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Mickey Mantle 1963 New York Yankees Game-Worn Home Jersey Imagine it is May 22, 1963. You are sitting in the grandstand at Yankee Stadium, rather dismayed that the masterful 7-0 shutout the Bombers had been dominating has degraded into a tie ballgame. The ninth inning ends. Inning 10 goes by. The Yankees retire Kansas City. Bottom of the 11th. Mickey Mantle steps up to the plate. The count reaches 2-2. Your hopes of The Mick crushing one are beginning to fade. And then, something magical happens -- with perfect form, Mantle connects. Both teams rise at the crack of the bat. The white orb rockets upward. Yogi Berra shouts, "That's it!" You wait for it to peak and fall, but it doesn't stop. It is still heading for the clouds when it meets with the gothic facade hanging from the roof of the right field upper deck, 370 feet from home plate and 118 feet above the ground directly below. Deflected from its initial trajectory, the baseball is knocked back into the infield from whence it came. You are so in awe of the feat just witnessed, the thought to cheer for the Yankee victory takes a moment. Had the ball's flight path been unobstructed, it would have soared a minimum of 620 feet. It would have easily cleared the highest seat in Yankee Stadium, and surely the buildings across the street. Geometry has shown that it is not unreasonable to think that the ball could have traveled over 700 feet if air was its only obstacle. Such was the greatness of the man who wore number 7 on his back.

The offered flannel is "The Mick's" Yankees home jersey is from that 1963 season, and may very well be the one Mantle wore on May 22nd. The creme flannel jersey has the famous Yankee pinstripes with navy wool "NY" crest along the left breast and the original "7" on the reverse. It bears the Spalding manufacturer's and size "44" tag with "63" chain stitched below. "Mantle" is chain stitched into a swatch sewn in the collar and the dry clean tags on the interior of the left tail read "Set 1 - 1963". The
Auction 701 | Lot: 19659 | Sep 11, 2004

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1933 Goudey Big League Triple Babe Ruth Uncut Sheet The 1933 Goudey Gum series of 240 was the first major gum card set of the 1930s, and is universally recognized as the most popular and significant set of the era. This magnificent issue includes every baseball star of the day, and is highlighted with three cards featuring Babe Ruth and two with Lou Gehrig. The 1933 set was produced by the Boston-based Goudey Gum manufacturer in ten sheets containing 24 cards each, which were then cut, packaged with a stick of gum, and distributed. Uncut sheets were never meant to survive as such, but were sometimes kept as a memento by a factory employee with a fondness for the game, thus providing our hobby with a few precious examples. These have proven to have great worth even beyond the monetary value of the cards themselves. They have helped show collectors why some of the cards in the set are the more difficult to find in high grade, due to their positioning on these sheets. For example, many cards from the set are inherently off-centered by virtue of being on the bottom edge of the sheet and some are rarely found in high grade because they are one of the corner cards, which could often sustain wear even before leaving the factory. There are still only one or two known examples of most of the sheets in the set, with those being in various stages of distress. The Goudey Gum Company did keep one archetype of each sheet in their files, but these examples have sustained damage to the reverses because they were taped into scrapbooks. The "Triple Babe Ruth" sheet is by far the most impressive of the 10 sheets comprising the set, containing five Hall of Fame players in addition to the three Babe Ruth cards. There are estimated to only be three examples of the Goudey "Triple Babe Ruth" sheet, with one of those having been professionally restored from the Goudey files. Heritage Sports is proud to offer the finest example of a "Triple Babe Ruth" sheet extant of the final production. The sheet measures an
Auction 701 | Lot: 19352 | Sep 11, 2004

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Sandy Koufax 1957 Brooklyn Dodgers Game Worn Road Jersey Curiosity forces us to ask "What if?" That's what a scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers wondered when he saw a young man pitching for the University of Cincinnati who could hurl a blazing fastball, but not control it. "What if he could learn to paint the corners at ninety-five miles per hour?" thought Al Campanis. The answer began to unfold in 1955, when Koufax signed a contract and began playing for the Dodgers. Catcher Norm Sherry felt the man with the golden arm was overthrowing, and suggested to him in 1961 that he "ease off a bit." Taking his advice, Koufax closed out the season with eighteen wins. It was smooth sailing from that point on, as Koufax's over-the-top motion earned him six years that were just as prolific: from 1961 through 1966, the fan-favorite threw four no-hitters (one of which was a perfect game), was named Sports Illustrated's "Sportsman of the Year", and won three (pitcher's) Triple Crowns, two World Series MVP Awards, three Cy Young Awards (two of which were by unanimous voting), and two Hickock Belts (the only man to be the recipient more than once). Arthritic pain brought a premature end to Sandy Koufax's career, and after he gracefully bowed out of the game once the 1966 season had closed, fans were left asking "What if health had smiled with more favor upon the boy from Brooklyn?" It is an issue that many have hypothesized about, frequently concluding that Koufax was the greatest athlete to ever step foot on a mound. Based on what the world saw, it's hard to make a strong counter-argument.

That being said, it is with great pride and excitement that we offer this game used flannel, worn by Koufax throughout the last season that the Dodgers represented the borough of Brooklyn. Serious uniform collectors, who will certainly be chief among those in the hunt for this monumental offering, need no lesson in the rarity of Brooklyn Dodgers flannels. In any auction year, only one or two might m
Auction 701 | Lot: 19658 | Sep 11, 2004

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1911 T206 Ty Cobb Bat Off Shoulder PSA Mint 9 No superlative seems suitably appropriate for a card such as this, a monumentally valuable and impressive piece as rare as a lightning strike on a lottery winner. With fewer than 200 of the well over 30,000 T206's encased in PSA holders bearing a Mint 9 header, and half of this issue grading lower than PSA 5, collectors have been trained to believe that ultra-high quality cards from this most beloved of tobacco issues simply don't exist. And for the most part, they're correct. In 1911, the probable date of this card's birth, Tyrus Raymond Cobb was at the apex of his considerable powers. His league-leading numbers that season are just ridiculous: .420 average, 248 hits, 47 doubles, 24 triples, 127 RBIs, 83 stolen bases! Despite his vicious temperament that likely kept him out of the running other seasons, the American League had no choice but to crown him Most Valuable Player, the only season he was honored as such. Look closely at the image of the Peach, painted close to a century ago, and you can see it in his eyes. Though he stands before a serene background of soft pastel, the stare is one of great determination, the look of whatever it is that was fundamentally different about players like Cobb and Rose that made the thought of failure for them almost too much to bear. It's one of the finest portraits in the long and impressive history of baseball card art. Extending outward from this classic image, we come to four blazing white borders, turning at corners as sharp as they were when the card was slipped into an ancient pack of smokes. The verso is similarly fine, again bearing not even the toning one would expect from any paper product of this vintage, let alone any stains or printing errors. The grade of PSA 9 for a card as desirable as this one may seem a surprise, but close examination will certainly convince any collector that it could merit nothing less. In fact, the only surprise lies in the fact that there is, in fact, one other
Auction 701 | Lot: 19326 | Sep 11, 2004

