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The Finest Known Joe DiMaggio & Marilyn Monroe Signed Baseball. Though the marriage of Joe and Marilyn was troubled and very short, it remains to this day the ultimate celebrity pairing, the consummate sports legend and the definitive Hollywood star. It is well known that despite a lifelong affection for Miss Monroe that saw DiMaggio send flowers to Marilyn's grave until his own passing, Joe absolutely refused to sign any Monroe related material after her death, whether it be photographic images or pages already bearing her autograph. Any signed artifacts blessed by both legendary hands derive only from the brief periods that this couple spent together, literally only a span of months given the short length of their romance and the large percentage of that time that travel separated them. This tight rein that DiMaggio held upon supply after Marilyn's death, paired with the intense desirability of DiMaggio/Monroe material among autograph collectors, propels this remarkable sphere to the status of one of the most desirable and valuable signed baseballs ever offered for private sale.

This pair of autographs was acquired by a New York area news photographer in the early 1960's as the couple was believed to be considering a reconciliation while on vacation together in Florida during baseball's Spring training. By a pure stroke of luck, the photographer happened to have access to a baseball when meeting the famous pair, providing the most desirable of media for this historic duet of signatures. The occasion was memorialized in a 1989 edition of "Newsday," which devoted almost two pages to describe the event. A copy of that news article accompanies the ball.

Speaking to the quality of the baseball, we can do nothing but heap praise upon yet more praise. Our catalog photography should aptly illustrate that the blue ballpoint signatures, placed in tandem upon a lightly toned side panel, remain in the same 10/10 bold ink that was applied over four decades ago. Even
Auction 704 | Lot: 19023 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $191,200.00
The Earliest Known Ty Cobb Game Used Bat, Circa 1907-08.

Tyrus Cobb's father had been in the ground for just two or three years when the young Georgia Peach stood at the plate in Detroit, this bat gripped tightly in his calloused hands. Mortally wounded by a shotgun blast delivered by Cobb's own mother, reportedly accidentally, Cobb's father had accepted young Ty's chosen path with great reluctance, hoping that his boy would aspire to a more upstanding profession--medicine, law or the military. Professional baseball was populated by gamblers, alcoholics and other shady characters, certainly no place for the son of a state senator. And though his father did not approve, and never lived to see him in a Detroit Tigers uniform, it was William Cobb's words, among the last he said to his son, that resonated in Ty's mind: "Don't come home a failure."

The era during which this rare and outstanding bat saw action established the twenty-year old Cobb as anything but a failure, and ensured he would always be able to come home. After a period of adjustment in which the teenaged Tyrus struggled with Big League pitching, northern living and rookie hazing ("These old-timers turned me into a snarling wildcat," he was quoted as saying), Cobb emerged in 1907 as the game's greatest hitter, the first of eleven seasons that he would lead the American League in batting average. His even four hundred hits over the 1907-08 campaigns were punctuated by sixty-four doubles and thirty-four triples. Each of the two years found him atop the runs batted in leader board. It was an era of greatness for the Detroit Tigers as well, who captured the flag three consecutive seasons from 1907-09, allowing speculation as to the genuine possibility that this bat was utilized in one of the earliest Fall Classics.

As scarce as Cobb bats are in the hobby, this particular specimen is truly one of a kind, the only known Spalding representation, the model used by the young Peach before signing
Auction 704 | Lot: 19631 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $44,812.50
1911 Addie Joss Benefit Game Panoramic Photograph. Those who followed our October 2005 Signature auction were surely struck by the $90,000 price realized for Frank "Home Run" Baker's personal copy of this remarkable panoramic photograph. A quick check of the auction results database confirmed everyone's suspicions-it was indeed the highest price ever paid for an unsigned sports photo. And this makes perfect sense.

Consider the factors that propel such a piece to the pinnacle of sports photography collection. First, of course, is the exceptional collection of talent captured on film. No fewer than nine Hall of Famers are pictured among the thirty-seven uniformed ballplayers: Cy Young (in his twenty-second and final season), Napoleon Lajoie, Walter Johnson, Bobby Wallace, Frank "Home Run" Baker, Sam Crawford, Tris Speaker, Eddie Collins, and Ty Cobb, who appears third from the right in borrowed Indians gear, his Tigers uniform still in his luggage which never made it off the train. And, of course, we cannot forget the great "Shoeless Joe" Jackson, essentially a rookie having played in only thirty games prior to this season. Each and every one of these legends, appearing in uniform in a period photograph, commands tremendous attention from collectors. But a congregation of Dead Ball gods such as this could only have happened on this single day, July 24, 1911, as the Cleveland Naps took on the best in the American League in what could justifiably be called the first All-Star Game. It was the tragic death from meningitis of Hall of Fame pitcher Addie Joss that brought the best in the game to League Park, the only time prior to the birth of the modern All-Star Game in 1933 that so many different Major League uniforms shared a single diamond.

