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1933 Babe Ruth Game Worn New York Yankees Jersey, Worn in First All-Star Game. As World War II ground toward its brutal, bloody end, and U.S. soldiers faced the enemy in fierce hand-to-hand combat on the small islands of the South Pacific, the Japanese infantry were often heard to exclaim these few English words they had been taught to repeat, the greatest insult to an American of which they could conceive: "To hell with Babe Ruth!" They knew then what we all understand now. Babe Ruth was the embodiment, the personification, of America.

The evidence that proves this statement to be true is practically endless. First, of course, we can point to the fact that the Babe is unquestionably the greatest star ever produced by the game of baseball, our National Pastime. But we can also see that his ascension from an orphanage in a poor section of Baltimore, Maryland to the absolute pinnacle of wealth and international fame is the very essence of the American dream. His "Ruthian" appetites for wine, women, song and food are likewise utterly American. The round belly and big, smiling face, the way he twirled his cap as he trotted around the bases on those skinny legs after another tremendous home run blast-it's hard to believe he was actually real. Even Don Mattingly, whose retired jersey number joins Ruth's in Yankee Stadium's Monument Park, was confused as a child by the stories of the Babe's exploits, which sounded more like Paul Bunyan-esque folklore than actual historical fact. "Honestly, at one time I thought Babe Ruth was a cartoon character," he insisted. "I really did."

We have said before that any artifact relating to this larger-than-life American icon would be just as appropriately housed in Washington D.C.'s Smithsonian Museum as in the Baseball Hall of Fame, and this statement is never more true than when applied to the pinstriped flannel we are privileged to present here. In fact,the jersey did reside for several years in our nation's capital, loaned by
Auction 705 | Lot: 19905 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $657,250.00
1954 Joe DiMaggio & Marilyn Monroe Signed Photograph. Those who followed the May 2006 Heritage Signature Sports auction will certainly remember the historic sale of the Finest Known Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe Signed Baseball, which set a World Record with a price realized of $191,200. Tremendous press exposure followed, as both hobby and mainstream publications trumpeted this extraordinary new mark for the autographed baseball record books. As a result of this international post-auction coverage, we were contacted by the family of the former sports editor for the Tokyo newspaper that owned the "Yankees" of the Japanese League, the Tokyo Giants. They claimed to have a very special autographed piece of their own.

And they were right. Presented here, for the second time in as many auctions, is the definitive example of a piece signed by this most famous of celebrity couples, in this case an 8x10" photograph snapped and signed as the pair honeymooned in Japan. As in the case of the $191,000 baseball, the autographs of Joe and Marilyn are essentially unimprovable, rating 9+/10 on a conservative grading scale. Joining them in the image, and in flawless black ink, is Joe's best buddy Frank "Lefty" O'Doul. Unbelievably, DiMaggio requested that O'Doul join him and Marilyn on this romantic getaway, a fact that might help to explain why the couple didn't make it to their first anniversary. The photograph itself is likewise magnificent in appearance, with no condition flaws to note.

Included in the lot is a copy of a 1954 Japanese sports magazine that features a photo montage of the marriage and honeymoon of the newlyweds. One photo finds Joe, Marilyn and Lefty posing together, clearly taken at the same event as was the signed image.

It is well known within hobby circles that DiMaggio flatly refused to sign any piece related to his former wife Marilyn in the years following her death. While his marriage to this timeless icon of Hollywood glamor was short an
Auction 705 | Lot: 19165 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $89,625.00
National Basketball Association 50 Greatest Players Signed Lithograph from Sam Jones. Unquestionably the most coveted single piece in the basketball autograph collecting hobby is this simply awe-inspiring lithograph produced to commemorate the League's Golden Anniversary in 1996. The tremendous array of Hall of Fame talent that has blessed this piece with 10/10 pencil autographs below artfully rendered photo-realistic portraits is only part of the equation, however. The scarcity of the piece--only 250 were ever produced--puts the owner of one in an elite class of legendary athletes, team executives and VIP's fortunate enough to have access to the tiny supply. This one once belonged to superstar Boston Celtics guard Sam Jones, who appears between Michael Jordan and Rick Barry at lower left. Just below is a handwritten notation earmarking this copy for him, which reads, "Jones 1/1."

While a few of these hardcourt icons have passed since the 1996 signing (notably Chamberlain, Mikan and DeBusschere), only the tragic early death of Pete Maravich kept this piece from being signed by the full contingent of fifty in 1996. The full list of signers: George Mikan, Oscar Robertson, Elvin Hayes, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Willis Reed, John Stockton, Hakeem Olajuwon, Bill Russell, Dave Cowens, Walt Frazier, John Havlicek, Charles Barkley, Elgin Baylor, Nate Thurmond, Hal Greer, Clyde Drexler, Wilt Chamberlain, Paul Arizin, Jerry Lucas, George Gervin, Larry Bird, Scottie Pippen, Jerry West, Dolph Schayes, Dave DeBusschere, Shaq O'Neal, Moses Malone, Earl Monroe, Dave Bing, Bob Cousy, Julius Erving, Magic Johnson, Bill Cunningham, Wes Unseld, Kevin McHale, Michael Jordan, Sam Jones, Rick Barry, Bob Pettit, Nate Archibald, Bill Walton, Isiah Thomas, Lenny Wilkens, Bill Sharman, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, James Worthy, Robert Parrish, and David Robinson. Bringing the auto LOA from James Spence Authentication.graph total to an even fifty is commissioner Daniel Stern, who signs ju
Auction 705 | Lot: 19325 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $41,825.00
1918-21 Babe Ruth Game Used Bat. When one comes across a piece such as this, one that carries such tremendous import within the hobby, and the history of baseball, the mind begins to wander through the possibilities. We consider the four-year span of this bat's production cycle, and realize that the most significant personnel change in the history of sports happened at the center of it. And so was this bat swung by Babe Ruth the Red Sox star, or Babe Ruth the Yankees star? These odds are fifty-fifty, a coin flip. But this much we can state definitively--it was swung by Babe Ruth the season's Home Run King. In each of the four years during which this Hillerich & Bradsby may have seen action, it was Ruth who stood atop the homer heap. Only in 1918 did he fail to double the silver medalist's total by a wide margin, usually approaching three times the total of the runner up. Top slugging percentage also went to the Babe each season from 1918 through 1921, paying further tribute to the power the kid from Baltimore could generate with this bat.