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1933 Goudey Uncut Sheet of 24 with Five Hall of Famers, including Babe Ruth A true pioneer in the field of bubble gum cards, The Goudey Gum Company of Boston, Massachusetts created some of the most beloved pieces of cardboard ever sealed in wax paper. From Indians to aviators to sports heroes, Goudey Gum packs held treasures for kids throughout the late 1940s. For reasons that may be obvious, portraits of the men who played America's Game have long been favored by children of all ages, and the cards that came packed with Big League Chewing Gum are no exception. Goudey released several sets featuring stars of the diamond, beginning in 1933. Offered here is a rarely seen uncut sheet of 24 cards from that inaugural set, featuring Hall of Fame heroes Charlie "Red" Ruffing, Eppa Rixey, Jesse Haines, Tris Speaker and The Sultan of Swat, himself, "Babe" Ruth. Every previously seen uncut Goudey sheet has measured 14.25" x 11.5" and not exhibited much of a border around the outer cards, whereas this sheet measures 17" x 15.25" and boasts a 1.5" border on the sides and 2" on the top and bottom. The presence of such large borders indicates that this sheet was a proof, sent to someone in Goudey's marketing department to look over and make note of any errors in the extensive white space. The absence of such markings means that this sheet was the final proof, with all cards being printed in its likeness. This sheet grades NM--MT, with slight discoloration of the borders as the closest thing to a flaw. Several spots on the front and back of the sheet have received some color retouching that is only noticeable after intense scrutiny, and in no way detracts from the fantastic eye appeal of this piece.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19351 | Sep 11, 2004

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Ted Williams Game-Used Fielder's Glove Circa 1955 Ted Williams once said, "A man has to have goals - for a day, for a lifetime. That was mine: to have people say, 'There goes Ted Williams, the greatest hitter who ever lived.'" One is forced to conclude that he achieved this, considering he smacked 500 home runs, amassed 2,600 hits, walked 2,000 times, and won two Triple Crowns, all in spite of losing nearly five seasons to military service. Williams is so single-mindedly associated with the art of hitting that one could almost be forgiven for forgetting that he spent half of his baseball life in the outfield, much of it in the shadow of the famed Green Monster of Fenway Park. And while few would argue that anything in Williams' life took precedence over his obsession with hitting, the Hall of Fame Red Sox outfielder was, at his core, a competitor. We hear so often, in that ancient debate, that Williams was the superior hitter, but Joe DiMaggio was the better all-around player. And while fielding percentage surely tells only part of the story, it's interesting to note that after over 4,000 games between these two legends, only .004 separates them.

Baseball players have a special connection to their gloves -- though many will allow a teammate to borrow a bat, a ballplayer who will allow another man to use his glove is a rare breed. A glove is like an extension of a player's hand; when you slip one on, it becomes a part of you. Bats, uniforms, caps, shoes come and go. In each case, it is generally considered that age and use will not improve these things, and so no great sentimentality is typically attached. Only the glove, like fine wine or old friends, improves and becomes more dear to a ballplayer with each passing day, as the leather becomes more supple, conforms to the hand in such a unique way that a Ted Williams glove, for example, could only fit Ted Williams exactly. Like Cinderella's slipper, this glove could only belong to one. Consider the incident a couple of years a
Auction 701 | Lot: 19614 | Sep 11, 2004

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1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253 SGC Mint 96 This card is a favorite of a favorite, as rookie cards are the favorite of most collectors, and Mickey Mantle is the favorite of many collectors. Mantle's rookie is a fantastic piece, because in addition to its scarcity (unlike the Mick's first Topps card in 1952, the 1951 was not a double print), the card has a great image of the Mick's youthful gaze cast forward, perhaps envisioning the storied career that was his destiny. When the slumber of this card was ended and it was removed from its wax pack, the utmost care was obviously used, preserving a Mint example that has been certified as flawless. The corners and edges are untainted razors, the centering and registration are perfect, and the bold colors are as inspiring as Mickey's postseason glory. One of only two representations to achieve the coveted Mint 96 designation, with none grading higher.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19374 | Sep 11, 2004

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Jerry West 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers Game-Worn Jersey Jerry Alan West, aka "Mr. Clutch," won a lot. The co-captain of America's Olympic gold medal-winning team had a storied professional career with the LA Lakers that spanned fourteen seasons. With a shot that was all water, West was on the All-Star Team every year he played in the NBA. He is the third leading scorer of all time with 25,192 points, and retired with the fourth highest scoring average (27.0 ppg) in NBA history. West led the Lakers to the NBA Finals nine times, and thrice took home the Championship trophy. After he closed his locker for the last time and hung up his sneakers, West had a successful career as a coach and front office man. Despite his numerous records that earned him Hall of Fame membership, being selected to the All-NBA First Team ten times (1962-67, 1970-73), the All-Defensive Team four times (1970-73), the NBA 35th Anniversary Team (1980), and the NBA 50th Anniversary Team (1996), perhaps nothing conveys the honor and respect held for Jerry West by those involved with the game of basketball than the use of his silhouette as the NBA logo. It's difficult to imagine a greater honor than having one's image used as a symbol of the game. Offered for your bidding pleasure is a Lakers jersey that clad the team's greatest guard during a magical season in which Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, and the rest of the crew went all the way, and on their journey had a record 33-game winning streak and a then-record 69 wins with only 13 losses. "Lakers" arcs upward across the chest, rising above the fabled number "44" that repeats on verso beneath the legendary surname. The proper "Tiernan" tagging at center front tail shows fabulous, sweaty wear, a theme carried throughout the yellow poly-cotton blend body. Originally obtained directly from Jerry West and destined for one of the hobby's great collections, as any that contained this piece would instantly gain that adjective. LOA from Dan Knoll, Dave Bushing & Lou Lampson/S
Auction 701 | Lot: 19529 | Sep 11, 2004

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1940 Play Ball Joe Jackson #225 GAI Mint 9 The 1940 Play Ball set has long been a favorite among collectors, standing along side the classic, beloved 1933 Goudeys. Gum, Inc. improved upon their 1939 design by adding a banner that displayed the player's name, which was flanked by a glove, bat and catcher's mask. The creativity displayed for the 1940 series made for a phenomenal set, and the inclusion of Old Timers was brilliant. If not for such insightful player selection, the offered card would not exist, as "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, one of the keys of this set, had not played in the Major Leagues for 20 years. Collectors are forced to wonder if Jackson was included, along with other long-retired players, because he was seen as their peer. Other postulations could be made -- perhaps the employees of the Philadelphia-based Gum, Inc. lamented Connie Mack's decision to trade Jackson to Cleveland, and wondered what might have been, had his career been allowed to end where it began, in the City of Brotherly Love. Interestingly enough, the bio on the card's back makes no mention whatsoever of the Black Sox Scandal, and simply notes that Jackson's career ended in 1920. Many a collector's set has a vacancy for #225, especially in high grade, which makes us all the more proud to offer the ultimate specimen extant: no example of this card has been graded equal or higher than this flawlessly mint piece by either PSA, SGC, or GAI. This magnificent example is the the simple definition of condition rarity, as it obviously never encountered the typical printing defects like so many of its compatriots. The corners are as clean as the day that this one was printed over six decades ago, with perfect registration and a flawless reverse. Don't let this one pass you by because you will likely never have a second chance.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19358 | Sep 11, 2004

