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1926 Jack Dempsey Heavyweight World Championship Belt. William Harrison Dempsey was born in the small mining town of Manassa, Colorado on June 24, 1895. The town itself had only been founded seventeen years earlier, by Mormon settlers who arrived from the south through Pueblo fleeing persecution because of their faith. It certainly seemed like an unlikely setting for the birth of one of the most important sporting figures in American history. Dempsey lived the barnstorming life of a hobo in his late teens and took up fighting in various Colorado mining towns, mostly under the name of "Kid Blackie." His first fight was in 1912, a knockout of Fred Wood. It is possible Dempsey fought as many as 100 fights in this early period, all unrecorded.

By 1914, boxing became a more serious business for Dempsey. He took on many fighters in places like Salt Lake City, Provo, Cripple Creek and Ogden. In 1916 he fought Australia Joe Bonds in Ely, Nevada and was spotted by Bonds manager, Jack Kearns who saw talent. Under the leadership of Kearns, Dempsey would begin to emerge as a real threat to serious contenders and the Champion, Jess Willard. He posted victories over Gunboat Smith, Bill Brennan, Billy Miske. Fred Fulton, Carl Morris and Battling Levinsky.

On July 4, 1919 Dempsey got his shot at the title when he met Willard under a blistering sun in Toledo, Ohio. At 6' 6" and 265 pounds, Willard was by far the bigger man. Dempsey however, was by far the better fighter. In a completely one-sided match, Willard was repeatedly knocked down before finally succumbing in the fourth round. Following two defenses against Miske and Brennan, Dempsey took on the famous Frenchman, Georges Carpentier on July 2, 1921 in Jersey City. In the first million dollar gate in boxing history, Dempsey stopped the smaller, but game Carpentier in the fourth. On July 4, 1923 Dempsey again retained his crown, winning a fifteen-round decision over Tommy Gibbons in a small Montana town, a fight forever immortaliz
Auction 702 | Lot: 19262 | May 14, 2005

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1940's Babe Ruth Single Signed Baseball. The Alpha and Omega in sports artifact collecting, the beginning and the end. The value of the Ruth single has continued to rise with the consistency of the morning sun, so educated collectors hardly even see the purchase of one as an expense--rather an investment, a conversion of liquid capital into something akin to a blue chip stock or bond, though with a far greater emotional appeal. And while any investment in a Ruth piece is a wise one, the smartest money is on high-grade autographs such as this. Lesser specimens are more likely to trade hands several times over a lifetime, whereas balls like the one offered here tend to find a home for years, even generations, so that the supply of available top-end singles continues to wane. So if you have the capital to invest, we would suggest that you consider this cream-toned OAL (Harridge) ball with the unmistakable 9/10 black ink signature of the game's greatest figure on the sweet spot. Place it in an airtight container in your bank's safe deposit box, or lock it behind UV-resistant glass in your office or den. It will make money for you right before your eyes. It's the safest bet in the market. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19011 | May 14, 2005

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1973 Secretariat Triple Crown Worn Bit & Bridle. Secretariat was destined for greatness from the moment he was conceived, a convergence of top racing bloodlines and brother of Sir Gaylord, who had been favored to win the 1962 Kentucky Derby before coming up lame in a pre-race training session. It quickly became clear, as the chestnut colt matured into his prime, that Secretariat may well be Sir Gaylord's superior, and before the horses had even lined up at the starting gate for the 1973 Kentucky Derby, the whispers in the Louisville crowd seemed to echo with the prediction that Secretariat would soon wear the Triple Crown. And for once, those whispers were correct.

Presented here is one of the most remarkable artifacts from the Sport of Kings ever to reach the auction block, the bit and bridle worn by the greatest racehorse of all time in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, races won by Secretariat to secure the elusive Triple Crown. It derives directly from the Collection of Meadow Stables and Penny Chenery, owner of Secretariat, and was originally sold through the famous Sotheby's auction of horseracing artifacts. The blue and white coloring should be instantly recognizable from race films, and Secretariat's victory by thirty-one lengths to secure the Triple Crown at Belmont should give an unobstructed view of the bridle and bit in action.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19206 | May 14, 2005

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1938 Henry Armstrong Ring Magazine Triple Championship Belt. Henry Armstrong was born Henry Jackson on December 12, 1912 in Columbus, Mississippi, the eleventh in a line of fifteen children. His father, Henry Sr. was of Irish, Indian and African American descent. His mother, America Armstrong, was half Cherokee Indian. The family moved to St. Louis, Missouri when Henry was four. His mother died when he was six and he was raised by his paternal grandmother who insisted on Henry obtaining an education. Henry excelled in school and was voted class president and was eventually the valedictorian of his graduating class. After school, Armstrong took jobs as a laborer with the Missouri railroad and as a shoe shine boy. In 1931 he met a fight manager named Tom Cox and began his amateur career. During this time he knocked out sixty-six opponents and never lost a fight.

Henry turned professional in 1932 and quickly established himself as one of the best fighters in his weight class. He was also one of the busiest, often taking fights only days apart. Throughout his career he earned the nicknames of "Homicide Hank," "Perpetual Motion," and "The Human Buzzsaw." In 1936 he defeated Baby Arizmendi to claim a portion of the World Featherweight Title. After defeating notable fighters, Mike Belloise, Benny Bass and Frankie Klick, Armstrong took on Pete Sarron on October 29, 1937 and stopped him in six rounds to unify the World Featherweight Title. On May 31, 1938 Armstrong moved up in weight and defeated the great Barney Ross in fifteen rounds to win the World Welterweight Title. In his very next fight, only two and a half months later, he incredibly dropped down in weight and won a fifteen round decision over Lou Ambers on August 17, 1938 to win the World Lightweight Title. This incredible fighter had accomplished what most observers thought impossible. He had won three world titles in three separate weight classes and held the titles at the same time. Armstrong retired in 1945 after winning
Auction 702 | Lot: 19273 | May 14, 2005

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1958 Cassius Clay Golden Gloves Fight Worn Trunks. Given Muhammad Ali's status as Sportsman of the Century, a title bestowed upon him by the definitive athletic periodical "Sports Illustrated," a strong argument could be made that this fantastic relic represents one of the most important pieces in the sports memorabilia collecting hobby. Baseball's equivalent would be Babe Ruth's Baltimore Orioles jersey. In football, perhaps Red Grange's earliest University of Illinois jersey could compare. And while these hypothetical "Holy Grail" garments almost certainly have long since returned to the earth from whence they came, somehow the trunks worn by the sixteen-year old Cassius Clay as a Golden Gloves competitor have managed to live on. Heritage is supremely honored to offer the earliest known Muhammad Ali fight worn trunks here today.