Even a cursory inspection of the barrel of this special club will further validate this assessment, as it is coated with ball, stitch and cleat marks that are evident to the touch. Tremendous vintage punishment leaves us unable to lay down a dime upon its surface without intersection with an ancient scar of cleat or ball. Authenticator John Taube himself describes the use as "heavy" in his assessment of this important artifact, an adjective that is not bandied around lightly by the experts of the game used bat field. He also notes that this bat exhibits the "small version" of Ruth's facsimile signature on the barrel, the style used from the inception of his signature contract dated July 9, 1918 and continuing through the 1921 season. This, of course, allows definitive dating of the model. Taube also notes the well-defined lathe mark on the bottom of the knob, common for bats manufactured during the referenced labeling period.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19881 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $38,837.50
1909-11 E90-1 American Caramel Complete SGC-Graded Near Set (100/120). Offered is a near set of E90-1 American Caramel baseball cards that comes to the hobby from a fresh West coast find. This set is generally known as the king of the "E" sets as it not only includes a wide variety of Hall of Famers and rarities, but it is also home to Joe Jackson's rookie card which pictures him with the Philadelphia Athletics. Today, the supply overall of "E" cards is considerably small when compared to the population of most tobacco issues of the same era. This SGC-graded collection sports terrific eye appeal, bold colors, and the new owner will be well on their way to having one of the finest E90-1 sets in the hobby. Grades and highlights include: SGC 60 EX 5: 4 cards w/ Heitmuller, Jordan, Lajoie, Lumley. SGC 50 VG-EX 4: 27 cards w/ Bradley, Chance, Chase, Corridon, Criger, Demmitt, Dooin, Dygert, Grant, Howell, Isbell, Joss (pitching), Keeler (pink), Knight, Krause, Matthewson, McQuillan, Miller, Mitchell (NY), Overall, Phelps, Richie, Schlitzer, Stanage, Tannehill, Thomas, Tinker. SGC 40 VG 3: 31 cards w/ Baker, Barry, Bender, Bransfield, Bridwell, Bush, Butler, Crawford, Donlin, Engle, Fromme, Gray, Howell, Irwin, Joe Jackson, Joss (portrait), Keeler (throwing), Leach, Leever, Marquard, McInnes, Oakes, O'Connor, Schaefer, Stone, Stovall, Tannehill, Tenney, Thomas, Wallace, Cy Young (Boston). SGC 30 GOOD 2: 15 cards w/ Bailey, Blankenship, Camnitz, Cobb, Davis, Donovan, Hartzell, McIntyre, Mullin, O'Leary, Pastorius, Summers, Sweeney, Unglaub, Willis. SGC 20 FAIR 1.5: 10 cards w/ Bliss, Bransfield, Brown, Clement, Davis, Groom, Jennings, Plank, Upp, Wagner. SGC 10 POOR 1: 11 cards w/ Bell, Bresnahan, Brown, Clarke (Phila), Collins, Ellis, Gibson, Hartzell, Leach, Sheckard, Wiltse. SGC Authentic: 2 cards w/ Hall, Stone. (Total: 100 )
Auction 705 | Lot: 19761 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $35,850.00
1933 Sport Kings Complete Set, All PSA Mint 7. Sharing the same delectable artistic sensibilities that made the Goudey Baseball set of the same year a hobby favorite, the Sport Kings issue rates as far and away the most popular of all multi-sport sets. The featured athletes represent a regular "who's who" of early century legends, with Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Red Grange, Jim Thorpe, Walter Hagen, Bill Tilden, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Eddie Shore, Duke Kahanamoku, Johnny Weismuller, Gene Sarazen, Howie Morenz, Knute Rockne, Bobby Jones, Carl Hubbell, Primo Carnera, Max Baer and Babe Didrickson properly honored as "Kings." All forty-eight cards in the set are rated an unqualified NM 7 by PSA, and secured in their tamper-proof capsules for posterity.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19804 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $35,850.00
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 PSA NM 7. Sometimes the collecting stars align, as was clearly the case when the Topps company's first great set was issued with the rookie card of the post-war era's most beloved star. The 1952 Topps set is considered one of the hobby's "Big Three" along with the T206 and 1933 Goudey issues, and the Mick's rookie is far and away Topps' most coveted and valuable card. Here we present one of the finest examples of this important #311 known, slabbed under a NM 7 header but clearly a candidate for a possible upgrade. The common problems associated with the set are absent here, notably poor centering, print defects, gum and wax staining. With sharp corners, evenly spaced borders, magnificent color and registration and clean surfaces, this card lacks nothing that you'd find in a PSA NM-MT 8. We strongly recommend that interested parties come and view this card in person, where we expect they will come to the same conclusion.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19822 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $35,850.00
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 role 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," Yankee skipper Casey Stengel told the press. "He should lead the league in everything. With his combination of speed and power he shou
Auction 705 | Lot: 19618 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $33,460.00
1920's Grover Cleveland Alexander Single Signed Baseball. We expect that there will be a fairly sizable group of bidders who decide this is the "can't miss" lot of the auction. Whether collectors of singles from 300 Game Winners, or simply from Hall of Famers, most will be lacking an example from this troubled legend, whose alcoholism, epilepsy and post-traumatic stress from World War I horrors couldn't derail one of the most remarkable pitching careers in baseball history. Alexander's death in 1950, and the aforementioned afflictions that saw him absent from the public eye with only rare exceptions since the end of his barnstorming days in the mid-1930's, have left only a tiny supply of single signed baseballs available to the collecting market. Here we present the finest we've ever seen. The medium is an ONL (Heydler) baseball, which almost certainly dates the autograph to Alexander's Major League playing days. A blue ink sweet spot signature remains in remarkable 9/10 condition, aided in its boldness by a thin application of shellac. The ball is otherwise moderately and evenly toned, retaining a pleasing vintage patina. Educated collectors will surely understand what a rare opportunity it is that we present here. LOA from PSA/DNA. LOA from James Spence Authentication.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19002 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $26,290.00
Exceptional 1940's Babe Ruth Single Signed Baseball. There are several components that must fall into place to create a world class Babe Ruth single. First, of course, is the signature itself. It must be rendered in the boldest ink, and unmolested by stains or wear. It should be centered on the sweet spot of the baseball, and lacking personalized inscriptions. The baseball itself should likewise be free of defects that detract from the visual appeal of the autograph, and should most desirably be of Official American League origin. Each and every one of these traits conspire here to result in one of the most stunning Ruth singles to be offered this auction season.

Decades of lonely existence in the original Reach box have passed since the legendary Yankee cradled this sphere in his massive paw, but as a result this baseball boasts a youthful appearance that only a tiny handful of Ruth singles could match. The blue ink sweet spot signature easily approaches a perfect 10/10 rating, with the hide of the OAL (Harridge) ball toned the most luscious creamy hue imaginable. Only a scattering of foxing exactly opposite the signature (and hence completely invisible upon display) can steer this sphere from unmitigated perfection, though this will be of little concern to the educated collector. The cornerstone of any fine sports collection, for the hobbyist who demands only the best. LOA from PSA/DNA. LOA from James Spence Authentication.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19022 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $26,290.00
2005 Upper Deck Legendary Lineups 1/1 Redemption Piece. There's no question that the hobby of sports card collecting has changed in a fundamental way since the days when a few pennies would buy a wax pack with a stick of gum and a few cards inside. While there are still many collectors who concentrate on set building, the way their fathers and grandfathers once did before them, it is the added excitement of a special "pull," hobby lingo for finding a limited run redemption card, that fuels the market today. Every time a card collector breaks open the packaging of a new purchase, fingers are crossed that something truly special is lurking inside. Like the protagonist in the famous book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," everyone is hoping to find Willie Wonka's Golden Ticket.

For our lucky consignor, that dream became a reality when he opened a tin of 2005 Upper Deck Hall Of Fame Baseball Cards and made the hobby's ultimate pull. Tim Muret himself, Vice President of Upper Deck Authenticated, weighed in on the magnitude of this find, saying, "The Upper Deck Authenticated Legendary Lineups autographed framed piece is almost certainly the most unique and valuable redemption piece ever offered by Upper Deck." We'll go a step further and proclaim that this is likely the finest autographed redemption piece in the hobby, bar none. The general public seems to agree with this assessment. At the National Sports Collectors Convention in Anaheim, California in July where the piece was on display, hundreds of collectors salivated over it. Many proclaimed it the most impressive item at the show. Some posed beside it for photographs. One gentleman half-jokingly offered his young son as a trade.

