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Free Appraisal
1911 Addie Joss Day Panoramic Photograph from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection.
Arguably the most desirable baseball photograph in the hobby, and with good reason. This simply remarkable panoramic photograph captures the greatest stars of the American League Dead Ball era, all of whom had convened at Cleveland's League Park on July 24, 1911 for a benefit game to raise money for the widow of Hall of Fame pitcher Addie Joss, whose life had been tragically cut short three months earlier in a virulent bout with meningitis. It must be noted that panoramic photographs were very expensive to produce at this time in history, and as such only those participating in the event were given a copy. Frank "Home Run" Baker's personal photo, offered here, is one of the very few to survive the many decades since. Baker is easy to spot, twelfth from right, dressed in the road grey uniform of his Philadelphia Athletics. Three men to his right is the great Walter Johnson in the midst of a season that saw him pitch six complete game shutouts. Other early gods of the diamond present include Shoeless Joe Jackson, Cy Young, Napoleon Lajoie, Eddie Collins, Smokey Joe Wood and the fiery Ty Cobb, who wears a borrowed Cleveland Naps jersey after forgetting to bring his Tigers togs to the ballpark. Behind the chicken wire that separates the stands from the playing field, scores of fans in dark suits and straw hats clamor to get a look at this outrageous assembly of talent, essentially the first All-Star Game in baseball history. The image quality is exceptional, with every button on the high-collared baseball jerseys clearly visible, and this quality carries over to that of the condition of the piece, which offers only a lower border stain near the left end of the piece and a few scattered and very minor wrinkles. None travel the full vertical length. Only in two instances at the left end do the wrinkles even begin to break through the photographic emulsion, leaving the two or three other cases ess
Auction 703
| Lot: 19707 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$89,625.00
1924 Muddy Ruel Game Worn Tour of Europe Uniform from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection.
It's among the most exceptional pre-war flannels to reach the auction block in recent memory, believed to be one of only two White Sox uniforms from the historic 1924 Goodwill Tour of Europe extant. But while fellow Washington Senator Sam Rice's identical full uniform has found a permanent home in the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, this exceptional rarity will soon become the private holding of a discerning uniform collector. As is every piece offered under the heading of "The Muddy Ruel Collection," this jersey and matching pants are consigned directly by Muddy's son, and are offered for the very first time to the collecting public.
Baseball statisticians will instantly note that Ruel never actually played for the Chicago White Sox, the team represented by the offered uniform. After all, Ruel was the big star of the Washington Senators that season, plating the Game Seven run that earned Walter Johnson and the District of Columbia their only World Championship. But Muddy, by virtue of his superior skills and his heroic turn in October, and his teammate Rice, a future Hall of Famer, were offered positions with the team when members of the Sox opted out of the transatlantic journey. Interestingly, both the daughter of Rice and the son of Ruel have confirmed that the White Sox Tour of Europe uniforms were the only ones their fathers kept from their playing days, almost certainly because it represented the only time that the club did not collect each player's gamers at the close of a season. Though, of course, one could also reasonably surmise that the exceptional beauty and historic nature of the uniforms would prompt the pair to hold on to these fantastic keepsakes.
Though not as widely known as the Tour of Japan that would bring Ruth, Gehrig and the gang to the Far East a decade later, the Goodwill Tour of Europe was tremendous baseball news at the time, featuring a
Auction 703
| Lot: 19725 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$44,812.50
1909-11 T206 White Border Partial Set (400/521).
Offered here is a partial set of the American Tobacco Company's classic T206 white border issue. This is an outstanding representation of the most recognized and most widely collected vintage issue in the hobby. A total of 66 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $15,325. Includes: Graded Cards -PSA NM-MT 8: Doc White (Chicago, Pitching). PSA NM 7: 6 cards w/ Beckley, Gasper, Leach, McGinley, Persons (So. League), Puttman. PSA EX-MT 6: 15 cards w/ Chance (Port. Red), Fritz (So. League), King (So. League), Mathewson (Dark Cap), Rockenfeld (So. League), Walsh. PSA EX 5: 17 Cards w/ Bender (Trees), Bresnahan (Port), Chance (Port. Yellow), Crawford (Throwing), Griffith (Portrait), Collins, Huggins (Hands at Mouth), Keeler (Port), Speaker (mk), Wallace, Willis, Young (Port). PSA VG-EX 4: 17 cards w/ Baker, Bender (Port), Brown (Chicago), Chesbro, Cobb (Port. Green), Cobb (Port. Red), Cobb (Bat on Shoulder)(mk), Evers (Port), Joss (Port), Marquard (Port), McGraw (Finger in Air), Tinker (Hands on Knees), Waddell (Throwing), Young (Glove). PSA VG 3: 5 Cards w/ Bresnahan (Bat), Brown (Port), Joss (Pitching), Mathewson (Port), Tinker (Port). PSA Good 2: 5 Cards w/ Evers (Bat), Johnson (Hands at Chest), Lajoie (Throwing), Lajoie (Port), Tinker (Bat Off). Note: Many of the cards present stronger than their technical grade but suffer from some discoloration on the verso. Ungraded Cards - Highlights include: Chase (Blue Port) (VG-EX), Chase (Pink Port) (VG-EX), Cicotte (VG), Clarke (Bat) (EX), Crawford (Bat) (EX), Elberfeld (Wash) (Good), Jennings (One Hand) (EX-MT), Jennings (Port) (VG-EX), McGinnity (VG-EX). Grades 20% EX or better, 60% VG-EX, 20% VG or lesser.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19462 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$28,680.00
1948 Bowman Stan Musial #36 PSA Gem Mint 10.
When the Bowman Gum company launched its inaugural issue just three years after the close of World War II combat, the technology at work in printing their cards and cutting them from the sheets was antiquated at best. Printing errors, miscuts and general defects were the rule rather than the exception, leaving only a small percentage of the cards issued in the running for Gem Mint status from the moment of conception. Then we must consider how few of that already slim population survived to see the twenty-first century in any decent state of wear whatsoever, much less those that traveled the decades entirely unscathed. Perhaps the PSA population report could shed a bit of light--of the 5,835 cards submitted from the 1948 Bowman set as of the time of this writing, just thirteen have found a home in a Gem Mint 10 slab. And the figure for Stan Musial, the most valuable card in the set of forty-eight by a wide margin, is one. And so, for the most sophisticated of collectors, we offer the finest possible specimen of the key card from the first great post-war baseball issue. As such, the significance of this singularly perfect card could not possibly be overstated, and its ownership places the lucky high bidder among the top elite of the hobby.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19473 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$28,680.00
1951 Bowman Willie Mays #305 GAI Mint 9.
Along with fellow Hall of Fame rookie Mickey Mantle, Mays is responsible for a large percentage of the value in this gorgeously rendered set, firmly in most collectors' top ten list of favored issues. But it's not often that one lays eyes upon any card from the set quite so pristine as the offered specimen, much less one of the heroic rookies. Print defects and gum and wax staining, so often a problem with this issue, are entirely absent here. Centering defects are similarly not a concern. In fact, a studied attempt to find a single flaw to mention, however minor, is in vain. Only a small percentage of "pack fresh" cards are as fine as the one you see before you, and what a card to do it!
