Lot 11. Circa 1900 Cabinet Photo of the Nebraska Indians Barnstorming Baseball Team. The Indians were among the great barnstorming teams of the early 1900s. Established in 1897 by Guy W. Green, a young lawyer and promoter, the team took on town teams across the country. The original team had 12 players, nine Native Americans and three white players. The Indians came primarily form Nebraska schools and the Omaha and Winnebago reservations. The team entertained fans while playing excellent baseball. Through 1914, they won 1,237 games, lost 336 and tied 11. The sepia photo, by Kern Bros. of New York, shows nine players in uniform with “NI” on their jerseys, three other players and a man in the center in a suit, presumed to be Green. The 4 ¼” x 6 ½” photo, including the mount, couldn’t be better. It is sharply focused with strong contrast. Nm photo on an ex mount that has some minor, light stains. The photo represents important chapters in baseball barnstorming and race relations.
Winning Bid $390.
Lot 55. 1865 and 1866 Harper’s Woodcut Prints Featuring the Atlantics, Athletics or Both. CORRECTED INFORMATION: The Galvin mentioned below is not Pud. It appears to be John Galvin, who played also for the Brooklyn Atlantics of the National Association in 1872. These are prints two, three and four in Harper’s baseball woodcut universe. Harper’s first baseball woodcut appeared in 1859. Among these three, Nov. 18, 1865 is the earliest. Titled “Base-Ball Match Between the ‘Athletics’, of Philadelphia, PA., and the ‘Atlantics,’ of Brooklyn, N.Y., Played at Philadelphia, October 30, 1865,” it features J. B. Beale artwork of the first of two championship games. The Brooklyn team defeated the Philadelphia nine in games played in each city. The woodcut displays well with a border chip and tear; the page has been folded horizontally. In the Nov. 25, 1865 issue, nine portraits of Atlantic players are shown in a composite titled “‘Champion Nine’ of the Atlantic Base-Ball Club of Brooklyn, L.I., 1865.” Extremely nice three-quarter-page example with a light horizontal crease. The team includes Galvin, Thomas Pratt and apparently Pop Smith. There is a brief article on the Atlantics-Athletics series. The two teams met again in a championship series in 1866. Both teams are shown in a full-page of the Nov. 3, 1866 issue. The woodcut is titled “The ‘Atlantic’ Base-Ball Club of Brooklyn, and the ‘Athletic’ of Philadelphia.” Very clean, attractive example with a couple of border tears and no major creases.
Winning Bid $113.
Lot 56. 4 19th Century Harper’s or Leslie’s Woodcuts Featuring Chicago, 2 with Anson. Spanning 1883-90, these prints depict 19th century baseball involving Chicago. Three show the Chicago White Stockings or Colts, which became the Cubs in 1902. Harper’s Weekly: 1. May 12, 1883, “The New Base-Ball Grounds at Chicago, Illinois,” half page, game in progress. 2. Oct. 17, 1885, “The Chicago Base-Ball Club,” one-third page, team woodcut print including Cap Anson, John Clarkson, Billy Sunday and Piano Legs Gore. 3. “Opening of the Base-Ball Season. – Game Between the Chicago and Brooklyn Clubs on the Flagler Grounds, at St. Augustine, Fla.,” about one-third of a page. Frank Leslie’s Illustrated: 4. “Illinois. – The Chicago Baseball Club,” half page team picture with Anson, Clarkson, Sunday and Gore. These are quality woodcut prints, all part of full pages. The pages may have chips or tears, but they are outside the prints. A tear reaches the title of the Harper’s Chicago team picture. The woodcut of the new baseball grounds at Chicago, ex-m or better, shows light, minor foxing.
Winning Bid $102.
Lot 59. 1885 Baseball CDV. Posed studio photo depicts a player sliding into a base guarded by a gloveless fielder. Excellent sepia photo. The top of the mount has been trimmed, and the date is written in pencil on the back.
Winning Bid $180.
Lot 247. Roberto Clemente Original 1956 and 1957 Black & White Photos. In a photo hand-dated 1957, Clemente signs a contract in Puerto Rico as Joe L. Brown, general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and an official of a local team looks on. The 8” x 10” photo has a number of creases; the focus and contrast are excellent. Rare photo, one we’ve never seen before. The Hall of Fame right fielder shares a 7” x 9” International News Photos print with Frank Thomas, Lee Walls and Bill Virdon. Sharp photo, vg+, looks much better.