This adoration is clearly justified. The autograph cards that we have seen selling for tens of thousands of dollars pale in comparison to the compilation of elite s LOA from James Spence Authentication.ignatures we find here, and the shadow box design is so artfully r
Auction 705 | Lot: 19223 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $26,290.00

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1896 Boxing Contract for Corbett vs. Fitzsimmons Heavyweight Championship Bout. The state of Nevada would host its first legal prizefight as a result of the two-page document we offer here, the earliest known surviving contract for a Heavyweight Championship bout. To describe this piece as "historic" would be the greatest of understatements--even at the time, the Carson City event was heralded as "The Fight of the Century." Corbett was the man who ended the legend of the undefeated Boston Strongboy John L. Sullivan with a knockout victory over the last bare knuckle Champ in 1892. Fitzsimmons was seen as a devastating puncher, a perfect foil to Corbett's "sweet science." The massive crowds expected for the event would be managed by Old West gunslingers Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. The winner's purse, noted in the contract, would total $15,000, well over a quarter-million in today's dollars.

The details of the fight are well documented, with "Gentleman Jim" easily managing the blacksmith from New Zealand through the first dozen rounds, badly bloodying the challenger as he controlled the action with his superior dexterity. One fortuitous shot on Fitzsimmons' behalf in the fourteenth round would change the course of history, however, as Corbett was paralyzed by a solid blow to his solar plexis, the nerve center just below the breastbone. Corbett was unable to regain the use of his legs before the count of ten, and Fitzsimmons would assume the title.

These events were set in motion on December 17th, 1896, as two typed pages on legal size sheets (7x12") spelled out the details of the bout beginning with the stirring words, "We, the undersigned, JAMES J. CORBETT, of New York and ROBERT FITZSIMMONS, of New York, do hereby agree to fight to a finish under Marcus (sic) of Queensbury rules, for the Heavyweight Championship of the World..." Issues of f inances (each must guarantee his participation with a $2,500 bond), the purse ($15,000) and the referee (chief cor
Auction 705 | Lot: 19236 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $26,290.00
1948 Babe Ruth Signed Enormous Photograph. Though his body was infested by "termites," the term which Ruth used to refer to the cancer that ravaged his body, this gift to a close friend made just three and a half months before his death ensured that he would be remembered by all who saw it for the days of his greatness. This exceptional and extraordinarily large (17.5x21.5") photograph finds the Babe exiting the batter's box as he releases his mighty Hillerich and Bradsby from his grip, his eyes trailing the flight of a baseball almost certainly headed beyond the outfield wall. Against the pale background of infield clay, the Babe applied a 9/10 black fountain pen inscription, which reads, "To a Lovely couple and dear friends Din and Joe Brown, From Babe Ruth, 5-1-48." A fascinating handwritten letter of provenance from Brown explains that he spent a month with the Babe in his capacity as a sports publicist for the film "The Babe Ruth Story." The two became close friends during this time, and Brown would later attend the retirement ceremony of Ruth's number "3" at Yankee Stadium, and the Babe's funeral at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Brown also notes that he went on to serve for over twenty years as the general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. This piece remained his prized possession however, and he closes his letter with the sentiment, "Babe Ruth will always be in my mind the greatest player in Baseball's long history. I was honored by his friendship." The photograph itself remains in splendid condition, with a few minor wrinkles in the dark upper left corner visible only at certain angles to the light. Otherwise, it presents as NRMT. LOA from PSA/DNA. LOA from James Spence Authentication.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19142 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $23,900.00
1952 Bowman High-Grade Complete Set (252). This issue features the colorful artwork that the early 1950's Bowman issues were known for and it marks the last time that Bowman produced their popular 2 1/16" x 3 1/8" sized cards. Included in the set are the second year cards of Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle along with other superstars such as Berra, Campanella, Musial, Snider and Spahn. Within this top condition set, 116 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $25,595. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA MINT 9: 1 card, #65 Bauer; PSA NM-MT 8: 115 cards w/#'s 1 Berra, 2, 4 Roberts, 5 Minoso, 8 Reese, 11 Kiner, 15, 16, 18, 21 Fox, 22, 23 Lemon, 24, 26, 30 Schoendienst, 34, 37, 40, 43 Feller, 44 Campanella, 48, 52 Rizzuto, 53 Ashburn, 57, 58, 59, 61, 63, 68, 69, 70, 72, 80 Hodges, 85, 86, 90, 91, 94, 95, 96, 98, 99, 101 Mantle, 103, 105, 106, 107, 115 Doby, 116 Snider, 118, 119, 122, 123, 124, 128, 131, 132, 134, 137, 138, 140, 141, 142 Wynn, 145 Mize, 146 Durocher, 148, 150, 151, 154, 155, 156 Spahn, 158, 159, 161, 162 Irvin, 165, 166, 170, 172, 174, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 184, 185, 186, 188, 194, 196 Musial, 197, 198, 200, 203, 204, 208, 210, 211, 213, 214, 218 Mays, 219, 223, 226, 227, 230, 231, 232 Slaughter, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241 and 247. Ungraded Cards - include #'s 27 Garagiola (EX/MT), 33 McDougald (EX/MT), 75 Kell (EX/MT), 217 Stengel (EX) and 252 Crosetti (EX/MT). Grades 55% NM to NM/MT, 25% EX/MT, 20% EX (a few lesser).
Auction 705 | Lot: 19819 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $23,900.00
1911 T9 Turkey Red Prizefighters Complete PSA-Graded Set (26). The Turkey Red boxing series of 26 was issued in conjunction with the T3 baseball player series of 100 and are considered by many to be part of the most beautiful sport card issue ever created. This fresh set comes straight to Heritage from an East coast tobacco find and it represents many of the finest specimens in the hobby. Should the winning bidder choose to list it on the PSA set registry, they would find themselves immediately with the finest T9 set to ever be registered. An astounding 15 of the 26 cabinet cards in this offering represent the highest ever graded according the PSA population reports. A total of 26 cards have been graded with an aggregate SMR value of $14,450. Includes: Graded cards - PSA NM 7: 1 card, 60 .PSA EX-MT 6: 14 cards w/ 51 (Driscoll), 52 (Attell), 55 (Jeffries), 56, 57 (Nelson), 58, 61, 63, 64, 65 (Langford), 68, 71, 72, 74 . PSA 5 EX: 8 cards w/ 54, 59, 62, 66, 67 (Ketchel), 69, 73, 75. PSA 4 VG-EX 3 cards w/ 53, 70, 76 (Johnson). (Total: 26 )
Auction 705 | Lot: 19257 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $22,705.00
1928 Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig Signed Baseball. Just three weeks after completing a four-game World Series sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Bustin' Babes and Larrupin' Lous were off barnstorming again, offering baseball fans too far from a Major League park to attend games the chance to see the biggest names in the game. Though both Ruth and Gehrig were very gracious signers, very few autographs from this traveling baseball circus have survived to the present day, and certainly only a tiny handful that could compete with the offered sphere in terms of quality. The "League Special" ball remains milky-white, and boasts a sweet spot Babe and side panel Lou that each rate a conservative 8/10. The ball's original owner has added the date of "Oct. 30, 1928" to the panel below Ruth's signature, and his own name to the side panel at right. Though neither of these markings should be considered detrimental to the value or appeal of the ball, it can be noted that displaying the ball so that both autographs can be seen will hide the young fan's writing from view almost entirely. A genuine treasure of the highest order. LOA from PSA/DNA. LOA from James Spence Authentication.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19943 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $22,705.00
Circa 1900 James J. Jeffries Championship Sash Belt. Jim Jeffries was born on April 15, 1875 at Carroll, Ohio, one of eight children of a man who split time between farming and ministering at the local church. As a youth Jeffries became involved in both wrestling and boxing, but put off his boxing career at the request of his mother. He was a strapping man standing over six feet two inches tall and weighing over two hundred pounds. Jeffries was a great outdoorsman and spent much of his spare time hunting. He turned professional boxer in 1895. By 1897 he was already fighting good competition and engaged in several exhibitions with notables like Jim Corbett and Joe Choynski. In 1898 he defeated an aging Peter Jackson, and then went on to score a big win over Tom Sharkey. On June 9, 1899 Jeffries challenged Robert Fitzsimmons for the World Heavyweight Title at Brooklyn's Coney Island. Jeffries ability to absorb punishment and his incredible stamina proved too much for Fitz who he stopped in the eleventh round to win the title. Jeff went on to defend the title seven times beating such notables as Corbett, Sharkey, Fitzsimmons (in the rematch) and Choynski. He retired undefeated in 1905 and moved to a farm in California where his weight ballooned up to 300 pounds.

When Jack Johnson became Champion, Jeffries was coaxed out of retirement to challenge him in one of the biggest fights of the century. They met in Reno, Nevada on July 4, 1910. The five-year layoff and the year it took to get in shape (Jeffries lost eighty pounds) took its toll on Jeffries and he was stopped by Johnson in a one sided affair. Johnson, the first African American to win the title, dominated from the outset. To his credit, after the fight, the always humble Jeffries, admitted he could not have beaten Johnson on the best day of his life. In his later years Jeffries trained several fighters and promoted some fights at the famous Jeffries Barn in California.

Offered here is a Championship sash bel
Auction 705 | Lot: 19243 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $21,510.00
1928 Babe Ruth 470th Career Home Run Baseball, Signed. Those who followed our previous Signature auction in May 2006 will almost certainly recall the sale of the baseball swatted by the Sultan for his first of fifty-four home runs in 1928. Here we provide the perfect bookend to that important sphere--the baseball that Ruth hit for the last home run of the 1928 season! Yes, indeed, this OAL (Barnard) ball is the very one that baseball's greatest star smacked for number fifty-four of the Championship '28 season, offered here for the first time to the collecting public.

On Sunday, September 30, 1928, a groundskeeper at Detroit's Navin Field named John Teubert was joined at the ballpark by his eighteen-year old son Jack W. Teubert. While his father tended to his duties, Jack sat in the outfield bleachers to watch the game. During the top of the fifth inning, the great Babe Ruth came to the plate against Detroit's hard throwing rookie right hander Vic Sorrell. The Babe has already taken young Sorrell deep just three days prior in this four game series at Navin. With Cedric Durst on first base, Sorrell delivered a pitch that Ruth sent into the stands, and into the hands of young Jack Teubert. Following the game, Jack's father took him into the visitor's locker room and had the ball signed by the Babe. Jack held onto the ball for over sixty-five years before passing it on to a family friend shortly before his death. A letter from this family friend is included in the lot.

Now close to eighty years later, the sweet spot signature on this important orb retains a boldness of 7/10 despite a degree of surface scuffing. But even more impressive to the solid provenance of the piece is the ancient notation just to the left of the signature that reads, "9-30-28, NAVIN FIELD." Our authenticators verify that this notation has been there for decades, le LOA from James Spence Authentication.aving no doubt as to the legitimacy of this important Ruth home run
Auction 705 | Lot: 19874 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $20,315.00
1960-61 Yogi Berra Game Worn Catcher's Mitt. When the young Berra returned from combat in World War II, where he had served on a rocket boat that capsized off Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, the Yankees quickly snapped up the stocky young backstop. Though he served as admirably in his early years in pinstripes as he had in the uniform of the United States military, his predecessor behind the plate remained unconvinced. "Right now, Berra does about everything wrong," Hall of Famer Bill Dickey explained, "but Casey Stengel warned me about that. The main thing is he has speed and agility behind the plate and a strong enough arm. He just needs to be taught to throw properly. I know he can hit. I'd say Berra has the makings of a good catcher. I won't say great, but certainly a good one."

Clearly hindsight is twenty-twenty, and Dickey happily ate those words long before the three-time American League M.V.P. headed to the plate with this mitt on his left hand. An integral part of the machinery that brought an incredible ten World Championships to the Bronx, Yogi excelled both behind and beside the plate, and though his catching duties had largely been turned over to the great Elston Howard as of the time he used this mitt, the strong use suggests that this was Berra's one and only gamer in the seventy-eight games for which he called the pitches during 1960 and 1961.

The "Spalding 1457 personal model EZ-Flex" mitt has been confirmed by noted glove expert Joe Phillips as proper both for the era and for Yogi specifically. Phillips notes that it was manufactured in 1960 and exhibits "considerable use," and that the lack of personal markings (Berra's name or number) is not surprising given the fact that Berra was the only Yankee catcher using "Spalding" brand leather (and his name was already stamped on the glove by the factory). In all major attributable regards, Phillips has found this glove to be characteristic of those used by Berra during the period.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19909 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $20,315.00
1909-11 T206 White Border Group Lot of 285. The vast majority (268) of the 285-card offering come from the most popular of tobacco issues, the 1909-11 T206 White Border set. While all of the cards have been affixed to album pages, the overall visual appeal is strong and careful removal may be possible in order to avert damage to the card backs. Hall of Fame firepower is readily apparent within the collection which includes the following 46 T206 cards: Baker, Bresnahan (batting), Brown (Chicago), Brown (portrait), Chance (batting), Chance (yellow portrait), Clarke (bat), Clarke (portrait), Crawford (throwing), Crawford (with bat), Cobb (green portrait), Cobb (red portrait), Cobb (bat on shoulder), Evers (portrait), Evers (Chicago shirt), Griffith (batting), Griffith (portrait), Huggins (at mouth), Huggins (portrait), Jennings (one hand), Jennings (two hands), Jennings (portrait), Johnson (at chest), Johnson (portrait), Joss (hands at chest), Joss (portrait), Lajoie (portrait), Lajoie (throwing), Lajoie (with bat), Marquard (pitching), Marquard (portrait), Mathewson (dark cap), Mathewson (portrait), McGraw (glove at hip), Speaker, Tinker (bat off shoulder), Tinker (bat on shoulder), Tinker (hands on knees), Tinker (portrait), Waddell (portrait), Waddell (throwing), Wallace, Wheat, Young (with glove), Young (bare hand), Young (portrait). Additionally, there are 1911 T205 Gold Border cards of Bresnahan and Collins as well as a 1910-11 Colgan's Chips Clarke.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19760 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $19,120.00
1910 E90-2 American Caramel Complete SGC-Graded Set (11). Offered is a complete 11-card set of E90-2 American Caramel featuring the 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates. American Caramel was a Pennsylvania-based company, so after the Pirates won the pennant in 1909 and went on to beat the Tigers in the World Series, it was only logical that they produce a small set to commemorate that team. These cards are significantly more difficult than the standard E90-1 American Caramels issued a year earlier because they were only issued regionally. The most recognizable name is the great Honus Wagner. This is one of his most coveted cards and is conveyed by the same image as his famous T206 card. Includes: Graded cards - SGC 50 VG-EX 4: 3 cards w/ Clarke, Hyatt, Wagner. SGC 40 VG 3: 4 cards w/ Adams, Leach, Maddox, Miller. SGC 30 GOOD 2: 2 cards w/ Gibson, Phillippe. SGC 20 FAIR: 2 cards w/ Leever, Wilson. (Total: 11 )
Auction 705 | Lot: 19762 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $19,120.00
1911 Christy Mathewson Signed Cabinet Photograph. A dream will come true for one sophisticated collector here, as Heritage presents one of the most remarkable sports autographs to be placed upon the auction block in recent memory. Those with even a passing knowledge of the baseball collectibles market are aware of the scarcity and desirability of any Mathewson signature. Christy's death by pneumonia in 1925, the delayed result of a World War I poisonous gas attack, ended the supply more than eight decades ago. And his well justified placement in Cooperstown's inaugural class has created a feeding frenzy among collectors wherever his scarce autograph appears. But almost never do we find the opportunity to own a Mathewson signed photograph, much less one that dates from the absolute pinnacle of the New York Giants hurler's considerable fame.

