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Pittsburgh P:irates
11 Lots
 Lot 93. Rare Uncataloged 1977 Post-Gazette Pittsburgh “Pirates Portraits” Set of 31. Using the same sketches by several artists, the Pittsburgh newspaper issued in book form a set of 30 cards, each 8 ½” x 11”. This set consists of 31 “cards,” each about 4 ½” x 9 ½” and clipped from the newspaper. Below each portrait are career and statistical information. The checklist is the same as for the book issue, except that Jerry Hairston has been added, increasing the newpaper set to 31. Hairston was sold to the Pirates in June, and the set appeared in the newspaper in June. There also are some number variations between the book and newspaper issues. Key players in the set are Stargell, Gossage, Oliver and Parker. This set has been neatly clipped from the newspapers. All have a black border all the way around, and in most cases, the full thickness of the border is present. Nm. The probability of finding a nicer set is not high.
Winning Bid $185.
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 Lot 184. Chas “Babe” Adams Signature on a Rare Original 1920s Sepia Photo. Adams was the pitching hero of the Pittsburgh 1909 World Series vs. Detroit, earning three of the Pirates’ four victories. He twice won more than 20 games in a season, and he finished his career with a 194-140 record and a 2.76 ERA. Adams was accurate with a baseball and a gun. In 2,995 major league innings, he walked only 430 batters. In a losing 21-inning duel in 1914, he didn’t walk a single batter. Well into his seventies, he was still regarded as one of the best marksmen in the U.S. Adams died in 1968. His signature is a large, bold fountain pen 10 at the bottom of a 5” x 7” sepia photo taken at Forbes Field and showing Carnegie Library in the background. Tough autograph, especially on a vintage photo. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $248.
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 Lot 185. Rare Original 1920s Sepia Photo Signed by Pittsburgh Pirate Clyde Barnhart. In nine seasons as a third baseman and outfielder for Pittsburgh, Barnhart batted .295 and eclipsed the .300 mark six times. His best season was 1925 when he batted .325 and drove in 114 runs as the Pirates captured the world championship by defeating Washington in the World Series. In the Series, Barnhart was one of the hitting stars of Game 5, and for the Series, only Max Carey had more hits and Kiki Cuyler, more runs batted in, than Barnhart. The 4 ¼” x 6 ½” photo at Forbes Field is ex with a bold “C. L. