Lot 547. 1924 Detroit News Announcing Babe Ruth’s Plans to Swing for the Fences. Full April 12 sports page announces: “Ruth to Abandon Place Hitting for New Home Run Record.” The paper says Ruth will no longer focus on “dinky hits” and a “fat batting average,” but will try to break his 1921 record of 59 home runs. Ruth hit .393 with 41 home runs in 1923. In 1924, as he slugged 46 HRs, his average dropped to a league-leading .378. In 1927, he hit 60 HRs and batted .356. Newspaper page is brittle and has edge chips. Unusual Ruth collectible.
Winning Bid $55.
Lot 550. 1968 Fedtro “Private - Lee” Earphone System Endorsed by Mickey Mantle. This system for listening to a 1960s television or radio through an earphone is in its original package on an oversized card. The connectors common today were uncommon then. Being able to listen through an earphone was complicated. Mantle’s endorsement of this contraption appears on one side of the card. Ex+.
Winning Bid $125.
Lot 551. Joe DiMaggio, 1939 Baseball Hall of Fame Ashtrays. A 4” round ashtray shows DiMaggio batting and says “Joe DiMaggio, New York Yankees.” Ex-m. A 3” x 4” ashtray featuring a drawing of the “National Base Ball Museum, Hall of Fame” celebrates the 1939 Centennial of baseball. Ex-m.
Winning Bid $113.
Lot 552. 1950 New York Yankees A.L. Champions Pennant, 1970s Pennant. Both full-sized. The 1950 pennant, blue on white, shows a player sliding into home. Vg-ex. The 1970s pennant has the Yankees logo at the left, contains the MLB logo and says “New York Yankees” in red on a dark-blue field. Tack holes, otherwise vg+ to ex.
Winning Bid $30.
Lot 553. 1951 New York Yankees Sketch Book (Yearbook), notable because it features the last appearance of Joe DiMaggio as a player. He retired at the end of the season. The World Championship team is pictured. In 1949, the Yankees began a streak of five straight World Championships. Vg-ex.
Winning Bid $125.
Lot 554. 1952 New York Yankees Sketch Book (Yearbook), which marks the yearbook debut of Mickey Mantle. He shares a page with Gene Woodling. The World Championship team also is pictured. Stain on the back cover; otherwise, ex.
Winning Bid $125.
Lot 555. 13 Photos Signed by Yankees Including Pepitone, Richardson, Larsen, Bauer. Al Downing, Joe Pepitone and Bobby Richardson signed color photos that are about 8” x 10. Their signatures are 10s. The other autographs are on 3 ½” x 5 ½” b&w copies of team-issued photos. The signatures are real: Hank Bauer, Jerry Coleman, Frank Crosetti (deceased), Billy Hunter, Johnny Kucks, Don Larsen, Charlie Silvera, Bill Skowron, Bill Stafford (dec.) (personalized) and Bob Turley. Battling an uncooperative pen, Skowron signed twice; both 5 of 10. Turley’s signature is a 9. The others are 10s. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $81.
Lot 556. New York Yankees Grab Bag of More Than 1,000 Items! This collection begins with about 1,000 official schedules from 1989 and 1990. Accompanying them are five schedule holders, one that says “Follow the Leaders” - Mattingly, Guidry and Henderson. Five 1986 TCMA postcard sets of 40 cards are here. Four are unopened, and all are nm-m. Calendars are plentiful - four from 1981-82, three from 1985 titled “Historic Moments at Yankee Stadium,” three from 1986 that include a tribute to Roger Maris, one from 1987 and 16 from 1990. Three b&w 8” x 10” photos capture the 1956, 1958 and 1963 (A.L.) championship teams. There also are a 1943 order form for a championship poster, four Curtiss Candy mugs with team photos, two mini pennants and a Yankees-related menu for Toots Shore’s restaurant. Most items are ex or better. The five Yankees card sets book at $12 each, so we’ll start the bidding at
Winning Bid $90.