The 1911 season marked Matty's fourth of five seasons as League leader in earned run average, notching a microscopic 1.99 en route to the National League flag. He would win twenty-six in 1911 against just thirteen losses, and even start and win the first game of the World Series, allowing just a single run to Mack's power-packed Athletics roster in a head to head battle with fellow Hall of Famer Chief Bender. While, again, any autograph from Mathewson commands attention, a signature of this vintage proves all the more delectable.

We begin with the image itself, a razor-sharp study of Mathewson's famously boyish good looks. The image area measures 3.75x5.5" in size, with the mount bringing the final dimensions to 5.5x7.5". Mathewson appears in his 1910 Giants jersey, which serves as the background for his fountain pen inscription. It reads, "To Mr. Peter Heim From Christy Mathewson, Jan 7, 1911." Just five years short of a century since its placement on the photo, the inscription remains impressively bold and ent LOA from James Spence Authentication.irely legible, mellowing to an average of 6/10 in strength. The imag
Auction 705 | Lot: 19083 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $17,925.00
1901 Pittsburgh Pirates Reunion Team Signed Baseball with Chesbro & Oversized Photograph of Event. It was the Golden Anniversary of the National League that brought together Pittsburgh first ever Championship team for a reunion at a lavish banquet thrown by team owner Barney Dreyfuss at Pittsburgh's Hotel Schenley. An oversized photograph (12x20") captures the scene, with four long tables surrounding what appears to be an enormous cake in the shape of a baseball diamond. Huge banners line the walls, celebrating past Championships and announcing the Golden Jubilee of the National League. In the deep background can be spotted the members of the 1901 squad, the same gentlemen who have applied their signatures to the ONL (Heydler) ball we present in this lot. Toughest of them all, and all but impossible on a baseball, is Hall of Fame pitcher Jack Chesbro (5/10), who would pass away just six years after this event at age fifty-seven, leaving behind the thinnest of autograph supplies. Joining Chesbro both on this baseball and in the Hall of Fame are Fred Clarke (9/10) and Honus Wagner (8/10). Also here are Chief Zimmer (9/10), George Yeager (5/10), Deacon Philllippe (10/10), Jesse Tannehill (4/10), Kitty Bransfield (9/10), Ginger Beaumont (9/10), Jimmy Burke (6/10) and three others that we cannot discern due to fading or handwriting. Surely it goes without saying that baseballs signed by teams appearing during the first decade of the twentieth century are all but nonexistent (even those signed at a later date), so this should be seen by serious collectors as a potentially once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The photograph (which presents marvelously with chipping and wear at borders only) and the baseball derive from the personal collection of 1925 Pirates Champion catcher Johnny Gooch. LOA from PSA/DNA. LOA from James Spence Authentication. (Total: 2 )
Auction 705 | Lot: 19445 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $17,925.00
Exceptional Circa 1916 Babe Ruth Culver Service Photograph, Type 1. Perhaps the most desirable Ruth photograph on the face of the earth. This simply exceptional photographic portrait captures the young Boston Red Sox pitcher with razor-sharp clarity, staring intently and directly into the photographer's lens. Fantastic interplay of light and shadow captures every line of the Babe's face as he stands on the steps of the dugout at Fenway. The experts at PSA/DNA inform us that this 6.5x8.5" image is all the more remarkable for the complete borders, usually missing from images of this era. Very light wear is evident at the outermost edges of the photo, certainly nothing that has any noteworthy effect upon the tremendous visual appeal. "Culver Service" stamping on verso. Confirmed as "Type 1" by PSA/DNA. CGC grade: Fine.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19536 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $17,925.00
1921-31 Babe Ruth Game Used Bat. Picasso had his paintbrush. Jimi Hendrix had his guitar. Babe Ruth created his masterpieces with a Hillerich & Bradsby, a fine example of which we're privileged to present here. Dating from the ten-year stretch that saw Ruth hit over 500 of his career 714 home runs, this sculpted wood represents one of the most desirable artifacts in the sports collecting hobby. The ownership of a Babe Ruth game used bat sets the elite collector apart from the masses, and makes him curator of a piece of true Americana. The legend of the Babe is far more than a sports story--it's an integral part of our national heritage.

The first thing one will notice when holding this bat in his hands is the tremendous use that is evident to the touch. The impacts of many baseballs, and the spikes on Ruth's shoes, have left their unmistakable marks in the aged wood, which exhibits slight grain separation from the abuse. A minor handle crack, spelling the end of a long tour of duty, has been expertly restored so as to be all but invisible. The resulting solid look and feel transports us back to an age when the Babe was delivering more home runs per season than many other entire teams.

Only in the issue of provenance does this bat not earn full points on the base ten point scale, though this absence of direct provenance is typical of any bat of this era without factory side writing or written/photographic documentation (in other words, 98% of period examples). The authenticator's worksheet gives the full five out of five for matching factory records, and three out of three for use. A variation from typical factory weight--this bat weighs 33.6 ounces--results in a point deduction, though the authenticator notes that three ounces could have been lost to the natural aging process of the wood. The length of 33.75" causes another point deduction, though, again, minor variations in bat length are not particularly unusual for this era. A chip and a hand ca
Auction 705 | Lot: 19882 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $16,132.50
1953 Bowman Football Complete High-Grade Set (96). Bowman was the only major producer of football cards during this year. Cards were issued in five-card, five-cent packs. Currently the 4th finest in PSA's registry, this completely graded set has an overall rating of 7.44 and an aggregate SMR value of $14,355. Breakdown of the graded cards is as follows: PSA 8: 47 cards - #2, 3, 7, 8, 9 Motley, 10, 13, 16, 17 Trippi, 18, 19, 24 Bednarik, 25 Rote, 26 Graham, 27, 30 Young, 31 Hart, 43 Gifford, 45, 46, 49, 50, 51, 53 Tunnell, 54, 55, 58, 59, 61, 63, 66, 68, 70, 71, 73 Pihos, 76, 78, 79, 81, 82, 85, 88 Nomellini, 89, 90, 91, 93 Marchibroda, 95 Groza; PSA 7: 45 cards - #1 LeBaron, 5, 6 Walker, 11 Van Brocklin, 12, 14, 15 Lavelli, 20 Conerly, 21 Layne, 22 Hirsch, 23 Finks, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 47, 48, 52, 56 Tittle, 57, 60, 62 Renfro, 64, 65, 67, 69, 72, 74, 75, 77, 80, 86, 87, 92, 94, 96 Cross; PSA 6: #4, 35, 83, 84.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19405 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $15,535.00
1970's Roger Staubach Game Worn Jersey. Twice a Super Bowl Champion, and the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl VI. A six-time Pro Bowl selection. Four NFL passing Championships. Certainly there was never any question of whether the man they called "Captain Comeback" would one day find his way to Canton. Thankfully for our Heritage bidding clientele, this remarkable blue mesh Dallas Cowboys gamer didn't follow him there. It's definitely deserving of a home behind plexiglass in the hallowed Hall, instantly bringing to mind the image of the 1963 Heisman winner commanding the troops under the watchful eye of Tom Landry. His unforgettable number "12" is sewn in white tackle twill to chest, back and shoulders, crossing from the blue mesh of the body to the striped durene from which the sleeves are fashioned. A block lettered "Staubach" is sewn across the rear nameplate. Unlike so many of the modern quarterback jerseys, which typically present no more than a single game's wear, this specimen has taken its knocks over a number of games--and perhaps even years--as the Cowboys infrequently wore their blue jerseys. Two team repairs and several surface abrasions tell this tale. Proper "Southland Athletic" label appears in collar, with Staubach's correct "Size 46 L" flap tag below. A rock-solid representation of one of the most desirable jerseys of the era. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19429 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $15,535.00
1973 Hank Aaron Home Run Number 704 Game Used Bat. According to the experts at MEARS, this is the only photo-documented Hank Aaron home run bat, and what a bat to do it! The historic lumber comes to us by way of a Montreal resident who, in his younger years, was afforded the extraordinary opportunity of serving as bat boy for teams visiting the Expos' Jarry Park. On August 18, 1973, the team in his dugout was the Atlanta Braves, featuring an aging but still dangerous slugger named Hammerin' Hank Aaron. Early in the game, with Expos ace Steve Rogers on the mound, Aaron homered, this signature model Hillerich & Bradsby A99 in his hands. A photograph, interestingly shot by the father of Hall of Fame NHL goalie Martin Brodeur, pictures Aaron jogging back to the dugout after his round trip and shaking the hand of our consignor, who holds the bat in his left hand. In Aaron's subsequent at-bat he swung at an inside pitch and opened a thin crack that runs through the center brand. No longer of any use to the Home Run King, the bat was given to the young bat boy with Hank's compliments. This story is recounted in the bat boy's included letter of provenance, which joins the photo noted as well.