Auction 703
| Lot: 19483 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$26,290.00
Magnificent 1913 World's Series Newsreel Large Poster from the Casey Stengel Collection.
Arguably the crown jewel of the treasure trove that is The Casey Stengel Collection is this never-before-seen poster advertising the film footage of the historic October 1913 meeting of the Philadelphia Athletics and the New York Giants. Each considered among the finest baseball teams ever assembled, and certainly near the top of the Dead Ball list, they boasted talent pools that read like a who's who of Cooperstown: Home Run Baker, Eddie Collins, Chief Bender, Eddie Plank, Christy Mathewson and Rube Marquard to name a few. And, of course, featured prominently in their own large circular portrait windows are the two greatest baseball minds of the era, John "Mugsy" McGraw and Cornelius "Connie" Mack. Below these portraits they appear once more in exceptional team photographs, Mack in his unmistakable black suit and hat, and McGraw sitting beside his star pitcher Matty. Fabulous art deco font announces, "1913 World's Series Base Ball Games, Giants vs. Athletics, Champions, Commercial Motion Pictures Co. (Inc.). In the bottom border is the printer's mark, reading "Cooke & Joste, The Metro Litho. Co. N.Y."
To give some notion of the scarcity of this piece, we printed a facsimile of the poster to scale to display at the National Sports Convention in Chicago in July, where it was viewed by essentially every top expert in the hobby. Hundreds of collectors absolutely fawned over it, many making offers to buy our copy. Not a single person had ever seen this poster before, or frankly, anything from the era that bore even a passing resemblance. A search of results of all major auctions in the past five years also finds nothing similar. So our thanks must go out to young Casey, a twenty-two year old Dodgers rookie at the time, for hanging onto this remarkable artifact and ensuring its survival almost a century later.
While it is almost sacreligious to throw even a single stone at a pie
Auction 703
| Lot: 19604 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$22,705.00
1924 Muddy Ruel Game Worn Tour of Europe Sweater from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection.
Absolutely exceptional specimen is the companion piece to Ruel's full Chicago White Sox uniform worn in service of the team during this historic Tour. And, in similar fashion, the gorgeous wool cardigan-style sweater remains in tremendous NM-MT condition, without a single noteworthy flaw daring to challenge the beauty of this important artifact. The maroon body of the sweater is punctuated by dark royal blue trim in patriotic fashion, with a seven-button front (not including three smaller buttons at the throat to cinch the collar high on the neck if desired). The sleeve cuffs are also constructed in blue, a color that is likewise found in the piping that trims the two front pockets along with a similar band in white. "Chicago" appears over the heart in 1.5" high white felt lettering, copying the same font style apparent on the jersey front from the tour. Note that the letter "H" in "Chicago" bears a vintage ink "M R" to identify it to its former owner. The classic "Sox" used in the team's jersey design as early as 1912 appears below. The left sleeve offers perhaps the most thrilling component of all, the gorgeous stars and bars shield that came to characterize the Tour. Constructed of tri-color felt, the patch shows only a couple of tiny imperfections only noticeable upon very close inspection, certainly nothing that detracts at all from the tremendous visual appeal. Inside the collar is a simple black tag reading "A.G. Spalding & Bros.," remembering the Hall of Fame legend responsible for the first Baseball Tour of Europe and an early pitching star, manager and president of the Chicago American League team. Lauded by the authenticators at MEARS as "absolutely perfect," this remarkable and exceptionally scarce artifact is appropriate for only the most serious and advanced uniform collectors. MEARS Authentic.
LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19726 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$20,315.00
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 703
| Lot: 19482 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$14,340.00
The Finest Known 1910 World Series Program (Chicago) from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection.
What a fine coincidence that the most beautifully preserved program from the seventh installment of the World Series derives from the personal collection of one of its Hall of Fame participants. Though we must admit, it's not as if there is a great deal of competition for the blue ribbon. Our database of auction records notes that the last sale dates to the famous Barry Halper auction in the Fall of 1999, where a VG copy realized a winning bid of $10,925. We would grade our copy a conservative EX, due only to some mild rubbing wear on the front and rear cover, and a half-inch tear at the left border of the front cover that is essentially invisible upon display. Whereas the Halper program had interior pages loose from the bindings, our copy is completely solid, with a minimum of wear of the pages within, and the score sheets free of marking. If not for a few bends at the absolute tips of the last several interior pages, we would assess a grade of NRMT to all residing between the covers. The program's quality, former ownership, and status as the style issued the day Connie Mack's Athletics closed out their first World Championship makes it a treasure worthy of a place in the most advanced of sporting artifact collections.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19703 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$14,340.00
Circa 1910 Frank Baker Studio Photograph by Horner, Used for M116 Sporting Life from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection.
Though the most famous photograph snapped by celebrated early baseball photographer Carl Horner is the image of Honus Wagner used for the million dollar T206 card, we must note an equal mastery of technique in his study of the great Frank "Home Run" Baker we offer here. And, like the Wagner image, this too found a second life in a trading card set, notably the M116 Sporting Life, which again features a colorized version of the black and white shot. Baker appears in the uniform of the World Champion Philadelphia Athletics for this seated portrait, a crystal-clear image with the delightful interplay of light and dark that illustrates the great talents that Horner possessed. The image measures 3.75x5.5" on a mount that brings the final dimensions of the piece to 5x7". The artist's stamp of "Carl Horner Co., Wash'n Bldg, 387 Washington St., Boston" appears at lower right. Only the lightest wear to the edges cannot derail a grade of NRMT. Included in the lot is an EX example of the resultant M116 card.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19698 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$13,145.00
1924-28 Rogers Hornsby Game Used Bat.
"I don't like to sound egotistical," Hornsby once quipped for the press, "but every time I stepped up to the plate with a bat in my hands, I couldn't help but feel sorry for the pitcher." While this may sound immodest, we must paraphrase his fellow Cooperstown inductee Dizzy Dean's contention that it isn't bragging if you can back it up. Hornsby certainly could, and did. Twice he topped the magically elusive .400 mark during the five-season span of this bat's potential service, and only during the World Championship season of 1926 did he fail to place at least second in average for the National League for this period. Much of this fine work is clearly evident in the ash of this signature model Hillerich & Bradsby owned and operated by one of the greatest batsmen of the pre-war period. Dozens of ball marks coat the barrel, with punishment so severe that the grain has swollen from the impacts. Gouges from Hornsby's spikes are visible in the barrel as well, as Rajah used the bat to tap caked dirt from his shoes. A slight handle crack does not threaten the structural integrity of the bat, but did put an end to what had to have been a long period of service. A close inspection of the left barrel reveals traces of factory side-writing, indicating that this bat was returned to the factory to be used as a template for models of the same specifications, proving that this bat was not only used by Hornsby, but favored by him. Lathe marks are clearly visible on the knob and barrel end. Length and weight are thirty-six inches and thirty-five ounces respectively, also proper to Hornsby's preferred lumber. All in all, a marvelously strong representation of a very tough and desirable bat. Graded PSA GU7.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19775 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$13,145.00
