy mustaches. The uniforms themselves were another break from baseball's staid traditions, and many felt that the green and yellow attire made the A's look more like a goofy corporate softball team than Major League ballplayers. As such, uniforms from the late 1960's and early 1970's Athletics hold a special appeal for serious collectors, and of course none moreso than those belonging to Hall of Fame athletes.
This particular jersey, however, has heightened value for reasons extending beyond its regal lineage. It is especially noteworthy that the number "9" and logo "A's" on the chest, and the "Jackson" and subsequent number "9" on verso, are 100% original and unrestored. Almost all Athletics jerseys from this era were sent down to the minor leagues at the close of the season, where the team logo patch over the heart would be switched for the new club's design. As a result the vast majority found in the hobby today either bear the minor league look or have a modern replacement Major League logo in its place, as well as a restored name on verso. This jersey, having been spared reincarnation in the minors, remains unchanged from the day it left the field on Reggie's back. Proper tail tagging reads, "McAuliffe Uniform Corp, 70, 44." Wear is clearly evident, adding the final important component to this highly desirable package. Included with the lot is a personal letter of authenticity from Jackson's good friend to whom the jersey was given personally in 1970. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
The 1970's in Oakland was an exciting time for sports fans. The Raiders rolled with the Hell's Angels through the streets, and terrifying tough guys like Matuszak and Hendricks doled out punishment to all that stood in their way on the gridiron. In the baseball world, team owner Finley modeled himself after the great baseball innovator Bill Veeck, parading a mule named after himself around the diamond during pre-game warm-ups, and encouraging guys like Catfish Hunter and Rollie Fingers to grow crazy mustaches. The uniforms themselves were another break from baseball's staid traditions, and many felt that the green and yellow attire made the A's look more like a goofy corporate softball team than Major League ballplayers. As such, uniforms from the late 1960's and early 1970's Athletics hold a special appeal for serious collectors, and of course none moreso than those belonging to Hall of Fame athletes.
This particular jersey, however, has heightened value for reasons extending beyond its regal lineage. It is especially noteworthy that the number "9" and logo "A's" on the chest, and the "Jackson" and subsequent number "9" on verso, are 100% original and unrestored. Almost all Athletics jerseys from this era were sent down to the minor leagues at the close of the season, where the team logo patch over the heart would be switched for the new club's design. As a result the vast majority found in the hobby today either bear the minor league look or have a modern replacement Major League logo in its place, as well as a restored name on verso. This jersey, having been spared reincarnation in the minors, remains unchanged from the day it left the field on Reggie's back. Proper tail tagging reads, "McAuliffe Uniform Corp, 70, 44." Wear is clearly evident, adding the final important component to this highly desirable package. Included with the lot is a personal letter of authenticity from Jackson's good friend to whom the jersey was given personally in 1970. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1971 California Angels Game Worn Jersey Attributed to Nolan Ryan. While impossible to state definitively, the overwhelming evidence points to this road grey flannel being the very first worn by the career Strike Out King as a member of the Angels. While number "30" was issued to Fred Lasher in 1971, whose service to the club consisted of two games that season, it is well established that hand-me-downs were still very common in the big leagues at this time, and a Nolan Ryan video (included in this lot) captures the Hall of Famer at work during Spring Training wearing this exact style jersey, with the name removed from the back as it is here. It would certainly stand to reason that he was wearing a used jersey at this time, as regular season shirts were typically only issued after Spring Training cuts were made. "Angels 30" is sewn to chest in navy and red tackle twill, with number "30" repeated on verso. "McAuliffe" tail labeling features "71" year tag and "44" size tag in tail. Strong wear suggests a second life in the minors after Ryan finished with the jersey. A fantastic display piece at the very least, though we believe it is much more than that. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1973 Rollie Fingers Game Worn Jersey. Al Dark, who would take over the managerial duties for the Oakland Athletics the season after this jersey was issued, once quipped to the press, "A fellow has to have faith in God above and Rollie Fingers in the bullpen." Remembered both as one of the game's greatest relievers and as the guy with the crazy mustache, Fingers suited up in this bright yellow road pullover during the second of three consecutive World Championship seasons. Team logo "A's" appears over the heart in green and white tackle twill, with "Fingers 34" residing on verso. Inner front tail has sewn stacked labels reading, "1973, McAuliffe Uniform Corp., 42" respectively. A washing instructions tag appears near the right seam. The jersey shows fine wear from Fingers' first All-Star season, and would receive a perfect rating if not for some red staining at the left sleeve and apparent rust spotting on front and back. Still a highly desirable Hall of Fame knit. MEARS A6. LOA from MEARS.