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1915 Cracker Jack Ty Cobb #30 SGC NM/MT 88 It's that song. "Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks." Who could think of that sticky-sweet snack without the instant mental association to our national pastime? It's impossible. One thing's for certain though -- that sticky sweetness was a poor bedfellow of baseball cards, leaving a good percentage of them coated with gooey spots. Such is not the case here. Perhaps Cobb and sweetness just couldn't possibly go together. Despite the approaching of the card's 90th birthday, there is not a single difference between its appearance now, and its appearance as it slid off the printing press and was sliced to its 2.25" x 3" size. Any so-called "defects" are due solely to the antiquated procedures used in its production, namely the slightly off-balance centering, the few specks of red background paint that edges onto the white borders, and a small darker spot of ink in the red area. The corners are beyond reproach, the surface silky-smooth, the back without a single dot of ink out of place. Only a single card has ever achieved a higher ranking from SGC, and just one more has tied this one. Suffice it to say that this is one of the most rare and desirable Cobb cards on earth.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19335 | Sep 11, 2004

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Rare Tuxedo Tobacco Advertising Sign Featuring Walter Johnson Circa 1910 The Big Train was just a bright-eyed kid when he posed for the magnificent artwork used as he joined fellow Hall of Fame pitcher Christy Mathewson in endorsing Tuxedo brand tobacco. While baseball and tobacco marketing were inextricably linked during the early years of the 20th century, consider the vast array of baseball cards available in smoke shops. All but a very small handful of signs such as this one have been lost forever to the junk heap of time. It has been estimated by hobby experts that this fabulous baseball collectible is one of only two or three examples extant, which is not surprising considering that counter and window displays from this era were usually constructed of very volatile cardboard or paper, and generally would require amazing circumstances surrounding them to survive this long. This piece is such an anomaly, being completely intact, restoration-free and exhibiting tremendous eye appeal despite its technical flaws. The full-color display measures 21" wide by 11" tall and proudly sports a wonderful rendering of "the Big Train" in his prime, along with a testimonial from Johnson stating, "it is the best tobacco I have ever smoked," just above a facsimile signature. The colors are still very visually striking, save where broken by tack/nail holes, creasing or minor tears. These are mostly confined to border and background art areas, except for a 2" x 1" circular tear at the lower neck area of portrait. In all, there are seven small nail or tack holes, one of which has caused a thin vertical 1" tear from the bottom edge of display. There is also a one-half inch tear in the right border and a small area about the size of a dime in the left border that has suffered paper loss on the surface only. Dampness over the years has left areas of darkened staining, but the beauty certainly shines through very effectively even in these places. The most important facet of this incredible item is the fa
Auction 701 | Lot: 19557 | Sep 11, 2004

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Frank "Home Run" Baker 1917-1921 Game Used Bat Of all the colorful nicknames in baseball's old school, there are a few that stand head and shoulders above the rest, such as "The Grey Eagle" (Tris Speaker), "The Cyclone" (Cy Young) and "Death To Flying Things" (Robert Ferguson). As powerful as these may be on the written page, it is highly unlikely that such names were spoken with any sort of regularity. There are a few individuals, however, whose prolific greatness on the field earned them a name that became far more identifiable than the one given by his parents. Frank Baker is the prototypical example of this, as most fans to this day know of him as "Home Run." Even "Babe" Ruth, the favorite home run hero of the 20th century was branded with a nickname based on his youthfulness. Ruth may have been referred to as "The Colossus of Clout" and "The Behemoth of Bust," but the honor of being named after the long ball itself was bestowed on another. Offered here is the war club of the original home run king - an H&B Louisville Slugger Frank Baker World's Championship Model. Within the realm of game used items from the Dead Ball era, there are few that can compare with this offering in terms of desirability. This phenomenal game bat is uncracked and displays tremendous evidence of Baker's trips to the plate showing significant game use and medium ball marks. It displays the remnants of a substance covering the handle that looks to be an early form of pine tar, with all of the manufacturer's stampings remaining distinct and completely intact. Despite the significance of being wielded by "Home Run" Baker while he played with the New York Yankees, this piece must also be recognized as a wonderful piece of folk art. Hand carved by a Hillerich & Bradsby craftsman with lathe marks still visible on knob and barrel, this bat exhibits a gorgeous patina that is slightly amber in color - a worthy collectible that has both historical significance and aesthetic value. It measures 34.5 inches in length w
Auction 701 | Lot: 19593 | Sep 11, 2004

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Willie McCovey's 1959 First Major League Home Run Baseball They say that first love is the sweetest, and if you ask any ballplayer, he'll tell you that the same holds true for the first Major League long ball. After sweating it out in the minors, hitting that first one in "The Show" serves as a special sort of validation and gives you a sense of belonging as you jog unimpeded around the bags. As for that first ball, however, the parting is generally sweet sorrow. A few Big Leaguers have been fortunate enough to dump historic homers into the bullpen or some other restricted area, but more often than not it's pocketed by a fan in the bleachers and never seen again. This was only half true for the rookie McCovey, who delivered this Warren Giles, Official National League Spalding ball into the cheap seats of Seals Stadium in San Francisco on August 2, 1959. As the local paper, the "Chronicle Sporting Green" described it, "...Willie caught a fast ball on the sweet part of both bat and ball and rocketed a line drive to within two rows of the top of the right field bleachers at 385 feet..." But on the receiving end of that blistering blast was a young soldier named Harley Morgan, who, even then, had a sense that he had something special. His testimonial letter recounts the story well:

"On the morning of August 2, 1959, my friend Gene McCarlie and another soldier by the name of Floyd from Fort Worth, Texas got into my VW Bug and left for S.F. right after breakfast and walked into Seals Stadium for 50 cents apiece to sit in the right field stands. As we watched batting practice and both teams warm up, the stands became full beyond their capacity. None of us had ever attended a Major League game and it was big time for us. I am not sure of the inning, as the paper articles are not clear on that, but Willie hit the ball and Gene said, "Here it comes!" It is all about being at the right place at the right time. I stood up, and at 6'4" I am taller than those around me, and the ball came d
Auction 701 | Lot: 19672 | Sep 11, 2004