1958 Topps Baseball High-Grade Near Complete Set (484/494).
Offered is a high grade near set of 1958 Topps baseball. This issue is noted for bright colors and numerous star cards, including high profile rookies of Maris, Cepeda, and Flood. This example includes 13 Yellow Letter variations: 13, 20, 23, 33 (PSA 8), 50, 53, 58 (PSA 8), 61 (PSA 8), 77, 78, 79, 85 Aparicio (PSA 8), 101. Note: Clemente is not yellow letter, PSA tag is a misprint. A total of 53 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $7,350. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA MINT 9: #387. PSA NM-MT 8: 39 cards w/ #'s 18, 19 Giants, 24, 25 Drysdale, 28, 30 Aaron, 33 Yellow Letter, 37, 39, 40, 48, 52 Clemente, 58 Yellow Letter, 59, 60, 61 Yellow Letter, 67, 71 Dodgers, 75, 80, 85 Aparicio Yellow letter, 93, 106, 303, 307 B. Robinson (oc), 369, 375 Reese, 377 Braves, 385, 388, 389, 398, 399, 421, 425, 428 Reds, 434, 439, 455. PSA NM 7: 10 cards w/ #'s 47 Maris, 88 Snider, 97, 150 Mantle, 277, 351 Aaron/Mathews, 386, 418 Aaron/Mantle, 440 Mathews, 463. PSA EX-MT 6: 2 cards w/ #'s 310 Banks, 370 Berra. PSA EX 5: # 187 Koufax. Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s 1 Williams (EX), 5 Mays (EX), 70 Kaline (NM-MT). Missing: #'s 485-494 Grades 40% NM to NM-MT, 50% EX to EX-MT, 10% VG-EX or lesser.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19510 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$11,352.50
Massive 1926 World Series Panoramic Photograph Dating from Babe Ruth's Greatest Game!
Presented here, for the first time to the collecting community, is the piece that may well take the prize for Best Sporting Photograph Auctioned in 2005. This absolutely massive piece, in terms of physical dimensions, importance and desirability, was unbelievably found ten years ago at a St. Louis area yard sale, where the lucky consignor purchased it for a song. While this leaves the exact trail of provenance a mystery, we can be almost certain that its original home was a wall of the clubhouse at Sportsman's Park, where this image was captured during the bottom of the third inning of Game Four of the World Series, October 6, 1926. The image's quality and its simply tremendous size--over nine inches high and fifty-six inches wide! (not including the frame)--certainly leaves no doubt that the piece was produced for a serious and powerful V.I.P. The original frame carries the final dimension to 14x61", over five feet in width! Considering that the average panoramic photograph of the day measures three feet wide, we begin to understand just how rare and special this piece is.
But again, the majesty of this one of a kind artifact extends well beyond its tremendous girth. Clearly it was a stroke of luck that the photographer working the complicated panoramic camera happened to be stationed in the right field stands this day, as he couldn't possibly have known it would prove to be one of the game's most historic. As we look out past the expanse of outfield grass, beyond where the Babe stands positioned twenty yards from the left field foul line, we come upon the stadium scoreboard. It lists a run for each team in the first inning, none in the second, and another run for the Yanks in the third. Check the record books and you will note that this could have only been that famous game in which the Babe clubbed three home runs, establishing a record that has been equalled but never beaten.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19580 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$11,352.50
1935 Chuck Klein Game Worn Jersey.
Chicago Cubs fans have been trained through decades of crushing disappointment never to expect miracles when it comes to their beloved ballclub. But the closest thing to a miracle since the days of Tinkers, Evers and Chance did in fact happen the year that Hall of Famer Chuck Klein suited up in this road grey jersey. Locked in a head to head pennant race with the St. Louis Cardinals on September second, the Cubbies proceeded to win the next twenty-one straight games, establishing a winning streak record that has never been equaled. And by a margin of four games, and for the second to last time in history, the Chicago Cubs were National League Champions.
Proudly presented here is one of only a handful of jerseys known to exist from that historic season, worn by the club's greatest home run threat and the 1933 winner of the coveted Triple Crown. The heavy road grey wool flannel was, unbelievably, a hand-me-down to a Chicago area industrial team, who stripped the "Chicago" from the chest but left the jersey otherwise unaltered. Klein's original number "4" on the verso remains unmoved from its original application at the start of the heroic '35 season, as do the embroidered "Klein" beside the "Spalding" label inside the collar, and the number "35" chain stitched in similar fashion in the rear tail. The body style is a pullover with four-button front, with matching blue and red piping at the collar and sleeve cuffs. The fabric that comprises the body of the shirt remains free of any noteworthy damage, offering wear described by the authenticators as "moderate." The shadow of the removed city name is still quite visible upon the chest, and if the winning bidder is interested in restoration, we can direct him or her to an expert capable of returning the piece to the spitting image of its former self. It is only due to the loss of this team identifier that the jersey does not receive a perfect rating, losing five points for a final grade of
Auction 703
| Lot: 19736 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$11,352.50
1965-68 Mickey Mantle Game Used Bat.
Though the World Championship glory days of the New York Yankees were behind the Commerce Comet when he strode to the plate with this bat on his shoulder, his legendary numbers continued to grow, further establishing his baseball immortality with every swing. The spectacular use illustrated by a barrel coated with dark ball marks and deeply imbedded stitch patterns speaks to the titanic power of this Yankees superhero, even near the end of his Hall of Fame career. The signature model Hillerich & Bradsby K55 is on record as having been ordered by the team for the Mick's use, rather than by Mantle himself, though this was certainly not uncommon for Mantle gamers from this era. This historic hardwood measures just short of thirty-four inches in length, and tips the scales at thirty-four and a half ounces. It's always a thrill to hold genuine Mantle lumber in one's hands, and this representation is truly a top notch specimen, garnering the full three points for heavy use on the authentication grading scale for a final score of MEARS A8.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19777 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$11,352.50
1909-11 T206 Sherry Magee (Magie) Error Card PSA VG 3.