A full six years before Cassius Clay wrested the title of Heavyweight Champion from the grip of underworld goon Sonny Liston at the Miami Beach Convention Hall, the boy who would be "The Greatest" suited up in these white satin trunks as he battled to a victory in the the Light Heavyweight division of the Chicago Golden Gloves Championships on March 5, 1958. Though his greatest amateur achievement would come two years later as he claimed the Light Heavyweight Gold Medal at the Rome Olympic Games, this 1958 Golden Gloves win was his first real taste of boxing glory, a fact that he proudly noted with his black ink inscription on the right leg, reading, "To Mary From Cassius Clay, Champ! 1958." This autograph is obviously one of the earliest known from Ali, if not the very earliest, bar none. It remains in strong 8/10 condition in terms of boldness.

The trunks are otherwise charmingly and properly nondescript, appropriate for a poor kid from Kentucky trying to make good. The blue waistband has faded to a cool purple, and where the center label was removed appears a block-lettered "CLAY." Penned in the same block lettered style on
Auction 702 | Lot: 19287 | May 14, 2005

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1974 Muhammad Ali Fight Worn Trunks from Frazier II Bout. On January 28, 1974 at New York's Madison Square Garden Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fought for the second time in their careers. The two had fought at the same venue in 1971 with the heavyweight title at stake. In that spectacular fight Joe Frazier knocked Ali down in the final round, winning a unanimous decision and handing Ali's his first defeat as a professional. Since that first fight Frazier had lost his title to powerful George Foreman. This rematch with Ali was to determine who would be Foreman's next opponent. The fight lacked the drama of the first meeting, but not the action. When it was over Ali emerged with a hard fought unanimous twelve round decision, although a number of observers at ringside thought Frazier had won. Presented here are the fight worn trunks of Muhammad Ali from this historic bout. The trunks are white satin with black trim and include a manufacturer's label for "EVERLAST" which reads, "Made Expressly For Muhammad Ali." Following the fight these trunks were presented to George Killian, a nearby resident of Deer Lake where Ali maintained his training camp for this fight. Mr. Killian was a long time friend of Ali who had visited there on numerous occasions while the camp was active. Mr. Killian presented the trunks to long time Ali collector Pete Morkovin, who has supplied a detailed explanation as to how he acquired the item. The trunks show moderate wear, but are perfectly intact and are in overall very good condition. Here's a rare offering from the second bout in Ali's most famous fight trilogy. LOA from Craig Hamilton/ JO Sports.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19308 | May 14, 2005

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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 200 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 to 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.

Presented here is a Championship sash belt which forma
Auction 702 | Lot: 19246 | May 14, 2005

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The Finest 1951 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball Known, PSA Mint 9. In post-war New York Yankees autograph collecting, it simply doesn't get any better than this. While many immortal World Championship squads have called the Bronx home in the past six decades, the 1951 team brings something to the table that no other pinstriped crew could match: the single-season convergence of the Yankee Clipper and the Commerce Comet. As the torch was passed at the center of a thirty-three year stretch that found one of these two top-tier Hall of Famers occupying the center field grass of Yankee Stadium, only a small quantity of baseballs offering genuine signatures from both was produced. Often DiMaggio, one of the most famous men in the country in 1951, would turn over signing duties to clubhouse assistants. And the rookie Mantle struggled considerably in his first season, and spent more than a third of it training in the minors. Any 1951 team ball blessed by authentic autographs of both Mantle and DiMaggio is held with the highest reverence in the collecting community as a result.

This, however, is not just any such ball. Surely the catalog images express this sentiment very well, and should adequately back our claim that we present here the most desirable 1951 Yankees team ball on earth. The OAL (Harridge) sphere remains all but untouched by the passing of fifty-four years since its creation, with the pale horsehide of its surface mellowing only a fraction of a shade from its original brilliance. The autographs themselves, all twenty-six of them, are comparably free of signs of aging, looking for all the world as if they were signed only minutes ago. DiMaggio's gorgeous signature finds its proper home on the sweet spot, as the nineteen-year old Mantle pays his dues as one of the masses on a side panel. Among his teammates present: Berra, Houk, Rizzuto, Dickey, Burdette, Mize, McDougald (1951 ROY), Reynolds, Lopat and Stengel. Not a single signature falls below 9/10 in
Auction 702 | Lot: 19347 | May 14, 2005

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1958 Spectacular Mel Ott Single Signed Baseball, PSA NM-MT 8. Of all the milestones of immortality that dot the baseball landscape, none quickens our pulse quite the way the 500 home run mark does. Pitching may win ballgames, but the long ball wins hearts, and there isn't a little leaguer alive who hasn't dreamed of knocking one out of a big league park in the clutch. Fortunately for collectors, most of the Club is quite readily available on singles. Mantle, Mathews and Williams are gone, but they left a good supply behind. Ruth is likewise quite easy to locate, though pricier. Jimmie Foxx is very tough, yes, but the prize for toughest of them all goes to the man who made the right field bleachers of the Polo Grounds his personal landing pad for twenty-two seasons, the immortal Mel Ott. So we're proud to present one of the finest Ott singles known in the hobby, slabbed for posterity by the good folks at PSA with the chart-topping figure of NM-MT 8. The blue ink inscription to a young fan, reading "To Tommy, Best Wishes, Mel Ott" fills the side panel of this OAL (Harridge) ball with the same sort of boldness it held close to fifty years ago, and the ball has mellowed only a half shade to a creamy tone. The year "1958" is penned discreetly on the "Reach" logo of the ball, invisible upon display. Search for years and you won't find an Ott that's nicer. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19016 | May 14, 2005

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1987-88 Michael Jordan Game Worn Uniform. The 1987-1988 season was a defining one for Michael Jordan. His first three years in the league saw him ascend to the cusp of N.B.A. royalty, but there were some who still regarded him strictly as an electrifying player who put more stock in the number of points he scored rather than the number of games his team won. Michael changed quite a few minds in 87-88, leading the Bulls to a 50-32 record, and getting them out of Round One of the playoffs for the first time since his arrival in Chicago. His performance in the first round of the playoffs against Cleveland, where he averaged forty-five points per game, is the stuff of which legends are made.

Like a great film at the Oscars, when it came to award time, Jordan swept all categories. First team All-N.B.A. for a second consecutive year, League Most Valuable Player, and Defensive Player of the Year. The All-Star Game was held in front of his hometown Chicago fans that year, and he did not disappoint, walking away with M.V.P. honors and, of course, retaining his title as Slam Dunk Champion, with the famous leap from the free throw line which is the source of one of the most famous basketball images ever. Jordan was wearing his road jersey during the dunk contest, and for all we know, this was the one he had on. It was one of the most remarkable seasons in N.B.A. history, and judging by the use on this complete uniform, Michael worked very hard for the accolades he received that year.