While we are certain that the bat was used to club Aaron's 704th, the tremendous use and deeply imbedded lace marks suggest a strong possibility that other homers were launched into history by its battered barrel as well. Bat expert Dave Bushing describes use and ball marks as "Heavy," noting bat rack and cleat marks as well, and minor dead wood on back of barrel from the intense punishment. They also note "Perfect 44 both ends," describing the markered identifiers, and that the thirty-five inch length and thirty-three ounce weight are exact to Aaron's specifications. Losing only half a point due to the handle crack that compelled Aaron to make this bat a gift to a young Canadian, Bushing blesses this important artifact with a grade of A9.5. And when was the last time you saw a 700+ home run ba
Auction 705 | Lot: 19892 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $15,535.00
Massive 1926 World Series Panoramic Photograph (Type 1) Dating from Babe Ruth's Greatest Game! 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. This also happens to be the sole World Series game in which Ruth took left field duties, a fact verifiable at the noted baseball reference site www.retrosheet.org. The stats will confirm that this could have only been that famous game in which the Babe clubbed three home runs, establishing a record that has been equaled but never beaten. Known to
Auction 705 | Lot: 19558 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $14,340.00
Late 1920's Babe Ruth Single Signed Baseball in Box. Marvelous OAL sphere dates to the brief presidency of Ernest Barnard, who held the reins of the Junior Circuit from 1927 through 1931. This coincidentally figured to be the Babe's most prolific five-year stretch of home run heroics, with 255 round-trippers logged during that half decade. So you can be certain that the young recipient of this signed sphere saw it for the treasure it was, and the fact that it still resides in its original (though somewhat tattered) box further validates this assertion. The ball itself has benefited nicely from its cloistered existence, with the sweet spot signature rating a solid 8.5/10 in boldness. A couple small dots of toning skirt the edges of this important autograph, but the ball remains quite clean otherwise, as our catalog photography should illustrate. A highly desirable high-grade single from the pinnacle of the Bambino's greatness! LOA from PSA/DNA. LOA from James Spence Authentication.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19946 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $14,340.00
1940's Babe Ruth Single Signed Baseball. The Bambino makes full use of the sweet spot of this "Wilson" brand ball, registering one of the largest Ruth signatures you'll find on horsehide. The bold black fountain pen ink has mellowed only slightly through the passing decades, rating an impressive 8.5/10 today. A few scattered spots of toning around the signature present absolutely no cause for concern, and are mentioned purely for accuracy's sake. Our catalog imagery should illustrate that the ball presents magnificently, certainly comparable to those Ruth singles realizing tens of thousands of dollars on the auction block. LOA from PSA/DNA. LOA from James Spence Authentication.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19024 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $13,742.50
1909-11 T206 Eddie Plank PSA - Authentic . The T206 Eddie Plank is frequently compared to the famed Honus Wagner of the same issue due to its rarity and value. There have been many theories as to why the Plank card is so scarce, but none have ever been verified to date. What we do know is that are approximately the same number of Planks as there are Wagners in the hobby and that this card has been burning the want lists of many collectors that are trying to complete "The Monster." The offered card of Plank originally comes from the famed collection of Barry Halper where it was offered in a display with a second Plank showing the variations of the missing blue color backgrounds. This example is in Fair condition with a slightly irregular cut that suggests that it was originally taken from a sheet and the Sweet Caporal brand reverse of 150 Subjects displays some paper loss. Graded as Authentic by the experts at PSA, this enviable collectible provides a marvelous, relatively affordable solution for an advanced, but currently Plank-less, T206 collection.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19727 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $13,145.00