1973 Thurman Munson Game Worn Jacket. Ah, the joys of being young and beautiful. It certainly worked out well for our consignor, a lovely eighteen-year old blonde from the tri-state area who became a great fan of the New York Yankees, who in turn became a great fan of hers. One player in particular, former Baltimore Orioles ace Pat Dobson, took quite a serious shine to young Judi. As her notarized letter of provenance explains, "...This relationship set the stage for acquiring some great memories and valuable memorabilia. During these years, Pat reserved game tickets for my family, and me, gave me baseballs during batting practices, posed for pictures and gave me team signed baseballs. [Note: see some of these baseballs in this Signature auction]. One day he asked what other souvenir I would like to have and I told him a jacket. He told me he would see what he could do, and to meet him at the entrance of the bullpen during the 5th inning of the game. I did, and he handed me a brown bag with a jacket inside. He told me it was Thurman Munson's warm up coat he had been wearing that day. I later discovered #15 in the front pocket..." And sure enough, there's that vintage number "15" in black marker inside the right pocket of this rare and historic jacket from the wardrobe of the tragic Yankee captain. It was a tremendous season for Munson when this jacket was worn, his first Gold Glove, his second All-Star Game, his highest career home run production. When examining the piece, one almost needs to slip the jacket on due to the chills it inspires. The details are just fantastic, from the white tackle twill "NY" logo over the heart, to the embroidered felt team logo patch on the left sleeve, and back to that all important number markered in the pocket. The jacket's heavy nylon body was intended for use on the Bronx' coldest nights, and still is quite warm despite the absence of the zip-in lining that once resided inside. Elasticized wool ribbing is present at neck, cuffs and waist, showing definite wear but no damage. The garment remains ideal for display, yet still suitable for wear. Also included in the lot are two Polaroid photographs of young Judi wearing the jacket as she poses with members of the Yankee team, one of whom is instantly recognizable as the great Mel Stottlemyre, a thirty-one year old starter at the time. Each photo is mounted in a display card of sorts, bearing the facsimile signatures of the Yankee team. And finally, we have two photos of Judi with Dobson, the second of which shows him planting a tremendous smooch on the pretty fan. In her right hand can be spotted the brown bag to which she refers in her letter of provenance. For that kind of gift, we'd kiss him on the lips too. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1974 Reggie Jackson Game Worn Jersey. A third consecutive World Championship season for Chuck O. Finley's ragtag group of superstars in the crazy green and yellow uniforms. While any gamer from this Hall of Fame slugger and 500 Home Run Club member carries tremendous appeal, this one is clearly a cut above the rest, the definitive example of a Championship era Reggie knit gamer. Placed against the green jersey body most favored by collectors is the logo "A's" over the heart in white and yellow tackle twill, giving way to "Jackson 9" on verso. At center front of the tail is the "McAuliffe Uniform Corp" label, with "1974" year tag, "42" size tag and washing instructions tag at three, six and nine o'clock respectively. It should be noted that not a single thread of identifiers or tagging has been added or subtracted, leaving the jersey in 100% original state. Moderate wear is the final feather in the cap of this special keepsake, suitable for the Hall of Fame but even nicer in your personal trophy room. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1975 Carl Yastrzemski Game Worn Jersey. Pair the Hall of Fame pedigree of this road grey knit with its American League Championship season vintage, and you're left with a piece worthy of display at Cooperstown. The twelfth of Yaz' eighteen All-Star seasons saw the Red Sox legend put light but certain wear into this historic piece while powering toward an unforgettable October conflict with the Cincinnati Reds, best remembered for Yaz' Cooperstown cohort Fisk and his dramatic Game Six game-winning homer. Red and navy tackle twill forms the celebrated Old English "Red Sox" sewn across the jersey's chest, with the since-retired number "8" applied to verso. You'll find Yaz wearing a jersey identical to this style, and perhaps this one precisely, on his 1976 Topps card. "McAuliffe Uniform Corp [size] 42" labeling inside collar, with "1975" and washing instructions tagging in front tail. A perfect blue sharpie signature is the icing on this delectable cake. MEARS A5. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1979 Lou Brock Game Worn Jersey. Lou Brock's final career base theft, number 938, was also the one that gave him sole possession of the career steals record, topping 19th century legend "Sliding Billy" Hamilton's long standing mark of 937. While we certainly can make no guarantees of this jersey's association with that historic day, we can definitively state two facts. First, the game in which Brock stole number 938 was played on September 23, 1973 at the New York Mets' Shea Stadium, where the visiting Cardinals wore their blue roadsters. And secondly, the Baseball Hall of Fame website boasts of having Brock's spikes worn to break Ty Cobb's stolen base mark in 1977, but nothing from the 1979 Billy Hamilton-busting game. We'll leave the rest up to your imagination. Classic chenille birds and bat logo crosses the chest of this historic knit, with "Brock 20" in red and navy tackle twill on verso. The number is repeated in miniature on each sleeve. Inner tail offers "Rawling" label with "Set 1 1979" flap tag affixed. Wear is light but definite. It's interesting to note that this exact style of 1979 Lou Brock jersey is one of the more popular "throwback" jerseys marketed by sportswear manufacturer Mitchell & Ness. But, to quote the great Marvin Gaye, "Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby." LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Early 1980's Pawtucket Red Sox Game Worn Jersey Attributed to Wade Boggs. As a college ballplayer, when every other batter was using aluminum, Boggs was the only hitter to use wood. His explanation was simple--when he got to the Major Leagues, he'd have to use wood, so why not start now? Presented here is an artifact from another step on the road to the Big Leagues, and eventual Hall of Fame immortality. This red and white mesh jersey from the BoSox Pawtucket farm team was once worn by this 3,000 Hit Club member before he had recorded MLB hit number one. "Pawtucket Red Sox" is screened to the chest, with Boggs' number "18" screened on verso. "Wilson [size] L" tag is inside collar. Included is a letter of provenance from a Pawtucket front office member attesting to Boggs' use of the shirt. An exciting chance at a rare Hall of Fame "pre-rookie!" MEARS Authentic. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1988 Nolan Ryan Game Worn Uniform. The ninth of eleven seasons atop the strike out leader board for the King of K's. The most fearsome power pitcher in the game's long history blew the top off the Astrodome each time he suited up in this home white knit pullover, still bringing the serious heat at age forty-one. "Astros" and star logo are applied to the chest in navy and white tackle twill, with "Ryan 34" taking up the wide expanse of the jersey's back. The unmistakable rainbow design that made the Houston Astros the most daring fashion pioneers in baseball at the time is present in the shoulder striping, and interior tail hides a "Rawlings [size] 46" label with "Set 1 1988" flap tag affixed at right. A perfect black sharpie signature appears at upper left chest. Matching pants are attributed to the 1985 season, as embroidered strip reading "Ryan 34-25 Set 1 '85" details. A "W.A. Goodman & Sons [size] 34" label is found to the left. Finally, a pair of navy blue nylon tights with stirrup feet are here, worn by Ryan under his uniform pants for style and comfort. All three pieces show light but certain wear, and combine to create an unbeatable display. MEARS A5. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Circa 1988 Tommy Lasorda Game Worn Jersey. "I bleed Dodger blue and when I die, I'm going to the big Dodger in the sky," once claimed the Hall of Fame manager, who is currently beginning his sixth decade with the organization. This home white gamer dates from the heart of his managerial tenure with the team, showing fine wear from the beloved skipper. "Dodgers 2" resides on the chest in classic blue and red, with "Lasorda 2" taking up the rear. Proper "W.A. Goodman & Sons [size] 44" label is in collar, with strong black sharpie inscription on right shoulder reading "To Jeff, Best, Tom Lasorda." A picture-perfect representation from one of the greatest strategic minds in the game. SCD A10. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1991 Gary Carter Spring Training Game Worn Uniform. UPDATE: Please note that the proper MEARS grade for this lot is A10, not A5 as listed in the printed catalog. One of the toughest uniforms out there from this Hall of Fame catcher, as The Kid represented the City of Angels for just a single season in the waning years of his incredible career. The road grey jersey offers the classic "Dodgers" logo slanting across the chest, with number "12" sewn in red tackle twill to the chest, and in blue and white to the back, where "Carter" is similarly applied directly to the jersey body. Tagging in collar is "Rawlings [size] 46" with "Set 1 1991" flap tag affixed. Perfect black sharpie inscription just below the front numerals reads, "Gary Carter #12, 1991 Spring Training." The accompanying pants have an identical inscription inside the waistband, which sports a "Rawlings [size] 36" label and embroidered strip tag "12 36-38 27 91 2." Use is light but definite, proper for a superstar's spring training uniform. MEARS A10. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1992 Nolan Ryan Game Worn Uniform. Though Cy Young's 511 career wins is certainly the most unassailable pitching record in Major League Baseball, this hard-throwing Texan's 5,714 strike outs is also almost certain to stand for eternity. Just over 150 of his final 200 K's were recorded the season the forty-five year old right-hander wore this home white uniform as a member of the Texas Rangers, ensuring that every one he pitched while wearing it established a new record. "Rangers 34" is sewn in blue and red tackle twill to the jersey's chest, with "Ryan 34" appearing on verso. "W.A. Goodman & Sons [size] 44" tagging appears inside collar. Matching pants offer a second "W.A. Goodman & Sons" label inside the waistband, where also appears an embroidered swatch coded "Ryan 34-24 '92 Set 5." Wear on each piece is definite but appropriately light for a season that saw Ryan work just over 150 innings. An exciting full uniform from a true top-tier Hall of Famer. MEARS A5. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1998 Tony Gwynn Game Worn Jersey & Jacket. One of the most underrated stars of the modern era, Gwynn's guaranteed future Hall of Fame induction should go a long way toward earning him the recognition he deserves, and rocketing the value of his memorabilia to its proper level. Get in on the ground floor with this special pair dating from a season that saw Gwynn return to the World Series after fourteen seasons of uneventful Octobers. The alternate navy knit gamer boasts a tri-colored "Padres" across the chest, with "Gwynn 19" on verso. Charming team logo patch appears on left sleeve, characterizing the jersey as National League Championship season vintage. "Russell Athletic Diamond Collection [size] 50" label is in tail, with "100% Polyester" flap tag affixed below. Wear is light but definite. Joining the jersey is a classic brown "Starter [size] XL" warm-up jacket sporting the logo "SD" over the heart and "Gwynn" boldly embroidered on verso. Zipper front. Wear is minimal to absent, though this is absolutely team issued to Tony. MEARS A5. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Circa 2001 Vladimir Guerrero Game Worn Jersey. Now that the Montreal Expos are no more, smart collectors are snapping up the few available star jerseys from the unloved team, secure in the knowledge that defunct squads' collectibles will always have strong market value. This Dominican slugger would command strong prices regardless of his team affiliation, however, as his skills in the field and at the plate set him high among the best in the game today. This Guerrero gamer exhibits light but definite wear, with "Expos 27" spanning the chest in blue and red tackle twill, and "Guerrero 27" applied to verso. The team logo patch is affixed to the left sleeve. "Russell Athletic Authentic Collection" label in tail has proper "52 100% Polyester" and "+2" Extra Length" flap tags affixed. A solid MEARS A5. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