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1948 Leaf Ted Williams #78 PSA Mint 9 Looking more like Russian propaganda posters than the typical baseball card of the era, the 1948 Leaf set's bold, simple, and yet thoroughly modern design has made it a top favorite among collectors. When you consider that only slightly in excess of 6,000 cards of this issue have passed through PSA's grading service, whereas the first issue of Topps just four years later has seen over ten times that amount slabbed, it becomes clear just how scarce this beautiful set is. This astounding representation of the great Ted Williams' number 76 card takes us one step further toward the pinnacle of the elite, ranking as one of only seven such cards to rest below a Mint 9 banner, with not a single card above. The surface is simply flawless, with full ink coverage of the bold blocks of color that often reveal a defect or two in other cards. Centering is masterful, and the corners strong as the day it rolled off the presses. The verso is equal to the face in quality. You can rest assured that the 1948 Leaf Williams that tops this one simply does not exist.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19365 | Sep 11, 2004

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1915 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson #103 SGC NM 84. It was 1915, the year that this gorgeous card rolled off the assembly line, that saw one the game's greatest hitters ever, traded from Cleveland to Charles Comiskey's Chicago squad. Very few players truly transcend the game. Immortalized here is the legend of Joe Jackson. Here he still wears the cap of Cleveland, his trusty Black Betsy gripped tightly in his calloused farm boy hands, emblazoned against the scarlet background of this beautiful issue. The eye appeal of this card is stunning in every detail, just as the folks at Cracker Jack had envisioned when they produced these astonishing specimens, the most aesthetically pleasing baseball card set of all time. This classic ranks as the second finest such card ever to pass through the SGC service. In the same condition as it was the day it was produced and mint is all aspects, the technical grade dips to Near Mint because of the left to right centering. Yet this specimen displays even better than its impressive Near-Mint designation would suggest with four sharp corners, flawless registration, and bright, bold coloring. This item was undoubtedly obtained through the mail-in promotion, as it is totally void of the sticky candy extract and shows no signs of circulation. To make a long story short, this is a magnificent example of one of the toughest high grade singles in the hobby.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19340 | Sep 11, 2004

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1932 U.S. Caramel Babe Ruth Baseball #32 PSA NM-MT 8 With so many potential pitfalls, with danger swirling all about a card such as this, the existence of one so fine challenges the very laws of probability. Caramel cards themselves are often problematic, falling victim to staining by the product with which they were packaged. Next, we must consider that a Ruth card, dating from the height of his "Called Shot" fame, would have been quite well-loved at the time, and hence bearing the signs of handling by young hands that couldn't possibly have understood the card's destiny of great monetary value. Thirdly, the Babe found himself the final card in this issue of thirty-two, leaving him in real danger of the excess wear generally plaguing the first and last cards in a set. And, finally, lest we forget, the card is over 70 years old! The only hints of the passing decades lie in the mellowing of the white areas to a creamy shade, and perhaps the mildest touch of foxing at the left corners. Centering is quite good for the era, and the corners offer just the slightest touches upon close inspection. The back is very clean. Fewer than 60 have passed through the offices of PSA at all, with only two ever grading higher. They simply don't get much better than this rare offering of "The Bambino".
Auction 701 | Lot: 19350 | Sep 11, 2004

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Mickey Mantle 1968 Game-Worn Pants The great career of Mickey Mantle could have easily ended before it ever really began. Chasing down a fly ball in the 1951 World Series, Mickey pulled up when center fielder Joe DiMaggio called him off, catching his spikes in a sprinkler head in the process and buckling his knee. The injury took him out of the remainder of that historic Series, and pain in that joint would plague him for the rest of his playing days. We're forced to wonder what the great number Seven could have accomplished if he had two good legs beneath him, but in a sense the fact that he played injured, posting more games in pinstripes than any Yankee in history, is part of the reason we loved him. But we all knew he couldn't last forever.

These pinstriped pants are quite possibly the last ever worn in the Bronx by the great, wounded veteran. We imagine that many days throughout that final season he would reach down and rub his bad knee through the flannel, and wonder just how much longer he could keep going. Perhaps these were even the pants the Mick was wearing on Friday, September 20th, when he took Red Sox star pitcher Jim Lonborg deep at Yankee Stadium, and limped around the bases for the 536th and final time. With even the great Mickey Mantle issued only two home and two road uniforms per season, it's certainly not hard to imagine. The visible wear is just tremendous, showing all the attributes of fine use you look for in flannel uniforms. Ancient infield clay is ground into the seat. The fabric in the crotch area is heavily pilled from the friction of running, and the interior waistband is yellowed with sweat. A swatch embroidered "Mantle 68 - 24 ins" is sewn inside the rear interior waistband, and surrounded by a "Wilson" manufacturer's tag, "68" and "7" in vintage marker, and a perfect black sharpie autograph from the man himself. With jerseys from this most beloved of Hall of Fame ballplayer all but inaccessible for under six figures, this is a fine chance to o
Auction 701 | Lot: 19661 | Sep 11, 2004

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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 out of 10, reading, "To Miki, From Babe Ruth." The handsome 31.5", 26 ounce bat exhibits an especially rich, pleasing wood finish and is accompanied by extensive documentation in addition to PSA/DNA, including a photo of Miki with the Ruths, a copy of "Babe" sheet music signed and inscribed "My Darling Miki, Sincerely, Claire Ruth," and a photo of Maxine "Miki" Fisher's tombstone, establishing that Miki was indeed Maxine. The combination of signature boldness and unassailable provenance makes this a titan of the autograph collecting world. LOAs from James Spence & Steve Grad/PSA DNA and Mike Gutierrez/MGA. (Total: 2 items)
Auction 701 | Lot: 19300 | Sep 11, 2004

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The Adolphus Hotel's 1917-1970 Register of Celebrated Guests This leather-bound tome was on hand for the better part of a century to record the signatures of society's crème de le crème who took up lodging at Dallas' European manoresque hotel. Sports heroes, politicians, stage/screen stars, and musicians alike blessed this volume with their John Hancock, which now boasts 424 signatures, neatly spaced out over sixty-plus pages. Our photographs will show that the cover and binding have felt the effects of decades of aging, and the stress of passing through hundreds of famous hands, but the inner pages have maintained their beauty throughout the years and the autographs are uniformly Mint throughout. The cumulative book values on the signatures within move well into the mid five-figure mark, and the following list only touches on a few highlights and is far from exhaustive. Please call for a complete list to be faxed, or see the list published on our website HeritageSportsCollectibles.com.

