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Premium Openers
4 Lots
 Lot 1. Steve Prefontaine Incredibly RARE Signed 1974 Handwritten Letter. IMPORTANT NOTE: Both Kevin Keating and PSA-DNA have authenticated Prefontaine’s autograph. Prefontaine was the greatest U.S. middle-distance runner in history. Only 22 when he wrote the letter offered here, he died 16 months later in a one-car accident. At the height of his career, he held every U.S. track and field record for distances from 2,000 to 10,000 meters. During his career, he won 78 percent of his races, 120 of 153. He was the first athlete to win the same event at the NCAA champions four consecutive years – 5,000 meters, 1970-73. Prefontaine’s popularity helped to spark the running boom in the U.S. in the early 1970s. His coach was Bill Bowerman, a co-founder of Nike. In fact, Prefontaine was the first athlete to endorse Nike shoes. His life has been the subject of two movies, Prefontaine in 1997 and Without Limits in 1998, as well as a documentary, Fire on the Track. In his Jan. 16, 1974 letter on 6” x 8” lined paper, Prefontaine writes, “I run because I love it and it is part of my life. One thing I can say is run for run (sic; possibly “fun”) and if you can’t don’t.” The page has a light stain in the lower left away from Prefontaine’s signature, which is a gem mint 10. The original envelope is with the letter. Prefontaine’s autograph is extremely rare, and especially so on a handwritten letter. He remains one of the most popular and recognizable 1970s athletes. Collectible Classics is pleased to offer this outstanding example!
Winning Bid $888.
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 Lot 2. Lou Gehrig Autograph on the Sweet Spot of an OAL Harridge Baseball. Gehrig signed this ball in either 1936 or 1937 with more than 20 other New York Yankees. With time, the autographs have faded. The Gehrig signature remains the strongest, and its appearance is supported by the ex-m to nm off-white ball which retains strong pre-printed areas. The signature is light with all letters remaining visible. Its appearance is a strong vg-ex 4 or a somewhat weak ex 5, without any smudges or other defects. Signatures on the north and south panels are completely faded; impressions remain. Other signatures are visible on the east and west panels: Joe Glenn, Kemp Wicker, Art Jorgens, Jake Powell, Walter Brown, Bump Hadley, Johnny Murphy, Frank Crosetti and Bob Seeds. They range from vg 3 to ex 5, with most 4-5 but somewhat lighter than the Gehrig autograph. Gehrig’s remains a highly-sought autograph that is in relatively short supply. This is a very decent, affordable example. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $1,433.
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 Lot 3. 1932 Senators Team Ball Signed by 18 Including Walter Johnson, Moe Berg. As the manager, Johnson guided Washington to a 93-61 finish and third place in the American League. His signature is an ex 5 to ex-m 6 on a 1932 OAL William Harridge baseball, which has red and blue stitching and is nm. It stands out well against the off-white ball has never been shellacked. It has strong nm-m pre-printed areas, minor toning spots on each panel and a larger area that is toned or stained on the south panel. “Season 1932” was added to the far end of the west panel. Johnson shares the sweet spot with Ossie Bluege (nm 7 signature), Gen Crowder (5) and Bill McAfee (6). Al Schacht (7) and Mo Berg (ex-m 6) are on the west panel; Joe Kuhel (7), Monte Weaver (5-6), Eddie Ainsmith (5) and Johnny Kerr (5) on the east; Heine Manush (nm 7 to nm-m 8), Roy Spencer (7), Firpo Marberry (6-7), Ed Edelen (6-7) and Sam West (6) on the north, and Lloyd Brown (5-6), Carl Reynolds (5) and Joe Cronin (6) on the south. The ball also has the names of Pat Gharrity and Ed Gharrity printed on side panels. Both apparently identify Senators coach and former player Edward Patrick (Patsy) Gharrity. Berg, of course, was the intellectual catcher who IQ may have been higher than his lifetime batting average. He served the U.S. as a spy during World War II. Scarce, attractive and very collectible with three Hall of Fame signatures, and Berg and Schacht as well. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $888.
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 Lot 4. Babe Ruth Fabulous “Called Shot” Bronze Statue. With this statue, return to that thrilling day of yesteryear, Oct. 1, 1932 to be exact, when Ruth pointed toward the center field bleachers at Wrigley Field and then promptly blasted a 440-foot home run in the same direction. The event occurred in the fifth inning of World Series Game 3. Actually, whether Ruth pointed toward center, Cubs pitcher Charlie Root or the Cubs’ dugout remains a matter for debate. This 8” statue of Ruth, which stands on an attractive 4” x 4” x 1 ½” tall green-marble base, appears to be pointing toward center field. Or maybe the pitcher. Or the dugout. The image is impressive. A brass plate on the base attributes the work to an artist named “Dawn.” The statue and base weigh eight pounds. Like the legend of the called shot, the artist is surrounded by some uncertainty. Her last name in unknown. Apparently based in New York, she reportedly was commissioned to produce statues of Ruth and two other sports figures, Lou Gehrig and Muhammad Ali. The sponsor reneged, and the other statues were never produced. Our consignor obtained this work of art in 1996. Unsigned, the statue may be an artist’s proof. Whatever the details, this statue truly is unique – a fantastic one-of-a-kind tribute to baseball’s greatest player!
Winning Bid $500.
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