2001 Mike Piazza Game Worn Jersey. We anticipate that any jersey worn by a major New York City star in the year 2001 will continue to rise in value as the impact of 9/11 sinks deeper and deeper into the social consciousness. The absence of the post-attack American flag on back pegs this home white pinstriped gamer to the blissful period before the world was changed forever, as the greatest offensive catcher in the game's history was earning his ninth consecutive Silver Slugger Award. "Mets 31" in classic blue and orange dominates the chest of this important piece, with "Piazza 31" taking up the rear. Team logo patch is affixed to the left sleeve. Interior tail tagging finds a "Rawlings Authentic Collection" label with "50" and "Set 1 2001" flap tags affixed at bottom and right respectively. Wear is light but definite. A guaranteed good investment, given Piazza's inevitable future Cooperstown induction. MEARS A5. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
2003 Roger Clemens Game Worn Jersey. An historic season for this first-ballot Hall of Famer and seven-time Cy Young Award winner, as the 2003 season saw the Rocket enter the esteemed 300 Win Club, and become one of only three pitchers in the game's history to reach the 4,000 strike out mark. Anyone well-versed in the game worn uniform collecting hobby is aware of the tremendous difficulty involved in acquiring Yankee jerseys dating between 1998 and 2004, when Steinbrenner's management levied tight controls on all team-issued articles, allowing almost nothing to escape to the marketplace. As is typically the case in such a scenario, the occasional low-level player will occasionally be seen, but the appearance of a Roger Clemens jersey from this era is particularly noteworthy. But a jersey worn by this top-tier legend during this most remarkable of seasons makes for a piece that will someday be seen in the same light as a 1936 Hubbell or a 1965 Koufax.
This home white pinstriped New York Yankees jersey shows fine wear from time on the Bronx mound with perhaps the greatest pitcher in the game's history. Classic "NY" logo appears over the heart, with Clemens' number "22" in identical navy tackle twill on verso. The Yankee Centennial patch properly finds a home on the left sleeve. The tail tagging demonstrates strong wear from washings and body sweat, with the "Russell Athletic Authentic Collection" label affixed with flap tags reading "52 100% Polyester" and "+2" Extra Length." The "2003" year tag is sewn to the right. Noteworthy is the absence of the "Russell" sleeve logo, which is proper for Yankee gamers from this era, and an automatic tip-off of a problem if it does appear. A strong example of a Clemens Yankees gamer, earning the highest possible grade for a gamer without verifiable provenance, MEARS A5. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
This home white pinstriped New York Yankees jersey shows fine wear from time on the Bronx mound with perhaps the greatest pitcher in the game's history. Classic "NY" logo appears over the heart, with Clemens' number "22" in identical navy tackle twill on verso. The Yankee Centennial patch properly finds a home on the left sleeve. The tail tagging demonstrates strong wear from washings and body sweat, with the "Russell Athletic Authentic Collection" label affixed with flap tags reading "52 100% Polyester" and "+2" Extra Length." The "2003" year tag is sewn to the right. Noteworthy is the absence of the "Russell" sleeve logo, which is proper for Yankee gamers from this era, and an automatic tip-off of a problem if it does appear. A strong example of a Clemens Yankees gamer, earning the highest possible grade for a gamer without verifiable provenance, MEARS A5. LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
1917-21 George Shively Game Used Bat. Talk around the Cooperstown water cooler is that the Hall intends in future years to address an historical oversight that has found the top talent of the early Negro Leagues outside of consideration for induction. While we cannot definitively state that Shively is on the supposed short list for a posthumous nod, it certainly is not outside the realm of possibility. Though records relating to the Negro Leagues of the 1910's are spotty at best, it must be noted that the fleet-footed center fielder, known around the Leagues as "Rabbit," earned two MVP's and seven All-Star selections during his fifteen season career. His defining moment came in 1916, as he led the Indianapolis ABC's to the Championship, the only year in the decade that Rube Foster's Giants did not occupy the top spot. And so we feel our excitement in presenting what is certainly the only surviving example of a Shively game used bat is fully justified, and we expect that should Cooperstown come calling for Rabbit, they'll quickly come calling for this exceedingly scarce lumber as well. While the thirty-two ounce, thirty-five and a half inch bat has the name "Sims" stamped on the barrel, the association to Shively is rock solid through vintage side writing reading "Geo. Shively 9-23-22, Buck___, Ohio." Even more thrilling is the appearance of a pair of tattered affixed handwritten mailing labels, one listing the address of Hillerich & Bradsby, and the second a return address on which can be read "From Geo Shively." No exemplars of Shively's writing are known to exist, but unless we come to the rather unrealistic conclusion that Shively had some sort of personal secretary, the strong assumption must be that this text is penned in Shively's own hand. Use is very strong, as is typical of the few Negro League bats known in the hobby, which tended to be used to the point of turning to sawdust. An absolute dream piece for the serious Negro League collector, and one of the most exciting bats from the League ever to be offered for public sale. MEARS A7.