To give some idea of the incredible scarcity of this important tobacco card, we'll note that only fifty-five have ever been encapsulated by the PSA grading service, just over twice as many as the twenty-five representations of the famed Honus Wagner card, considered one of the rarest pieces of cardboard on earth. Severely abridged print runs are the common thread that causes the skimpiest of supplies of each, as Wagner personally put a stop to his own appearance in the set, and the misspelling of Magee's last name was caught and corrected early in the process. Even the most advanced collections of T206 sets are often short of the coveted "Magie," and so we expect spirited bidding for this nice example. Typical corner wear is the only noteworthy condition issue, as the surfaces present as well as a card of much loftier rank.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19461 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$10,755.00
1957 Topps Baseball High-Grade Complete Set (411).
The popular 1957 Topps issue was their first with the now standard 2.5" x 3.5" sizing. This high-grade offering exhibits strong corners, centering, and surface throughout as the graded representations will exhibit. A total of 74 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $8,380. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA NM-MT 8:53 cards w/ #'s 2 Berra, 4, 8, 9, 12, 14, 18 Drysdale (mc), 30 Reese, 44, 58, 71, 74, 123, 142, 144, 151, 163, 180, 183 Cubs, 189, 192, 196, 198 Tigers, 199, 200, 201, 211, 224, 231, 234, 237, 241, 244, 246, 250 Mathews, 252, 253, 259, 264, 270 Senators, 284, 289, 292, 317 Giants, 336, 337, 357, 359, 376, 396, 398, 399, 401. PSA NM 7: 16 cards w/ #'s 10 Mays, 20 Aaron, 35 F. Robinson, 55 Banks, 76 Clemente, 80 Hodges, 95 Mantle, 97 Yankees, 100, 120 Lemon, 121, 125 Kaline, 210 Campanella, 286 Richardson, 302 Koufax, 400 Dodgers Sluggers. PSA EX-MT 6: 4 cards w/ #'s 1 Williams, 25 Ford, 277, 338. PSA EX 5: 407 Mantle/Berra. Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s Grades 65% NM to NM-MT, 30% EX to EX-MT, 5% VG-EX or lesser.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19509 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$10,755.00
1914 Boston Braves Team Signed Baseball.
After dumping both halves of an Independence Day, 1914 doubleheader to drop to fourteen games under .500, it looked as if the bumbling Braves would not even equal their fifth place finish of the previous season. But something in the fireworks that lit up the sky that night over Brooklyn where the series would resume two days later rained a bit of magic down upon the Braves squad, and they came storming back to win both July 6th games. And they just kept winning. In the month since that dismal Fourth of July, the Braves won twenty-one of twenty-six contests. The next month, they took twenty of twenty-seven. At season's close, they found themselves ten and a half games in front of Matty and McGraw's New York Giants, and poised to take on the powerhouse Philadelphia Athletics, winners of three of the previous four World Series. Surely now, pronounced the sportswriters, the Miracle Braves will see their luck run out. But this was far from the case. After a four-game sweep of the Mack Men, the Boston Braves had completed one of the most incredible comebacks in the history of sport, and were crowned as Champions of the World.
We are thrilled to have this exceedingly rare opportunity to present an ONL (Tener) baseball autographed by eighteen members of this storied squad. Among the Miracle Men present are Maranville, Davis, Cather, Tyler, Deal, Cocreham (twice), Schmidt, Whitted, Rudolph, Martin, Connolly, Mitchell, Hughes, Tyler, Gilbert and a few others too light to discern. Signature quality of those listed ranges from 4/10 to 8/10, still quite impressive given the truly advanced age of the piece. To the best of our knowledge, not a single other example of this incredible team sphere has ever been offered at public auction, making this quite literally a once in a lifetime opportunity.
LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19370 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$10,157.50
1933 Goudey Napoleon Lajoie #106 PSA VG 3.
Only the famous Honus Wagner card of the T206 set could claim a more vast divide among card collectors between those who fervently desire a specimen and those that actually own one. Both the T206 Wagner and the 1933 Goudey Lajoie are so exceedingly scarce that listed full set prices for the issues fail to take them into consideration, beaten into submission by the knowledge that the cards just can't be found. Well, we've located one for our Heritage bidding clientele, allowing one lucky customer to switch teams to the "haves" from the "have nots." Thanks must be offered to one young Depression-era set builder, who would not be deterred by the fact that card number 106 was not available in standard wax packs. It took a letter, mailed to the Boston offices of Goudey Gum Co., to earn this toughest of all cards from this Big Three set, accounting for their terrific rarity today. While the edge and corner wear typical of the vast majority of cards from this issue is present here, nothing can disguise the fact that the image area, utilizing the design features that characterize the '34 set, presents well above its technical VG 3 rating. Of course, any griping over condition when it comes to a card of such minimal population is a bit ridiculous, as any collector knowledgeable in the field would surely agree. A rare and special chance to set oneself apart from (and above) the rest of the pack.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19470 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$10,157.50
1956 Topps Baseball High-Grade Partial Set (261/340).
This high-grade partial set represents the second consecutive year that Topps employed the horizontal cards featuring both a portrait and an action scene. This offering includes the first 3 series' and is missing the 4th series of 261-340. Fortunately, none of the key cards are located in the final series, which only includes two Hall of Famers: 292 Aparicio, and 307 Wilhelm. A total of 66 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $9,000. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA Mint 9: 5 cards w/ #'s 81, 89, 94, 135 Mantle(oc), 190 Furillo. PSA NM-MT 8: 46 cards w/ #'s 17, 20 Kaline, 22, 29, 31 Aaron, 37, 38, 44, 45, 47, 54, 55, 56, 58, 60, 77, 80, 90 Reds, 91, 96, 121 Pirates, 125, 128, 130 Mays(oc), 138, 145 Hodges(oc), 160, 162, 164 Killebrew(oc), 165, 180 Roberts, 188 White Sox, 206, 212, 214, 217, 221, 222, 228, 230, 234, 236 A's, 242, 243, 244, 249. PSA NM 7: 12 cards w/ #'s 30 Robinson, 33 Clemente, 41, 78, 79 Koufax, 113 Rizzuto, 143, 148, 150 Snider, 153, 158, 175. PSA EX-MT 6: 5 cards w/ #'s 15 Banks, 110 Berra. PSA EX 5: #5 Williams . Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s 101 Campanella (EX), 166 Dodgers (EX-MT), 200 Feller (EX), 240 Ford (EX), 251 Yankees (NM), 260 Reese (EX-MT). Grades 50% NM to NM-MT, 50% EX to EX-MT.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19499 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$8,962.50
1920's Ty Cobb "Stall and Dean" Advertising Display.
With the last sighting of this piece at auction remaining the 1999 Barry Halper sale, where a slightly superior example to our offering realized a price of $19,550, the presentation of this terrifically rare countertop display piece is certain to cause a commotion among both Cobb and advertising piece collectors. The Peach's rather controversial nature made him a bit of a gamble for product endorsement, so it is quite rare to see Mr. Cobb working solo on an advertising piece despite his tremendous talents. And in that short supply, no other piece could hold a candle to the leaping image of the Tigers legend, fixed against a background of a baseball and signature model glove, with Cobb's name in bold and heroic text. The cardboard rarity is die-cut to dimensions of approximately 10x15.75" and it presents quite beautifully despite an expected degree of wear most apparent at lower left, where water damage has affected a section of the piece just short of 1x3" in size. Easel back is still in place on verso, and fully operational. Those wishing to add this very special piece to their collections would be well advised to chase this specimen, as the wait for the next one could well exceed the six years between the last sale and this one.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19543 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$8,365.00
1965-68 Roger Maris Game Used & Signed Bat.
