Baseball Programs, Periodicals, Annuals, Yearbooks and Books
23 Lots
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Lot 15. Rare First Dummy Issue of Sports Illustrated – Dec. 5, 1953. The first regular issue of Sports Illustrated, which has Eddie Mathews on the cover, reached the nation’s mail boxes and news stands in August 1954. Production followed two years of market research and testing by George Luce and his staff. Luce also founded Time and Life magazines. The SI staff produced two dummy issues and sent them to potential advertisers to obtain their opinion of the magazine. Both demonstration issues are very scarce; distribution of the first dummy was more limited. In both prototypes, the magazine is unnamed. The cover of the first dummy simply identifies it as “The New Sport Magazine.” Inside are 140 pages of advertising and current articles and photos, including a five-page spread on the Bobo Olson-Randy Turpin fight, a Major League Baseball fight between owners and players over radio and TV revenues, a preview of the upcoming football bowl games, commercialization of hockey, pro wrestling on TV and various other topics. The dummy is vg+ to ex with a bright, clean front cover that has the owner’s stamp and several relatively light creases that do little to detract from the cover’s appearance. The interior is ex-m, clean and tight. This is a rare and very desirable piece of history from the development of the most enduring sports magazine.
Winning Bid $525.
Lot 16. Sports Illustrated Dummy #2 with Pebble Beach Golf Cover – April 19, 1954. In the early 1950s, Time-Life had a dream of a weekly sports magazine. In this second of two dummy issues, H.H.S. Phillips Jr., in a “Memo from the Publisher,” addresses the question, why publish a weekly sports publication. He provides two answers. First, it had never been done; second, the “season and climate” seemed “most propitious.” He explained that “Sport is the central theme in a new pattern of our American life.” Time-Life produced the dummy to promote the forthcoming magazine to advertisers, and Phillips added that “Because this magazine has its roots in the social and economic trends that are revolutionizing American marketing today, we feel it should serve its advertisers well.” Over the years, advertisers have demonstrated their agreement with Phillips’ assessment. Pebble Beach is on the cover of this “Dummy.” Inside is a story on the Masters focusing on Sam Snead and Ben Hogan. This Dummy is considered SI’s first golf issue. There also are articles on trout fishing, bowling, national parks and Bobo Olson. Very nice vg+ to ex example with a bright, clean cover that has a couple of creases in the lower right corner. The owner’s stamp also is on the cover. The back cover shows light soiling and a tiny tear. The interior is tight, clean and ex-m to nm. Distribution was very limited, making this a scarce publication that is especially desirable because the golf theme.
Winning Bid $321.
Lot 17. Sports Illustrated’s First Issue – Aug. 16, 1954 with Mathews Cover, Topps Cards. After two years of market research, the executives responsible for Time and Life launched what would become the nation’s most successful sports magazine. Eddie Mathews is on the cover. Inside is an article on baseball card collecting, accompanied by a three-page panel that reproduces the fronts and backs of 27 1954 Topps cards. The players include Mathews, Duke Snider, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Larry Doby, Ted Williams, Ted Kluszewski and Gil Hodges. The copy of the magazine is extremely nice, ex with some corner creases and stress creases along the spine. The Topps cards are nm-m. The issue also has four full color pages of the Rocky Marciano-Ezzard Charles fight.
Winning Bid $148.
Lot 18. 1936 Time Magazine with Rookie Joe DiMaggio on the Cover. It’s not often that a rookie sports figure adorns the cover of a news magazine, but DiMaggio accomplished the feat on July 13, 1936. No doubt he benefited from playing in the nation’s media center in New York, but a starting role in the All-Star Game and a high batting average certainly contributed to his notoriety. DiMaggio also received much of the credit for the Yankees’ success. Expected to face tough competition from Detroit, the Yankees were atop the A.L. in July, and at season’s end, they had outdistanced the Tigers by 19.5 games. In an article in the magazine, DiMaggio is compared favorably to Ty Cobb and Shoeless Joe Jackson. The copy of the magazine is clean and very collectable. The front and back covers have a library stamp. The date is written on the front cover along the spine, and there is a diagonal print line. Scarce.
Winning Bid $134.