Winning Bid $332.
Lot 251. Pirates Vintage Collection – Autographs, Traynor Photo, 1960 Memorabilia, Etc. One highlight of this collection is an 11” x 13” photo, circa 1940, of Pie Traynor with William Benswanger matted and framed to 18 ½” x 21”. Benswanger was president of the Pirates 1932-46. Upon close examination, the photo shows some surface cracks and creases and a couple of very small scuffs. The decorative, quality vintage wood frame would benefit from being re-stained. Striking display item. Three uncommon autographs are also featured: Lefty Leifield, who signed “A P Leifield” on an unlined index card, was Pittsburgh’s winningest pitcher 1906-11. He died in 1907. His signature is a mint 9. Aubrey Epps appeared in exactly one major league game, for the Pirates in 1935, and he made the most of it. He collected three hits, including a triple, and he drove home three runs. He signed a handwritten letter that mentions Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. His signature is a 10. Epps died in 1984. “Buckshot” May also had a one-game major league career. He pitched one inning in 1924, allowing two hits and striking out one. May died in 1984. Publications: 1961 yearbook, owner’s name on front; otherwise, vg-ex. 1971 NLCS scorebook, Clemente cover, scored, vg-ex. 1971 Three Rivers Stadium Souvenir Book marking the opening of the new stadium, vg-ex. Photos: Vintage glossy 8” x 10” photo, possibly from 1961 spring training, with Willie Stargell, Al McBean, Vernon Law, etc. Vg+ to ex. Framed 11” x 14” pictures of Mazeroski’s home run that won the 1960 World Series, Clemente’s 3,000th hit and the 1961 Pirates team. Vg-ex to ex+. Also, an 11” x 17” picture of the World Champion 1971 Pirates, vg. Rain Checks: Two different, undated, probably 1940s-50s, vg. Stamps: U.S. Post Office “Legends” kit including stamps of Clemente, Ruth, Gehrig and Jackie Robinson. Cards and a stamp album also are included. Ex-m. Cards: 1991 Kellogg’s Sportflics card of Ralph Kiner, nm. 1994 ProMint 22 karat gold foil card of Barry Bonds, nm-m. Also, a 3” color pin of Stargell and two Pirates 2004 magnet schedules. Twenty items. Autographs authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $83.
Lot 252. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig Fishing? These baseball icons seem to have a special knack for fishing as well as hitting a baseball. This Diamond Images 22 ¾” x 19 ¼” framed and matted b & w limited edition photo captures Ruth and Gehrig showing off their catches. The print is #28 of 975 and will be a fine addition to your Yankees photo gallery.
Winning Bid $92.
Lot 253. B&W Photo of Babe Ruth Giving Lou Gehrig a Big Hug. “They didn’t get along. Gehrig thought Ruth was a big-mouth and Ruth thought Gehrig was cheap. They were both right,” said teammate and fellow HoF member Tony Lazzeri. That may have been true, but the Sultan of Swat and the Iron Horse looked like friends the day Gehrig retired from baseball. The 19 ¼” x 23 ¼” framed, double-matted photo shows the Yankee duo reunited on “Lou Gehrig Day,” July 4, 1939.
Winning Bid $55.
Lot 262. Original 20 ½” x 26” Painting Based on Mickey Mantle’s 1953 Topps Card. The anonymous painting decently captures Mantle’s image. Creases in the lower corners and several very light stains toward the bottom add to its charm. The 24” x 28 ½” frame has a ½” section of damage.
Winning Bid $50.
Lot 310. Jackie Robinson Original 4 ½” x 7” Pittsburgh Courier Newspaper Photo from 1955. Outstanding focus, contrast and composition characterize this photo dated Feb. 12, 1955 on the back. Other back notations indicate the photo was to appear on page 3 of the April 2 edition of the paper, which served Pittsburgh’s African-American community. A notation indicates that the photo was to illustrate an article on “Why Negro Baseball.” Technically vg to vg-ex, the photo displays as ex with a great image of Robinson. Many photos have been printed recently using negatives from the Courier’s archives. This is an original.
Winning Bid $102.