One of the most impressive Roger Maris bats to reach the auction block in recent memory, and if you don't want to take our word for it, ask the authenticators at MEARS, who sing this bat's praises with a stellar A9 rating. The signature model Hillerich & Bradsby A92 is the style favored by the hero of the 1961 home run chase during his final seasons in the Bronx, and the close of his career in St. Louis. Strong use certainly suggests that a few of Roger's patented long balls were launched from its barrel, which exhibits ball, stitch and rack marks from its days of active duty. Number "9" appears in vintage marker on the knob and barrel end. But perhaps most excitingly, the barrel offers a vintage personalized inscription reading, "To Ron Kurtz, Best Always, Roger Maris," placing the bat definitively in the superstar slugger's hands. Once coated with clear tape for protection, that tape has since been removed, leaving a shadow behind that does little to detract from the 7/10 inscription. Length is thirty-five inches, at a weight of thirty-three and a half ounces. The grade bears repeating: MEARS A9.
LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19780 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$8,365.00
1969-72 Roberto Clemente Game Used Bat.
This signature model Hillerich & Bradsby U1 is the style favored by the heroic Hall of Famer in the final years of his career, and his life, the model with which he powered his way to the elusive 3,000 hit mark. Presented here is a fabulous example of a blonde ash weapon once wielded by the superstar Pirate, exhibiting a few unmistakable ball and stitch marks on the barrel. All characteristics are exact to factory records, from the thirty-six ounces of weight to the thirty-six inches in length. Properly fonted and aged number "21" on the knob recalls Clemente's since-retired jersey number. Far more than an artifact of our National Pastime, this is an inspirational piece from one of the game's greatest humanitarians. MEARS A6.5.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19781 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$8,365.00
1934 Tour of Japan Multi-Signed Baseball with Babe Ruth.
It was a story made for Hollywood, with the most famous man in America, his faithful Yankee sidekick, a few other baseball legends, and a secret agent moonlighting as a Big League catcher. No serious baseball collection could possibly live without an artifact from the amazing 1934 Tour of Japan, and here we offer a captivating piece from the far side of the vast Pacific. The Babe fittingly occupies the sweet spot of this "Spalding" baseball signed on the historic Tour, appearing in the boldest black ink imaginable. His traveling teammates follow suit, with Manush, Sewell, Averill, Gehringer and Higgins all rating 9/10 or better. Light shellac is to be given credit for the superb signature quality, and the attractive sepia tone of the ball. Clearly one of the finest Ruth signatures ever found on a baseball, with historical value to add even further to the ball's tremendous appeal.
LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19379 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$7,767.50
1951 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball, PSA NM-MT 8.
After seeing a 1951 Yankees team sphere graded PSA Mint 9 realize a price a few dollars short of $30,000 in the Heritage May 2005 Signature Auction, one wise collector decided it was time to present this nearly identical representation for sale. Happy to oblige his wishes, we present this superb example of the most collectible post-war Yankee ball on earth, pairing a final season sweet spot DiMaggio with his youthful successor in center field, a rookie named Mantle. Surrounding this deific duo are twenty-two World Championship teammates, notably Martin, Henrich, Rizzuto, Mize, Berra, Stengel (clubhouse), Houk, McDougald, Crosetti, Coleman, Collins and more. Both the OAL (Harridge) baseball and the autographs that take residence there have been graded "8" by the authenticators at PSA/DNA, accounting for the final score as listed. Indisputably one of the finest examples known.
LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19407 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$7,767.50
1888 Goodwin Champions N162 Complete Baseball Set (8).
Issued by Old Judge and Gypsy Queen cigarettes, this set remains a favorite for many 19th century card collectors due to its gorgeous Victorian age lithography, picturing the game's greatest stars standing before glorious multi-hued skies right out of a painting by Claude Monet. Four residents of Cooperstown clock in for this set: Anson (Good 30), Brouthers (Good 30), Kelly (VG 40) and Keefe (VG/EX 50). Rounding out the team are Andrews (Fair 20), Caruthers (Fair 20), Glasscock (EX 60) and Dunlap (EX+ 70).
Auction 703
| Lot: 19459 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$7,767.50
1961 Bill "Moose" Skowron New York Yankees World Championship Presentational Rolex Watch.
Number three on the Yankees' home run chart with twenty-three in 1961, the stocky first baseman certainly played a key role in the Bombers' eventual World Championship this season, a feat for which he was presented this fine Rolex by the Commissioner of Baseball. The watch is crafted in fourteen karat gold in a "Bombay" style, with hand-engraved "551493" between the case lugs. The face of the watch is emblazoned with the Yankees' bat and hat logo, while the back is engraved, "Presented to William J. Skowron, Jr. by the Baseball Commissioner." The band is not original to the watch, and is crafted from gold-plated stainless steel. Condition is unimprovable, with not a single defect to be found, and the watch is perfectly operational. The provenance is likewise superb, as the watch is accompanied by a handwritten letter from Skowron attesting to the details of its presentation and sale to a collector.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19557 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$7,170.00
Circa 1910 Harry Krause Studio Photograph by Horner from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection.
UPDATE: Please note that the auction catalog copy incorrectly identifies the man pictured as Jack Coombs. There was nobody more unhittable than Krause in 1909, as he beat out Walsh, Bender and Joss to take the blue ribbon with a microscopic 1.39 earned run average. Like his fellow Dead Ball star Honus Wagner, Krause saw his portrait from the great Carl Horner utilized in the fabled T206 set. The image and mount size are likewise 3.75x5.5" and 5x7" respectively, and Horner's mark appears again at lower right. Condition of this masterful photographic work is an essentially flawless NRMT.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19699 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$7,170.00
1929 Philadelphia Athletics Team Signed Panoramic Photograph.
Highly collectible and capable of realizing prices approaching $2,000 in its unsigned state, this glorious panorama from the collection of third baseman Sammy Hale takes on an elephantine appeal with the addition of twenty-eight autographs, representing every last man pictured, all the way down to the young mascot that kneels at center. Those familiar with the composition of this squad, prominent in any educated discussion of the all-time greatest teams, will be intimately familiar with the cast of characters: Mack, Foxx, Cochrane, Collins, Grove, Simmons, Bishop, Dykes, Earnshaw, Miller, Boley and Haas. The signature quality ranges from a perfectly respectable 4/10 to a flawless 10/10, with each entirely legible and all but a few falling quite comfortably into the 6/10 to 8/10 range. Among the Hall of Famers, only Simmons' 5/10 fails to meet that standard, while Grove surpasses it with a conservative 9/10. The photograph itself, measuring 9x31.5" in its original frame, is likewise very well preserved, with a light touch of toning at far left and a single inch-long tear at far right leaving the wide expanse in between free of flaws. An absolute dream piece for the uncompromising collector.
LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19715 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$7,170.00
1908-09 Rose Co. Postcards Ty Cobb SGC VG 40.
