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Baseball Autographs   14 Lots      

Lot 2.  Baseball Signed by Eddie Waitkus, the Real-Life “Natural,” Other Memorabilia. World War II interrupted Waitkus’ baseball career for four years. Returning with four bronze stars, he resumed his baseball career in 1946. In 1948 and 1949, the first baseman was an NL All-Star. On June 14, 1949, Ruth Ann Steinhagen, an obsessed 19-year-old fan, lured Waitkus to her hotel room, where she shot him in the chest with a .22 rifle. Bernard Malamud wove Eddie’s story, with a bit of Joe Jackson’s added, to create “Roy Hobbs” for the 1952 novel The Natural. Robert Redford starred in the 1984 film version. This collection includes two autographs of Waitkus, who passed away in 1972 at the age of only 53, and a photo of Redford as Hobbs. It also includes media coverage of the shooting and other aspects of Waitkus’ life and career. 1. ONL Ford Frick ball signed on the sweet spot “Eddie Waitkus.” Teammate Bill Nicholson signed a side panel. Ex-m to nm lightly toned ball with nm-m 8 to mint 9 vintage signatures. The ball was signed when both men played for the Chicago Cubs, probably 1946-48. Nicholson was a regular in 1941, but Waitkus was with the Cubs for only 12 games. The ball is accompanied by a letter from the original owner who recalls that “Waitkus was with the Cubs” when he gave her the ball and that Bill Nicholson asked where she was sitting so he could wave when he hit a home run for her. 2. Waitkus fountain pen signature on a government postcard, 7 of 10. 3. 1949 Bowman card #142, vg+ to ex. 4. 1952 Baseball Magazine Supplement, vg-ex. 5-6. June 15, 1949 N.Y. Journal American with the front-page headline in red: “Ed Waitkus Shot By Girl.” Very displayable with a striking photo of the shooter, ex-m. A related article from an unidentified magazine says “Silly Honey with a Gun.” 7. 8” x 10” color photo of Robert Redford, who is shown as the Waitkus-inspired Hobbs. The photo has a signature that says “Robert Redford,” but it wasn’t signed by Redford.. 8-11. June 22 & 29, 1949 TSN single pages chart the crime and Waitkus’s recovery. Also there is a full-page color magazine photo of Waitkus in street clothing and a small newspaper clipping about well-wishes from the Dodgers. These collectibles will make for an outstanding Waitkus-The Natural display. Waitkus autographs authenticated by Kevin Keating. Winning Bid $1,119.

Lot 3.  1960 Pirates WS Program Signed by Clemente, 37 More - PSA-DNA Authenticated. The stars aligned to bring this World Series collectible together. There are 38 signatures, including Roberto Clemente, on a World Series program scored for Game 7! Twenty-four signatures are on inside the pages next to headshot photos of the respective players. From the beginning: Frank Oceak (d. 1983), Elroy Face, Bob Friend, Fred Green (d. 1996), Harvey Haddix (d. 1994), Clem Labine (d. 2007), Vernon Law, “Vinegar Bend” Mizell (d. 1999), George Witt, Smoky Burgess (d. 1991), Hal Smith, Bob Oldis, Rocky Nelson (d. 2006), Dick Stuart (d. 2002), Gene Baker (d. 1999), Dick Groat, Don Hoak (d. 1969), Bill Mazeroski, Dick Schofield, Joe Christopher, Gino Cimoli, Roberto Clemente (d. 1972), Bob Skinner and Bill Virdon. The signatures are all in blue ballpoint pen and are largely 10s with an occasional 9-10. The program is scored in the same blue ink and records Mazeroski’s famous Series-winning ninth-inning home run, one of the most dramatic moments in baseball history. Next to seven of the signers’ pictures are small check marks in blue pen. There are fourteen more signatures on the cover in the same blue ink: Virgil Trucks, Jim Umbricht (d. 1964), Harvey Haddix (d. 1994), Don Hoak (d. 1969), Rocky Nelson (d. 2006), Elroy Face, George Witt, Clem Labine (d. 2007), Bob Oldis, Bob Skinner, Fred Green (pen failed half way through his surname) (d. 1996), Gino Cimoli, Bill Mazeroski and Dick Stuart (d. 2002). These cover signatures are almost exclusively 8s and 9s, except for Fred Green’s. Umbricht’s signature is relatively difficult to find. The original owner doodled encouragement like “Beat ‘Em Bucs” and “Kill the Yankees” on the front cover, neatly colored in the Pirate mascot and globe he bounds over, and wrote his own name at the top. Overall, the program grades vg-ex to ex, with neatly applied tape inside front cover. The pages are ex+ to ex-m. The autographs come with a letter of authenticity from PSA-DNA. Also authenticated by Kevin Keating. Incredible! Winning Bid $2,244.