Next, we must remember how very rare this photograph was, even in 1911. The technology used to print these very special images was particularly expensive, and the run was very limited as a result. Each of the players p
Auction 704 | Lot: 19433 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $35,850.00
1952 Bowman Mickey Mantle #101 PSA Gem Mint 10. Of 1177 such specimens to pass through the offices of PSA as of the time of this writing, only a single other '52 Bowman Mantle has achieved the lofty designation of Gem Mint 10, making this card even more rare than the esteemed Topps rookie of the same year. From an aesthetic standpoint it's hard not to favor this one as well, as the artwork of the early 1950's Bowmans rank high among the greatest sports art in card collecting history. Moving on to the unique aspects of this particular card, we find ourselves able to do little more than spout superlatives. Gem Mint 10 is just that--centering, surfaces, edges, corners all simply unimprovable. Pull one hundred 1950's cards direct from the few untampered wax packs that remain today, and you're unlikely to find a single card that has no print errors, centering problems, gum/wax stains. And this doesn't even take into consideration the issues of handling wear. The mere existence of any fifty-year old card in Gem Mint condition is contrary to all statistical probability, and yet here it is. And what a card to do it! A marquee piece for the collector who wishes to set himself apart from the rest.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19561 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $33,460.00
1940's Jim Thorpe Single Signed Baseball, PSA NM-MT 8. It's overkill, really, a Thorpe single of this exceptional quality. Offer any weather-beaten, faded and shellacked ball bearing the autograph of this Football Hall of Famer, 1912 Olympic Gold Medalist and member of the 1913 National League Championship New York Giants, and thousands of collectors will still sing its praises. Ask yourself--when was the last time you saw one, in any state of disrepair? We can't remember one either. And while we won't be so bold as to claim that another will never surface, we feel entirely comfortable in claiming that you couldn't possibly ever find one finer than the OAL (Harridge) ball you see before you here. The side panel autograph from this uniquely gifted Native American legend is rendered in black fountain pen ink so bold that you could read it from the next county, rating a "9" on a scale of ten according to PSA/DNA, which explains that a point was deducted only due to the fact that the tail end of the letter "e" in Thorpe brushes the ball's stitching. In the absence of this rather insignificant issue, this sixty-year old autograph would be deemed unimprovable. The composite grade of NM-MT 8 is the result of a grade of "6" for the ball itself, resultant of light, patchy toning and fading of the ball's stamping. As our catalog imagery should surely convey, however, the visual appeal of the ball and the autograph itself are not harmed by this natural aging process. Like a gourmet chef supermodel, or a Big League pitcher that bats .300, this ball is better than anything of which we could have possibly dreamed. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19339 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $28,680.00
1909-1911 T206 White Border Partial Set (422/521). 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 56 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $11,380. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA EX-MT 6: 4 cards w/ Joss (Pitching), Doyle (NY, Hands above head), Maddox, Dougherty. PSA EX 5: 17 Cards w/ Chance (Yellow), Chase (Blue), Chase (Pink), Chase (White Cap), Covaleski, Evers (Chicago), Jennings (One hand), Johnson (Hands at chest), Killian, Kleinow, Marquard (Hands at side). PSA VG-EX 4: 20 cards w/ Bresnahan (Bat), Brown (Chicago), Brown (Cubs), Chance (Red), Chesbro, Clarke (Bat), Cobb (Green), Cobb (Bat off), Cobb (Red), Collins, Evers (Portrait), Huggins (Portrait), Jennings (Both Hands), McGraw (Finger in air), Willis (Throwing), Willis (Portrait). PSA VG 3: 3 Cards w/ Brown (Port), Griffith (Port), Huggins (Mouth). PSA Good 2: 3 Cards w/ Johnson (Port), Mathewson (White Cap), McGraw (Port). PSA PR/FR 1: 3 Cards w/ Cobb (Bat on), Mathewson (Dark), Mathewson (Port). Grades 6% EX or better, 55% VG to VG/EX, 32% PR to GD, 7% trimmed or altered.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19542 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $28,680.00
1951 Bowman Baseball High-Grade Complete Set (324). Offered here is a stunningly fresh complete set of the historic 1951 Bowman issue including the two high-number rookie cards of Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays. This issue also marks the first time that Bowman increased the size from the original smaller cards to the new 2 1/16" x 3 1/8" size. A total of 84 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $22,845. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA MINT 9: 1 Card w/ # 165 Williams (oc). PSA NM-MT 8: 71 Cards w/ #'s 3 Roberts, 19, 22, 30 Feller, 31 Campanella (oc), 37, 50 Mize, 56, 60, 62 Boudreau, 84, 87, 88, 92, 94, 102, 108, 110, 112, 113, 114, 115, 119, 123, 124, 128, 129, 130, 139, 140, 141, 151 Doby, 155, 158, 160, 163, 168, 169, 171, 181 Stengel, 182, 184, 186 Ashburn, 190, 194, 196, 198 Irvin, 199, 201, 208, 216, 220, 223, 227, 228, 230, 237, 240, 250, 257, 258, 259, 260 Erskine, 291 Henrich, 296, 307, 310, 312, 315, 323 Adcock, 324 Pramesa. PSA NM 7: 10 Cards w/ #'s 2 Berra, 15, 32 Snider, 46 Kell, 53 Lemon, 72, 73, 253 Mantle, 284, 305, Mays. PSA EX-MT 6: 1 card w/ #122 Garagiola. PSA EX 5: 2 cards w/ #1 Ford, 295 Lopez. Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s 7 Hodges (EX/MT), 58 Slaughter (EX/MT), 80 Reese (VG/EX), 134 Spahn (EX/MT), 232 Fox (EX), 233 Durocher (EX/MT), 254 Jensen (EX/MT), Dickey (EX/MT). Grades 43% NM to NM-MT, 54% EX to EX-MT, 3% lesser.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19555 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $28,680.00
1928 Babe Ruth Signed First Home Run Baseball of the Season. When Babe Ruth stepped to the plate at Fenway Park on April 19, 1928, he was quite literally at the summit of his enormous fame. The season of 1928 had begun only days earlier, and the baseball world was emerging from a long, cold winter with a single name on its lips. Ruth. The New York Yankees slugger's 1927 season was something bordering upon the supernatural, and there was not a baseball fan alive who didn't ache to witness his magical ways in person. Consider this--the top three home run sluggers of the '27 season wore Yankee pinstripes. Lou Gehrig was runner-up with an amazing forty-seven. Tony Lazzeri took the bronze with just eighteen. The Ringling Brothers circus wasn't the greatest show on earth, Murderer's Row was. And there was no question as to which man was the ringleader.

How conflicted those fans turning out to see their Red Sox meet the Yankees that sunny spring day in 1928 must have felt, remembering that the Babe had once resided in their own dugout in Boston, and wishing almost simultaneously that he would strike out and that they could see that fabled home run power for themselves. Those traitorous desires were quickly satisfied when the Bambino applied a tremendous swat to this OAL (Barnard) baseball and sent it sailing through the cool New England air and into the right field bleachers of Fenway Park. It was the first of what would total a League-topping fifty-four home runs in the 1928 season, and the 417th of the Babe's career. As Ruth scampered around the bases in his quirky short-strided gait, a fan in the cheap seats gripped this baseball tightly, understanding even then that he held a piece of great value in his hands. Wisely, he sought out the Babe after the game and presented this ball to him, which Ruth graciously blessed with his classic sweet spot signature, today rating a solid 6/10 to 7/10 in quality. A side panel inscription in the same ancient ink as Ruth is in t
Auction 704 | Lot: 19653 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $26,290.00
1908 Chicago Cubs vs. New York Giants Panoramic Photograph. Clearly one of the most exceptional panoramas to reach the auction block in recent memory, this view from the upper stands directly behind home plate of Chicago's West Side Park was captured less than a month before an event known forever afterwards as "Merkle's Boner" linked these two 1908 squads in eternity. Words couldn't possibly convey the profundity of the Dead Ball details visible upon close inspection, from the archaic batting stance of the Giant at the plate, to the white-shirted fans who sit on the field of play along the outfield wall, to the bridges and buildings stretching to the horizon beyond the ballpark. The sepia image stretches the tape measure to 11.5x28", with the original wood frame carrying final dimensions to 17x34". Short of barely visible water staining that is entirely confined to the pale sky above the first baseline grandstands, the image presents as an incredible NRMT. Text along the lower border reads, "National League Park Chicago, Giants vs. Cubs, August 30, 1908" and "Copyright 1908 by The Geo. R. Lawrence Co., 274 Wabash Ave., Chicago 2." We would strongly suggest those viewing this image in our printed catalog to consult this lot at our website, where the incredible composition will be better conveyed through the larger images available. It will take your breath away.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19428 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $23,900.00
1914 Christy Mathewson Signed Large Photograph. On Independence Day of this year, the great Christy Mathewson shut out the Phillies in the bottom half of a Polo Grounds doubleheader to notch his 350th career victory. With Babe Ruth nothing more than a promising prospect at the close of the year 1914, and Ty Cobb a brilliant but unloveable star, it was Mr. Mathewson that held the collective hearts of baseball fans nationwide at the time he inked this remarkable photograph to a fraternity brother. It ended up being Matty's final winning season, a brilliant twenty-four and thirteen campaign that should have earned the Giants a fifth pennant under his reign if not for the improbable Miracle Braves.