One of the most graphically appealing of all baseball issues is the supremely rare Rose Company postcard, so sought after by collectors that even the obscure nobodies book for close to $400 in VG condition. Here, however, we offer the key card in the set, the great Ty Cobb, one of only a handful still known to exist. In fact, not only is this offering the highest graded specimen ever to be certified by SGC, it is also the only one. A search of the population report of PSA likewise turns up not a single other example. Perhaps a cause for the supreme scarcity, besides the approaching centennial of its issue, is the fact that these are postcards, and as such were typically mailed rather than simply collected as tobacco cards of the age were. And while the 3.5x5.5" size of Rose Co. postcards made them more susceptible to wear (and particularly creasing/folding) than the tiny T-cards, our offering has weathered the decades wonderfully, with only edge and corner wear, and slight rubbing of the surfaces to gain the rather stingy grade of VG 40.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19460 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$6,572.50
1957 Topps Baseball High-Grade Partial Set (295/407).
This is the first Topps issue to feature full color photographs with a nice mix of action and portrait images. The 407 card issue represented their largest offered to that date. A total of 39 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $5,200. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA Mint 9: 4 cards w/ #'s 64, 129, 150, 163. PSA NM-MT 8: 31 cards w/ #'s 2 Berra, 13, 18 Drysdale, 24, 34, 41, 45, 51, 54, 57, 68, 72, 80 Hodges, 82, 83, 112, 120 Lemon, 131, 137, 160, 162, 166, 174, 353, 355, 356, 358, 371, 386, 387, 402. PSA NM 7: 4 cards w/ #'s 76 Clemente, 95 Mantle, 107, 122. Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s 1 Williams (EX), 10 Mays (VG-EX), Aaron (EX), 35 F. Robinson (EX), 125 Kaline (EX), 170 Snider (VG-EX), 400 Dodgers Sluggers (NM) Missing: 20 Aaron, 170 Snider, 302 Koufax, 328 B. Robinson, 407 Yankee Sluggers. Most of 2nd series 265-352 Grades 25% NM to NM-MT, 60% EX to EX-MT, 15% VG-EX or lesser.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19501 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$6,572.50
1973 Thurman Munson Game Worn Jacket.
Ah, the joys of being young and beautiful. It certainly worked out well for our consignor, a lovely eighteen-year old blonde from the tri-state area who became a great fan of the New York Yankees, who in turn became a great fan of hers. One player in particular, former Baltimore Orioles ace Pat Dobson, took quite a serious shine to young Judi. As her notarized letter of provenance explains, "...This relationship set the stage for acquiring some great memories and valuable memorabilia. During these years, Pat reserved game tickets for my family, and me, gave me baseballs during batting practices, posed for pictures and gave me team signed baseballs. [Note: see some of these baseballs in this Signature auction]. One day he asked what other souvenir I would like to have and I told him a jacket. He told me he would see what he could do, and to meet him at the entrance of the bullpen during the 5th inning of the game. I did, and he handed me a brown bag with a jacket inside. He told me it was Thurman Munson's warm up coat he had been wearing that day. I later discovered #15 in the front pocket..." And sure enough, there's that vintage number "15" in black marker inside the right pocket of this rare and historic jacket from the wardrobe of the tragic Yankee captain. It was a tremendous season for Munson when this jacket was worn, his first Gold Glove, his second All-Star Game, his highest career home run production. When examining the piece, one almost needs to slip the jacket on due to the chills it inspires. The details are just fantastic, from the white tackle twill "NY" logo over the heart, to the embroidered felt team logo patch on the left sleeve, and back to that all important number markered in the pocket. The jacket's heavy nylon body was intended for use on the Bronx' coldest nights, and still is quite warm despite the absence of the zip-in lining that once resided inside. Elasticized wool ribbing is present at neck, cuffs and
Auction 703
| Lot: 19758 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$6,572.50
1930's Baseball Legends Multi-Signed Baseball with Ruth, Gehrig.
Upon first glance, it would seem that this godly sphere derives from the 1934 Tour of Japan, and we still aren't entirely convinced that there is no connection. The cast of characters just bears too close of a resemblance to the team that crossed the Pacific: Ruth, Gehrig, Foxx, Gomez, Gehringer. But perhaps it is just that greatness tends to stick together, as other names of superstars that stayed stateside are here as well: Dickey, Cochrane, Manush, Simmons, Cronin, Grove, Lopez, Lyons and Rick Farrell among them. Fourteen Hall of Famers in all have made their mark on this deeply toned OAL (Harridge) orb, with only three others present that have been locked outside the gates of Cooperstown. The improbability of finding a single baseball with such a baseball pantheon borders on the astronomical, and just a fraction of that theoretical population could match the strong condition of the signatures found here. Only Farrell (1/10), Gehringer (3/10) and Lopez (3/10) cause any amount of eye strain, with the remainder of the Cooperstonians averaging 7/10 in quality. So many great hands have held this remarkable piece--will yours be next?
LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19380 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$5,975.00
1961-63 Stan Musial Game Used Bat.
"The Man" closed out his Hall of Fame career wielding bats like this one, showing light but instantly apparent use from the last of his twenty-two Big League seasons. The "Musial Model" Hillerich & Bradsby M159 shows a fine helping of bat and rack marks on the barrel, leading down to Musial's retired number "6" in marker on the knob. The thirty-one ounces of weight and thirty-four inches in length are proper for his preferred models. A somewhat faded but still legible personalized inscription ending "Best Wishes, Stan Musial 11/63" would seem to date the bat precisely to his very last season. Another more recent blue sharpie signature is a perfect 10/10. A special piece garnering the impressive grade of MEARS A7.
LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19779 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$5,975.00
1971-76 Hank Aaron Game Used Bat.
While early career gamers from the Home Run King certainly carry strong appeal, we really love the late ones as well. We imagine home run number seven hundred and change being launched from them, and how many bats can boast that kind of history? Here we present an Adirondack 63A dating from the last years of Hammerin' Hank's Big League service, showing light but certain use, and the imprints of a possible home run or two. All specs are exact to Aaron's preferred model, with length and weight of thirty-four and three-quarter inches and thirty-four and a half ounces respectively. The historic number "44" is in marker on the knob. A perfect blue sharpie signature on the barrel adds further appeal. Whether Bonds catches him or not, Aaron will continue to reign in our hearts, and as such any lumber once held in his hands is a true baseball treasure. MEARS A6.
LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19784 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$5,975.00
1952 Topps Willie Mays #261 PSA NM-MT 8.
The all-important rookie card from the National League Rookie of the Year. Over 750 examples have tried, and fewer than ten have been successful in topping this high-grade specimen and third most valuable card in Topps' debut issue. With a crisp, clear image, strong centering and sharp corners, this card bears a strikingly close resemblance to the Mint 9 cards that sell for over $20,000 at auction. And we'll say a big "Hey" to that!
Auction 703
| Lot: 19485 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$5,676.25
1960 Topps Baseball Complete High-Grade Set (572).
The 1960 Topps issue was the last year that Topps produced a horizontal issue and has always been a collector favorite due to its multiple Hall of famers along with its colorful design. A total of 35 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $3,900. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA Mint 9: # 122. PSA NM-MT 8: 20 cards w/ #'s 28 B. Robinson, 54, 137, 146, 148 Yastrzemski, 160 Mantle/Boyer, 180, 200 Mays, 202, 250 Musial, 377 Maris, 462, 475 Drysdale, 479, 480 Berra, 523, 555, 563 Mantle A.S.(oc), 564 Mays A.S., 569. PSA NM 7: 11 cards w/ #'s 210 Killebrew, 254, 300 Aaron, 326 Clemente(oc), 343 Koufax, 350 Mantle, 420 Mathews, 445 Spahn, 464, 513 Cubs, 566 Aaron A.S. PSA EX-MT 6: 3 cards w/ #'s 240, 282, 565 Maris A.S. Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s 10 Banks (EX-MT), 35 Ford (NM), 50 Kaline (NM), 73 Gibson (EX), 316 McCovey (EX). Grades 25% NM to NM-MT, 70% EX to EX-MT, 5% VG-EX or lesser.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19513 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$5,676.25
1927 Muddy Ruel "The All America Team" Presentational Certificate Signed by Babe Ruth from the Herold "Muddy" Ruel Collection.