Lot 16.  Babe Ruth Single-Signed 1947 Baseball. A sweeter story you’ve never heard. Our consignor is the original owner. In 1947, he was a baseball player at Burbank High School. As a reward for their play, he and his teammates were taken to a game at Wrigley Field. There, he spotted none other than Babe Ruth sitting two rows back! Thinking quickly, he “borrowed” a ball from the dugout for the Bambino to sign. Here it is! An attractive, evenly toned, light cream-color ball that is vg-ex primarily because the pre-printed areas have faded. The autograph is a good 2 to vg 3. It is light, with all letters are visible to the naked eye. It displays nicely with Ruth’s signature on the sweet spot. Our consignor wrote “1947” at the top of the south panel. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Winning Bid $1,433.

Lot 99.  Signatures of 23 1955 World Champion Dodgers – Hodges, Koufax, Alston, Etc. The 1955 season marked the only World Series triumph for the Dodgers of Brooklyn. Led by the pitching of Johnny Podres, they defeated the Yankees in seven games. The signers are 21 players, manager Walt Alston and Hall of Fame second baseman Billy Herman, a Dodgers coach. Ten of these individuals are deceased. Signed color 8” x 10” photos 1-15: Sandy Amoros (sepia, died 1992), Joe Black (d. 2002), Roger Craig, Carl Erskine, Clem Labine, Billy Loes, Russ Meyer (b&w, d. 1997), Don Newcombe, Johnny Podres (d. 2008), Pee Wee Reese (d. 1999), Ed Roebuck (b&w), George “Shotgun” Shuba, Duke Snider (sepia), “Dixie” Walker (d. 1982) and Don Zimmer. Each signature is an outstanding 10 on a nm photograph. 16. Carl Furillo (d. 1989) cut signature, 1 3/8” x 3 7/8”; it grades a 10. 17. Billy Herman (d. 1992), 7” x 9” b&w picture pack photo, a 10. 18. Walt Alston (d. 1984), 3 ½” x 5” Brace or Burke type b&w photo postcard, 9-10. F-g card with much better appearance. 19. 1986 Topps Tom Lasorda, f-g card with a 10 autograph. 20. 1979 TCMA Jim Hughes (d. 2001), 9 on an ex-m+ card. 21. Sandy Koufax, 9 on nm+ Gold HoF postcard. 22. Gil Hodges (d. 1972), signature cut laminated onto an index card. The cut measures 1” x 2 ¼”. It appears that the lamination could be removed without damaging the signature. 23. Also, an 8” x 10” color photo signed by Preacher Roe, who retired at the conclusion of the 1954 season. The signature is a 10. Bonus: Six Susan Rini cards of Hodges, Red Barber, Campanella, Jackie Robinson-Branch Rickey, Furillo and the Dodgers’ “Sym-phony Band”, all nm to nm-m. Also included, a Furillo 8” x 10” to go with the cut signature. Kevin Keating authenticated this outstanding collection, which includes four Hall of Fame members, at least one more who should be enshrined at Cooperstown, and outstanding examples of signatures from this legendary championship team. Winning Bid $300.

Lot 100.  Framed Paul Waner, Lloyd Waner and Freddie Lindstrom Signatures with Photo! Big Poison, Little Poison and Lindstrom are shown in 1933-34 Pirates uniforms in this vintage reprint 10” x 12” photo, which is inside a 19” x 19” white, black and gold frame The key signature is Paul’s, a vintage example in red fountain pen on a news clipping that shows him in street clothes. The signature is a bold, sharp gem mint 10 unaffected by a crease in the clipping. Brother Lloyd’s autograph is a 10 on a gold HoF plaque postcard. Lindstrom’s is a signature cut that measures 1 ½” x 4”. It rates a 9-10. These three future Hall of Fame members played together only in 1933 and 1934. Paul was the first enshrined, in 1952; he died in 1965, and his autograph is uncommon. Lloyd entered the HoF in 1967, and Lindstrom in 1976. He died in 1981, and Lloyd in 1982. The photo and autographs add up to a showstopper! Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Minimum Bid $500.