Those with any knowledge of the baseball autograph market need no explanation of the rarity and desirability of such a piece. Mathewson's tremendous fame and Hall of Fame relevance, paired with his early death in 1925 from tuberculosis brought on by World War I chemical warfare lung damage, directs supply and demand in extreme opposite directions. Collectors scramble for any slip of paper blessed by Matty's hand, well aware that the final few remaining examples are finding permanent homes and one day these opportunities will be gone. This is no mere slip of paper however. It's not even your typical Mathewson signed photo, if there were such a thing.

Presented here is one of the finest Mathewson signed artifacts ever to be offered for public sale, a thrilling oversized studio portrait of Christy in uniform with a conservative 8/10 fountain pen inscription to a Bucknell fraternity brother. The photo measures a regal 10.5x13.75" in size and shows only light age toning, with a complete absence of creasing, tearing or foxing so typically seen with photographs of this vintage. The inscription reads, "Best regards to Brother Gus From Christy Mathewson, Dec. 1914." This amazing specimen has never before been seen in the hobby, yet another example of the fresh and fantast
Auction 704 | Lot: 19050 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $20,315.00
1962-63 Wilt Chamberlain Game Worn Jersey. Just a year after shocking the world with a one hundred-point performance in Hershey, Wilt the Stilt suited up in this heroic gamer during the Warriors' first season in San Francisco. Though never duplicating his triple-digit feat of March 2, 1962, the legendary Hall of Fame center easily repeated as the league's scoring leader in 1962-63, netting an outrageous average of 44.8 points per game. It's clear from the strong wear that characterizes this amazing jersey that hundred and hundreds of the more than 3,000 that Wilt scored this season came while wearing it. Other chart-topping stats compiled in this wardrobe: minutes played, field goals attempted, field goals made, field goal percentage, rebounds (total and per game) and points. Yellow and blue tackle twill spelling "San Francisco 13" across the chest shows the puckering consistent with reaction to salty sweat, as does the number "13" repeated on verso. The small "44" size tag in the collar is all that remains of labeling, though it is well known that Wilt used to remove these tags for comfort. This home white jersey was acquired from Wilt personally by a ball boy for the team, and represents one of the finest jerseys from this early NBA legend ever offered for public sale. LOA from Lou Lampson. LOA from MEARS.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19207 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $20,315.00
1966 Willie Worsley NCAA Championship Game Worn Texas Western Jersey. Only one year earlier, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s march on Selma, Alabama in support of voting rights for the African-American populace was repelled with tear gas, whips and clubs. And yet here, on college basketball's greatest stage, five young black ballplayers were taking the court to meet the all-white powerhouse University of Kentucky Wildcats. Those forty minutes of basketball would generate 40,000 pieces of hate mail for Texas Western coach Don Haskins, and more than a dozen threats upon his life. It would also immortalize the team from a cash-strapped school in El Paso, Texas, and continue the work of Jesse Owens and Jackie Robinson in reshaping the way the world viewed the black athlete.

Willie Worsley, the Texas Western five-foot six sophomore guard, hadn't expected to start that landmark Final game, but bravely heeded the call when Haskins passed on his six-foot eight inch forward, Nevil Shed. Haskins wanted to go small and quick against Kentucky, which had been nicknamed "Rupp's Runts" due to the diminutive size of coach Adolph Rupp's Kentucky squad, led by future NBA coaching legend Pat Riley. It was a plan that worked. Those with any passing knowledge of the college game, and moviegoers who bought a ticket for the 2006 Disney blockbuster film "Glory Road," know that March 19, 1966 saw an historic upset as five black starters from Texas Western topped the Wildcats by a score of seventy-two to sixty-five.

Here we present the only known surviving jersey from that fundamentally important milestone in American athletics, worn by Worsley in perhaps the most historically relevant college basketball game ever played. It is consigned to Heritage by Danny Whitlock, a former player and graduate assistant at the University of Texas at El Paso, the name adopted by Texas Western the school year after their basketball team's glorious triumph, several years before Whitlock's enrollment. T
Auction 704 | Lot: 19210 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $20,315.00
1950's Jackie Robinson Single Signed Baseball. While most baseball historians would crown the Babe as the most important figure in twentieth century baseball, a strong argument could be made for this man, who stood up to the taunts and threats of the bigoted masses using his Hall of Fame skill and quiet courage. One can't help but be inspired by this fine single, which finds Robinson applying his 9/10 black ink signature to the side panel of an ONL (Giles) ball. The sphere is lightly and evenly toned with a few speckles of foxing that do not approach the autograph. Robinson singles are unusually tough, and this is definitely one of the finest to reach the market in recent memory. It's an opportunity not to be taken lightly. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19021 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $17,925.00

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Early 1970's Wilt Chamberlain Game Worn Jersey. The common theme among the numbers that make up Wilton N. Chamberlain's Hall of Fame credentials is that those numbers are huge. One hundred points in a single game. Over 31,000 career points. Fifty or more points in 118 games. Almost 24,000 career rebounds. Even his "extra curricular" numbers defy all logic, and only add to the legend of this all-time great. We are privileged to present this important yellow cheesecloth gamer, worn as Wilt was putting the finishing touches on these monumental numbers as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. While most gamers belonging to modern NBA superstars that reach the hobby today offer minimal wear, the aggressive seven-footer put excellent wear into this offered specimen, dating from a time when even the greats were issued no more than two homes and two roads for the entirety of a season. The shirt shows quality surface wear and marginal tag and neck wear, while the white and purple tackle twill identifiers show nice puckering from exposure to salty sweat. Wear at the stitch edges should also be very easy to spot. "Lakers 13" appears in classic style on the jersey's front, while "Chamberlain 13" identified the man who certainly needed no introduction. A simple and proper "Tiernan" tag is affixed at the hem of the tail at front and center. The jersey displays beautifully, though a few minor and unobtrusive red stains on the jersey's front must be noted for accuracy. It remains a high-quality late career representation, certainly worthy of placement in the finest of game used basketball jersey collections. Adding to the display possibilities is a pair of contemporary matching shorts, not belonging to Chamberlain but identical to those he wore along with the offered jersey. A number "20" swatch is sewn below the rear waistband. The shorts show the same minor staining present on the jersey, but again this is not visually arresting and does not mar the beauty of the display. LOA fro
Auction 704 | Lot: 19211 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $17,925.00
1930's Babe Ruth Single Signed Baseball, PSA NM+ 7.5. The Bambino's appearance on a Pacific Coast League baseball suggests that he was on some sort of California excursion when he applied his booming blue ink sweet spot signature. While we cannot be certain of the circumstances, we can be about the quality, as PSA/DNA granted the score of "8" out of ten for this all-important autograph. The ball's grade of "6" out of ten accounts for the composite score as listed. We've said it before, but we'll say it again--no serious baseball autograph collection can be absent a quality Ruth single. Furthermore, those among our vast Heritage Auction Galleries clientele considering diversifying their collections to include sporting artifacts would find this a solid foundation upon which to build. As always, buy quality and you can't go wrong. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19009 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $16,730.00
1928 Lefty Grove Lucky Strike Tremendous Outdoor Advertising Sign. Golden Age marvel is the only one of its kind we've ever seen, and we believe that it is the first (and likely the last) ever to be offered at public auction. While the trolley car sign of this same design is tremendously scarce, examples do occasionally surface in the market. The very existence of this monumental piece is nothing short of a miracle. Our consignor purchased this sign decades ago from a gentleman who claimed that it had once been displayed on the side of a barn for passing motorists, and the size (27x62") and composition would definitely lend credence to this tale. The sign is constructed of painted canvas, and shows the expected wear associated with outdoor use and advanced age, with restoration diminishing the visible effects of ragged wear to the outermost two inches of the right side. Scattered creases and cracks wind their ways across the expanse of canvas, but our catalog imagery should illustrate that none of these factors can materially diminish the tremendous dramatic effect of the piece's size and design. The occasional minor water stain is likewise benign. Light but still visible horizontal and vertical fold lines suggest that this amazing artifact was removed from the wall upon which it was posted seven decades ago, folded, and forgotten. All experts to whom we have shown this piece concur that it is certainly vintage to the era in question, and could not possibly be a modern reproduction. It is, instead, the most impressive and desirable advertising piece to reach the hobby in recent history.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19514 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $16,730.00
1961 Mickey Mantle World Series Game Worn Cap. "The best team I ever saw, and I really mean this, was the '61 Yankees," Mickey Mantle once said, years after he had retired from the game that made him a legend. "I never got to see the '27 Yankees. Everyone says that was the greatest team ever, but I think it would've been a great series if we'd have had the chance to play them." And certainly, if there ever was a pinstriped crew that could give Murderer's Row a run for its money, it was the one led by the M&M boys, who carried the team to 109 regular season wins (one short of the 1927 figure) and a World Championship. Each team certainly could give the horsehide a ride--the '61 Yanks' 240 home runs outpaced the competition by more than fifty, while the Babe's batsmen came close to tripling their nearest competitor. And though it was Maris who would topple the Babe during that historic season forty-four years ago, there is no disputing that the greatest slugger to call the Bronx home since Ruth was, and remains, Mickey Mantle.