G.C. Alexander, Amos & Andy, Gene Autry, Jack Benny, James J. Braddock, William Jennings Bryan, Kitty Carlisle Hart, Paul and Dizzy Dean (together), Jack Dempsey, Babe Didrickson, Amelia Earhart, Nelson Eddy, David and Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Lou Gehrig, Hoot Gibson, Red Grange, Walter Hagen (2), Warren G. Harding, Buck Jones, Robert Jones (golfer), Buster Keaton, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, Benny Leonard, Charles Lindbergh (magnificently inscribed, "9-27-27, St. Louis, Mo., non stop New York to Paris"), Huey Long, John J. Pershing, Ronald Reagan, Eddie Rickenbacker (2), Nelson Rockefeller, Knute Rockne, Ginger Rogers, Will Rogers (4), Babe Ruth, John Phillip Sousa (inscribed "Stars and Stripes Forever" with musical notes), Tris Speaker, William Howard Taft, Cornelius Vanderbilt Jr., Lloyd and Paul Waner (together), Johnny Weissmuller (2), Paul Whiteman, W.B. Yeats. LOAs from James Spence & Steve Grad/PSA DNA and Mike Gutierrez/MGA.

Other names include Roald Amundsen, Tommy Armour, Vilm
Auction 701 | Lot: 19179 | Sep 11, 2004

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Rare Ty Cobb Tobacco Tin Circa 1910 The work of companies such as Goudey, Gum Inc., Bowman, and Topps has caused most people to think of baseball cards as a token to be found alongside bubble gum. This is a rather logical supposition, as the pair was married for six decades until the dissolution of their union in the early 1990s. Though perhaps the most enduring, bubble gum was not the first love of baseball cards. Before the gum revolution began by Goudey in 1933, baseball cards had been packed with caramel and other sugary delights. The advent of packaging portraits of baseball players with a product, however, began with something even more indigenous to America than baseball -- tobacco. Smoked by Native Americans for ages before Europeans came to the continent in the 15th century, tobacco's history with our people is longer, though not as storied, as the game of the diamond. This being considered, the obsession collectors have had with the offspring of tobacco products and the game of baseball is perfectly understandable. "T-Cards," as they have been affectionately designated, are the heart of many collectors' passion. Some have pieced together impressive collections of cigarette packs that most likely contain a baseball card. Barry Halper once held spectacular T-205 posters in his possession -- one of Ty Cobb and one of Christy Mathewson. The offered piece is a wonderful collection of all these things. A worthy crown jewel for collectors specializing in tobacco tins, Ty Cobb memorabilia, early 20th century baseball cards or related ephemera, such a piece as this offers a rare opportunity. The general consensus of those in the know posit the existence of approximately five tins such as this, leading one to question whether these were ever released into circulation, or if they were produced for regional distribution. Perhaps they were proofs that never received approval from one side of the table or another. Such is the theory on the Ty Cobb [Red Background] portrait from the T-206
Auction 701 | Lot: 19556 | Sep 11, 2004

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1951 Bowman Willie Mays #305 SGC NM/MT+ 92 Willie Mays played with enthusiasm and exuberance while excelling in all phases of the game- hitting for average and power, fielding, throwing, and baserunning. This lot features one of the most sought after cards in the hobby and it's hard to imagine a finer specimen of the Hall of Fame center fielder's rookie card than this beauty. The centering is phenomenal with creamy white borders that are equal to one another to within fractions of a millimeter. The surface, which is so often a problem with the 1951 Bowman issue, is a strength with this example, free of any print defects and exhibiting bright, bold colors, with stunning original gloss. All four corners are sharp, with a flawless reverse. Don't miss the opportunity to pick up one of the finest examples of the Say Hey Kid's tough 1951 Bowman issue.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19373 | Sep 11, 2004

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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.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19372 | Sep 11, 2004

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1968 Topps 3-D Bob Clemente SGC EX 60 This super-cool and super-rare Clemente test issue card is almost never seen in the hobby due to its limited production and distribution, explaining why only five have ever been slabbed by SGC. This beauty presents Near Mint or better, but has a fraction of paper loss on the reverse corner explaining the EX grade. Just a single representation has ever graded higher from SGC.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19429 | Sep 11, 2004

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Reggie Jackson 1969 Oakland Athletics Game Worn Home Jersey "God, do I love to hit that little round son-of-a-bitch out of the park and make 'em say 'Wow!'" explained Reggie Jackson, and he made them say "Wow" a lot. Five hundred sixty-three times, to be exact, and that doesn't even count those World Series blasts that earned him the nickname "Mr. October." A player with that kind of power, especially when it counts, will never be forgotten, and Reggie's Hall of Fame plaque further assures this fact. While most of us may remember him for that incredible Yankee performance in the clinching Game Six of the '78 Series, when he took three swings, and three free jogs around the bases, there are folks in Oakland who still think of Reggie as theirs -- they even brought him back for his final season, at age forty-one, just to prove it to the world. Their boy was home.

This very special offering is the home white flannel vest worn by a twenty-three year old Jackson during the Summer of Love, 1969 as a member of the Oakland Athletics. Even though, like fine wine, Reggie seemed to improve with age, the fact remains that this season represented the slugger at the height of his slugging powers. Both his home run total (47) and his runs batted in (118) were career highs, as were his 123 runs scored, a league-leading figure. It's no coincidence that he earned his first All-Star nod this year as well. While a scant few representations of this highly desirable style from Reggie's teammates have reached the auction block in recent years, it's important to note that this one stands head and shoulders above the rest, and not just due to its royal lineage. Almost every last Athletics jersey of this era was sent down to the minors for reincarnation, a process which involved removing the logo "A" over the heart and replacing it with that team's insignia. As a result, essentially every jersey you see from this era has a restored "A," or is left with the minor league patch instead. Such is not the ca
Auction 701 | Lot: 19662 | Sep 11, 2004

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Joe Namath 1968 Original Leroy Neiman Painting Unquestionably one of the finest pieces of sports artwork to reach the auction block in quite some time. And, of course, it goes without saying that any work that could back up such a boast would have to come from the hand of Leroy Neiman, the most celebrated sports artist of all time, and certainly one of the most famous living artists in the world. His vibrant, colorful style captures the kinetic energy of athletics better than any other artist could, and while dozens have mimicked Neiman's distinctive brushwork, none could approach his level of mastery. While any painting from this living master is endowed with great value, there are several factors that lift this particular work even higher, among the most desirable of Neiman's sizable oeuvre. Primarily, we must consider the subject, a Hall of Fame hero from the city of New York whose brash, inventive style of play earned him notoriety and admiration far beyond the five boroughs. Next, the handwritten date of "'68" beside Neiman's autograph at lower right sets the piece right at the height of Namath's appeal, the season that ended with a Super Bowl III promise of victory -- which the leader of the underdog Jets delivered. Furthermore, we can see an important stage in the evolution of Neiman's style. The methodology is quite the same as his later works, but scholars of Neiman's art will instantly recognize this as decades old. Finally, the image itself, with Broadway Joe's blue eyes peering out from a chaotic swarm of green, is pure visual poetry. No catalog photograph could possibly do justice -- this piece needs to be seen and studied to be fully appreciated. The oil on artist's board painting measures 19.5" x 28" and has been signed and dated in the lower right corner "LeRoy Neiman '68" with the title "Namath". Mounted and framed to dimensions of 26" x 33".
Auction 701 | Lot: 19456 | Sep 11, 2004

