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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The Earliest Known Mickey Mantle Batting Trophy. We have all seen those science fiction movies in which the protagonist goes back in time and changes one seemingly minor thing, only to find that this action derails the proper course of events and sets another in motion, changing everything forever. And so, as we consider this rather modest looking trophy, we wonder what the baseball world would be like if it had never existed. Suppose a nineteen-year old kid from small town Oklahoma named Mickey Mantle had chosen basketball instead, or settled for a life in the mines as his father had. Millions upon millions of young baseball fans would have had to search for a new idol to worship, but nobody could have been quite the same, quite as good. Had this trophy never existed, then neither would have the love and devotion that brought grown men to tears at the mere sight of Mickey decades after he hung up his spikes. And who knows if the Yanks would have earned those twelve pennants and seven World Championship rings? The legend of the Mick, one of the two or three greatest names in the history of our National Pastime, begins here.

Though Mickey Mantle's rookie season was 1951, few fans know that the Mick actually traveled with the Yankees for the final two weeks of the 1950 season, though he didn't play. Mickey's fielding that season had been sub-par to be sure, miscast in the role of shortstop for the Joplin (Missouri) Yankees of the Class C Western Association, where he committed an average of one error every two games at the position. But it was his batting that made the Big League team take notice, as he improved from an impressive .313 average in 1949 to an outstanding .383 in his second, the figure for which he was awarded both this trophy and the opportunity to make the Bronx his home. "I never saw a player with greater promise," Yankee skipper Casey Stengel told the press. "He should lead the league in everything. With his combination of speed and power he shou
Auction 705 | Lot: 19618 | Oct 28, 2006

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Massive 1926 World Series Panoramic Photograph (Type 1) Dating from Babe Ruth's Greatest Game! This absolutely massive piece, in terms of physical dimensions, importance and desirability, was unbelievably found ten years ago at a St. Louis area yard sale, where the lucky consignor purchased it for a song. While this leaves the exact trail of provenance a mystery, we can be almost certain that its original home was a wall of the clubhouse at Sportsman's Park, where this image was captured during the bottom of the third inning of Game Four of the World Series, October 6, 1926. The image's quality and its simply tremendous size--over nine inches high and fifty-six inches wide! (not including the frame)--certainly leaves no doubt that the piece was produced for a serious and powerful V.I.P. The original frame carries the final dimension to 14x61", over five feet in width! Considering that the average panoramic photograph of the day measures three feet wide, we begin to understand just how rare and special this piece is.

But again, the majesty of this one of a kind artifact extends well beyond its tremendous girth. Clearly it was a stroke of luck that the photographer working the complicated panoramic camera happened to be stationed in the right field stands this day, as he couldn't possibly have known it would prove to be one of the game's most historic. As we look out past the expanse of outfield grass, beyond where the Babe stands positioned twenty yards from the left field foul line, we come upon the stadium scoreboard. It lists a run for each team in the first inning, none in the second, and another run for the Yanks in the third. This also happens to be the sole World Series game in which Ruth took left field duties, a fact verifiable at the noted baseball reference site www.retrosheet.org. The stats will confirm that this could have only been that famous game in which the Babe clubbed three home runs, establishing a record that has been equaled but never beaten. Known to
Auction 705 | Lot: 19558 | Oct 28, 2006

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 SGC EX 60. Everybody's favorite post-war card belongs to everybody's favorite post-war superstar, just a twenty-year old kid at the time of issue. While the grade of EX 60 is quite impressive for this short-printed example, the physical appearance of the card is actually quite a bit better than that. A southward shift in centering does far more to knock this representation out of Near Mint range than any signs of wear, which are minimal at best. Clean surfaces and sharp corners result in the look of a card largely unchanged since its emergence from a wax pack.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19821 | Oct 28, 2006