Make Offer to Owner
$47,250 or more
1927 Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig Signed Baseball. Just eight days after this most famous of baseball duos closed out the most remarkable season in history with a four-game sweep of the World Series, Ruth and Gehrig were out on the barnstorming tour with the Bustin' Babes and Larrupin' Lous. At this October 16th stop of the tour, a young fan approached the Home Run King and the American League MVP with an Official League Ball in his hand, which the superstar Yanks graciously signed. The result is one of the most appealing examples of a Ruth/Gehrig ball on the market today, with a vintage notation that definitively links the sphere to the storied baseball year of 1927. Ruth's sweet spot signature is rendered in strong black fountain pen ink, rating a very conservative 8/10 due to minor surface wear. The Gehrig, fortuitously placed so as to provide simultaneous display with the Ruth, rates at worst a half point below. The ball shows even, attractive toning, with a mild degree of surface wear that does very little to hinder visual appeal. A dream piece for the serious baseball autograph collector. LOA from PSA/DNA. LOA from James Spence Authentication.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19011 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $13,145.00
The Finest Bobby Jones Signed Photograph on Earth. If our lot title is inaccurate, we'd certainly like to see the proof to the contrary. While this photo was on display at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Anaheim, it brought no shortage of oohs and aahs, and this came as little surprise. The tremendous appeal and desirability of the photo is undeniable. First, it pictures the golf legend at the majestic pinnacle of his powers in 1930, the year he cemented his legacy as the world's finest linksman with a sweep of golf's "Grand Slam." He poses with the gleaming treasures of those wins, the victory cups of the British Amateur, the British Open, the U.S. Open and the American Amateur. At center is a fifth trophy, the Walker Cup, a biennial contest pitting the best American amateurs against those of the British Isles. The image is simply flawless and wonderfully large, measuring 10x13" in size. One must remember that photos of this size were quite expensive to create at this time in history, and it's certain that only a tiny handful of this photo would have been printed, and only for noteworthy recipients (this one was issued to celebrity attorney J.E. "Ike" Lambert, who counted Mary Pickford among his clients). The inscription itself is the other jewel in this crown, boldly inked in 9+/10 fountain pen, "To Major J.E. Lambert, Kind regards and best wishes, Robt. T. Jones, Jr." Not only is the signature quality essentially unimprovable, but the style dates it definitively to the time of the image. Serious golf collectors know that the majority of Jones autographs date from his post-playing days, and that those signed during the era of his dominance carry a significant premium in value and desirability. In every regard this piece establishes its brilliance, much the same way that Jones himself did the year 1930. This exceptional image is appropri LOA from James Spence Authentication.ately matted and framed to museum quality, and final dimensions of 21x23".
Auction 705 | Lot: 19344 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $13,145.00
1909-11 T206 Johnny Evers With Bat Cubs Shirt PSA NM-MT 8. Evers had identical .350 World Series averages in 1907 and 1908, knocking in the winning run in the fifth and final game. Spectacular coloring and clarity. Only one other card grades in this same condition. Sweet Caporal back.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19679 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $13,145.00
1910 E99 Bishop & Company Complete SGC-Graded Set (30). This set was issued by the Los Angeles candy maker Bishop and Company at the height of tobacco and early candy issues in 1910. The set depicts players from the Pacific Coast League and represents the first of two obscure issues produced by the confectionery. To give an idea as to the rarity of this issue, we simply need to refer to the population reports of SGC and PSA, which inform us that between both firms less than 100 of the E99 issue have ever been graded and this complete set represents one-third of the entire population. While the condition of this set may be a bit worn, it represents the epitome of the old adage "good luck finding another". Includes: Graded cards - SGC 50 VG-EX 4: 1 card, McCredie. SGC 40 VG 3: 6 cards w/ Hogan, Maggert, McArdle, Melchoir, Tennent, Wolverton. SGC 30 GOOD 2: 2 cards w/ Casey, Delmas. SGC 20 FAIR 1.5: 7 cards w/ Brashear, Byones, Hitt, Olsen, Raymer, Thorsen, Van Buren. SGC 10 POOR 1: 14 cards w/ Bodie, Briggs, Cameron, Cutshaw, Dillon, Hasty, Hunt, Krapp, Lindsay, Mohler, Nagle, Nelson, Nourse, Smith. (Total: 30 )
Auction 705 | Lot: 19764 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $13,145.00
Early 1930's Babe Ruth, Tony Lazzeri & More Signed Baseball. It looks like a $50,000 Ruth single, doesn't it? We can thank the older gentleman who acquired the signatures upon this baseball in person for that fact. While most boys during the Depression would eventually take their autographed baseballs out of storage and to the sandlot, our consignor left his untouched in a dark, dry place where it remained for over seven decades before it was consigned to this Signature auction. Only the addition on the side panel of Yankee Hall of Famers Tony Lazzeri and Earle Combs, and fellow Bronx hero Frank Crosetti, keep this "Pioneer League" ball from rating as one of the Bambino's finest solos, and our catalog photography should illustrate that the ball presents quite convincingly as a single. But then we certainly shouldn't diminish the accomplishments and appeal of his pinstriped pals, who appear in the same 9+/10 ink that characterizes the Babe's sweet spot signature. The ball itself remains clean and only very lightly (and evenly) toned, with attractive red and blue stitching. Practically pristine! LOA from PSA/DNA. LOA from James Spence Authentication.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19016 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $11,960.76
1949 Ty Cobb Single Signed Baseball. Simply outstanding specimen ranks among the very finest Cobb singles to have reached the auction block in recent memory. While the Babe Ruth single is considered the "must have" piece for any serious baseball autograph collection, we would humbly suggest that the Cobb single is just as important. This gem was signed on an Official Pioneer League baseball almost twelve years to the day before his passing, with the Peach's black fountain pen autograph, dated "July - 16 - 49," rating a legitimate 9.5/10. The ball itself is blessed by the mildest of even, creamy toning, resulting in a sphere with unlimited visual appeal. For the collector who will settle for nothing but the best. LOA from PSA/DNA. LOA from James Spence Authentication.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19029 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $11,950.00

Make Offer to Owner
$17,925 or more
Mid to Late 1960's Gale Sayers Game Worn Jersey. Like the winds that share his first name, Gale Sayers appeared on the scene with destructive force, powerful and elusive, and then suddenly was gone. One can only speculate what might have been had not two vicious hits destroyed the ligaments in each of the superstar Bear's knees, first slowing and then ending one of the most promising careers in football. Though he was named the top halfback of the NFL's first half-century in 1969, many wondered if Sayers' short career might keep him outside the gates of Canton, but that question was answered in 1977 when Sayers became, at age thirty-four, the youngest inductee to the Football Hall of Fame.

Here we present an exceptional example of a jersey that would be perfectly at home on display in that museum, a road white Sayers gamer from the time when he ruled the NFL rushing world. The wear is simply outstanding, tangible evidence of the brutality of a game that would eventually take the magic out of Sayers' world class legs. These lightweight tear-away jerseys were particularly susceptible to this sort of damage, worn to minimize the detrimental effects of heat and humidity in the summer and early fall, and, to a lesser degree, the ability of tacklers to grab a firm hold. Jersey authenticator Lou Lampson notes, however, that while many of the smaller repairs on the upper jersey front, shoulders and sleeves were the result of actual game wear, the larger repairs which involve major interior reinforcement were likely due to use during the subsequent year's practice and preseason camp. It was common for Bears jerseys to be reused in this manner. Lampson does note that all repairs are consistent, match exemplars, and are team instituted.

Sayers' number "40" is sewn to chest, back and sleeves in navy and orange tackle twill, and it must be noted that th LOA from James Spence Authentication.e "0" digit on the right sleeve was lost to a postseason repair. La
Auction 705 | Lot: 19425 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $11,950.00
1919 World Series Ticket Stubs Lot of 5. With the possible exception of the inaugural Fall Classic in 1903, the most sought after and desirable World Series artifacts date to the scandalous October of 1919, when Shoeless Joe and seven Black Sox teammates conspired to take a dive for the money. Here we present ticket stubs used for admission to five of the Series' eight games. All four Crosley Field (Cincinnati Reds home) games are here, most notably the first game of the Series that saw Sox pitcher Eddie Cicotte bean the lead-off batter to signal that the fix was on. Also here is the third Comiskey Park (Chicago White Sox home) game, which was the fifth game of the Series. All stubs show an expected degree of wear, with creasing and edge wear. Cincinnati Game One has split along the perforations into two parts, and Game Four almost has done so as well. Chicago Game Three has glue staining on verso. Of course these flaws must be overlooked given the tremendous scarcity and desirability. Also here is a felt "Cincinnati Reds" armband worn by a Reds rooter. Glue from scrapbook on verso does not affect display. Finally, we have a notice of the train schedule for Reds fans traveling to Chicago, still affixed to a scrapbook page. Creasing and edge wear. Collection derives from a Cincinnati estate. (Total: 6 )
Auction 705 | Lot: 19603 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $11,950.00
1927 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball. The most common answer to the question "What is the greatest baseball team of all time?" is represented here, as thirteen members of that fabled Murderer's Row squad join forces on an OAL (Johnson) sphere. Taking his customary position on the sweet spot is a quotation-marked "Babe" Ruth, who stunned the world with his sixty home runs this year. The Most Valuable Player of the American League, Lou Gehrig, takes up residence on one of the side panels. Adding to the Cooperstown cast of characters are Earle Combs, Tony Lazzeri and Miller Huggins, with Collins, Dugan, Giard (whose appearance guarantees 1927 vintage), Grabowski, Koenig, Meusel, Morehart and Ruether rounding out the names. The ball is toned a pleasing tobacco shade, and all signatures retain an eminently legible boldness of 5/10 to 8/10. Only the finest of baseball autograph collections can boast a genuine '27 Yankees ball. Will your collection be the next? LOA from PSA/DNA. LOA from James Spence Authentication.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19449 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $11,352.50
1914 Jack Barry Game Worn Jersey. We could say that this lot will answer a dream for one serious uniform collector, but that wouldn't really be accurate. Any knowledgeable hobbyist wouldn't even dare to dream of a piece like this--it's just too fanciful, too improbable, too perfect. This extraordinary piece was once the possession of famed collector Barry Halper, and before that it had survived for decades within the family collection of Connie Mack's shortstop in the famed $100,000 Infield. The styling of the jersey allows us to attribute it exactly to the famed 1914 World Championship Philadelphia Athletics, considered by many experts to be the finest ever rostered during the team's two great dynasties in the first half of the twentieth century. Pinstripes were a new development in A's uniforms in 1914, having been free of patterns until that point. And while the style was used in 1915 as well during Barry's final days in Philly, there is little chance that Barry would have been issued a new set for the '15 season. The heavy flannel used in the jersey's construction was built to last, and Barry almost surely wore it both years.