This complete Chicago Bulls road uniform show as much wear as we have ever seen on a modern basketball jersey, clearly having seen hundreds of minutes of floor time during its tenure in Mike's wardrobe. The uniform was so saturated by the sweat of hardwood royalty that some of the white areas of the jersey are stained to a light gray. The supremely memorable number "23" is screened in bold black and white on chest and verso, where the words "Bulls" and "Jordan" are announced respe
Auction 702 | Lot: 19172 | May 14, 2005

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1928 Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig Barnstorming Memorabilia Collection. Just six days after avenging their 1926 Series defeat with a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals to capture the World Championship, the two linchpins of the famed Murderer's Row found themselves in a small Quebec town for an early stop on their famed "Bustin' Babes and Larrupin' Lous" barnstorming tour. There they were greeted by a crowd of thousands at Hull, Quebec's Dupuis Parc, and received a hero's welcome from the town's mayor Theo Lambert, from whose estate this magnificent collection derives. Any of the four pieces that comprise this lot could stand perfectly well on its own at auction, but we keep this remarkable quartet as a complete ensemble for the Ruth and Gehrig collector who seeks to bring something very special and unique to his trophy room. The four pieces are as follows:

1) A large (14x22") broadside for the event featuring a small image of the Babe and the text, "Parc Dupuis, Hull, Babe Ruth et Lou Gehrig avec 2 clubs All Stars de Montreal, Lundi 15 Oct. a 3.00 P.M." Very minor age toning at top and bottom only serve to add to the vintage patina, but the poster is entirely devoid of creasing, tearing or staining and displays magnificently. Certainly one of the finest broadsides of any type we have seen from the decade, both in terms of condition and collecting appeal. Matted and framed to a museum quality 21x29" in size.

2) A fantastic vintage 8x10" photograph of Gehrig and Ruth in uniform flanking mayor Lambert, with a packed grandstand of Canadian fans behind them. The shot is masterfully rendered, offering a clarity and contrast so superior that we can discern the wrinkles in the Babe's forehead and the individual strands of chicken wire that separate the fans from the action. Lambert's black bowler hat (see number 3) is perched rather comically on the Babe's head, and Lambert has taken Gehrig's game worn "L.L." cap to wear in its place. In Lambert's right ha
Auction 702 | Lot: 19325 | May 14, 2005

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1940's Babe Ruth Signed Baseball. "Exceptional" does not begin to describe the quality of the autograph resting between the seams of this OAL (Harridge) ball, looking not a moment older than it did when it was placed there by the biggest sports star of the twentieth century. Its home, an equally flawless, creamy white Official ball, is worthy of similar commendation. Compare the quality of the Ruth signature and that of the ball itself to singles selling in the past two years, and you'll find it among very limited and expensive company. Equally strong on adjacent panels are the signatures of A.B. "Happy" Chandler and Ewell Blackwell, who likely joined Ruth at a baseball banquet or similar event--the careful and pronounced signatures of all three certainly suggest that these were not hurried scribbles for a teeming ballpark crowd. In short, you could search the rest of your life for a more perfect signature from any of these early stars on a baseball, and die unsuccessful. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19008 | May 14, 2005

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1960's Roberto Clemente Single Signed Baseball, PSA Mint 9. Top autograph expert Steve Grad of PSA/DNA was just blown away by this one, and that's a guy who's literally seen it all. Your eyes are not deceiving you, nor is our photograph--the inscription and signature, "To Rickey & Bruce, Best Wishes, Roberto Clemente," really is as dark and bold as it appears, an eleven on a scale of one to ten. An unblemished, creamy white ONL (Giles) ball serves as the ideal home for this paramount Clemente specimen. No superlative could adequately capture just how spectacular this ball is, though the label on the hermetically sealed cube reading PSA Mint 9 should begin to tell the tale. A piece for the collector who demands nothing but the very best. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19033 | May 14, 2005

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1924 Christy Mathewson Signed Check. The legendary New York Giants pitcher's brilliant career and early death make his autograph among the most desirable and rare for serious autograph hounds. Particularly intriguing is this check drawn from Mathewson's "Adirondack National Bank" account on September 20, 1924, and made payable to "T. Finnigan" for the amount of $118.40. All writing is in the founding Hall of Fame member's elegant hand, and rating 10/10 except for the digits "44/100" and the final three-quarters of Mathewson's signature, which were brushed by an errant hand before the ink had fully dried. Two vertical folds at the center of the check do nothing to detract. With most collectors realizing the investment value of such a scarce and important artifact as a Mathewson signature, there will soon be almost none available at public sale. Don't miss your chance. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19059 | May 14, 2005

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1927-28 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball with G.C. Alexander. We'll never know the complete history of this exquisite sphere, but the appearance of St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famers G.C. Alexander and Frank Frisch on this otherwise purely Yankee ball leads us to assume that it was signed at the 1928 World Series, when the Bronx Bombers avenged their 1926 loss to the red birds in a four-game sweep. There are, however, a couple of Yankees present that retired after the 1927 season (Shawkey and Ruether), and a third that first appeared in pinstripes in 1929 (Funk). A few other signatures are nowhere to be found in reference material, and may be batboys, trainers. The rest, however, are pure Murderer's Row, featuring some of the biggest names ever to put pen to horsehide: Ruth, Gehrig, Huggins, Lazzeri, Combs, Hoyt, Bengough, Meusel, Moore, Dugan and the coveted Urban Shocker. Signature quality is just about as strong as the quality of talent, with not a single autograph dropping below 7/10, and several clocking in at 9/10 or better. OAL (Barnard) ball is evenly and attractively toned to a light shade of beige, leaving the autographs in perfect contrast. Whether you like this ball for the majesty of Ruth and Gehrig, or the scarcity of Alexander, Huggins and Shocker, you certainly won't be disappointed if the auction hammer falls on your high bid. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19324 | May 14, 2005

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Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle, Maris & Ted Williams Signed Baseball. The collecting equivalent of the Playboy Mansion, offering the best of the best all in a single geographical location. The magic begins with a sweet spot signature from the great Bambino, rating a very legible and respectable 5/10 to 6/10. Traveling eastward, we encounter his trusted sidekick Lou Gehrig, whose signature offers the same fine quality of ink. Framing the Babe's signature from the north and south are the signatures of the M&M boys, with Mickey and Roger each clocking in at 6/10 to 7/10 in darkness and legibility. Ted Williams is a shade or two lighter to the west of Ruth, though still quite ably keeping pace with his fellow legends. Two more Hall of Famers share the spotlight as well: Sam Rice, who rates a 4/10 to 5/10, and Bob Feller, whose blue ink signature is the darkest of all at 9+/10. Two more lesser players also appear, but couldn't possibly detract from this one-of-a-kind treasure. Serious autographed baseball collectors take notice--dreams sometimes do come true. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19005 | May 14, 2005