Maris himself always contended that Mickey would have broken the Babe's record in 1961 had he stayed healthy, and the math does seem to bear this out. Roger's 590 at-bats in 1961 puts his home run pace at one for every 9.67; Mickey, having missed eighteen games, knocked out fifty-four that season in 519 at-bats, or a rate of one per 9.61. Of course this is all purely conjecture, and to imagine what may have been almost pays a disservice to that which actually did happen. And what happened was pure magic.

Offered here is the very cap that the great Mickey Mantle wore in the closing weeks of the 1961 season, continuing on to include his gutsy appearances in the Fall Classic. While that Series was not the most productive of the Mick's twelve October appearances, it is undeniably his most noble. Still in agonizing pain from a terrible infection that left an open wound on his hip, Mickey nonetheless left the hospital bed where h
Auction 704 | Lot: 19663 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $15,535.00
1942 Phil Rizzuto Game Worn Jersey with Health Patch. Worth a small fortune in its own right, the "Health" patch on the left sleeve of this pinstriped flannel gamer dates the jersey definitively to the 1942 season, Scooter's second in the Bigs. While Major League baseball wore similar patches on the left sleeves of all jerseys throughout the war years, it was only in 1942 that the word "Health" appeared, changing to striped red and white bars for the 1943 through 1945 seasons. Of course, Rizzuto entered the service after the 1942 season anyhow, returning in 1946 for eleven more seasons in service of the Yankees. In this, his sophomore year, the future Hall of Famer saw action in his first All-Star Game and second World Series, beginning to compile the numbers that would lead him to Cooperstown. The jersey shows excellent wear, though this may be attributed in part to a second life in the minor leagues, which saw the removal of the "NY" patch over the heart. Rizzuto's navy blue felt number "10" remains original to the '42 Yanks, however, as does the embroidered "P. Rizzuto" swatch sewn into the collar. A "Spalding" label above sprouts a size "42" flap tag. A scattering of staining is apparent on front and verso, but nothing that is particularly damaging to visual appeal. A tear in the right armpit is also of minor concern. Collectors are surely aware of how tough Hall of Fame flannels are, particularly those of the pinstriped variety, and will follow this auction with appropriate interest. Sourced from the family of a gentleman who owned a tavern across the street from the minor league ballpark where this jersey was recycled, along with the Stirnweiss jersey and Henrich pants also offered in this sale. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19657 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $14,937.50
1935 National Chicle Bernie Masterson #36 PSA NM-MT 8. With only six specimens slabbed beneath a NM-MT 8 header, and none grading higher, this last card in the set is the toughest of the thirty-six to find in high grade. Toning at the right edge is likely the difference that keeps this from standing alone atop the charts as a Mint 9, because the color, contrast and corners are all spectacular. With first and last cards in sets always posing problems, particularly in the older issues, it's nice to see that miracles do occasionally happen.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19280 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $14,340.00
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 PSA EX 5. When it comes to cards issued before the Second World War, the Honus Wagner T206 is the undisputed king. But after that great conflict, the Topps Mantle rookie claims the prize as the most coveted and valuable card in the hobby. Here we present a fine example of the card on every collector's wish list, picturing a young legend looking skyward toward destiny. Centering and mild corner wear are typical of the issue, but the stellar color and registration are clearly a cut above. Wax and gum stains so commonly found on cards from this set are likewise absent here. One of the best investments in the hobby.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19560 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $14,340.00
1888 N173 Old Judge Cabinet Mike "King" Kelly. Exceptional in rarity, quality and appeal, this 118-year old artifact presents a rare opportunity for one advanced collector. Those studied in nineteenth century collecting are aware that these cabinets, measuring 4.125x6.5", were only available to those tobacco enthusiasts enterprising enough to save and send coupons to the headquarters of Old Judge, who distributed the cabinets solely by mail. As such, the population of the cabinets was never high, even at the time of issue. Over a century later, just a handful remains. And of the tiny tribe of survivors, few could hold the same appeal of a Kelly representation, as the National League slugger was one of the most noteworthy of Victorian ballplayers, and a 1945 posthumous Cooperstown inductee. Here he poses in the uniform of the Boston Beaneaters, an archaic bat poised at the ready. Speaking to the nature of the card itself, we note that the surfaces show just the slightest touch of wear, and the back remains devoid of the damage so typically seen in this issue due to scrapbook removal. The image contrast and clarity is unimprovable, and the gilded lettering and border remains almost entirely intact. We may well be overly conservative in granting the piece a grade of EX-MT. Certainly one of the finest Old Judge cabinets to appear at auction in recent months.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19538 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $13,145.00
1930's Babe Ruth Signed Bat from Ruth Family Friend. With the scarcity and desirability of Babe Ruth signed bats so extreme, it is always a thrill to find the genuine article in the sea of forgeries. This gorgeous specimen derives from the estate of Maxine "Miki" Herzberg-Fisher, a longtime friend of the Ruth family. Several other Ruth items from the Herzberg-Fisher estate have reached the marketplace in recent years, though none could hold a candle to this historic hardwood in terms of quality or value. The Spalding store model Frank M. Schulte (early home run king) bat offers what is surely among the very strongest signatures from Ruth on a bat conservatively rated 9/10, reading, "To Miki, From Babe Ruth." The handsome 31.5", twenty-six ounce bat exhibits an especially rich, pleasing wood finish to match the high quality of the Babe's inscription, making for a piece that is truly museum quality. While signed baseballs from this most significant of sporting icons will always be the gold standard of the hobby, it must be noted that Ruth signed bats are hundreds of times more scarce, and as such a steep incline in value over the coming years is all but assured. Smart investors understand that this is a "can't lose" opportunity. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19066 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $13,145.00
1928 New York Yankees Panoramic Photograph. In the wake of the record-setting price of $89,625 realized for a 1911 Addie Joss Day panoramic photograph in our October 2005 Signature auction, it's no wonder that the hobby press generated quite a response from consignors hoping for similar results. Offered here is one of the most remarkable pieces to surface in the weeks following the sale, a stunningly pristine and previously unknown image of the reigning World Champs, snapped at Spring Training just months after the Babe clubbed his sixtieth. The photograph derives from the estate of a pair of wealthy sisters in St. Petersburg, Florida, where thirty-six members of this legendary squad lined up for photographer "M.P. Mayberry," whose mark is found at the lower right side of this amazing work. You'll be hard-pressed to find an image with a greater supply of Hall of Fame Yankees, as we are offered crystal-clear portraits of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri, Bill Dickey, Leo Durocher, Stanley Coveleski, Waite Hoyt, Earle Combs, Herb Pennock and diminutive manager Miller Huggins. Even famed hunchback batboy Eddie Bennett is here, sitting indian-style at Cedric Durst's feet. An interesting bit of photographer's trickery expands the photo past its original dimensions, as the sharp-eyed observer will note that a white vertical stripe four inches from the left marks the spot where two negatives were joined to complete the vastness of the scene, measuring thirty-one inches in width at a height of eight inches. While it might be difficult to believe that this spectacular find remains in NRMT-MT condition, we're sticking to that story. There is not a crease, tear or stain to be found. We encounter not a single sign of the wear and tear of passing decades. In poor condition this would be a thrilling find, but as it stands we don't hesitate to call this piece one of the finest photographs to reach the auction block in recent memory.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19447 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $13,145.00