1920's Jacinto "Jack" Calvo Game Used Bat. With the crossing of baseball's color line still a generation away, a light-skinned Cuban named Jacinto Calvo was able to skirt Major League Baseball's well-established "whites only" rule as early as 1913, when he appeared in seventeen games as an outfielder for the Washington Senators with the anglicized name of "Jack." Though his entire Big League career consisted of just thirty-four games, Calvo's fame in his Cuban homeland was quite notable, as his 1978 induction into that nation's Hall of Fame would prove. We expect that he used this remarkably rare bat as a member of the Cuban X Giants, the famed club that at times featured the talents of Rube Foster, Pop Lloyd and Martin Dihigo. The Hillerich & Bradsby "Old Tempered" club bears no stamping tying it to Calvo, nor should it--Cuban ballplayers at the time did not have personalized models. We are able to link the tremendous use on this bat definitively to Calvo through the ancient sidewriting that bears both Calvo's surname and the words "Habana, Cuba" among the more legible words. Typical of Negro League bats, the use is tremendous, with the barrel held together by vintage nails as was not uncommon for gamers from this underfunded league. Length and weight are thirty-three and three-quarter inches and thirty-five ounces respectively. Certainly this will stand as one's only opportunity to own a bat from Calvo, and one of the very few to possess a genuine Negro League gamer. Originally acquired from the vast archives of Hillerich & Bradsby. MEARS A6.
1924-28 Rogers Hornsby Game Used Bat. "I don't like to sound egotistical," Hornsby once quipped for the press, "but every time I stepped up to the plate with a bat in my hands, I couldn't help but feel sorry for the pitcher." While this may sound immodest, we must paraphrase his fellow Cooperstown inductee Dizzy Dean's contention that it isn't bragging if you can back it up. Hornsby certainly could, and did. Twice he topped the magically elusive .400 mark during the five-season span of this bat's potential service, and only during the World Championship season of 1926 did he fail to place at least second in average for the National League for this period. Much of this fine work is clearly evident in the ash of this signature model Hillerich & Bradsby owned and operated by one of the greatest batsmen of the pre-war period. Dozens of ball marks coat the barrel, with punishment so severe that the grain has swollen from the impacts. Gouges from Hornsby's spikes are visible in the barrel as well, as Rajah used the bat to tap caked dirt from his shoes. A slight handle crack does not threaten the structural integrity of the bat, but did put an end to what had to have been a long period of service. A close inspection of the left barrel reveals traces of factory side-writing, indicating that this bat was returned to the factory to be used as a template for models of the same specifications, proving that this bat was not only used by Hornsby, but favored by him. Lathe marks are clearly visible on the knob and barrel end. Length and weight are thirty-six inches and thirty-five ounces respectively, also proper to Hornsby's preferred lumber. All in all, a marvelously strong representation of a very tough and desirable bat. Graded PSA GU7.
1943-47 Ernie Lombardi Game Used Bat. Intended for use by the Hall of Fame catcher during the closing years of his career with the New York Giants, this signature model Hillerich & Bradsby M31 was ordered by the team on 4/4/45. Use is impressively heavy, with ball and stitch marks and a seven-inch handle crack. Light dead wood is found on the back of the barrel from the punishment inflicted. Weight and length are thirty-three ounces and thirty-four inches respectively. Quite possibly one of the last bats ever used before Lombardi's induction to Cooperstown. MEARS A6.
1965-68 Mickey Mantle Game Used Bat. Though the World Championship glory days of the New York Yankees were behind the Commerce Comet when he strode to the plate with this bat on his shoulder, his legendary numbers continued to grow, further establishing his baseball immortality with every swing. The spectacular use illustrated by a barrel coated with dark ball marks and deeply imbedded stitch patterns speaks to the titanic power of this Yankees superhero, even near the end of his Hall of Fame career. The signature model Hillerich & Bradsby K55 is on record as having been ordered by the team for the Mick's use, rather than by Mantle himself, though this was certainly not uncommon for Mantle gamers from this era. This historic hardwood measures just short of thirty-four inches in length, and tips the scales at thirty-four and a half ounces. It's always a thrill to hold genuine Mantle lumber in one's hands, and this representation is truly a top notch specimen, garnering the full three points for heavy use on the authentication grading scale for a final score of MEARS A8.