Lot 19. 1889 Athletic Sports in America, England and Australia - Including Baseball. This pioneering book focuses on Al Spalding’s 1889 baseball good will tour of four continents. It contains more than 400 pages of baseball history, including 300 pages by Chicago journalist Henry Clay Palmer, on the tour itself. It also has a three-page preface by Henry Chadwick, generally regarded as the “father of baseball.” Extremely interesting read, but also valuable for its hundreds of illustrations. It contains a dozen full-page b&w photos of the Baltimore, Brooklyn, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Louisville, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Saint Louis and Washington Ball Clubs. Frontispiece is an amazing full-page chromolithograph of the Chicago and All- American Team Exhibition Game at the Crystal Palace Grounds in London. Published by Hubbard Brothers in 1889, it has a g-vg cover with pages that average ex; a few pages have tears. The book is complete with all three chromoliths, including one picturing the Chicago and All-America teams. This is an excellent baseball reference. The color lithographs are showstoppers! We’ve seen copies of this book in lesser condition offered for $1500.
Winning Bid $770.
Lot 57. 19th Century “Low Ball” Scorecard. The 5” x 5 ½” scorecard, which has never been folded, shows a batter on the front with an “A” on his jersey. Titled “Low Ball,” the card has pre-printed space on the opposite side for the lineups of competing team. Very nice ex example.
Winning Bid $92.
Lot 58. Rare Scorecard for a May 17, 1890 N.L. Game – Chicago with Anson vs. Boston. Back then, the Chicago team was known as the “Colts”; since 1902, they have been the Cubs. After many changes of nicknames and cities, the Beaneaters now play in Atlanta as the Braves. The 1890 scorecard has a pre-printed lineup, and it is neatly scored. Future Hall of Famer Cap Anson was at first base for Chicago, and fellow Hall of Famer John Clarkson is on the scorecard as a reserve pitcher. Charlie Getzein was the starter that day. Won by Boston 8-4, the game is very neatly scored in pencil. The scorecard, printed on stiff paper, has been neatly trimmed from a larger program. This is the scorecard only, which measures about 5 ½” x 7”, has a partial tear at the fold and is free of creases. It displays very well. The scorecard has Boston advertising on the back, including an ad for Wright & Ditson, “Base Ball Goods” and Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.
Winning Bid $163.
Lot 65. Unusual Assortment of 19th Century Trade Cards, Scorecard Covers and More! Also, 20th century trade cards, blotters, a postcard, etc. Thirty-one items, some uncataloged. Trimmed cards are noted with dimensions; grades for these indicate the appearance as trimmed. 1-3. Scorecard Covers. Two copies of “A High Fly,” both g , about 2 ½” x 4 ¾”. Superb art on a “Good Form” cover, 3 ½” x 6”. G. 4-21. H804-4 Capadura, 3” x 4 ¾”. Titles are “Judgment!” vg-ex, “Two Men out…!” f-g, and “Where will you have them?” vg-ex. H804-6 Forbes, “Twist,” 3” x 3 ¾” ex-m. H804-7 Gargling Oil, set of 5. “A close affair…” and “Something must be done…” are untrimmed and both f-g. “The Hero…” ex-m+, “Struck Out” vg, and “Bravo!” f-g, 3” x 4”. H804-7 Gargling Oil, full-color variation, “The Hero…,” f-g, “Struck Out” g-vg, and “Bravo!” vg, all about 2 ½” to 4”. H804-15, “9” series, “A Fine Catch,” vg-ex, 2 ¾” x 4 ½”. Keetz List #201, child with ball, vg-ex, crossed bats (similar to H804-1), 2 ¾” x 4”. Keetz #206, #22, game scene, flowers at left, one with Philmont, N.Y., ad on front ex+, one with no ad on front g. Keetz #210, in color, boy in knickers ready to hit a ball, f-g, trimmed to 4 ¼” by almost 6”. Cricket 1881 trade card, f-g, “Fielder,” trimmed to 3” x 3 ½”. 22-23. Postcards: PC798-12, “The Hope of His Team,” f-g, trimmed to 3 ¼” x 4 ¼”. Also, a PC for a 1974 N.Y. card show; Babe Ruth is pictured vg-ex. 24-25. Match Box Labels, one f, one ex-m with baseball artwork. 26-27. Blotters: “Play Ball!” vg, and another with a Connie Mack quote critical of “booze.” G-vg. 28-31. 20th Century Trade Cards: 1902 card, “Casey at the Bat,” for Metropolitan Life. It pictures a child with a ball, glove, chest protector and huge bat. F-g. “Grab the Ball, Jimmy,” mad barking dog stands between two boys and a ball, uncataloged, possibly 19th century. Vg-ex. Two-panel description of the National Indoor Base Ball Game from a Canton, OH, company. G. Great card for Lion Coffee, “Sir Hinkum’s Johnny,” uncataloged, probably 20th century. Vg.