Make Offer to Owner
$19,718 or more
1909-11 T206 Ty Cobb Portrait, Red Background PSA NM-MT 8. A tough El Principe de Gales back makes this majestic Cobb all the more appealing, one of only twenty to merit a NM-MT 8 mark, with none grading higher. Great color and flawless registration makes for tremendous eye appeal, with centering and corners far superior to the overwhelming majority of tobacco issues. Rare back is as clean as the front. A rare opportunity to own one of the most impressive T-cards in the hobby.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19541 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $13,145.00
Circa 1971-1973 Joe Namath Game Worn Jersey. After keeping his bold promise of a win in Super Bowl III against a heavily-favored Indianapolis Colts juggernaut, Broadway Joe's place in gridiron history was assured for eternity. Here we find a Namath jersey in its most recognizable and desirable style, the classic white durene representation worn on the road for cold weather games as the playoff races began to heat up. Green tackle twill announces the unforgettable number "12" on chest and on the back, where "Namath" spans the shoulders on the rear nameplate. Number "12" is repeated in white on the green of the sleeves. The style and placement of the tail tagging pins the jersey to the 1971-73 era, with stacked "Sand-Knit Exclusivity" and "Size 52" labels. The bottom of the jersey has been neatly cut below the tag line in keeping with Namath's preferred customizations, and there is evidence of a team repair on the right front shoulder and on the lower back right. It is only due to the light wear, perfectly understandable for a quarterback's jersey worn just for cold weather road games, that the jersey is spared a perfect SCD A10 rating, dropping three points to a solid A7. The search for a finer example is certain to be a long one. LOA from SCD Authentic & Lou Lampson.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19312 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $12,547.50
1933 Joe Louis Golden Gloves Trophy. Joe Louis is regarded by many to be the greatest Heavyweight Champion in boxing history. A winner of the World Heavyweight Title in 1937, Louis held that title for eleven years, a record that stands to this day. Among his professional accomplishments were victories over Primo Carnera, Max Baer, Billy Conn, Max Schmeling, James J. Braddock, Jack Sharkey and Jersey Joe Walcott, all world champions. Louis' career as a professional was preceded by a fine career as an amateur fighter in which he was winner of numerous tournaments, including the renowned Golden Gloves. Presented here is Joe Louis' 1933 Golden Gloves Trophy that was awarded to him by the Detroit Free Press. The trophy measures 11.5" high and has a slight bend at the top and some minor scratches, none of which detracts from its natural beauty. On the face of the trophy is inscribed, "Detroit Free Press Golden Gloves 1933 Awarded to Joe Louis 175 LBS Novice." It is a measure of Louis' significance that this award was given to him with his name inscribed on it, a practice not often seen with amateur awards. The award passed from Louis to his personal friend and barber, Sylvester Touchstone and includes a copy of a letter from Louis to Touchstone. There is also a letter from the estate liquidator who handled the sale of Mr. Touchstone's estate. This is an extremely rare offering that chronicles the rise of one of boxing's most beloved Champions. The importance of this award is greatly magnified since it represents the Golden Gloves, a contest of historical significance, making it truly special. LOA from Craig Hamilton/ JO Sports.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19154 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $11,950.00
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 respectively. The
Auction 704 | Lot: 19225 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $11,950.00
1924 Washington Senators World Championship Pendant Presented to Herold "Muddy" Ruel. After presenting the thrilling "Muddy Ruel Collection" in our October 2005 Signature Auction, we are pleased to present what is arguably the most important artifact from the personal collection of this superstar backstop, the prize awarded to him for his part in the Washington Senators' only World Series victory. And what a part he played! Baseball historians will surely be aware that it was Ruel who bounded home in the bottom of the twelfth in the Series' seventh game to seal the deal for the Washington squad and deliver to legendary pitcher Walter Johnson the single missing jewel from his crown. The visual majesty of the pendant is fitting for its historical relevance, and the condition remains superb after eight decades of existence. An embossed image of the US Capitol building rises above a ball and bats motif, with a faux diamond set at center of the former. A golden "Washington" is emblazoned across the red enamel header, with "World 1924 Champions" similarly placed along the blue footer. We flip the pendant to find text on verso that reads, "Presented to Herold Ruel by the Commissioner of Baseball." The bottom is stamped "14KT Dieges & Clust." This treasure's status as the only World Championship award from the Senators' long history, and its relation to the man who scored the Series-winning run, makes it one of the most appealing awards to find its way into the collecting marketplace in some time.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19511 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $11,950.00
1959 Mickey Mantle All-Star Game Used Bat. While clearly any bat once owned and operated by the great Mickey Mantle is worthy of glowing praise and careful curatorship, educated hobbyists understand that those special issue bats related to All-Star Games and World Series belong in a class unto themselves. We are very pleased to bring to the collecting community one of these scarce and monumentally important artifacts, the Adirondack 113A issued to the superstar New York Yankees center fielder for his participation in the '59 Midsummer Classic. As this was a season that featured an All-Star doubleheader, with games at Pittsburgh's Forbes Field and Los Angeles' Memorial Coliseum, we cannot be certain which of the two games saw Mickey use this bat. But based on the "significant" use, as stated by the authenticators at MEARS, one could reasonably expect it was used in both, and then beyond into the second half of the regular season. The brutal impacts caused by Mantle's crushing swings have left the barrel to take on a mottled look, with use that you can feel as you turn the bat in your hands from light deadwood on the back of the barrel. "1959 All-Star" in simple block lettering leads to a slightly larger "Mantle' between the words "Adirondack" and "Personal Model" on the barrel's heart, setting our own hearts to fluttering. Weight of thirty-one and a half ounces and length of thirty-five inches were the favored specifications of the Mick at the time. The authenticators note that the stamping on the bat has since been traced over in black ink, and that there appears to be some use not related to Major League play, but these factors will only be apparent to particularly eagle-eyed experts. They do not materially affect the display of the bat, and certainly not its important heritage. Very faint traces of an ancient autograph further links this bat to its former master. MEARS A4, with points lost only due to post-Mantle alterations. LOA from MEARS.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19639 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $11,950.00