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Circa 1920 Ray Chapman Signed Artwork. The date was August 16, 1920, and the twenty-nine year old Cleveland Indians shortstop Chapman stood at the plate in Manhattan's Polo Grounds facing tough right-hander Carl Mays of the New York Yankees. Chapman was notorious for crowding the plate, while Mays was an inside pitcher, unafraid to plunk a batter who got too comfortable. On that day, the combination proved deadly. Chapman froze in the face of a high and tight pitch and was felled with a loud crack to the skull that resonated throughout the cavernous New York City ballpark. Chapman never regained consciousness, and died the next day from his injuries. Offered here is a simply remarkable autograph from the only man killed in Major League Baseball action. The black ink inscription, "Ray Chapman, Cleveland B.B. Club" rates a perfect 10/10, and finds a home on a wonderful work of art from noted silhouette artist Beatrix Sherman, whose autograph is also present. The detail of the artwork is just astounding, considering that it was hand-cut from a piece of black paper, with even the wisp of the eyelashes included. Recently Sherman's silhouette of Harry Houdini, signed by the famed magician, sold at auction for $8,000, while other works portraying such luminaries as President Roosevelt, Harding, Coolidge, Mary Pickford, Geraldine Farrar and the Prince of Wales have commanded similar sums. Top autograph expert and PSA/DNA frontman Steve Grad notes that this is one of fewer than five known examples of Chapman's signature, and the only known signed image. He also unhesitatingly proclaimed this autograph to be the "most pristine" of the tiny population. The white card onto which the silhouette was glued and the signatures were placed measures 3.75x5.5", and shows just the slightest bit of unobtrusive edge wear. An exceptional piece, of which only the finest baseball autograph collections could be truly worthy. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19057 | May 14, 2005

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Enormous Baseball Signed Postcard Collection (900+). This vast and varied archive from a fervent New England autograph collector uses George Burke photographic imagery on postcards as the medium for autographs from the biggest stars of the 1920's-50's. The cards remain in spectacular EX to NRMT or better condition, with their ink or sharpie autographs averaging 9+/10. Far too many to itemize, but the highlights include: Alston, Appling, Averill, Berra, Boudreau, Chandler, Carey, Conlon, Cronin, Coveleski, Joe DiMaggio, Dickey, Doerr, Durocher, Feller, Ferrell, Gehringer, Greenberg, Gomez, Grimes, Herman, Hoyt, Hubbell, Travis Jackson, Kell, Kelly, Lemon, Lopez, Lyons, Mize, Musial, Newhouser, Reese, Rizzuto, Ruffing, Sewell, Slaughter, Snider, Spahn, Terry, Lloyd Waner, and Ted Williams. Almost all of these are offered in some quantity, often significant quantity, and typically featuring different several images. For example, there are eight Greenberg signed cards, nine DiMaggios and four Williams. Over 195 Hall of Fame autographs in all! There are some fine names among those not enshrined at Cooperstown too, among them Mickey Owen, Preacher Roe, Allie Reynolds, Mickey Vernon, Ed Lopat, Johnny Vander Meer, George Pipgras, Luke Sewell and countless more. With our limited time, it's very possible that we missed some great "sleepers" in these massive stacks of postcards. A tiny percentage, and almost none of the Hall of Famers, have personalized their signatures to "Loring," but again this figure is negligible. Autograph collectors and eBay enthusiasts will certainly want to take notice of this gigantic opportunity. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19101 | May 14, 2005

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1977 Muhammad Ali Fight Worn Shoes. Historic footwear carried the boxing legend through his last successful title defense, a fifteen round decision over the hard-punching Earnie Shavers on September 29, 1977 at Madison Square Garden. Though Ali emerged as the victor this night, the fact that he was staggered on several occasions by the the prohibitive underdog led many to believe that Ali had overstayed his welcome in the fight game, and three losses in his final four fights to come seemed to prove them right. Acquired directly from the Champ's longtime trainer and cornerman Wali Muhammad, the size thirteen white leather "Mitre" shoes are all original, right down to the laces and show the proper wear. "ALI" can be found in markered black block lettering inside each shoe. Ali's star continues to rise a quarter century after he hung up his gloves, with no end in sight. These important relics represent the end of an era that will certainly be honored for decades to come. Letter of provenance is from Wali Muhammad. LOA from Craig Hamilton/ JO Sports.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19311 | May 14, 2005

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Early 1920's Christy Mathewson Handwritten & Signed Document. Matty is an autograph on just about every Hall of Fame collector's wish list, and for very good reason. It's the simple rule of supply and demand. The Hall of Fame right hander's death from pneumonia in 1925, the result of lungs weakened by a World War I poison gas incident, has made his signature an extraordinarily scarce commodity. And the demand? As the most dominating pitcher of the dead ball era, Mathewson posted 373 wins against just 188 losses, representing baseball's premier team as the star of John McGraw's New York Giants. Only a handful of players could match his appeal, and those few are significantly more accessible. In short, everybody wants Mathewson, and almost nobody has him.

We'll change that for one lucky collector as we offer one of the most incredible Mathewson pieces to hit the auction block in recent memory. Acquired through the mail in the mid-1960's from Matty's widow is this clipping from a "The Pennsylvania R.R. Co." stock certificate, filled out entirely in the legendary pitcher's hand and bearing the monumentally scarce "Christopher Mathewson" signature. The slip of paper is 2.25x7" in size, but its importance and allure is immeasurable. It's certainly one of a hypothetical tiny handful of autographs bearing Mathewson's complete given name that could possibly exist, and all ink rates an unimprovable 10/10. A single vertical fold at center is essentially invisible and does nothing to detract, and his wife's 1935 handwriting on verso regarding the sale of stock is also invisible upon display.

Included with this important document fragment is the accompanying handwritten letter from Mathewson's widow to the 1960's autograph collector, noting "Your letter was forwarded from Cooperstown. I am sorry that I have nothing but this enclosed record to give you. This is written in my husband's own writing. It is about the last specimen of his handwriting that I possess." L
Auction 702 | Lot: 19058 | May 14, 2005

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1934 Babe Ruth Single Signed Baseball. The exceptional condition in which this seven-decade old ball finds itself today is an obvious testament to the pride of ownership felt by the woman to whom it was awarded during a stop on the famed 1934 Tour of Japan. Lost to history is the nature of the contest for which this ball was the prize, but the finely scripted dedication is still as beautiful as a Hawaiian sunset, reading, "To Miss Dorothy Mookini, Lahaina, Maui, Contest Winner." As the eye travels lower, it encounters the fine (7/8 of 10) autograph of baseball's biggest star, framed perfectly between the stitches of this "Amateur League" sphere. The ball is lightly and evenly toned, offering a lovely vintage patina. A piece with the charm and quality to stand out in even the finest sporting artifact collections.