An absolutely exceptional piece, bursting at the seams with historical significance. Muddy and the Babe are linked in baseball eternity by the famous photographic image of Ruth clouting his sixtieth home run as Ruel rises behind him to watch it sail into the record books, and once again by this remarkable certificate that embodies the tremendous respect the Babe had for Ruel's abilities behind the plate. Dating from only weeks after the Babe's legendary long ball dropped into the cheap seats, this elegantly crafted document names Ruel as Ruth's personal choice for the top catcher in the Major Leagues, besting even such competitors for the title as Hall of Fame icons Mickey Cochrane and Gabby Hartnett. Ten signatures endorsing the bestowal of this great honor appear at the bottom of the document, most notably that of Babe Ruth himself, whose monumental 9/10 ink signature is a treasure on any medium, much less on a presentational certificate to this man during this season. Short of the slightest hint of foxing at the bottom border, the certificate remains in exceptionally strong condition, housed to this day in the original frame (15x20") that once hung on Ruel's wall. We imagine this piece taking a position of great honor in an advanced collector's trophy room, hung beside a poster-sized image of the pair at the plate at Yankee Stadium on that early fall day, 1927.
LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19730 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$5,676.25
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 PSA Authentic.
The most important and desirable of all post-war trading cards, the Topps Mickey Mantle rookie will remain a dream for many a collector, as the scarcity and demand for the card has driven the price tag well above many a budget. For those intent upon sharing in the joy, but unwilling to part with five figures to do so, we present this rather nice looking example graded "Authentic" by PSA. We assume that the collector that submitted this card chose to go the "Authentic" route rather than ask for a grade as the scattered wrinkles and ink stain at the lower right border would have resulted in a PSA 1 (MK) designation otherwise. Despite these flaws, however, the catalog image should back our claim that it's actually a lot nicer than the details might have you believe.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19486 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$5,377.50
1960 New York Yankees World Series Game Seven Line-Up Card from the Casey Stengel Collection.
To gaze upon this amazing historical document is to relive a bad dream if you were a Yankee fan in October of 1960. Feverishly notated, the line-up card clearly reveals the desperation of manager Casey Stengel, scrambling to work any angle to keep the outclassed Pirates from completing their World Series miracle. All five pitching changes, looking to stem a four-run Pittsburgh flood in the first and second, and a five-run eighth, are crammed into the lower margin, as Stengel switched from Turley to Stafford to Shantz to Coates to Terry. Pinch hitters and pinch runners fill the right column. One look and it's instantly clear that this was no ordinary game--instead, it was the most dramatic, stomach-churning Game Seven in World Series history. Though we all remember the game for the Mazeroski blast that ended it, this only tells a small part of the story. After dropping to a four to nothing deficit, the Yankees rose to a seven to four lead in the top of the eighth, before giving up five in the bottom half of the inning. Then the Yanks, with their backs against the wall, miraculously tied the score at nine in the top of the ninth, paving the way for Mazeroski's definitive moment. The pale blue 3.75x7" card with the word "Pittsburgh" at top and Stengel's 10/10 pencil below, remains in fine, undamaged condition. To hold this card in your hand, with no fewer than thirty-three Yankee surnames scrawled by Stengel in his furious battle against fate, is the baseball equivalent of slugging down a quart of espresso. Forty-five years later, the nerves still pulse with the thought of it all.
LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19648 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$5,377.50
1954 Bowman Baseball Complete Set (224).
In 1954 Bowman followed up the success of the stunning 1953 color set with another classic. This set is filled with timeless images of some of the greatest players of post war baseball. A total of 15 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $4,350. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA NM-MT 8: 5 cards w/ #'s 37, 68, 93, 101 Larsen, 104. PSA NM 7: 5 cards w/ #'s 66 Williams, 75, 95 Roberts, 119, 189. PSA EX-MT 6: 5 cards w/ #'s 65 Mantle, 69, 89 Mays, 90 Campanella, 105. Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s 1 Rizzuto (EX-MT), 132 Feller (EX-MT), 161 Berra, (EX), 170 Snider (NM), 177 Ford (NM) Grades 25% NM to NM-MT, 60% EX to EX-MT, 15% VG-EX or lesser.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19492 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$5,078.75
1929-30 Syl Johnson Game Worn Uniform.
A nineteen-year veteran of the Big Leagues, Johnson's career was plagued by injury, as line drives broke his cheekbone, ribs, big toe, and three fingers on his pitching hand. The starter and workhorse reliever did have six consecutive healthy seasons from 1928 to 1933, a time that accounted for almost half of his career wins, and during which he appeared in three Cardinals World Series. Though this full uniform dates from this period of relative health, it appears that a line drive did find Johnson while he was wearing this incredible home white flannel uniform, as the lower front of the jersey exhibits a rather significant spattering of blood. The jersey presents beautifully despite this rather gruesome battlefield stain, with classic birds and bat logo and "Cardinals" in chenille on the chest, and a felt sleeve patch that has bled slightly. Light but definite wear. "Sainz" label inside collar, a local St. Louis sporting wear manufacturer. Jersey was sourced with matching pants that identify the former owner with "S. Johnson" sewn into button path of fly. Heavy wear evident particularly in patching of knees. Some incidental rust staining at waist is from the metal clasp, and the mate to the clasp has since been lost, though these flaws will not be visible upon display. A tough two-year style, losing a point only for the blood staining, which many will see as a positive attribute. MEARS A9.
LOA from MEARS. LOA from Lou Lampson.
(Total: 2 Items)
Auction 703
| Lot: 19735 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$5,078.75
1958 Topps High-Grade Complete Set (494).
The 1958 Topps set was numbered to 495, but one card (145) was not issued after Ed Bouchee was suspended from baseball. The set includes the addition of 20 "All-Star" (as selected by Sport Magazine) cards. A total of 38 cards have been graded by SGC with an aggregate SMR value of $5350. Includes: Graded Cards -
SGC MT 96:
#240 Skowron.
SGC NM-MT+ 92:
#329, 428 Cincinnati Redlegs, 487 Mantle All Star, 491.
SGC NM-MT 88:
#47 Maris, 307 B. Robinson, 310 Banks, 351 Brave Fence Busters, 380, 400 Fox, 401, 407, 482 Banks All Star, 492.
SGC NM+ 86:
#80, 300, 304 Tigers Big Bats, 314 Dodgers' Boss & Power, 375 Reese, 476 Musial All Star.
SGC NM 84:
#70 Kaline, 84, 187 Koufax, 270 Spahn, 436 Rival Fence Busters, 485 Williams All Star.