Lot 311. 3 Rare Sepia Cabinet Photos of a Richmond at Hartford 1898 Atlantic League Game. The first Atlantic League, successor to the Pennsylvania League, lasted only five seasons, 1896-1900. Another minor league with the same name was established in 1914. These sepia photos capture action, baseball and otherwise, at a game at the Hartford Base Ball Park, apparently in May 1998. Each sepia photo is about 3 ½” x 4 ½” on a mount that is 4 ¼” x 5 ¼” or larger. One photo shows fans leaving the park. A second shows part of the grandstand, and a man appears to be delivering a speech. The owner of the photo wrote in the mount “Billy Allyn orating at ball game.” The third photo shows game action. Each mount has two holes neatly punched in it, and one of the punches affects the edge of each photo. The photo with the orator has a scuff. Otherwise, the photos are well focused with decent contrast and ex-m. Each is stamped “F. S. Snow, M.D.,” on the back.
Winning Bid $102.
Lot 312. Impressive Imperial Cabinet Photo of the 1899 New Castle, PA, Baseball Team. And when we write “imperial,” we mean “imperial”! The photo is 10” x 13 ½” on a 14” x 17” mount. The photo by the E. E. Seavy Studio of New Castle is fantastic. It shows 12 players and the manager, in a suit and holding a child. The focus and contrast couldn’t be better. There are five creases along the right edge. The mount is vg with a ½” tear along the left edge. Neatly in pencil, someone has added “New Castle Base Ball Club of PA.” at the top, and the surnames of the players below. This is one impressive vintage baseball photo!
Winning Bid $185.
Lot 313. 6 Late 19th or Early 20th Century Photos of Local Baseball Teams and Players. The “class” of this collection is a beautiful sepia composite photo of the 1915 Grantley Park Athletic Club by a York, PA, photographer. Grantley is near York. The 6 ½” x 9 ½” composite on an 11” x 14” mount has crystal-clear studio photos of nine players in uniform plus two men in suits. Unimprovable photo on an ex mount that has a couple of tiny surface chips. One of the more interesting photos is of a “C & O” team that has an African-American child as its mascot. Taken outdoors, the 8” x 10” photo is vg+ to ex with superb focus and contrast. Two other photos show teams outdoors. The Hills Grove (Hillsgrove, PA?) team is the subject of a 4 ¾” x 6 ½” photo on a 7” x 9 mount. The players wear quilted pants. Ex to ex-m photo; the mount has two chipped corners. The Whitcomb team is in a 5” x 7” ex-m sepia photo on an 8” x 10” vg mount. In a 4 ½” x 7” photo on an 8” x 10” mount, a catcher and batter are posed in a studio. Sharp ex-m photo, stains on the mount. Nine players of what appears to be a Winchester team are posed with vintage bats, a catcher’s mask and gloves in an 8” x 10” ex-m to nm photo. For some reason, some letters on the players’ jerseys appear to have been obliterated on the negative. Excellent collection of quality vintage photos.
Winning Bid $148.
Lot 314. Vintage Baseball, Cricket Images – 1907 Waterloo with Major Leaguers, Sisler, Etc. Among this collection of eight images is an 1804 cricket photo. 1. A printed 11” x 14” pictures captures the 1907 Waterloo Cubs, 1907 champions of the Iowa League. The picture shows three future major leaguer players – George Clark, Harry Gasper and Lee Magee. The print may have been made in the last 20 years. It has a vertical fold on the right and corners stains. The image are has an ex appearance. 2. Circa 1920s wire photo, 7” x 8 ½”, of George Sisler. Vg photo with two in-uniform images of the Hall of Fame first baseman shows some silvering. 3. 1804 engraving by J. Storer of boys playing cricket at the Charter House, London. The engraving is about 5 ¼” x 7 ¾” printed on 9” x 11 ½” paper and dated Aug. 1, 1804. Chips along the edges; the engraving itself is nm. 4. 1931 International News Photos 6” x 8” photo of Big Bill Lange with his son, Bill. Baseball scene with both in street clothes. Retouched for newspaper publication, one pin hole, caption attached, vg. 5-6. Two different Chicago Daily News 8” x 10” photos of Les Filkens, the Detroit Tigers’ first pick in the 1975 baseball draft, vg-ex. 7. 1962 UPI wire photo of Tom Fletcher, University of Illinois pitcher signed for a bonus by the Tigers, ex. 8. 1979 UPI wire photo of Brad Gulden of the Yankees and Hal McRae of the Royals, vg.
Winning Bid $30.