1935 National Chicle Ken Strong #7 PSA Mint 9. Take this opportunity to be one of just three collectors to own the finest Strong card on earth. Check the population reports and you'll find that this purchase puts you in truly elite company, and with only a single card from the entire set ever reaching Gem Mint 10 status, you're safe as can be at the top of that heap. Terrific centering, sharp corners, perfect color and clean surfaces merit the designation as the hobby's finest.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19255 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $11,352.50
1923-25 Tris Speaker Game Used Bat. "It would be useless for any player to attempt to explain successful batting," the legendary hitter once noted. Perhaps the secrets are hidden within this antique lumber that once belonged to the Grey Eagle, who is destined to remain forever in the number six spot for career batting average with an outrageous .345 compiled over twenty-two seasons. The labeling period of this signature model Hillerich & Bradsby pegs its tenure to the 1923-25 era, one that saw Speaker twice top .380 at the plate, and the outstanding use on the bat suggests that it played a major role in these stats. The back of the barrel exhibits grain separation from the extreme punishment, and a handle crack was long ago encased in spiraled black tape for security. Spike marks speckle the barrel, and the knob has been tapered by Speaker as to his preference. The length of thirty-four and three-quarter inches and the weight of just over thirty-eight ounces are both proper for Speaker's known exemplars. Losing points only due to the post-usage handle tape, this remarkable specimen still merits the stellar grade of PSA GU7. Certainly one of the finest Speaker gamers in the game. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19634 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $11,352.50
Late 1970's Pete Maravich Game Worn Jersey. Remembering much happier days in the Big Easy is this outstanding gamer from the personal wardrobe of the Hall of Fame guard known for his floppy grey socks, floppy brown hair, and ball handling dexterity that bordered on the magical. While other NBA legends might challenge Pistol Pete in skills and in domination of the game, none could match him for natural flare, and none was more exciting to watch. Here we present a late career gamer from this Springfield enshrinee exhibiting fine, consistent wear from shortly before the team's relocation to Utah. The unmistakable "Jazz" logo is screened to the chest in purple, green and yellow, with Maravich's number "7" in the club's most prevalent, and therefore most desirable, style. The number "7" is repeated on verso, below a purple tackle twill "Maravich" sewn directly into the body of the jersey as is proper for the era. The arch is correct and represents a shallower depth than the Jazz used in its earlier renditions, thus helping to date the jersey to 1976-77 or later with high probability. The small size "Medalist Sand-Knit Size 44" label in the tail is the style that was used from the mid-1970's to the early 1980's, and again the size is proper for Pete at the time. To the left is the factory fabric coding "68" affixed in appropriate zigzag stitching. A fine remembrance of an exciting time in the National Basketball Association. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19215 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $10,755.00
1959 Ty Cobb Single Signed Baseball. "When I began playing the game," Ty Cobb once said, "baseball was about as gentlemanly as a kick in the crotch." And over eight decades after the official end of the "Dead Ball Era," the great Georgia Peach still stands as the embodiment of that rough and tumble age of our National Pastime. Remember it always with this remarkable single, offering a 10/10 black fountain pen side panel inscription that reads, "Ty Cobb, 7/19/59." A light brushing of shellac has toned the signed panel slightly and leaves the rest of the OAL (Harridge) ball in milky-white condition. One of the finest Cobb singles on the market today. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19022 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $9,560.00
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 704 | Lot: 19059 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $9,560.00
"Pop" Warner, Knute Rockne, Tad Jones, & Jim Thorpe Signed Football Humidor. We only wish we knew what event it was that brought these greatest of early gridiron legends together. Certainly it was a highly publicized and well-attended banquet that would have featured such esteemed guests as these, but our search for specifics has been fruitless. And while it seems that the details of this date have been lost to the sands of time, one witness has thankfully survived -- a charmingly crafted humidor, built from an actual Spalding Official Collegiate football, bearing the black ink signatures of these legendary football pioneers. While the appearance of even one of these gentlemen's signatures on such a fine piece would be cause for celebration, a collection like this is enough to leave a serious hobbyist speechless. And note just how special the signatures are, with each adding his college name at the end of his autograph. "Glenn Warner - Stanford. Knute Rockne - Notre Dame. Jim Thorpe - Carlisle." The fourth autograph belongs to "Tad Jones - Yale," who, while he may not have the name recognition of his three compatriots, was a dominant All-American quarterback with Yale from 1905 through 1907, leading the Bulldogs to twenty-eight wins and two ties in thirty games. Surely it was due to this dominance that he was ask to share this football's side panel with these titans of the sport. He later coached at Yale for nine seasons -- compiling a record of sixty wins, with a mere fifteen loses and four ties. We are pleased to announce that the autographs, signed with a black steel tip fountain pen, have weathered the passing decades exceedingly well. We would not hesitate to claim that not a single one grades below a conservative 8.5/10, and many would state that each and every one is simply perfect. The ball itself is equally well preserved, writting off any small scattered nicks in the leather as casualties of the ball's game use. No wear affects any signature in the slightest. As football con
Auction 704 | Lot: 19240 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $9,560.00
1948-1952 Bowman Baseball Complete and Near Complete Sets with Autographs. Includes 1948 Bowman set of 48 cards, of which 33 are signed. Highlights are #5 Feller (G/VG), 6 Berra (EX), 8 Rizzuto (EX-signed), 18 Spahn (VG/EX-signed), 36 Musial (VG-signed), 38 Schoendienst (VG). The 1949 Bowman partial set (184/240) includes 49 of the scarcer high series cards. Highlights are PSA 6: #224 Satchel Paige; #27 Feller (G/VG), 33 Spahn (EX-signed), 36 Reese (VG/EX-signed), 46 Roberts (EX), 60 Berra (G), 84 Campanella (VG), 96 Rizzuto (VG/EX-personalized), 100 Hodges (VG/EX), 233 Doby (EX), 238 Lemon (VG/EX). A total of 91 cards are signed including #23 Doerr, 26 Kell, 35 Raschi, 85 Mize (2), 114 Reynolds, 194 Branca, 229 Lopat. The 1950 Bowman partial set (217/252) includes 44 of the scarcer low series cards. Highlights are #22 Robinson (EX), 46 Berra (VG), 75 Campanella (EX), 77 Snider (VG-signed), 98 Williams (VG), 112 Hodges (VG/EX), 138 Reynolds (EX-signed), 215 Lopat (EX-signed). A total of 121 cards are signed including #3 Dom DiMaggio, 43 Doerr, 139 Mize, 232 Rosen. The 1951 Bowman partial set (303/352) includes 60 of the scarcer high series cards. Highlights are PSA 4: #165 Williams, 305 Mays; #1 Ford (G/VG), 2 Berra (VG), 25 Raschi (VG/EX-signed), 30 Feller (VG), 31 Campanella (VG/EX), 46 Kell (EX/MT-signed), 80 Reese (EX-signed), 127 Maglie (VG/EX-signed), 134 Spahn (G/VG-signed), 232 Fox (VG), 233 Durocher (VG-signed). A total of 172 cards are signed including PSA/DNA #143 Kluszewski, 254 Jensen; #50 Mize, 56 Branca, 109 Reynolds, 187 Rosen, 218 Lopat, 295 Lopez, 323 Adcock. The 1952 Bowman partial set (243/252) includes 33 of the scarcer high series cards. Highlights are PSA 7: #52 Rizzuto; #1 Berra (G), 24 Furillo (EX-signed), 44 Campanella (VG), 80 Hodges (EX), 116 Snider (VG), 156 Spahn (VG), 196 Musial (VG-signed). A total of 163 cards are signed including #4 Roberts, 8 Reese, 17 Lopat, 37 Raschi, 43 Feller, 45 Pesky, 66