Note that included in the lot is an unusual booklet of sorts that was presented to Miss Mookini along with the ball. The charming, possibly hand made piece consists of thirteen round pages with clipped images and trivia questions regarding the Babe. Ms. Mookini's name, written on the sweet spot of a smaller "baseball," is still affixed to the cover. Surely one of a kind, and a neat companion piece to this special ball. LOA from James Spence & Steve Grad/PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19002 | May 14, 2005

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1936 Carl Hubbell All America Baseball Team Certificate Signed by Babe Ruth. With so many reasons to love this amazing artifact, it's hard to know where to begin. Perhaps we'll lead off with the presentee, the Hall of Fame pitcher who absolutely dominated the National League this season, earning M.V.P. honors with League-leading figures in all relevant categories: E.R.A., wins, winning percentage and hits allowed. And, of course, Hubbell had a little something to do with his New York Giants' capture of the flag this season as well. Though as brightly as his name burns on this ornate 14x17" page, nobody could compete with that of the Chairman, whose ultimately desirable "George H. Babe Ruth" signature spans a full four and a half inches of prime real estate above the signatures of the other board members. Most notable among Ruth's cabinet is his famous manager Christy Walsh, whose signature at bottom is followed by an inscription to Ruth's favorite personal biographer, reading "A souvenir for Bill Slocum, best of all Babe Ruth 'ghosts' -- with appreciation, C.W." While Walsh's writing has faded slightly to an approximate 7/10, the remainder of the signatures, and Ruth's most notably, remain impressively strong and bold. It is unclear as to why Walsh made a gift of this piece, rather than presenting it to Hubbell--perhaps it was a duplicate, or Hubbell just failed to collect it. Hubbell's loss is certainly our gain, however, allowing us to offer to the collecting public a highly significant piece relating to several of the most notable figures in pre-war baseball history. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19069 | May 14, 2005

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1958 Tris Speaker Single Signed Baseball. Dating from the final year of his life, this OAL (Harridge) ball represents a single that most of the Hall of Fame collecting population is conspicuously lacking. The Grey Eagle still features strongly in any conversation about the greatest outfielders of all time, and his numbers bear this out. Four times he came within twenty points of the magical .400 batting average mark, topping 200 hits in each of those years. His fielding skills are equally legendary. His World Series record is a perfect three and zero, winning twice in Boston and once as a member of the Tribe in Cleveland. Happily, he also owns one of the most attractive autographs in the hobby, which is beautifully represented on this OAL (Harridge) ball inscribed "From Tris Speaker To: Tommy." The ink remains quite bold after close to fifty years since its application, rating a strong 7/10 to 8/10. The ball is equally fine, toned an even and creamy shade, with "1958" penned discreetly on the "Reach" logo, invisible upon display. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19015 | May 14, 2005

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1951 Sugar Ray Robinson Fighter of the Year Award (LaMotta Fight). Sugar Ray Robinson is considered by most boxing historians to be the greatest fighter who ever lived. During his illustrious career he defeated some of the best fighters to ever enter the ring including, Henry Armstrong, Tommy Bell, Kid Gavilan, Bobo Olson, Gene Fullmer, Carmen Basilio, Randy Turpin and Jake LaMotta. He won world titles as a welterweight and middleweight during a career that spanned twenty five years.

Perhaps he is best remembered for his historic battles with Jake LaMotta. LaMotta was the first man to defeat Robinson. By 1951 they had already fought five times, with Robinson winning four of the bouts. When LaMotta defeated Marcel Cerdan in 1949 to win the World Middleweight Title it seemed a sixth fight between these two gladiators would be inevitable. It happened on February 14, 1951 in Chicago. LaMotta gave a good account of himself during the early and middle rounds, but the relentless attack of Robinson eventually wore him down. In one of the most famous scenes in boxing history LaMotta is shown standing, bleeding and tired and defeated, in the thirteenth round, a Champion no more after the referee stepped in to stop the action. Robinson would go on to lose the title to Randy Turpin later that year in London, but would regain it in September at the Polo Grounds in New York when he stopped Turpin in ten rounds during their rematch.

Presented here is the prestigious Ring Magazine Award given to Sugar Ray Robinson as Fighter of The Year for 1951. Robinson's accomplishments in that year are virtually unparalleled. This beautiful award comes in the original case. It is 4.5 inches high and 2.5 inches wide. The perfectly intact three prong award is inscribed, "The Ring Fighter Of The Year Award 1951 Presented To Ray Robinson." The award comes with a detailed letter of authenticity from the son of Sugar Ray Robinson. Heritage is proud to offer this extremely rare and historically important
Auction 702 | Lot: 19282 | May 14, 2005

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1940's Negro League Baseball Signed by Robinson & Campanella. One of the finest and most remarkably improbable artifacts to arise in the Negro League collecting hobby in recent years. Long before collectors began the practice of acquiring related autographs on a single sphere (500 Home Run Club, perfect game pitchers, etc.), one pioneering sports photographer chose to break from the mold and do just that, chasing down the top former Negro Leaguers that had made the jump to the Majors. In the period from the late 1940's through mid-1950's when this ball could have conceivably been autographed, the only multi-signed baseballs were "team signed," but apparently this photographer, inspired by the acquisition of an "Official Negro American League" sphere, set out to do something entirely different. The result of his efforts is a piece of which we had never even thought to dream, a Negro League baseball bearing the beautiful blue ink autographs of Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Larry Doby and Don Newcombe. Each autograph rates a majestic 9/10 on the lightly and evenly toned horsehide of the rare orb, and it's important to note that the Campanella autograph precedes his tragic 1958 automobile accident. Furthering the tremendous appeal of this treasure is the fact that each autograph is placed on its own side panel (or alone on the sweet spot), allowing each to present as a coveted single. This quartet of autographs, positioned so perfectly, would be a miracle on any baseball at all. But on a Negro League ball? It's almost too perfect for words. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19009 | May 14, 2005

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1945 Babe Ruth Signed Check. Serious collectors are snapping up the last remaining available specimens of the coveted Ruth check, and few are selling, so we suspect that the supply will soon slow to a slow trickle. We'd suggest that you stake your claim now, and bid seriously on this "Feb. 5, 1945" specimen drawn on the Bambino's "The Chase National Bank" account. All ink is in Ruth's 10/10 black ink hand, and pays thirty-seven dollars to "Bert N. Lambs." Two vertical folds do little to detract from eye appeal, and the red bank stamping just brushes the "GH" initials, while the punch coding misses the signature altogether. Ruth's value can go nowhere but up, so your investment is as safe as if it were insured by the F.D.I.C. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19081 | May 14, 2005