1959 Mickey Mantle All-Star Game Used Bat. While clearly any bat once owned and operated by the great Mickey Mantle is worthy of glowing praise and careful curatorship, educated hobbyists understand that those special issue bats related to All-Star Games and World Series belong in a class unto themselves. We are very pleased to bring to the collecting community one of these scarce and monumentally important artifacts, the Adirondack 113A issued to the superstar New York Yankees center fielder for his participation in the '59 Midsummer Classic. As this was a season that featured an All-Star doubleheader, with games at Pittsburgh's Forbes Field and Los Angeles' Memorial Coliseum, we cannot be certain which of the two games saw Mickey use this bat. But based on the "significant" use, as stated by the authenticators at MEARS, one could reasonably expect it was used in both, and then beyond into the second half of the regular season. The brutal impacts caused by Mantle's crushing swings have left the barrel to take on a mottled look, with use that you can feel as you turn the bat in your hands from light deadwood on the back of the barrel. "1959 All-Star" in simple block lettering leads to a slightly larger "Mantle' between the words "Adirondack" and "Personal Model" on the barrel's heart, setting our own hearts to fluttering. Weight of thirty-one and a half ounces and length of thirty-five inches were the favored specifications of the Mick at the time. The authenticators note that the stamping on the bat has since been traced over in black ink, and that there appears to be some use not related to Major League play, but these factors will only be apparent to particularly eagle-eyed experts. They do not materially affect the display of the bat, and certainly not its important heritage. Very faint traces of an ancient autograph further links this bat to its former master. MEARS A4, with points lost only due to post-Mantle alterations.
1961-63 Stan Musial Game Used Bat. "The Man" closed out his Hall of Fame career wielding bats like this one, showing light but instantly apparent use from the last of his twenty-two Big League seasons. The "Musial Model" Hillerich & Bradsby M159 shows a fine helping of bat and rack marks on the barrel, leading down to Musial's retired number "6" in marker on the knob. The thirty-one ounces of weight and thirty-four inches in length are proper for his preferred models. A somewhat faded but still legible personalized inscription ending "Best Wishes, Stan Musial 11/63" would seem to date the bat precisely to his very last season. Another more recent blue sharpie signature is a perfect 10/10. A special piece garnering the impressive grade of MEARS A7. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1965-68 Roger Maris Game Used & Signed Bat. One of the most impressive Roger Maris bats to reach the auction block in recent memory, and if you don't want to take our word for it, ask the authenticators at MEARS, who sing this bat's praises with a stellar A9 rating. The signature model Hillerich & Bradsby A92 is the style favored by the hero of the 1961 home run chase during his final seasons in the Bronx, and the close of his career in St. Louis. Strong use certainly suggests that a few of Roger's patented long balls were launched from its barrel, which exhibits ball, stitch and rack marks from its days of active duty. Number "9" appears in vintage marker on the knob and barrel end. But perhaps most excitingly, the barrel offers a vintage personalized inscription reading, "To Ron Kurtz, Best Always, Roger Maris," placing the bat definitively in the superstar slugger's hands. Once coated with clear tape for protection, that tape has since been removed, leaving a shadow behind that does little to detract from the 7/10 inscription. Length is thirty-five inches, at a weight of thirty-three and a half ounces. The grade bears repeating: MEARS A9. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1969-72 Roberto Clemente Game Used Bat. This signature model Hillerich & Bradsby U1 is the style favored by the heroic Hall of Famer in the final years of his career, and his life, the model with which he powered his way to the elusive 3,000 hit mark. Presented here is a fabulous example of a blonde ash weapon once wielded by the superstar Pirate, exhibiting a few unmistakable ball and stitch marks on the barrel. All characteristics are exact to factory records, from the thirty-six ounces of weight to the thirty-six inches in length. Properly fonted and aged number "21" on the knob recalls Clemente's since-retired jersey number. Far more than an artifact of our National Pastime, this is an inspirational piece from one of the game's greatest humanitarians. MEARS A6.5.
1969-72 Harmon Killebrew Game Bat. This pristine specimen avoided the painful experience of a plate appearance in the Killer's hands, who clubbed his 500th home run during the stretch he made use of signature model Hillerich & Bradsby D2's such as this one. The result is a display piece, complete with perfect blue sharpie "Harmon Killebrew, HOF '84" inscription, that stands head and shoulders above the rest. Length and weight are thirty-five inches and thirty-two ounces respectively. MEARS A5. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1970-72 Thurman Munson Bat Game Used by Roy White. Exceptional rookie era war club from the personal stock of the great Thurman Munson may well have been used by the tragic catcher at some point before it was commandeered by teammate Roy White, whose number "6" appears at each end in vintage marker. We cannot state this definitively however, but this much is for certain--the signature model Hillerich & Bradsby U1 matches all factory characteristics for Munson's earliest professional lumber, at thirty-three ounces and thirty-six inches of length. The authenticators have termed the use as "significant," with barrel swelling from the punishment of ball strikes, which have left deeply embedded stitch marks and a six-inch handle crack. Grip tape has been removed, but the shadow of the pattern remains visible. MEARS A5.5.