Winning Bid $185.
Lot 249. 12 Pittsburgh Pirates Yearbooks, 1958-76 Including a 1958-64 Run. Roberto Clemente is in each of the yearbooks through 1973. Willie Stargell makes his first appearance in 1962. The list: 1958, Dick Stuart’s yearbook debut, stains on several inside pages, vg. 1959 vg-ex. 1960, first edition, minor pencil on front cover, vg. 1960, revised edition, Mizell added, Gross dropped, some player pictures changed; vg+ to ex with writing on two order forms. 1961, back cover missing, g. 1962, Law and Martinez pictures poorly printed, vg+ to ex. 1963 ex. 1964 ex+. 1966 vg+ to ex. 1968 vg, cover detached but present. 1973 vg+ with a few pages loose. 1976 p.
Winning Bid $204.
Lot 254. Joe DiMaggio on the Cover of the Oct. 4, 1948 Issue of Time. Although the Yankees failed to make it to the World Series, the 1948 season was excellent for DiMaggio personally as he led the A.L. with 39 homes runs and 155 runs batted in. The front cover has an ex appearance with a light vertical crease. The interior is nm.
Winning Bid $45.
Lot 255. September 1947 and 1949 Issues of Sport with Joe DiMaggio on the Cover. Starting in 1946, DiMaggio graced the cover of the sports monthly each September in the first four years of its publication. He shares the 1947 cover with brother Dom. Inside is a 10-page article by Tom Meany on the three DiMaggio brothers. The cover of this issue is vg+ to ex. The 1949 issue features a magnificent Ozzie Sweet portrait of Joltin’ Joe. Ex-m cover with a nm interior that has a lengthy article on DiMaggio.
Winning Bid $55.
Lot 256. New York Yankees Program from Mickey Mantle’s Rookie Season. Mantle began the 1951 season in New York, but difficulty in hitting major league pitching resulted in a 40-game demotion to the Yankees’ Kansas City farm team. This program for a St. Louis Browns game apparently is from that period. In the pre-printed lineup, #7 is assigned to Bob Cerv. Meanwhile, Cliff Mapes is with the Browns; he was claimed by the St. Louis team July 31. Satchel Paige is on the Browns’ roster. Joe DiMaggio is the only Hall of Famer in the pre-printed starting lineup for the Yankees: Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto and Johnny Mize were on the bench. Ex program with the center folio loose.
Winning Bid $45.
Lot 267. New York Yankees 1956 Official Yearbook, 1963 and 1964 Spring Programs. The yearbook is the second edition with a Lon Keller cover showing a Yankee player sliding home. The red, white and blue cover is vg, and the 48 pages average ex-m+. Most players receive a page of their own, including Mantle, Ford, Berra, Rizzuto, Howard and Martin. Mantle, Berra and Bauer are in a photo titled “‘Murders’ Row’… 1956 Style.” The spring training programs, each at least 44 pages in a 6” x 9” format, have individual pages devoted to key players such as Mantle, Maris, Berra, Howard and Richardson. The 1963 guide is lightly scored in pencil and vg+, and 1964, vg+ to ex. Rookie Joe Pepitone is pictured in the 1963 program. BONUS: Attractive Yankees logo necktie, 3 ½” at its widest.
Winning Bid $55.
Lot 268. Almost-Complete Run of 35 New York Yankees Yearbooks – 1970-2003. Missing only 1982, and there are duplicates for 1975 and 1998. Mickey Mantle is on the cover of the 1973 and 1996 yearbooks, Thurmon Munson on 1974, Don Mattingly on 1988, 1990 and 1992 and Babe Ruth on 1995. Munson made his yearbook debut in 1970, and he receives a full page. The issue has a date written on the front cover and otherwise is ex. The 1972 yearbook has extensive writing on the cover and otherwise is ex. The 1974 edition is vg-ex, 1976 ex and 1979 ex-m+. The other 1970s yearbooks are nm and better. Among the remaining yearbooks, a couple are ex, and the others are at least nm.
Winning Bid $185.
Lot 318. 1939 Pasadena Junior College Yearbook Featuring 5 Photos of Jackie Robinson. The future Hall of Fame baseball star excelled in football, basketball, baseball and track at the college. In this yearbook, he is pictured once as a football player and four times as a basketball player, including acting captain. The yearbook is ex. Pages in the last one-fourth of the yearbook have stains toward the bottom. The pages with Robinson are unaffected.
Winning Bid $161.