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Alex Rodriguez 1996 All-Star Game Worn Mariners Jersey This isn't just any All-Star jersey -- it's an Alex Rodriguez All-Star jersey. And it's not just any Alex Rodriguez All-Star jersey, it's Alex Rodriguez' first All-Star jersey. We have to admit, we're a bit surprised he would let this one go. Nothing could be more satisfying (short of a Championship ring) than an invitation to the Midsummer Classic, especially for a twenty-year old kid in the very competitive shortstop position. But sure enough, Alex let this one go, and the provenance is just impeccable. There are not one, but two signed letters from Alex himself attesting to the authenticity of the jersey, and a third from an employee of the Scott Boras Corporation, A-Rod's high-powered agent. b On to the jersey itself, which exhibits particularly strong wear, suggesting that it was in regular rotation for Alex before the All-Star break. The grey roadster offers a bold "Seattle" on the chest, with "Rodriguez 3" on verso. The team logo patch on the left sleeve is overshadowed by the ostentatious All-Star Game patch on the right. "Russell Athletic Diamond Collection [size] 48" labeling in the tail rises above a "100% Polyester" flap tag and "96" year strip tag. And finally, Alex offers two modes of display, as he has inscribed both front and back in perfect blue sharpie: "Alex Rodriguez All-Star 96 Gamer." LOA from Dan Knoll & Dave Bushing/SCD Authentic. Additional LOA's James Spence & Steve Grad/PSA DNA and Mike Gutierrez/MGA.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19649 | Sep 11, 2004

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Frank "Home Run" Baker July 12, 1912 Home Run Baseball 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 w
Auction 701 | Lot: 19591 | Sep 11, 2004

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Ted Williams 1958 Boston Red Sox Game-Worn Cap He was thirty-nine years old, had fought in two wars and played through sixteen seasons of Major League baseball, and he was still one of the best players in the game. Though his .328 batting average was far from his career best, it was better than any other American Leaguer in 1958, marking the sixth and final time that Williams would top that chart. He was top ten in home runs, runs batted in, extra base hits and walks, earning the respect of not just the opposing pitchers, but the opposing fans as well. In fact, that was how the Splendid Splinter ended up losing his cap. Williams and his Boston Red Sox were visiting Tiger Stadium in Detroit one summer day when a young man, perhaps having had a few too many in the grandstands during the game, snatched this cap from the head of the Hall of Famer as the players were returning to their respective clubhouses . A thorough examination by the top uniform authenticators confirms the story as the cap is certainly Williams'. The size "7 1/4" stamped in the cracking leather headband is proper for "The Kid," and the "Tim McAuliffe" tagging, with "Boston, Mass" geographical notation, is definitely professional Red Sox issue. Flip the worn headband up, and you'll find a vintage "Williams" in marker penned underneath. It was common for Red Sox caps from this era to be attributed in this style. Condition is admittedly less than perfect, with the worn headband, and cracks in the cardboard of the visor, but there are no tears or stains in the navy blue fabric, or on the red and white logo on the peak, leaving it still quite capable of standing as an impressive display piece. Only upon handling the cap are these defects made apparent, and this artifact should certainly be presented in a locked glass case. After all, just like the man himself in 1958, this cap is still one of the best that there is, and no past hardships could change that fact. LOA from Dan Knoll & Dave Bushing/SCD Authentic.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19613 | Sep 11, 2004

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Barry Bonds 1998 San Francisco Giants Game Worn Jersey With Shirt Well on his way to baseball immortality as the new home run king with nearly 700 round-trippers and counting, this superb gamer represents an amazing piece of our national pastime as well as a very sound investment. The knit home jersey bears the Rawlings label on the left tail reading "48 1 98" denoting the size, set number, and year respectively. "Giants" is sewn across the front of the jersey, with "Bonds" and "25" on the verso which is made up of black and orange tackle twill. A perfect "10" Bonds signature is scripted on the number "5" of the reverse in bold silver sharpie. The upper left breast bears the remnants of the "Until There's A Cure Day" patch in the form of a red ribbon, which was worn on August 9, 1998. The patch has been removed since the jersey was worn after that day as well, but the lot includes a replacement patch for display purposes. This lot also includes Bonds' game worn Giants black turtleneck undershirt with Majestic manufacturers tags and "25" written across the tag in black sharpie. An outstanding lot of one of this generations greatest players and the most prolific long ball hitter in the game. LOA from Dan Knoll & Dave Bushing/SCD Authentic. Additional LOA's James Spence & Steve Grad/PSA DNA and Mike Gutierrez/MGA. (Total: 2 items)
Auction 701 | Lot: 19666 | Sep 11, 2004

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1961 Fleer Basketball Complete Set In High-Grade PSA To call this set "high grade" seems like a tremendous understatement. Perhaps the most collectible basketball issue on the planet, and one of the most popular in any sport, the '61 Fleer set continues to impress over four decades later. One of the reasons that the demand for this elusive set remains so high is the fact that these colorful cards were produced in low numbers, which of course corresponds with a low survival rate. To find the total collection assembled with cards of this caliber goes beyond impressive and actually transcends to such rarity that the set could be labeled unique. The key cards break down as follows: PSA 7 (West), PSA 8 (Baylor, Chamberlain, Cousy, Russell, Wilkins, Chamberlain IA, West IA), PSA 9 (Howell IA, Ramsey). None of the top cards have qualifiers. The balance is overwhelmingly unqualified PSA 8, with six unqualified PSA 7's, and a PSA 8 and two PSA 9's with qualifiers. It wouldn't take much work at all to convert the few stray cards to match the unqualified PSA 8 theme, creating a fun and lucrative project for a collector in search of a challenge.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19515 | Sep 11, 2004

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1971-72 Brad Park Game-Worn Autographed Jersey In the absence of Bobby Orr, Park would have been considered the finest defenseman of his era, and six times as runner-up to Orr for the coveted Norris Trophy for the NHL's top defender probably stung a little less as Park joined Orr in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986. This fantastic New York Rangers sweater dates from Park's first complete season on the Big Apple ice, which would serve as his home for six years to come. The blue knit body offers a stair-stepping "Rangers" that spans the chest, with the Assistant Captain's "A" high above the heart. Number "2" is sewn to each sleeve, and again on the verso. The red and white tackle twill shows the effect of many sweaty performances in the crinkling that comes as a result of the body's salts. The original neck lacing is present, and the neck is one of several areas where there can be found rather serious team repairs. There's no question at all that this one has been through the war. The "Gerry Cosby" and size "50" labels are still hanging on inside the tail. Perfect black sharpie inscription on the front reads, "Brad Park #2, H.O.F 88." Destined for one of the top collections in the world, this is without a doubt one of the finest hockey sweaters to reach the auction block in quite some time. LOA from Dan Knoll, Dave Bushing, & Lou Lampson/SCD Authentic. Additional LOA's James Spence & Steve Grad/PSA DNA and Mike Gutierrez/MGA..
Auction 701 | Lot: 19551 | Sep 11, 2004