The front of the jersey demonstrates the four-button pullover styling that dominated American League jerseys during the earliest decades of the twentieth century. The elegant letter "A" remains in place over the heart, free of the damage that effects almost all contemporary jerseys' logos and lettering. The heavyweight flannel seems unimaginably uncomfortable for midsummer wear, but has proven its durability by surviving without a single tear to be found. The sleeves are cut a bit unevenly but are still quite long, and we believe this alteration dates from the jersey's era of use. The interior collar offers a complete "Spalding" tag, with the name "Barry" chainstitched just to the right. Here we find a few dark spots, but certainly nothing that causes any problem to the remarkable display value. The jersey is miraculous by its very exist
Auction 705 | Lot: 19903 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $11,352.50
1930's Babe Ruth Single Signed Baseball, PSA NM 7. High-grade orb was likely signed by the Bambino on a St. Louis Browns road trip, as the "Leacock Official League" ball was created by a sporting goods store headquartered in that town. Seven decades later the ball still looks like it just came off a store shelf, with bold stamping and pale white hide. The sweet spot autograph projects wonderfully, mellowed only slightly from the day of the signing. Both the signature and the ball itself have been assigned a grade of NM 7 by PSA/DNA, accounting for the combined score as noted. With top quality Ruth singles continuing to outperform the hobby, a piece like this is always an attractive investment. LOA from PSA/DNA. LOA from James Spence Authentication.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19020 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $10,755.00
1944 Hall of Famers Signed Baseball with Babe Ruth Signed Letter of Provenance. Spectacular lot is best described in the words of the great Bambino himself, whose typed letter to a fan reads, in part, "...I am glad that you are very much interested in baseball and instead of sending you an autographed picture, I am sending you under separate cover a baseball autographed by myself, Eddie Collins, George Sisler, Frank Baker, 'Tris' Speaker, Lefty Grove, Lou Costello, Walter Johnson and Bud Abbott. If you will have your Father or some one cover this ball with white shellac, the signatures will not wear off and you can keep it for an indefinite period..." The letter, on New York City's Hotel President letterhead, is signed at the close in flawless 10/10 fountain pen ink. The baseball of which Ruth writes is an OAL (Harridge) model, featuring each of the inaugural class Hall of Famers and the "Who's on First" comedians that he promises. His advice to shellac the ball was heeded by the young fan, causing somewhat pronounced and uneven toning, but maintaining a boldness of 7/10 or better for Ruth, Speaker, Sisler, Baker and Abbott. Costello, Grove, Collins and Johnson are all still entirely legible, but range from 3/10 to 5/10 instead. Now, over six decades later, one winning bidder will be able to experience the same rush of finding these autographed treasures in the mail as did young Vern Haas from Kalamazoo in August 1944. LOA from PSA/DNA. LOA from James Spence Authentication.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19021 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $10,755.00
1939 Lou Gehrig Retirement Presentational Plaque. The most heartbreaking and inspiring moment in baseball history came on July 4, 1939, when the heroic Iron Horse bade farewell to his fans with the unforgettable words, "Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth." One of the many gifts bestowed upon the departing legend was a silver charger engraved with a poem entitled "American Sportsman," and the names of all of his Yankees teammates. As a special gift to a select group of VIP's, the famed makers Dieges & Clust fabricated a small supply of plaques bearing the same text. This one was presented to Gehrig's close friend and Treasurer of the New York Yankees Frank Linder a few years after that sad Independence Day. A short note on Col. Charles J Dieges' business card, affixed to verso, dedicates it to Linder. The plaque measures 7x13" in size and shows light wear from decades of storage, but nothing that can diminish the tremendous visual and historical appeal. Only those closest to this monumentally important figure owned one of these touching memorials. Will you join that elite group with a winning bid? Letter of provenance from Linder's grandson is included.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19612 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $10,755.00
1889 Sullivan vs. Kilrain Full Ticket. On Monday, July 8, 1889 history was made in the small sawmill community of Richburg, Mississippi. This was the site chosen for the last bare knuckle Heavyweight Championship fight. The Champion, John L. Sullivan agreed to fight Jake Kilrain. The site was somewhat of a secret due to the illegal nature of the sport which at the time was outlawed in thirty-eight states. So this little hamlet 104 miles from New Orleans and three miles south of Hattiesburg became the site. The fight had evolved slowly over time largely due to the long standing animosity between Sullivan and Richard K. Fox of the Police Gazette who backed Kilrain. Fox used the pages of his publication to manipulate and goad Sullivan into the match. A crowd of about 3,000 assembled to see the fight on a blisteringly hot day. Sullivan's corner had William Muldoon and Jimmy Wakely while Kilrain's had Charley Mitchell and Mike Donovan. Bat Masterson was the timekeeper and John Fitzpatrick was the referee. It started at 10:10 a.m. Sullivan went right to work. By the thirty-fourth round Kilrain's nose was broken, his lip was split and one eye was swollen shut. The fight lasted two hours and sixteen minutes. Donovan threw in the sponge in the seventy-sixth to end it. Kilrain just could not go on. Any artifacts from this fight are extremely rare. Few attended and the site was so remote there was little to bring back. Offered here is a very rare full, unused ticket to this historic event. Both names are boldly printed. The ticket is numbered 1390. It has no creases and only minor edge wear. There is a stain on the reverse which does not show through to the front. One of the better examples of this ticket to have surfaced. LOA from Craig Hamilton / JO Sports.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19231 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $10,157.50
1886 New York Giants Cabinet Photograph by J. Wood, Type 1. No other cabinet photograph on earth could possibly offer more nineteenth century Hall of Famers than does this remarkable artifact from the studio of noted lensman J. Wood. Fourteen stunning portraits, many used in the monumentally scarce and valuable 1888 E223 G&B Chewing Gum issue, are utilized in the design paying tribute to the New York Giants in their fourth year of existence. Enshrined at Cooperstown, and present upon this cabinet, are Roger Connor, John Montgomery Ward, Mickey Welch, Tim Keefe, Jim O'Rourke and William "Buck" Ewing. Some scattered staining at lower left and a bit of wear at the top border just right of center must be noted, but our catalog imagery should accurately express just how minor those considerations are, and how little they affect the dramatic visual appeal. You'll very seldom find cabinet photographs that celebrate twelve decades of life in such fine shape, and fewer than ten examples of this particular piece are known to exist in the hobby. Mount is blank and very clean, and likely dates from a later period than the original image. Size is 4.25x6.5".
Auction 705 | Lot: 19524 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $10,157.50
1948-49 Leaf Gum Co. Joe DiMaggio #1 SGC NM/MT 88. Joltin' Joe gets his rightful due as he leads off the most compelling trading card issue of the decade. This flattering distinction typically means trouble when it comes to condition, however, as the first and last cards in the set are exposed to the lion's share of wear. Such is not the case here, however, as the rating of NM/MT 88 has only been topped a single time on the SGC population charts. Clean surfaces, the boldest of color and sharp corners set this representation near the absolute top of the heap.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19813 | Oct 28, 2006

Sold For: $10,157.50

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