Auction 704 | Lot: 19552 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $9,560.00
1915 Artist's Guestbook with Exceptionally Rare Autograph from Ray Chapman. Those who participated in our October 2005 Signature auction will almost certainly recall the incredible cut paper silhouette of tragic baseball star Ray Chapman, which held one of the tiny handful of authentic Chapman autographs ever presented for public sale. Fortunately for us, and for our valued bidding clientele, one collector that spotted that listing was the owner of silhouette artist Beatrix Sherman's guestbook from her booth at the Pan Pacific International Exposition of 1915. Clearly this had to have been the venue for the creation of that magnificent piece offered by Heritage in October, as Chapman and several of his Cleveland Indians teammates have signed the guestbook that recorded the visitors to Sherman's booth. For those who might not be familiar with Chapman, he remains one of the toughest and most desirable autographs in the hobby due to his unfortunate distinction of having been the only man killed in Major League Baseball action, the victim of a Carl Mays fastball to the skull on August 16, 1920 in New York City. Chapman's autograph appears on page 213, tagged with the desirable inscription, "Cleveland B.B. Club." An errant hand barely brushed the doomed star's given name, but the autograph otherwise presents as a perfect 10/10. Joining him on his page and the next are fellow ballplayers, most notably a tough, very early signature from Hall of Famer G.C. Alexander, which he tags "Philadelphia Nationals, Philly, Pa." Alexander's autograph is likewise 10/10. Other members of the Indians signing are James Scott, Steve O'Neill, Ed Klepfer, ZZ Hagerman, William Mitchell, Robert Roth, Terry Turner, Thomas Daly, C.R. Garrett and more. Certainly on the 218 pages that comprise this fascinating volume there must be a hidden gem or five, but we'll note Sherman's opening inscription, Mary Pickford, silent film actor Arthur Ashley, aviator Art Smith, opera singer Nadia Gory and boxing legend J
Auction 704 | Lot: 19051 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $8,962.50
1935 National Chicle Bronko Nagurski #34 PSA NM 7. The most famous football player in the game at the time of the set's issue, Bronko remains top dog when it comes to value as the key card in this important set. Wear to the card is essentially nonexistent, with points lost only to minor toning and a northeastern shift to the centering. The corners remain as sharp as a Nagurski tackle. Only seven representations have ever achieved a NM-MT 8 rating, with none grading higher. An amazing specimen!
Auction 704 | Lot: 19278 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $8,962.50
1933 Goudey Napoleon Lajoie #106 PSA Good 2. 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 Good 2 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 704 | Lot: 19547 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $8,962.50
1960-1961 Topps Baseball Near Complete Sets with Autographs. Includes a 1960 Topps near complete set (566/572). Highlights are PSA 7: #563 Mantle AS; #148 Williams (VG), 160 Rival All Stars (VG/EX), 300 Aaron (VG), 316 McCovey (EX), 326 Clemente (EX), 343 Koufax (VG/EX), 350 Mantle (VG), 564 Mays AS (EX), 566 Aaron AS (EX). A total of 243 cards are signed including PSA/DNA #377 Maris, 505 Kluszewski, 565 Maris AS; #55 Mazeroski, 222 Lopez, 250 Musial, 264 Roberts, 305 Ashburn, 400 Colavito, 445 Spahn. Also included is a 1961 Topps near complete set (582/587). Highlights are PSA 7: #475 Mantle MVP, PSA 5: #300 Mantle; #290 Musial (EX), 344 Koufax (VG), 388 Clemente (EX), 415 Aaron (VG), 417 Marichal (VG), 577 Aaron AS (EX), 578 Mantle AS (EX), 579 Mays AS (EX), 580 Kaline AS (VG). A total of 270 cards are signed including PSA/DNA #2 Maris, 65 Kluszewski, 478 Maris MVP, 576 Maris AS; #20 Roberts, 132 Lopez, 173 Beantown Bombers, 200 Spahn, 245 Adcock, 330 Colavito, 476 Jensen MVP, 500 Kuenn, 574 Aparicio AS. LOA from PSA/DNA. (Total: 2 sets)
Auction 704 | Lot: 19587 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $8,365.00
1961 Topps Baseball Complete High-Grade Set (587). A total of 70 cards have been graded by PSA, breaking down as follows: PSA 9: #33, 45 NL ERA Leaders, 59, 129, 164, 178, 196, 214, 224, 317, 336, 338, 340, 362, 408 Mathewson K's 267, 456, 487, 528, 566; PSA 8: #1 Groat, 6, 12, 21, 30 Fox, 38, 43 NL HR Leaders, 50 AL Strikeout Leaders, 58, 67, 79, 88 Ashburn, 160 Ford, 189, 191, 203, 209, 212, 249, 259, 275, 285, 294, 314, 323, 328, 349, 368, 388 Clemente, 425 Berra, 442, 443 Snider, 468, 469, 474, 491, 495 Howard, 504, 517 McCovey, 525, 530, 542 Twins Team, 550, 552, 575 Banks AS, 579 Mays AS, 585; BPSA 7: Q #29, 120 Mathews, 150 Mays, 344 Koufax. Graded cards have an aggregate SMR value of $4840. Ungraded cards include #2 Maris (EX), 300 Mantle (EX), 415 Aaron (EX), 417 Marichal (EX/MT), 475 Mantle MVP (EX/MT), 576 Maris AS (EX/MT), 577 Aaron AS (EX/MT), 578 Mantle AS (EX/MT), 580 Kaline AS (EX). Grades 20% NM to NM-MT, 50% EX-MT, 30% EX.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19596 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $8,365.00
1958 Topps Mickey Mantle #150 PSA Mint 9. Marvelous photographic portrait of the Mick in his prime makes the '59 Topps card a favorite among collectors, who will certainly be awestruck by the spectacular quality of the offered specimen. Perfect color, gloss and registration give way to terrific centering and sharp corners. Only seventeen of more than 2,000 specimens submitted to PSA for consideration have earned a Mint 9 designation, with not a single example ever grading higher. Just like the man himself, there is none better.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19578 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $7,767.50
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 fifty shares of Capital Stock in the team, and his bold black ink signature appears first on the stub (3.5x8.5") displayed to the left of the certificate (8x11"), then again on the certificate's verso. Each black ink signature remains in unimprovable 10/10 condition. The two separate documents are intelligently displayed between two panes of glass so that both sides are visible within a mounted frame that measures approximately 15x22". The stub shows no signs of wear, while the certificate shows two vertical storage folds. It must be noted that these folds do not cross paths with the all-important autograph. Imagine--two flawless Miller Huggins autographs in a single lot! LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19055 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $7,170.00