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Circa 1914 Joe Jackson Photograph by Conlon, Type 1. The young superstar from Pickens County, Georgia displays the batting style that Babe Ruth himself chose to emulate. Razor sharp clarity and perfect contrast are what we have come to expect from the famed Charles Conlon, whose photos of early twentieth century baseball have become the official visual record of the game. Conlon's stamp appears on verso of this 4x5" shot of Shoeless Joe in a Cleveland Naps uniform. Small patches of wear at the corners have no effect upon this spectacular image.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19532 | Oct 28, 2006

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1961-62 Mickey Mantle Game Bat. Dating from the era of the game's most thrilling home run chase is this signature model Hillerich & Bradsby B220 that somehow avoided the punishment levied against its brothers and sisters in the hands of the game's premier star. The result is a majestically pristine slab of high-quality ash that appears just as it did the year of issue. Weight and length of thirty-five inches and thirty-two and a half ounces matches factory records perfectly. Was this bat waiting in the Yankee clubhouse when Mickey suffered the terrible infection that forced him to drop out of the race against Roger and the Babe? Actually, the odds of this are quite good. The bat comes from the collection of Robert Cerv, a fellow Yankee who received it from Mickey himself. Cerv served the Yanks only for the second half of 1961 and just the first few games of 1962 during the production period of this bat, so the timing is right. We'll never know for certain. But one thing's for sure--if this bat was good enough for Mickey, it's good enough for us! Letter of provenance from Cerv is included. LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19887 | Oct 28, 2006

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Late 1920's Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig Signed Baseball. This dynamic duo's appearance on an OAL ball from the presidency of Ernest Barnard definitively dates the sphere to the 1927 to 1931 era, a period of great production for the most dangerous sluggers of Murderer's Row. The Babe takes his customary position on the sweet spot between the ball's blue and red stitching, with Gehrig angled just to the left, and close enough to allow for simultaneous display. The ink remains wonderfully bold, with points lost only to the scattered light scuffing that nips at the signatures to mild effect. Our catalog imagery should illustrate that each autograph still presents very nicely. Still to this day perhaps the most noteworthy pair in baseball history. LOA from PSA/DNA. LOA from James Spence Authentication.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19945 | Oct 28, 2006

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1909 E95 Philadelphia Caramel Complete SGC-Graded Set (25). This set is considered one of the finest early candy issues and is a favorite of many advanced vintage collectors. While many other candy issues of the day used the same artwork, this set features unique images and is very colorful by contrast. The set was printed on thin paper stock and that makes them very susceptible to creasing. Includes: Graded cards - SGC 60 EX 5: 1 card, Merkle. SGC 50 VG-EX 4: 6 cards w/ Chance, Crawford, Devlin, Evers, Lord, McIntyre. SGC 40 VG 3: 3 cards w/ Cicotte, Wagner, Wiltse. SGC 30 GOOD 2: 6 cards w/ Bender, Hoffman, Krause, Leach, Morgan, Willetts. SGC 20 FAIR 1.5: 7 cards w/ Cobb, Collins, Doyle, Maddox, Mattewson, Plank, Willis. SGC 10 POOR 1: 2 cards w/ Carrigan, Reulbach. (Total: 25 )
Auction 705 | Lot: 19647 | Oct 28, 2006

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1909-11 T206 Bill Chappelle PSA Mint 9. A veteran of the National and Federal Leagues, Chappelle was with the Eastern League Rochester squad at the time of this issue. Spectacular color and registration, paired with equally strong centering and corners, results in a grade matched only once and never topped on PSA's population chart. Piedmont back.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19664 | Oct 28, 2006

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1909-11 T206 Wilbur Good PSA Mint 9. Hit the first pinch homer in Cub annals, and on August 18, 1915, he became the only Cub player to steal second, third, and home in the same inning. Exquisite bordering with superb corners. Only two others grade in this condition with one other higher rated. Piedmont back.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19684 | Oct 28, 2006

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1909-11 T206 Topsy Hartsel PSA Mint 9. This dependable leftfielder led the American League in stolen bases and runs scored in 1902. Unmatched coloring with fantastic clarity. Only one of three that exists in this highest rated grade. Piedmont back.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19687 | Oct 28, 2006