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1963 President Dwight D. Eisenhower Single Signed Baseball. He was one of the most influential figures in twentieth century American history, riding the groundswell of public support earned from his position as Supreme Commander of the D-Day invasion force to two terms in the Oval Office. While his autograph is coveted by millions who still like Ike, the appearance of his signature on a baseball sets this offering high above the rest. It was acquired directly from early 1960's Washington Senators pitcher Dave Stenhouse, whose signed letter of provenance is included. He states, "Near the end of the baseball season in 1963, President Eisenhower came into the Washington Senator locker to say hello and meet some of the players. At that time, there were twelve players present. He signed a baseball for each one of the players, including myself." Forty-two years later the OAL (Cronin) ball still presents exceedingly well, with the side panel "Dwight D. Eisenhower" signature rating a steady 8/10 to 9/10 in quality. The ball shows light and even toning. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19051 | May 14, 2005

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1960's Dizzy Dean Single Signed Baseball, PSA NM-MT+ 8.5. "When ole Diz was out there pitching it was more than just another ballgame. It was a regular three-ring circus and everybody was wide awake and enjoying being alive," once said fellow Gashouse Gangster Pepper Martin of the Hall of Fame hurler whose gorgeous blue ink signature commands the side panel of this ONL (Giles) ball. Collectors know that Dean singles are a rare commodity in today's market, and we offer one of the finest known here. The notoriously critical PSA has "slabbed" this sphere as NM-MT+ 8.5, eliminating any concerns about authenticity, or that we're overstating the ball's spectacular condition. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19024 | May 14, 2005

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1938 Jack Dempsey Edward J. Neil Boxing Writers' Award. The Edward J. Neil Memorial Award began in 1938 and has become one of the most important and coveted awards presented annually by the Boxing Writers' Association for outstanding service to boxing. This award is listed in the bible of boxing, "Ring Record Book," that was issued annually by "The Ring" until 1987. Recipients have included Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Mike Tyson. The very first award, which was presented in 1938, was given to Jack Dempsey. Dempsey, although long retired at that point, was recognized for all he had done for the sport of boxing. This magnificent award is metal on wood and measures 9.5x14.75" and is in fine condition. The award reads, "The Edward J. Neil Memorial For Outstanding Service To Boxing In 1938 Presented By Boxing Writers' Association Of New York To Jack Dempsey." This is arguably the most prestigious award a fighter can receive aside from the Ring Magazine Championship Belt. This was the very first Neil Award given and it was given to one of the greatest fighters to ever lace the gloves, Jack Dempsey. Don't miss this rare opportunity to acquire a truly historic piece of boxing memorabilia. LOA from Craig Hamilton/ JO Sports. LOA from Craig Hamilton/ JO Sports.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19274 | May 14, 2005

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1937 New York Yankees Team Signed Photograph. The Bronx Bombers earned their nickname well this World Championship season, as the young DiMaggio clubbed a career and League-best forty-six home runs, topping even the great Gehrig, whose thirty-seven long balls placed him firmly in the top ten as well. Each legendary Hall of Famer has signed his image on this simply outstanding photograph paying homage to the team that posted the second of four consecutive Fall Classic victories. Joining this hard-slugging trio are the autographs of twenty-five fellow Yanks, representing every man pictured except Colonel Ruppert, the trainer Doc Painter, the team mascot, and Monte Pearson, the right-handed pitcher from whose estate the photograph derives. Some of these noteworthy names include Crosetti, Henrich, Ruffing, Gomez, McCarthy, Combs and Lazzeri, all contrasting beautifully against the pinstriped jerseys they wear so proudly. As was typical of the time, several signatures are of the clubhouse variety (McCarthy, Combs, Gomez, Dickey, and Lazzeri), but the rest were signed by the athletes themselves Remarkably, every last signature rates at least a solid 6/10, with the average falling closer to 7/10 or 8/10, and the photograph itself is entirely free of even the hint of a crease, stain or other visible ailment. The photo measures 7.5x9.5", and is matted and framed to final dimensions of 13x15". The exceptional talent present, and the quality of the autographs and photograph themselves, place this remarkable piece near the pinnacle of Yankee team signed pieces from the decade. Deserving of a home in only the finest of collections. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19072 | May 14, 2005

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Hall of Famers & Superstars Multi-Signed Photographs Lot of 75. Massive and widely varied assortment of 8x10" photographs, each signed by two or more of the legendary ballplayers pictured in perfect sharpie. Tons and tons of value here, with Williams/Musial (2), Williams/Killebrew, Williams/Kiner, Williams/Colavito, Mantle/Musial (2), Mantle/Rose, Mantle/Reese, Aaron/Mays, Rose/Gwynn, Musial/Snider, Rose/Mattingly, Williams/Musial/Mantle, Williams/Berra/Mantle, Killebrew/Mays/Mantle, Musial/Sauer/Kiner/Slaughter, and many, many more. All are NRMT-MT, with eighty percent signed by at least one Hall of Famer (and the non-Hall of Famers are guys like Pesky, Thomson, Dom DiMaggio, etc.). LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19141 | May 14, 2005

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Late 1940's Syracuse Nationals Game Worn Warm-up Jacket. Early basketball uniforms are few and far between, but examples that predate the formation of the National Basketball Association are almost non-existent. This red satin warm-up top is beautifully trimmed in navy blue, yellow, and white, and dates to the late 1940's. Manufactured by the Coane Co. out of Philadelphia and further modified for the team by Joe Charles Sporting Goods, this properly tagged size "48" top displays "Syracuse Nats" boldly across the back. While the player is unidentified, the number "4" graces the left sleeve of the retro-chic classic. Vintage basketball collectors should appreciate the scarcity, and with throwback uniforms being all the rage today, what better way to impress your friends than by owning the real thing? LOA from Dan Knoll, Dave Bushing & Lou Lampson/ SCD Authentic.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19158 | May 14, 2005

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1940 Babe Ruth Signed Deposit Slip. Attention Ruth collectors! As the value of the Babe's personal checks continues to climb as high as a Bambino blast, we offer a companion piece never before seen on the collecting landscape. Direct from Ruth's favored "Chemical Bank Trust Company" comes this 3.5x5.5" deposit slip, placing $2000 in the definitive slugger's account on May 6, 1940. All black fountain pen ink, including the Babe's preferred "G.H. Ruth" banking autograph, is an undeniable 10/10 in quality. The slip was once folded into quarters, but the resulting fold lines offer no distraction and do not affect the tremendous quality of the Babe's writing in the slightest. Given the upward trend in the Ruth autograph market, it's clear that the collector who deposits this piece in his collection will soon be laughing all the way to the bank. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19077 | May 14, 2005