Lot 101.  2004 “Reverse the Curse” Boston Red Sox World Champions Photo – Team Signed! This 20” x 24” color photo captures Doug Mintkiewicz leaping in the air, ball in hand, the moment after he touched first to win the 2004 World Series and end the 86-year old "Curse of the Bambino.” Twenty-two team members boldly signed the photo: Mientkiewicz, who has added, "The Curse is Reversed!"; Curt Schilling, David Ortiz, Johnny Damon, Manny Ramirez, Tim Wakefield, Jason Varitek, Keith Foulke, Trot Nixon, Bronson Arroyo, Mike Meyers, Curtis Leskanic, Mark Belhorn, Gabe Kapler, Doug Mirabelli, Lynn Jones, Dave Wallace, Terry Francona, Dave Roberts, Kevin Millar, Bill Mueller, and Ron Jackson. The signatures are 10s in blue sharpie. The 20” x 24” color photo is professionally double-matted and framed in black to 27.5” x 31.5”. It is difficult to see how the autographs, the photo or the framing could be improved. A striking piece of baseball history. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Winning Bid $324.

Lot 102.  265 DIFFERENT High-Quality Signed Brace and Similar B&W Photo Postcards. This wonderful collection comprises primarily George Brace, J. D. McCarthy and team-issued b&w photos. With just a few exceptions, the signatures are nm 7s or better without personalizations; most are 8s, 9s and 10s. The signers include: Rich Allen, Barney, Cooney, “Doc” Cramer, Crosetti, Cuccinello, Davis, Donald, Woody English, Erskine, Falk, Garms, Bill Goodman, “Mudcat” Grant, Grimm, Guerra, Kamm, Kell, Killebrew, Kimball, Kreevich, Kuenn, Kuhel, Lasorda, Lemon, Buck Leonard, Mancuso, Masi, Mathews, Mazeroski, McHale, Minoso, Mize, Moore, Morehart, Moryn, Nevel, Newcombe, Newhouser, Oliva, Ostrowski, Passeau, “Babe” Phelps, Roberts, Ryan, Schmidt, Schoendienst, Sewell, Stephenson, Vernon, Joe Wood, Wyatt, Yount, Zernial, etc., etc., etc. A large, fantastic group consisting of Hall of Famers, stars, and a large quantity of deceased players. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Enormous break-up potential! Winning Bid $1,129.

Lot 103.  ONL Giles Ball Signed by Wilhelm, Irvin, 24 More 1954 World Champ NY Giants. Our consignor had this ball signed at spring training games in Arizona in 1954. How many of these players thought that their team would go on to win the World Series, sweeping the Cleveland in four games? The ball is ex+ with minor scuffing and displays extremely well. A Leo Durocher signature is stamped on the sweet spot. The other signatures are real, include that of Ruben Gomez (deceased), who signed below the Durocher stamp. The other signatures are: John Antonelli, five time All-Star and NL Sporting News Pitcher of the Year; Al Corwin (d.), Paul Giel (d.), College Baseball and Football Hall of Fame member; Marv Grissom (d.), Jim Hearn (d.), Larry Jansen, Alex Konikowski (d.), Don Liddle (d.), Sal Maglie, John McCall (d.), Hoyt Wilhelm (d.), first relief pitcher elected to the HoF; Al Worthington, Ray Katt (d.) Wes Westrum (d.), Joe Amalfitano (rookie), Forster Castleman (r.), Al Dark, Bill Gardner (r.), B Hofman (d.), Whitey Lockman, Hank Thompson (d.), Dave Williams, Monte Irvin (HoF), Jim Mueller, Jim Rhodes and Bill Taylor. Konikowski’s signature is a 4, and Taylor’s, a 6. The others are overwhelmingly nm-m 8s to gem mint 10s. This ball is beautifully signed, and it displays dramatically. There still is some limited space for Willie Mays to sign it. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Winning Bid $300.

Lot 104.  ONL Giles Ball Signed by Clemente, 22 Other 1961 Pittsburgh Pirates. Ex-m baseball with signatures that are light, generally vg 3 with some good. Danny Murtaugh, the Pirates’ manager, signed the sweet spot. Roberto Clemente’s signature is on a side panel with Don Hoak, Dick Groat, Walt Moryn and Bob Friend. The ball was signed also by Smoky Burgess, Bill Virdon, Dick Schofield, Vinegar Bend Mizell, Joe Gibbon, Bobby Shantz and Johnny Logan. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Winning Bid $390.