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1941 Play Ball Joe DiMaggio #71 PSA NM-MT 8. With 356 submissions to the PSA grading service at the time of this writing, only six representations of this card dating from the season of DiMaggio's famous fifty-six game hitting streak have topped the offered example. Color and contrast are first rate, with terrific centering and sharp corners further establishing the superiority of this tough card. It will be a long wait before a better one comes along.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19811 | Oct 28, 2006

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1954 Topps Baseball Complete Set, All PSA EX-MT 6. A labor of love for one dedicated consignor can now be yours with ease, allowing you to avoid the countless hours of searching for just a single winning bid. Each and every card from this set of 250 rates PSA EX-MT 6, without a single qualifier in the bunch. No poor centering, no miscuts, no pen marks, no problems to speak of. This includes the important Aaron, Banks and Kaline rookies, and Hall of Famers from Jackie Robinson to Whitey Ford to the two tough Ted Williams cards that bookend the set. Thousands of dollars have been invested in grading fees alone, all to make your life just a little bit easier. It's just one of the many services we provide for you here at Heritage Auction Galleries. Enjoy.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19830 | Oct 28, 2006

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1954 Wilson Franks Ted Williams PSA EX-MT 6. Among the most popular and scarce of the issues associated with the 1950's hot dog market, these cards are quite difficult to find without grease stains due to having been packaged with the meat. We've located a clean example of the set's key card however, and one that would surely merit at least a NM 7 rating if not for a touch to the upper right corner. Otherwise you'll be hard pressed to find another example that can match up.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19834 | Oct 28, 2006

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1955 Topps Baseball Complete High-Grade Set (206). Numerically the smallest of Topps annual issues, the 1955 issue consists of 206 horizontal-oriented cards. Card numbers 175, 186, 203 and 209 were never released. A total of 15 cards have been graded by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $3957. Graded cards - PSA 8: #4 Kaline, 199, 201 Lollar, 207; PSA 7: #26 Groat, 28 Banks, 31 Spahn, 47 Aaron, 120 Kluszewski, 125 Boyer, 187 Hodges, 190 Woodling, 210 Snider; PSA 6: #164 Clemente, PSA 5: #123 Koufax. Ungraded cards include #1 Rhodes (EX), 2 Williams (VG/EX), 50 Robinson (VG/EX), 75 Amoros (EX), 100 Irvin (EX/MT), 124 Killebrew (VG/EX), 152 Agganis (EX), 155 Mathews (EX), 189 Rizzuto (EX), 194 Mays (EX), 198 Berra (EX). Set grades 33% NM to NM/MT, 59% EX to EX/MT, 8% VG to VG/EX (some lesser).
Auction 705 | Lot: 19836 | Oct 28, 2006

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1910 Sweet Caporal Pins (P2) Group Lot of 129. In an effort to expand its premiums beyond the standard trading card, the American Tobacco Co. issued a series of pins circa 1910-12 using many of the same images used in their T205 card issue. A total of 14 pins have been encapsulated by PSA with an aggregate SMR value of $6115. Graded pins - PSA 9: #6A Tris Speaker; PSA 8: #21A Cy Young, 118B John McGraw, 149B Miller Huggins; PSA 7: #21B Cy Young, 22A Ty Cobb, 32A Hal Chase; PSA 6: #4 Harry Hooper, 25A Hugh Jennings, 56B Bobby Wallace, 60A Walter Johnson, 78A Zach Wheat; PSA 5: #22B Ty Cobb, 117A Christy Mathewson. Balance of the group grades EX to EX/MT or better with few exceptions. Ungraded pins include the following 22 HOFers: Bender (2), Bresnahan, Brown (3), Chance (2), Chase, Clarke (3), Collins, Griffith, Huggins, Jennings, Johnson, McGraw (2), Tinker, Wallace (2).
Auction 705 | Lot: 19765 | Oct 28, 2006