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1931 Bobby Jones Signed Golf Ball. It is stories like this one that make us love the collecting hobby. The year was 1931, and a small North Carolina town was abuzz with the news that the legendary golfer Robert Tyre Jones, Jr., fresh from his sweep of the Grand Slam of golf, was to visit. Golf, we must remember, was one of the great spectator sports of the era, on a par with baseball and boxing, and Jones was even more beloved and admired than Tiger Woods is today. A twelve-year old boy, anxious to meet this Golden Age god, crouched in the brush and brambles that lined the fairway of the local golf course on the day that Jones was to play, and waited. Finally, in the distance, the dashing young golfer appeared on the tee, and launched his ball to a point in the fairway not far from where the boy was waiting. As Jones strode toward his ball in preparation of the second shot, the boy emerged from the woods. Trembling a bit with the nerves of coming face to face with his idol, the boy produced a golf ball from his hip pocket and extended it toward Jones. "Will you please sign this ball for me, sir?" he asked. Jones, ever the gentleman, kindly obliged, though he did question the medium. "The ink will never last on a golf ball, son," he told him. The youngster was undeterred, however. "I'll be really careful with it," he assured the golfing legend.

And so he was. The boy packed it in a cotton-filled matchbox, autograph side up, and there it remained for seventy years, before finally finding its way into the collecting hobby. The result is one of the most exciting golf artifacts to reach the auction block, a single signed "Robt Jones, Jr." golf ball, remaining in remarkable 5/10 to 6/10 condition due to the young collector's promised diligence. There is some crazing to the "Spalding Kro-flite" blue-dotted ball's surface, and while it does cross the path of Jones' ink, it does little to detract. Infinitely more rare than the Babe Ruth single signed baseball, this pie
Auction 702 | Lot: 19208 | May 14, 2005

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1925 Miller Huggins Double-Signed Stock Certificate. Known as "Mighty Mite" for his scrawny five-foot six inch frame, the Hall of Fame skipper led the Yankees to their first six pennants and three World Championships as he butted heads with a boozing Bambino. His early and tragic death from blood poisoning in 1929 has made the Murderer's Row manager a supremely tough autograph, so it's quite rare to see one of his signatures, let alone two, as we offer here. This elegant and ornate "St. Paul Base Ball Club, Inc." stock certificate notes that Huggins is the holder of sixty shares of Capital Stock in the team, and his bold black ink signature appears first on the stub (3.5x8.5") affixed to the left side of the certificate (8x11"), then again on the certificate's verso. While these two separate signed pieces are joined together by some ancient adhesive, it would be quite simple to create two separate "cut signatures" if some alteration to the certificate and stub was not a concern. We leave them in the state in which they were found, and pressed between two panes of glass for display, for the winning bidder. You surely won't find two nicer Huggins signatures, if you can find any at all. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19060 | May 14, 2005

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1961-62 Fleer Basketball Complete Set (66). For a relatively small set, the Hall of Fame appeal is extreme. A full twenty-nine feature those enshrined at Springfield! And the rookies offer some of the biggest names in the game, including Baylor, Chamberlain, Robertson and West. A total of sixteen cards have been graded by PSA. Graded cards, PSA NM-MT 8: nine cards with 30, 37, 39 Schayes, 40, 41, 52, 55, 58, 63 Schayes IA. PSA NM 7: seven cards with 3 Baylor, 8 Chamberlain, 10 Cousy, 29, 38 Russell, 44 Wilkins, 61 Robertson IA. Ungraded cards include 1 Attles (EX-MT), 22 KC Jones (NM), 23 Jones (NM), 34 Pettit (NM), 36 Robertson (NM), 43 West (EX), 47 Chamberlain (EX), 49 Cousy (NM), 62 Russell (EX), 66 West (EX-MT). Grades 50% NM to NM-MT, 25% EX-MT, 25% EX.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19166 | May 14, 2005

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"Joltin Joe DiMaggio" Single Signed Baseball. "He started baseball's famous streak/ That's got us all aglow/ He's just a man and not a freak/ Joltin' Joe DiMaggio!" There's great cause to sing the praises of this pristine OAL (Brown) sphere, as it offers the scarcest and most desirable DiMaggio signature variation of all. While "#5" and "Yankee Clipper" inscriptions are occasionally seen, we can't recall ever having come across one of these before. Considerably more rare than the Mantle single variations that are setting new price records every auction. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19038 | May 14, 2005

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Mickey Mantle Single Signed Baseballs Lot of 10. In the time that it has taken us to write this sentence, the value of these balls has risen twenty dollars. Okay, that may be overstating matters a bit, but it's not that far from the truth. No other commodity in sports memorabilia collecting has seen the kind of value spike that Mantle has in the past eighteen months or so, and there appears to be no end in sight. So picture these ten OAL (Brown) balls as spherical stocks and bonds for a new Bill Gates company--a pretty safe investment. The balls show varying degrees of toning, but the blue ink sweet spot signatures themselves remain uniformly dark and bold. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA. (Total: 10 Items)
Auction 702 | Lot: 19047 | May 14, 2005

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1936 Lou Gehrig Signed Government Postcard. Just a few months before embarking upon the greatest season of his Hall of Fame career, one in which he earned the American League M.V.P. award with chart-topping figures in home runs, slugging, walks and runs scored, the Iron Horse returned this government postcard to an autograph seeker. His brief inscription in perfect 10/10 black ink reads, "Best Wishes, Leonard, Lou Gehrig." The address is likewise penned in Gehrig's flawless black ink, though a single drop of water on the second letter of the town's name should be noted. The card itself has a barely visible wrinkle that bisects it horizontally, but this can only be spotted upon especially close examination. The inscription and autograph absolutely present as flawless. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19068 | May 14, 2005

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2001-02 Lebron James Game Worn High School Jersey. Lebron James was the most heralded high school basketball player in the history of the sport. When he announced his intentions to bypass college and go straight to the N.B.A., he was annointed the next savior of the league. These were lofty expectations and a heavy burden for a kid who had yet to attend his senior prom. James is one of the few teenage phenoms who has actually lived up to the hype. In just his second season, Lebron is a legitimate M.V.P. candidate, a fixture on the nightly highlight shows, and has Cleveland poised to be a mainstay in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

This example of Lebron's high school jersey dates to 2001-2002, his junior year of high school, and was retrieved directly from St. Vincent/St. Mary's by jersey aficionado Lou Lampson. Most of the Lebron high school jerseys in the marketplace were manufactured by Adidas, who stepped in and sponsored the team once James' exploits were being recounted nightly on Sportscenter. What most do not know, is that St. Vincent/St. Mary's only donned the Adidas duds when they were playing on television. For all their other games, they wore jerseys from On Sports. While most of the games from James' senior year were broadcast, several nationally on ESPN, his junior year saw only a few televised contests. As a result, this jersey was worn many more times than the Adidas jerseys that surface occasionally, as evidenced by softness and thread wear on the neck and underarm seams, as well numeral wavering and puckering that would indicate this specimen was Lebron's regular game jersey, with the Adidas versions being special occasion models .