Lot 105.  1962 New York Yankees Team-Signed Baseball – Berra, Ford, Etc. This ex-m+ Spalding “Yankees” logo ball is lightly shellacked and signed by 25 team members. Yogi Berra is on the sweet spot. Tex Clevenger, Luis Arroyo, Bob Turley, Bobby Richardson, Ralph Terry, Tom Tresh, Jim Bouton, John Blanchard, Marshall Bridges (d. 1990), Phil Linz, Bill Skowron, Ed (Whitey) Ford, Hal Reniff (d. 2004), Jack Reed, Jim Coates, Bob Cerv, Bill Stafford (d. 2001), Elston Howard (d. 1980), Roland Sheldon, Hec Lopez, Joe Pepitone and Bud Daley also appear. The Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris signatures are clubhouse. The vast majority of the signatures are 9s and 10s. 1962 was a prime Mantle-Maris era Yankee season, which ended in a World Championship with a triumph over the San Francisco Giants in seven games. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Minimum Bid $250.

Lot 106.  Autographed Eddie Murray Apparent Home Run Baseball. Murray’s signature on the sweet spot of this game-used OAL Bobby Brown baseball is an 8-9. It comes with a letter from veteran A.L. umpire Durwood Merrill attesting that it is “the actual ball hit by Eddie Murray for his 15th home run of the 1993 season.” On a side panel, Merrill wrote “1993 HR #15.” The only problem with all this is that Murray was in the National League in 1993. It appears that Merrill, who amassed a huge memorabilia collection in his 23 years as an umpire, simply assigned an incorrect date to an actual home run ball. At the very least, this is a nice vintage-signed game ball that was kept by an A.L. umpire who provided a letter stating that it is a Murray home run ball. – one of only 504! Merrill passed away in 2003. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Winning Bid $75.

Lot 107.  50+ Signed Baseball Photos Featuring Hall of Famers, Stars, Deceased Players. Wonderful high-quality collection consisting almost exclusively of non-personalized images signed for one collector over many years at shows, primarily the “National Pastime” show. The signatures, all different, are on color, b&w or sepia 8” x 10” photos. They are overwhelmingly 9s and 10s: Ashburn, Banks, Berra, Carrasqual, Joe Carter, Cavaretta, Jim Catfish Hunter and Tom Seaver (together), Kiner, Swish Nicholson, Bobby Richardson, Rizzuto, Rose, Bobby Shantz, Walker, Weiss, Welch, Frank White, Roy White, Billy Williams, Matt Williams, Maury Wills, Mookie Wilson, Willie Wilson, Woodling, Wyse, Zernial and Zisk. The other signers are Don Carman, Kilkenny, Pafko, McRae, Rhoden, Rhodes, Rivera, Rivers, Rogovin, Bob Rush, Reggie Smith, Corey Snyder, Greg Walker, Walton, Claudell Washington, Werber, Devon White, Bob Will (pers.), Mitch Williams, Glenn Wilson, Jack Wilson, Wine, Rick Wise, Bobby Witt, Mike Witt, Yost, Young and Zeile. Our starting bid barely covers the cost of the photos! Excellent break-up value here. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Winning Bid $578.

Lot 108.  Joe Wood and Stanley Coveleski Autographed 8” x 10” B&W Photos. Each photo captures the pitcher in an extraordinary pose. Wood is in a Cleveland uniform. Both signatures are gem mint 10s; Wood’s signature is personalized. Wood’s signature is also on a 1982 Diamond Classics card; the signature is a nm 7 to nm-m 8. Walter Johnson and Satchel Paige agreed that no one could throw harder than Wood. The speed of his fastball earned him the name nick-name “Smokey.” A thumb injury diminished Wood’s pitching numbers; nevertheless, many consider him to be one of the best pitchers ever. During his best season, 1912, Wood tied Christy Mathewson’s record of 16 consecutive wins. He went 3-1 in the World Series. Wood finished his career in Cleveland, where he pitched alongside Coveleski, who won more than 20 games each season from 1918-21. He was the star of the 1920 World Series. Wood passed away in 1985, and Coveleski in 1984. These are two of the finest signed items available representing these two outstanding pitchers. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Winning Bid $110.

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