SGC EX-NM 80:
#1 Williams, 5 Mays, 30 Aaron, 52 Clemente, 150 Mantle, 418 World Series Batting Foes, 486 Mays All Star.
SGC EX 60:
#25 Drysdale, 370 Berra.
SGC VG-EX 50:
#152 Hodges, 271 Martin.
Ungraded Cards
Highlights include - #71 Dodgers Team (EX), 88 Snider (EX), 246 Yankees Team (EX), 285 F. Robinson (VG-EX), 288 Killebrew (OC), 320 Ford (VG-EX), 321 Sluggers Supreme (EX), 343 Cepeda (VG-EX), 440 Mathews (EX), 488 Aaron All Star (EX). Remaining cards grade 80% EX/EX-MT or better with the balance a consistent VG-EX or better with few exceptions.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19511 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$4,780.00
1955 Brooklyn Dodgers "Welcome Home" National League Championship Banner.
Absolutely magical artifact from the most glorious October in Flatbush history was posted on the exterior wall of the Ebbets Field ballpark as the Bums finally got the better of the Yanks. Even the most casual collectors of baseball memorabilia understand that any piece relating directly to the Bums' season of 1955 carries tremendous value and allure, but few pieces could compare, both in terms of visual appeal and historical significance, to this remarkable canvas banner that bore witness to the miracle. Measuring a regal 34x35" in size, the banner is clearly the finest of the one or two other examples that could hypothetically exist today, with only the slightest hints of age or toning to mark its days of service under the Brooklyn sun, or its years of storage since the borough's happiest day. Booming text screenprinted in red and blue announces, "Welcome Brooklyn Dodgers, 1955 National League Champions." Fantastic imagery of the Ebbets Field rotunda and the Brooklyn Bridge adds further visual power. Stamped on the back of the upper hem is the manufacturer's information: "Carly Bros., Flags and Decorations, 815 Nassau Avenue, Brooklyn 22, N.Y." Metal grommets at the corners allowed for ease of presentation. Amazingly, we have been able to locate a photograph of fans celebrating the Dodgers' Yankee Stadium Game Seven victory back home in Brooklyn, while a banner identical to this one (perhaps this one exactly!) hangs on the wall of Ebbets above them. Such a look of joy on the faces of the Brooklyn faithful. We can only hope that the winning bidder of this monumentally historic piece will feel a similar sense of jubilation upon ownership, as well he should.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19552 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$4,780.00
1967 St. Louis Cardinals World Series Championship Trophy.
As much as we love Championship rings, there's a very special place in our hearts for the much tougher World Series trophy, which offers unlimited aesthetic appeal to match its regal heritage as a tangible symbol of Major League dominance. The offered specimen was once the proud possession of a front office worker for the mighty Cards, who were led to the promised land by three complete game wins orchestrated by the great Bob Gibson, who allowed only three earned runs in twenty-seven innings of work. The flag of the vanquished, still cursed Boston Red Sox appears beside the Cardinals in the front positions of this fine award, with pennants representing the remainder of the Leagues' twenty teams ringing the perimeter. A golden crown and silvery baseball command the center, as a brass band ringing the base proclaims, "World Series Champions, St. Louis Cardinals 1967." Condition is first rate, with not a single defect to note. Twelve inches in height, with an historic appeal that's immeasurable.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19566 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$4,780.00
1958 Ty Cobb Handwritten Letter to Casey Stengel from the Casey Stengel Collection.
Our first inclination is to transcribe the entire contents of this simply remarkable letter verbatim, as it is so absolutely perfect, bursting with first-rate baseball content, that it seems a shame to do anything less. But given limitations of time and space, we will offer just a tease, and leave the pleasure of the full text to the lucky winning bidder. "...to me you really did something in the Series, that has to be your high water mark in your very wonderful career, your team in the short series of 4 games deciding was flat on their backs, down 3 to 1 and boy you pulled them up, shook them together and came through so grandly. I caught you on the bench at times T.V. once when Larsen was staggering, I saw the old boy fighting, shaking his fists, advising, encouraging, etc. Casey I like that kind of fight & spirit. I say to you that to you alone belongs the credit for winning this last series. I mean this from my heart. I enjoy telling you this because you are a battler for the game and you do belong to that inner circle of those of baseball that really has the right spirit..." Cobb goes on to lament Tris Speaker's death a couple of weeks earlier, describing him as well as playing "the game as it should be played." Only at the very end does Ty apologetically veer from glowing praise, noting that shortstop Tony Kubek's batting stance should have been corrected during the Series (Kubek hit a dismal one for twenty-one). All writing, on Cobb's personal letterhead and in his distinctive green ink, is a perfect 10/10, and short of original mailing folds, all four pages themselves are similarly pristine. Without question one of the most desirable Ty Cobb letters ever offered for public sale.
LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19642 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$4,780.00
1955 Topps Baseball Complete Set (206).
This was Topps' first horizontally oriented baseball issue. The format presented dual portrait and action photos along with a facsimile signature. The format was a hit and was used again for the 1956 Topps issue. A total of 8 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $2,800. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA NM-MT 8: # 31 Spahn . PSA NM 7: 3 cards w/ #'s 4 Kaline, 47 Aaron (oc), 194 Mays. PSA EX-MT 6: 3 cards w/ #'s 50 Robinson, 123 Koufax (oc), 124 Killebrew, 164 Clemente. Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s 2 Williams (EX), 28 Banks (NM-MT), 155 Mathews (EX), 210 Snider (EX). Grades 15% NM to NM-MT, 65% EX to EX-MT, 20% VG-EX or lesser.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19497 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$4,481.25
1914 Frank "Home Run" Baker Home Run Baseball from the Frank "Home Run" Baker Collection.
The scene was Philadelphia's Shibe Park, a warm summer's day in late June, just two days before the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo would set Europe on a collision course with the first World War. The Senators were visiting the Philadelphia Athletics, and on the mound was Washington's number two ace Yancy Ayers, better known around the League as "Doc." As the greatest power slugger in the American League, a man who would top the home run chart for the fourth consecutive season in 1914, stepped to the plate, Ayers cradled this OAL (Johnson) ball in his right hand. Baker dug in, his mighty bat cocked above his left shoulder. In an instant, this ball and Baker's bat met in a tremendous collision, sending the former into the record books as one of a League-best nine homers that the Hall of Famer would hit this A.L. Championship season.
Somehow, the game's first great long ball slugger was able to retrieve this ball after his round trip of the bases, and he quickly scribbled the details of the event on the side panel for posterity. The quite light but legible script reads, "Home Run off Doc Ayres (sic), June 26th, 1914." This style of notation matches exactly the scant few other Baker home run baseballs to reach the market. The ball shows tremendous use from that day but still presents wonderfully over nine decades later as one of the earliest documented home run baseballs in the hobby. This fact, and the identity of the man that sent this ball on its wild ride, makes it a piece worthy of the Baseball Hall of Fame, or of the finest game used memorabilia collections in the world.
LOA from MEARS.
Auction 703
| Lot: 19711 | Oct 29, 2005
Sold For:
$4,481.25
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