1971-76 Hank Aaron Game Used Bat. While early career gamers from the Home Run King certainly carry strong appeal, we really love the late ones as well. We imagine home run number seven hundred and change being launched from them, and how many bats can boast that kind of history? Here we present an Adirondack 63A dating from the last years of Hammerin' Hank's Big League service, showing light but certain use, and the imprints of a possible home run or two. All specs are exact to Aaron's preferred model, with length and weight of thirty-four and three-quarter inches and thirty-four and a half ounces respectively. The historic number "44" is in marker on the knob. A perfect blue sharpie signature on the barrel adds further appeal. Whether Bonds catches him or not, Aaron will continue to reign in our hearts, and as such any lumber once held in his hands is a true baseball treasure. MEARS A6. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1973-75 Thurman Munson Game Used Bat. The perfect companion piece to the incredible Munson jacket from the era also appearing in this auction. This signature model Hillerich & Bradsby S44 exhibits simply massive use, easily the heaviest we've ever seen on a Munson bat. The barrel is coated with deep half moon shapes of ball strikes, with the barrel so mercilessly punished that the grain has begun to separate. Pine tar remnants form a black band on the handle, which leads down to a custom rubber ring at the knob. Length is thirty-four and a half inches, with a weight of thirty-three and a half ounces. It should be noted that while no personal order records for Munson exist for the "S44" during this era, it was not uncommon for the Yanks to order bats for their players, leaving this to be technically termed a "team index" variety. A very special piece remembering the fallen Yankee captain. MEARS A6.
1977-79 Willie Stargell Game Used Bat. Pops remains one of the most beloved superstars ever to wear the bumblebee cap, a genuine icon to the baseball fans of Pittsburgh. Presented is a signature model Hillerich & Bradsby P89 from a period of great productivity in the later years of Stargell's career that saw him earn a National League MVP Award and a World Championship in 1979. Odds are good that this lumber dates from that very season, and the bat certainly shows a fine helping of use, with deeply imbedded stitch marks criss-crossing the dark wood barrel. A strong example of a bat that should be on any serious collector's wish list. Thirty-five inches in length, at a weight of thirty-four ounces. MEARS A6.
1980-83 Johnny Bench Game Used Bat. A late career gamer from the superstar backstop of the Big Red Machine. Who knows how many of the Hall of Fame catcher's 389 lifetime homers were launched from the barrel of this signature model Louisville Slugger B278? The authenticators offer glowing praise of the use, describing it as "Heavy," a term they use again to describe the ball marks, which have left deeply imbedded stitch imprints in the barrel. Rack marks and a five-inch handle crack add to the heaps of wear. A markered number "5" identifier is found on the knob, which has been chipped at the edge. Finally, a perfect black sharpie inscription on the barrel is here, stating "Catch Ya Later, Johnny Bench." Tale of the tape: thirty-five inches and thirty-three ounces. A spectacular specimen. MEARS A7. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1985 Ryne Sandberg Game Used Bat. Few second basemen have wielded the lumber better than did this most recent inductee to Baseball's Hall of Fame, and the offered signature model Louisville Slugger B267 is a strong indicator of this fact. Tremendous use is clearly evident with the dark ball strikes and deeply imbedded stitch marks coating the barrel, and the barely visible hairline crack at the handle, which is wrapped with pine tar stained grip tape. Both knob and barrel end are inscribed in black marker "23 B267." Length and weight are thirty-three and three-quarter inches and thirty-two ounces respectively. This was Sandberg's preferred model for the entirety of the 1985 season, which saw him club twenty-six home runs while maintaining an impressive .305 average. A 10/10 blue sharpie signature on the barrel adds the inscription "HOF 2005." About as good as Sandberg gamers get. MEARS A8. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1984 Mike Schmidt Game Used Bat. A fourth consecutive Silver Slugger Award this season for the Phillies Hall of Famer, who led the National League with thirty-six home runs and 106 runs batted in with some help from this Adirondack Big Stick MS20. Use is light but certain here, with ball marking visible on the barrel. Schmidt's number "20" is scrawled in marker on the knob end for easy retrieval from the bat rack, while a black sharpie signature on the barrel is here just for you, the collector. This important lumber comes up just an eighth of an inch short of 35", with weight an even thirty-two ounces. MEARS A6. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1985 Cal Ripken, Jr. Signed Game Bat. The last of the old time ballplayers, Cal will always be loved for the dedicated and gentlemanly manner in which he approached our national pastime. Here we present a piece sure to inspire the winning bidder ever time he holds it in his hands, a beautifully unused signature model Louisville Slugger S318 once intended for battle in the hands of the game's greatest Iron Man. Number "8" is in marker on the knob, and a perfect blue ink inscription on the barrel reads, "Best Wishes, Cal Ripken, Jr. #8." While length and weight of thirty-four inches and ounces respectively is proper for Cal, factory records indicate that on 12/2/85 this particular bat was one of twelve sent not to Ripken or the Orioles, but to "Baseball Misc." SCD A5. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1987-89 Gary Carter Game Used Bat. The five-time Silver Slugger swung this Rawlings Big Stick 113A in service of the New York Mets, as the model style and blue stripe dividing the handle and barrel would attest. Some fantastic ball strikes on the barrel speak to light but certain use, likely in batting practice, as does the wear on the criss-cross pattern of grip tape on the handle. The Hall of Famer's number "8" is applied in black marker to the knob and barrel end. Length and weight of thirty-five inches and thirty-three and a half ounces are proper for Carter gamers. A fine specimen to get signed by The Kid. MEARS A5.