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Alex Rodriguez 1995 Game Worn Mariners Rookie Jersey The coveted rookie shirt. In the collecting world, there is none higher, and the universally low availability of representations from top athletes leaves most who seek them out in the cold. This doesn't have to be the case with Alex Rodriguez, however, who seems poised to go down in history as the greatest ever. This teal Seattle Mariners uniform was one of only a tiny handful of gamers utilized during the nineteen-year old shortstop's forty-eight games of action that first season. Silvery "Mariners" spans chest, with the all-important "Rodriguez 3" on the verso. Left and right sleeves offer team logo and Negro League Seventy-fifth Anniversary patches respectively. "Russell Athletic Diamond Collection [size[ 48" label in tail has "100% Polyester" flap tag and "95" year tag below. Light but definite wear. Signed in perfect silver sharpie on verso, "Alex Rodriguez, 1995 Rookie (Gamer)." Certificate of authenticity is signed by Rodriguez himself. LOA from Dan Knoll & Dave Bushing/SCD Authentic. Additional LOA's James Spence & Steve Grad/PSA DNA and Mike Gutierrez/MGA.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19645 | Sep 11, 2004

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Frank "Home Run" Baker May 15, 1916 Home Run Baseball 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 wa
Auction 701 | Lot: 19592 | Sep 11, 2004

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1934 Tour of Japan Team Signed Baseball with Ruth -Gehrig It was a story that had it all. Exotic locales, legendary athletes, international espionage. When the best of this nation's Major Leagues exploded onto the scene in the Land of the Rising Sun, the baseball world was changed forever. Relics from this groundbreaking event seven decades ago are among the most rare and desirable in the hobby, so this team signed OAL (Harridge) ball, featuring autographs from 20 participants, should be held in the utmost reverence. We'll begin with Ruth and Gehrig, fittingly adjacent on a side panel that they share with their Japanese translator Sataro Suzuki and Bob Schroder. The opposing side panel boasts Foxx, Averill, Miller, Mack, Whitehill and Gomez. The catcher and spy Moe Berg heads up the third side panel, joining Sascarella, O'Doul, Gehringer, Warstler, and Doc Ebling. McNair, Quinn, Brown and Hayes fill the fourth. In serendipitous fashion, the Hall of Fame signatures rank the highest in quality, with Ruth, Gehrig, Foxx, Averill, Mack and Gomez averaging 7/10, with none below a 6/10. The lesser stars are slightly the more worse for wear, though all are quite readily legible. The ball is lightly and evenly toned, with no staining or foxing to speak of. It is a piece such as this one that will set a fine collection apart from the rest. LOAs from James Spence & Steve Grad/PSA DNA and Mike Gutierrez/MGA.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19259 | Sep 11, 2004

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1939 Play Ball Joe DiMaggio #26 SGC Mint 96 Only one other card on earth can claim the honor of being slabbed beneath an SGC 96 banner, and neither has ever been topped. If you were to travel back in time, head to the local merchant and start ripping open brand new 1939 Play Ball packs, even then it would take you a long while to pull a card that could hold a candle to this one. Seriously, look at that centering! Perfect! The corners have never felt the caress of a human finger. The whites are bright, the blacks are solid. We would marvel over any 1939 card in such magnificent shape, but a DiMaggio such as this is simply awe-inspiring. A blue chip investment if there ever was one.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19357 | Sep 11, 2004

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1998 Mark McGwire Game Worn Uniform To those who believe that Big Mac's accomplishments in 1998 were somehow diminished by those of Bonds in 2001, we must respectfully disagree. Though McGwire's record was still in diapers when it was felled by Barry, the latter never captured the imagination of the baseball world the way the Sosa - McGwire chase of '98 did. Just like the Babe "saved" baseball after the Black Sox scandal with his thunderous bat, so did the Cardinals slugger after the sport took a big hit from the 1994 strike. It was McGwire who chipped through the hard shell of cynicism that was left behind by the cancelled season and let us look upon the game again with new eyes. While a handful of jerseys from that special season have found their way to the auction block, it's particularly rare to find a shirt with the matching pants, as we have here. The combination offers a greatly heightened opportunity for display, and we would expect that the winning bidder would be shopping for a mannequin as soon as the hammer falls. The shirt offers the most attractive of all baseball logos, with the chenille birds and bat rising above the classically scripted "Cardinals" on the chest. "McGwire 25" is sewn in red and navy tackle twill on verso. Just above the custom-shortened inner tail is the proper "Rawlings" label with "52" and "Set 1 1998" flap tags affixed. The matching pants offer the same "Rawlings" label beside a machine embroidered swatch that reads, "McGwire 25 36-39 37 98." Both pieces show wear that makes us wonder, how many trips around the bases did they take? After all, with McGwire hitting a home run in almost every other game, there is virtually no chance that this uniform could be a long ball virgin. Don't worry too much if you miss out on this one though -- you can always peer at one just like it through plexiglass in Cooperstown. LOA from Dan Knoll & Dave Bushing/SCD Authentic. (Total: 2 pieces)
Auction 701 | Lot: 19667 | Sep 11, 2004

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1911 T206 Rube Waddell Portrait PSA Mint 9 Quality so unexpectedly strong that it's startling. How could this card possibly exist? Of well in excess of 32,000 submissions of this fabled tobacco set, fewer than 200 have achieved the ranking of Mint 9. And this is the one and only Waddell Portrait of 130 submissions to have claimed the prized status. The image of the somewhat mentally unbalanced Hall of Fame pitcher is so clear and crisp that it borders on photographic. The borders and verso are ghostly white, and the corners are deadly. Sourced from the famous Harris Collection of ultra-high grade tobacco cards.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19325 | Sep 11, 2004

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1913 World Series Press Pin Offered here is one of the very earliest World Series press pins in existence. First issued to the media in 1911, these pins have become quite popular with hobbyists, who are drawn to the artistry and history of these unique collectibles. The earliest examples also tend to be the most wonderfully ornate (and certainly the rarest), leaving them the most desirable of nine decades worth of such items. This pin, worn by a journalist fortunate enough to see Connie Mack's Athletics face John McGraw's Giants, offers a brass rectangular plaque at top with the words, "World's Series, Shibe Park, Phila. 1913." An enameled logo of the Baseball Writers Association of America is at center. A blue and white ribbon that drapes beneath it is affixed to a circular medallion below with imagery featuring the team mascot elephant and bats and ball. "American Base Ball Club of Philadelphia" is in gold on the enameled blue perimeter. Condition is wonderful, a very conservative Near Mint. We would not hesitate to claim that this is likely the finest such specimen on earth.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19562 | Sep 11, 2004