Already among the N.B.A. elite, we can only speculate as to the heights young Lebron will ascend to before his career is over. The sky is the limit for James, and we feel the same is true for this jersey. Included is a lengthy five-page LOA from Lou Lampson as well as several photo matches. LOA from
Auction 702 | Lot: 19182 | May 14, 2005

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1902 Gans vs. Erne Full Ticket. On May 12, 1902, Joe Gans won the World Lightweight Title by stopping the current Champion Frank Erne in one round at the International Athletic Club at Fort Erie, Ontario. Joe Gans was one of the most skilled lightweights in the history of the ring, compiling a record of 130 (89 ko's) wins - 9 losses - 14 draws. Presented here is a very rare full ticket from this historic event. The ticket measures 6.5x2.25" and has a double stub, which is still attached, but somewhat fragile. The ornate back has glue residue and slight paper loss, likely from being placed in an album. The front is clean and uncreased with no punch holes. An extremely important and rare early twentieth century boxing ticket featuring one of the great early African-American Champions. LOA from Craig Hamilton / JO Sports.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19241 | May 14, 2005

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1940's Walter Johnson Single Signed Baseball. The Big Train posted over four hundred wins during his twenty-one seasons of hard-throwing baseball life, coming in second only to the outrageous total assembled by Cy Young himself. His sweet spot inscription on this pleasingly toned OAL (Harridge) ball rates an entirely respectable 5/10 to 6/10, reading "Best Wishes, Walter Johnson." One of the toughest singles of those players who lived into the 1940's, Johnson books at $25,000 in Sports Market Report's rather conservative price list. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19006 | May 14, 2005

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Perez-Steele Great Moments Sets Lot of 3 with 116 Signed. Paying tribute to the beautiful style of the 1911 T3 Turkey Red cabinet cards, this oversized (5.75x8") Perez-Steele issue has long been a favorite among autograph collectors. One smart collector had his collection signed in triplicate, and here we offer three identical groupings of thirty-nine cards (actually one is missing Ernie Banks, which accounts for the figure of 116 rather than 117) featuring perfect blue sharpie signatures. Present are Aaron, Aparicio, Banks, Bench, Berra, Boudreau, Brock, Dandridge, Doerr, Ferrell, Ford, Gehringer, Herman, Hunter, Irvin, Kaline, Kell, Killebrew, Koufax, Lemon, Lopez, Mantle, Marichal, Mathews, Mays, McCovey, Mize, Musial, Reese, Roberts, Robinson, Schoendienst, Slaughter, Snider, Spahn, Stargell, Billy Williams, Ted Williams, Yastrzemski. The balance of the three unsigned sets is here as well. Tremendous break down value here. Cards themselves are all in NRMT-MT condition.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19128 | May 14, 2005

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Hall of Famers Signed Photographs Lot of 150+. Massive collection of 8x10" photographs features perfect blue sharpie signatures from the superstars pictured. Far, far too many to list, but highlights include Aaron, Banks (2), Brock (4), Drysdale, Durocher (2), Gomez, Hunter (2), Reggie Jackson, Killebrew, Koufax, Mantle (3), Mathews (5), Mays (3), McCovey, Mize (2), Brooks Robinson (2), Ryan (2), Spahn (2), Stargell (2), Wilhelm (4), Ted Williams (5). While there is obviously a good bit of duplication of names, no two images are the same. Photos are in NRMT-MT condition. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19143 | May 14, 2005

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Mickey Mantle "No. 7" Signed UDA Bat. The Mick is just about the hottest commodity in the hobby these days, and this particular piece ranks very high on all Mantle collectors' wish list. Produced in limited quantities in conjunction with the fine folks at Upper Deck, this perfect replica of Mickey's signature model Hillerich & Bradsby M110 is blessed by a simply unimprovable blue sharpie inscription reading, "Mickey Mantle No. 7." All UDA paperwork and packaging (minus velvet carrying bag) is included. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19148 | May 14, 2005

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1986-87 Fleer Basketball Complete Set Graded PSA Mint 9. It's arguably the most important set of sports cards issued in the last twenty years, anchored by the most important rookie card of that era. Certainly no modern basketball card collection could show its face without a decent #57 card from this issue, and our Mint representation of the Jordan rookie is as clean as they come. And so are its 131 set-mates, with flawless examples of important cards from Kareem, Bird, Malone, Thomas, Wilkins and the ultra-tough checklist to finish the run. Though it has yet to be entered in PSA's "Set Registry," it would crack the top ten as it stands today, and from a dealer's standpoint the breakdown value here is tremendous, with Jordan alone routinely realizing $1500 at auction in Mint 9 condition. Any way you look at it, quality like this is always a good investment. (Total: 132 Cards)
Auction 702 | Lot: 19171 | May 14, 2005

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1940's Connie Mack & Honus Wagner Signed Baseball. Lost to history is the occasion that brought these two early legends of the game together on this OAL (Harridge) ball, though one might surmise it was a Hall of Fame event that called the pair of inaugural class inductees home for a reunion. Regardless of the circumstances, one can't helped but be impressed by the appearance of Mack and Wagner on a single sphere, and with such strong autographs to boot! The Tall Tactician, who commanded the ranks of the Philadelphia Athletics for a full half-century, resides on the sweet spot in 9/10 ink, while the man Ty Cobb once called "Krauthead" appears in equally dark ink on a side panel. No other autographs are present. The ball is toned an attractive, even shade of beige. Each autograph displays perfectly as a single if desired, combining the appearances of balls booking at $1200 and $5500 respectively on the conservative Sports Market Report's price list. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19003 | May 14, 2005

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Joe DiMaggio Single Signed Baseballs Lot of 12. With singles enjoying a period of great interest in the collecting world, the time is right to make a bold investment in a dozen balls signed by Joltin' Joe himself. All offer a NRMT-MT blue ink sweet spot signature on Official American League balls, and four offer an additional "#5" inscription with the autograph. Several of the balls bear stickers from "Steiner" or "Yankee Clipper Enterprises." Toning is rarely an issue, with only scattered and very mild instances that do nothing to intrude upon overall eye appeal. LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.
Auction 702 | Lot: 19045 | May 14, 2005

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