Make Offer to Owner
$10,755 or more
1991-92 Shaquille O'Neal Game Worn LSU Jersey. Sourced directly from the Louisiana State University team manager, with his letter of provenance, this yellow and purple gamer is oddly reminiscent of a jersey Shaq would wear years later before Kobe forced him back to Florida. While professional O'Neal gamers are fairly plentiful in the hobby, this is one of just a small handful of collegiate examples to reach the auction block, with this one dating from his College Player and SEC Athlete of the Year season. The yellow mesh body shows light but certain wear, with "LSU 33" screened in white and purple on chest, and "O'Neal 33" screened on verso. The proper "Champion [size] 46" label remains sewn in the tail. Completing this highly desirable package is a 10/10 black sharpie signature from Shaq on the jersey front. With O'Neal's Hall of Fame future assured, this jersey should grow strongly in value in the coming years. LOA from Lou Lampson.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19228 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $7,170.00
1957 Topps Baseball Complete Set (411). In 1957, Topps reduced the size of its cards to the now-familiar 2-1/2" x 3-1/2". In addition, real color photographs were used for the first time. The scarce cards in the set are numbers 265-352. Also included in this offering are three checklists and a contest card. A total of thirty-five cards have been graded by PSA, breaking down as follows: PSA 8: #76 Clemente (OC), 312 Kubek (OC); PSA 7: #1 Williams, 2 Berra, 18 Drysdale, 30 Reese, 65, 95 Mantle (OC), 125 Kaline, 130 Newcombe, 155, 162, 207, 210 Campanella, 250 Mathews, 286 Richardson, 298, 299, 302 Koufax, 314, 315, 318, 322 Cincinnati Reds, 326, 330, 338 Bunning, 344, 352, 360, 370, 372, 379, 400 Dodgers' Sluggers, 404, 407 Yankee Power Hitters. Graded cards have an aggregate SMR value of $3575. Ungraded cards include #7 Aparicio (EX/MT), 10 Mays (EX), 15 Roberts (NM), 20 Aaron (EX), 24 Mazeroski (VG), 25 Ford (EX), 35 F. Robinson (EX), 40 Wynn (EX), 55 Banks (EX/MT), 62 Martin (NM), 70 Ashburn (EX/MT), 80 Hodges (EX), 90 Spahn (NM), 165 Kluszewski (EX/MT), 170 Snider (EX), 203 Wilhelm (EX/MT), 212 Colavito (NM), 328 B. Robinson (EX), Checklist 1/2 (G), Checklist 3/4 (G/VG), Checklist 4/5 (VG/EX), June Contest Card (VG/EX). Grades 57% NM to NM/MT, 43% EX to EX/MT or lesser.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19574 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $7,170.00
1968 Topps Baseball High-Grade Complete Set (598). With a border that appears to be a burlap fabric, this issue is well known for having condition issues from chipping and is prone to showing wear. Thankfully that is far from the case with this blazing high grade set. This top quality example includes 31 cards which have been graded by PSA and have an aggregate SMR value of $6,230. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA GEM MINT 10: 4 cards w/ #'s 63, 132, 413, 442. PSA MINT 9: 18 Cards w/ #'s 53, 60, 78, 85 Perry, 86 Stargell, 100 Gibson, 163, 203, 220 Killebrew, 247 Bench, 249, 280 Mantle, 356, 412, 418, 459, 480 Manager's Dream, 520 Brock. PSA NM-MT 8: 9 Cards w/ #'s 122, 174, 177 Ryan, 330 Maris, 346, 355 Banks, 490 Killebrew/Mays/Mantle, 528 Tigers. Ungraded Cards - Highlights Include #'s 1 Clemente LL (NM/MT), 20 Robinson (NM), 45 Seaver (NM), 50 Mays (EX/MT), 80 Carew (NM), 110 Aaron (VG/EX), 150 Clemente (EX/MT), 230 Rose (EX), 240 Kaline (EX), 250 Yaz (NM), 408 Carlton (NM), 500 Robinson (EX/MT) 575 Palmer (NM). Grades 72% NM to NM-MT, 23% EX-MT, 5% EX or lesser.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19621 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $7,170.00
1972 Roberto Clemente Single Signed Baseball Commemorating 3,000th Hit. Absolutely exceptional single signed sphere is a dual threat, pairing outstanding condition with unbeatable historical relevance. The black ink sweet spot signature, reading "Best Wishes, Roberto Clemente," rates minimally an 8.5/10, and projects especially well against the stark white background of the "Worth Official League" ball. Applied to the adjacent side panel is a typed paper slip that reads, "Commemorating 3,000th Hit, Sat. Sept. 30, 1972 vs. Jon Matlock of New York Mets." This is clearly some sort of presentational piece, though the fact that we've never seen one before would ensure that the list of recipients was a short one, very likely confined to members of the Pirates squad. Surely those who would be in the market for a Clemente single are aware that the Hall of Fame outfielder would never record another hit after his 3,000th, perishing in an airplane crash following the 1972 season while on a humanitarian mission. A very special piece from a very special ballplayer. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19028 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $6,871.25
1930 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball. The pairing of black fountain pen ink and a wonderfully white "Babe Ruth Home Run Special" baseball should delight any serious collector of high-end Yankees artifacts. The Babe takes up his customary sweet spot here, rating a conservative 6.5/10 due to mild hazing of the surname. His trusted sidekick Lou Gehrig fares even better, a solid 8/10 at the top of an adjacent side panel. Furthering the Hall of Fame cause are Bill Dickey (9/10), Earle Combs (9/10), a rookie Vern Gomez (8/10) and Tony Lazzeri (8.5/10). Among the ten Yanks joining this legendary half dozen are Koenig, Lary, Shawkey, Chapman and Cooke. All autographs compare in quality to their Cooperstown-quality teammates. A truly fine example from the greatest era of sports' greatest team. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 704 | Lot: 19385 | May 6, 2006

Sold For: $6,572.50

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