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Stan Musial 1951-57 Game-Used Bat An unparalleled representation of a Musial gamer, offered specifically for scholars of game used materials. Dating from a period that saw Stan the Man lead the league in average three times, and appear in every All-Star Game, this Adirondack 15B with block lettered surname on barrel absolutely sparkles with fine use. The barrel is a war zone of ball and cleat marks, and the uncracked handle still shows remnants of ancient tar. It would be hard to imagine a more perfect specimen from this Hall of Fame Cardinal. Adding to the mountain of appeal is the perfect blue sharpie inscription, reading, "Stan 'The Man' Musial, 8/24/94." Length and weight are 34.5" and 32.5 ounces respectively. LOA from Dan Knoll & Dave Bushing/SCD Authentic. Additional LOAs from James Spence & Steve Grad/PSA DNA and Mike Gutierrez/MGA.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19594 | Sep 11, 2004

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1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky #19 PSA Mint 9 This O-Pee-Chee issue is notorious for rough cuts and chipped borders, but this splendid example made it out of the factory unscathed in 1979 and managed to remain in Mint condition for 25 years as 'The Great One' played his way to into the NHL record books. While PSA has slabbed over 1500 of this essential card, only a single specimen has ever topped the grade of this special offering. Frankly, it's hard to imagine what that lone card could have had that this one does not.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19552 | Sep 11, 2004

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Hall of Famers Multi-Signed Baseball with Cobb, Foxx A dozen EX-MT or better ink signatures, and every last one of them comes from a legendary Hall of Famer. This OAL (Harridge) ball, likely signed at a Cooperstown event, offers high-grade autographs from Wahoo Sam Crawford, Ty Cobb, Mickey Cochrane, Jimmie Foxx, Carl Hubbell, Joe Cronin, Frank Baker, Lefty Grove, Ray Schalk, Tris Speaker, Charlie Gehringer and Paul Waner. The ball has toned with age to an attractive, even creamy shade, with perhaps the tiniest hint of foxing which certainly does absolutely nothing to detract from eye appeal. It's a truly impressive ball, sure to be a centerpiece of even the finest signed baseball collection. LOAs from James Spence & Steve Grad/PSA DNA and Mike Gutierrez/MGA.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19260 | Sep 11, 2004

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1986 Fleer Michael Jordan #57 PSA Gem Mint 10 The card. Fewer than one percent of submissions of the most sought-after rookie card of the modern basketball era have earned the honor of a Gem Mint banner from PSA, and we're proud to offer to the collecting public this rare, golden boy. Like a last-second, fall-away buzzer beater to win the Championship, nothing could be sweeter than this first mainstream card that introduced the most exciting player in the game's history to the NBA ranks. Put this one in the safe deposit box and give it to your grandson on his wedding day. It could be worth a house by then.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19518 | Sep 11, 2004

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Alex Rodriguez 1996 Grand Slam Home Run #2 (HR #7) A-Rod had a career-best six runs batted in this May 17, 1996 game, four of which came on his grand slam blast, but it wasn't enough. In truly madcap fashion, the Mariners gave up a grand slam to the Orioles in the bottom of the ninth, letting the Birds walk-off the field as 14-13 winners. But even a heartbreaking loss like that couldn't dampen the appeal of this OAL (Budig) ball, clubbed over the wall by the young superstar A-Rod to clear the bases in Baltimore. The ball shows wonderful use, and is inscribed in perfect blue ink, "Alex Rodriguez, 1996, Grand Slam ball #2, 5-17-96." This is one of the earliest Alex Rodriguez home run baseballs ever to reach the auction block, and we're quite sure that the only A-Rod grand slam ball to precede this one is lost to the ages. As such, this is a particularly rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own something truly special from the game's greatest athlete. Letter of authenticity is signed by Rodriguez himself. LOA from Dan Knoll & Dave Bushing/SCD Authentic. Additional LOA's James Spence & Steve Grad/PSA DNA and Mike Gutierrez/MGA.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19653 | Sep 11, 2004

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1951 Bowman Willie Mays #305 PSA NM-MT 8 The 1951 Bowman issue is typically plagued with printing dots, but not this one. Often registration is less than ideal, but here it's flawless. This Mays exhibits great gloss, four perfect corners, and a back as clean as an operating room. The centering is 60/40 top to bottom, but dead-on left to right. This is not your typical 8. You can believe that. Of the 60 Mays rookies slabbed in PSA 8 cases, it's doubtful that any could beat this beauty in a head to head fight.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19371 | Sep 11, 2004

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1963 Topps Pete Rose Rookie #537 SGC Mint 96 "Charlie Hustle" was always a fan favorite for his all out style of play and this extraordinary example of his 1963 rookie card will undoubtedly be a fan favorite as well. This beauty displays four sharp corners with vibrant color, and strong gloss. While centering is typically a problem for this issue, it is not in this instance as this represents one of the finest specimens ever slabbed by SGC. There really isn't too much to say, other than to heap praise upon this 41-year old marvel. Corners, gloss, centering, verso--it's all as good as it gets.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19413 | Sep 11, 2004

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Tom Brady 2001 Game-Worn Rookie Helmet The Cinderella season! The young rookie, having passed for only six yards in three attempts during the 2000 season, takes the reins of the New England Patriots and leads them to the Super Bowl Championship. This historic helmet shows strong use from the rookie/Championship year, with scrapes and gouges to the outer shell, and sweat-stains on the interior VSR-4 padding system. Number "12" is affixed in proper decal font to the rear shell above the Patriots bumper. A NFL American flag and warning sticker are on the lower rear shell. Number "12" in marker beside inner right ear hole, along with the velcro patch that once held the radio transmitter. The clear clips holding the face mask are stamped with the date "4-01." Original chin strap. Now that he's won two, we have to wonder if this kid is going to end up as one of the game's true immortals. LOA from Dan Knoll, Dave Bushing & Lou Lampson/SCD Authentic.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19514 | Sep 11, 2004

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1888 N29 Allen & Ginter Buck Ewing GAI NM-MT 8 Global Authentication Inc. makes note on its header that this is the first such Buck Ewing specimen they have graded, and they certainly broke the ice with this extraordinary example. Printed in a season that saw the Hall of Fame catcher lead his New York Giants to a World Championship, this rare representation presents a strong Near Mint to Mint throughout with a bold image of Ewing and showing very little wear considering its 116 years on Earth.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19315 | Sep 11, 2004

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Baseball 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253 SGC NM/MT 84. The Mick's image jumps right out at you and you're hard pressed to find a single print dot on the card. This strong example has four very nice corners showing virtually no wear, spectacular colors featuring the deepest, boldest blue imaginable on his hat, perfect focus and picture registration with bright, vibrant background coloring. The reverse is flawless and free of wax staining. Here's your rare opportunity to acquire the rookie card of one of baseball's true immortals, Mickey Mantle. Truly important cards like this one never go out of style.
Auction 701 | Lot: 19370 | Sep 11, 2004

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