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1967 Willie Mays Game Used Bat, Signed by San Francisco Giants Team. For the bat collector demanding the most iron-clad provenance for his collection, we present a piece that should convince even the most skeptical hobbyist. This block letter surname Hillerich & Bradsby S2 offers everything short of a photo of Mays holding it in his hands to establish its regal heritage, as the vintage autographs of thirty-four members of Mays' Giants squad appear on its surface to definitively place it in Mays' possession. Speaking first to the specifics of the bat itself, we note that the length and weight of thirty-five inches and thirty-five ounces respectively perfectly match the ordering records for Mays during this 1965-1968 labeling period. Willie's number "24" on the knob is also clearly vintage to the era. Light but definite use is evident, with a scattering of ball and stitch marks on the barrel, as well as light green bat rack streaks and pine tar on the handle. The black marker signature that coat the vintage wood remain in uniformly 9+/10 condition, and include Mays himself, McCovey, Gaylord Perry, Alou and many more. A top-level Mays representation, graded GU7. LOA's from PSA/DNA for both game use and autographs of bat. LOA from James Spence Authentication.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19889 | Oct 28, 2006

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1916 Frank "Home Run" Baker Home Run Baseball. It's difficult to imagine in the modern age, when ballplayers like Howard, Ortiz and Bonds have turned outfield bleachers into veritable hard-hat zones with their endless long balls, that a man could merit the nickname "Home Run" when he managed to hit fewer than one hundred in his entire thirteen-season career. It shows us just how much this game has changed from the Dead Ball era that saw the Hall of Fame third baseman as one of the most menacing batters in the sport's history. The arrival of Babe Ruth on the scene, just as the physical make-up of the horsehide spheres changed, and the balls "came to life," was lamented by players like Ty Cobb, who believed that the national fascination with the home run that Ruth inspired in baseball fans was an affront to the very nature of the game. But before the Babe and the lively ball began their historic partnership, there was Frank "Home Run" Baker, rising to the top of the home run charts every season from 1911 through 1914 with eleven, ten, twelve and nine respectively. To be historically correct, even though Baker was the Home Run Champ four straight seasons, it was actually game-winning home runs against Hall of Fame pitchers Marquard and Mathewson in the 1911 World Series that earned him his famous moniker. As a member of Connie Mack's famous $100,000 Infield, Baker was certainly expected to perform at a high level of expertise, and his efforts were largely responsible for four pennants and three World Series Championships during his days in Philadelphia. And there likely would have been more had not the competition of the newly founded Federal League raised ballplayer salaries, causing Mack to sell off his precious team, and Baker to sit out the 1915 season before being sold to the Yankees in 1916 for $35,000. There he remained until the end of his career, briefly sharing a dugout with the Babe after his arrival in 1920. And it was there that the torch was passed. Home Run Baker was the l
Auction 705 | Lot: 19873 | Oct 28, 2006

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1888 S.F. Hess Cabinet Photograph of Silent Mike Tiernan, Type 1. This remarkable early cabinet photo utilizes the same imagery as the highly collectible and exceedingly rare 1888 S.F. Hess N388-2 issue, examples of which typically sell for thousands of dollars on the rare occasions that they surface. What we present here is far scarcer still, as fewer than twenty examples of these S.F. Hess cabinets are known to exist. This specimen is particularly desirable as it pictures one of the true mainstays of the Victorian era New York Giants. While most members of the 1888-89 World Championship squad jumped to the Players League in 1890, Tiernan remained behind to finish his thirteen-year career at the Polo Grounds. This image finds him at the earliest portion of that career, donning his Giants jersey and cap as he gazes into the far distance. Vintage fountain pen ink identifies Tiernan below his image. A degree of surface wear is to be expected, and mild staining must be noted and then instantly forgiven in consideration of the cabinet's tremendous scarcity. Toning is also apparent along the edges of the image verso, which attributes the fine photographic work to "The Windsor Family Portrait Gallery" of Brooklyn, New York. Size is 4.25x6.25".
Auction 705 | Lot: 19525 | Oct 28, 2006