1988-89 George Brett Game Used Bat. Any Hall of Famer's bat is a magical thing, but particularly so for those legends that have had the skill and longevity to amass 3,000 hits. Though the light but definite use here leads to the assumption that perhaps only one or two of those hits were delivered by this signature model Louisville Slugger C271, it nonetheless should be held in great reverence for its brief brush with greatness. Factory records indicate that this model bat, weighing thirty and one-half ounces and measuring thirty-three and one-half inches, was delivered to Brett in both 1988 and 1989, which allows us to narrow the range beyond the trademark style. In typical Brett style, pine tar remnants are found high on the barrel, actually crossing his facsimile signature. "GB5" is written in marker on the knob, and a perfect black sharpie signature appears on the barrel. SCD A5. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1988-89 Barry Bonds Rookie Era Game Used Bat. At the time of this writing, Barry is back at bat, inching ever closer to the Babe, and perhaps Hammerin' Hank himself. With each step he takes toward these immortals, the value of this fantastic early Louisville Slugger H238 rises, and one can only imagine what a rookie-era bat from the Home Run King would be worth (actually, rookie Aaron bats have sold for more than $25,000!). Adding to the appeal, this specimen exhibits spectacular use, with heavy ball marks, deep stitch marks and ten inches of original grip tape still applied in Barry's favored pattern to the handle. In fact, it's the finest use we've ever seen on a Bonds rookie-era bat, which puts it in a level of desirability far above the pack. Length is thirty-three and three-quarter inches, with a weight of thirty-two ounces. MEARS A7.5.
1986-89 Robin Yount Game Used Bat. Dating from the era of the Hall of Famer's second American League MVP season is this signature model Louisville Slugger P72, a fantastic specimen from a member of the illustrious 3,000 Hit Club. SCD Authentic rates use and ball marks as "Heavy," and notes "deeply imbedded" stitch marks. Pine tar on the handle is heavy as well, and a bit of deadwood on the back of the barrel is the result of tremendous punishment, yet the bat remains miraculously uncracked. Number "19" is in marker on the knob. The SCD letter of authenticity closes by echoing our sentiments exactly, "Picture perfect Yount gamer." A perfect blue sharpie signature on the barrel is the icing on the cake. SCD A8.5. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Alex Rodriguez 1996 Game Used Ken Griffey, Jr. Bat. Imagine a Ruth bat used by Gehrig. A DiMaggio bat used by Mantle. This one will someday fall into that hypothetical realm, offering two Hall of Fame legends for the price of one. A-Rod developed a fondness for Junior's bats apparently, and took this Griffey signature model Louisville Slugger C271 to the plate with him a few times from the look of it, before finally opening a crack on the back of the barrel that ended its tour of duty. Original grip tape on handle, and perfect silver sharpie signature on the barrel that reads, "Alex Rodriguez, 1996 Game Used." Certificate of authenticity is signed by Rodriguez himself. LOA from SCD Authentic. LOA from PSA/DNA.
1998 Mark McGwire Game Used Bat, Signed. No sports figure had more eyes trained upon him in 1998 than the red-headed giant of Busch Stadium, who led fellow National Leaguer Sammy Sosa on a chase for the single-season home run record. Here we present a Rawlings Big Stick from that historic year, one that made a nation hold its breath every time it left Big Mac's shoulder. All specs are precise to exemplars, from the "Mark McGwire, Cardinals" in block lettering on the barrel, to the "MAC25 98" coding stamped in the knob, to the length and weight of thirty-four and half inches and thirty-one ounces respectively. Ball strikes and cleat marks dot the barrel, with remnants of pine tar painting the handle. A perfect blue sharpie signature from the bat's former owner appears on the barrel, along with an authenticating sticker from Steiner Sports. MEARS A5. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Circa 2001 Derek Jeter Game Used Bat. Everything you'd want in a gamer from the beloved Yankees captain, one of the great clutch players in the franchise's illustrious history. The signature model Louisville Slugger P72 offers no shortage of ball marks on the barrel, with stitch and cleat marks that you can spot with your eyes closed. Yet despite this abuse, you will find no cracks on the handle, just the lumpy remains of dried pine tar. The bat was acquired in person by a Major League batboy, whose letter of provenance accompanies the lot. Length and weight are thirty-four inches and thirty-one ounces respectively. SCD A7.
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1-800-872-6467 / (214) 528-3500 / Fax: (214) 443-842
Mailing Address:
PO Box 619999
Dallas, TX 75261-6199
Street Address:
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, Texas 75261-4127
(Northwest corner of W. Airport Freeway & Valley View Lane)
All Rights Reserved
1-800-872-6467 / (214) 528-3500 / Fax: (214) 443-842