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1909-11 T206 Jiggs Donohue PSA Mint 9. Misspelled on his tobacco card, Donahue took first sack duties for the Chicago White Sox from 1904 through 1909. His spectacular pastel portrait is perfectly centered between four razor-sharp corners. Surfaces are clean as a whistle. Only four other specimens have matched this Mint 9 rating, with none ever grading higher. Piedmont back.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19671 | Oct 28, 2006

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1909-11 T206 George Mullin Throwing PSA Mint 9. Pitching ace that helped the Tigers win consecutive pennants from 1907 to 1909. One of three varieties. Vibrant coloring and a very clear image. Only two other examples of the same grade exist with only one other better grade. Piedmont back.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19718 | Oct 28, 2006

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1930 Babe Ruth Signed New York Yankees Check. We all know the famous line from the Babe, who responded to a reporter's comment that his $80,000 a year contract with the Yankees outpaced the salary of President Hoover by saying "I had a better year than he did." This check, made payable to "George H. Ruth," dates from just four days after Ruth inked that historic deal, and seems to relate to a special addendum to the contract, as a typewritten notation on the verso reads, "Hotel Bill allowed Ruth as per voucher." The check is issued from the account of the "American League Baseball Club of New York," and is endorsed on the back with the rare and desirable signature variation "George H. Ruth." Bank stamping, and that of the "Jungle Hotel" in the Yanks' spring training home of St. Petersburg, Florida, intersect with the autograph, but these factors cannot degrade the 9+/10 quality of the Babe's autograph. While any signed Ruth check carries tremendous appeal, a Yankees check endorsed by Ruth (and particularly given the unique signature style and historic time frame of this one) is a definite cut above the rest. Encapsulated by PSA/DNA for protection and unquestioned authenticity.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19947 | Oct 28, 2006

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1920's-30's New York Yankees & St. Louis Cardinals Signed Baseball with Ruth, Gehrig. Tremendous signature quality and tours of duty with one of these two powerhouse squads seems to be the common theme of the eighteen autographs that reside on this ONL (Heydler) ball. Most noteworthy, of course, is the legendary duo of Ruth and Gehrig, the former taking his proper residence upon the ball's sweet spot. Among the other luminaries present are Dickey, Bottomley, Frisch, Lazzeri, Gomez, Ruffing (clubhouse), Derringer, Orsatti and Pepper Martin. A thin layer of shellac has maintained every signature to a standard, majestic 9/10 in boldness. Seven authentic pre-war Hall of Fame autographs make this a piece for the elite collector. LOA from PSA/DNA. LOA from James Spence Authentication.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19456 | Oct 28, 2006

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1934 Tex Carleton St. Louis Cardinals World Championship Ring. Exceptionally desirable prize was awarded to James Otto "Tex" Carleton for his efforts as part of a Gashouse Gang stable of pitchers that included Dizzy Dean, Jesse Haines, Dazzy Vance and Burleigh Grimes. Tex's sixteen victories in 1934 ranked him third behind the mighty Dean brothers, and he started Game Four of the Series, and relieved Diz in Game Five. The ring comes to us from Carleton's first cousin, who had loaned the important artifact along with Tex's glove, team signed baseball and Series stubs (all also found within this auction) to the museum at Ameriquest Field, home of the Texas Rangers. After several years upon display in Arlington, the ring has now found its way to the Heritage auction block, destined to bring a distinctive sparkle to one collector's trophy room. The fourteen-karat gold relic boasts a gorgeous .90 carat genuine diamond at center, set in a pink stone and encircled by raised text reading "World Champions St. Louis Cardinals." Each shank offers the Cardinals distinctive bird, bat and baseball motif. The shanks show expected wear from its proud owner, whose name "J.O. Carleton" is engraved inside the band. The wear has erased the final four letters of Tex's surname here. Size 10.5. Considering the 1934 St. Louis Cardinals' status as among the most fabled of all Major League squads, and Carleton's tremendous relevance as a member of perhaps the greatest pitching staff ever, this ring should garner tremendous attention from ring collectors and baseball afficionados alike. Notarized letter of provenance from Carleton's cousin will accompany this lot.
Auction 705 | Lot: 19609 | Oct 28, 2006

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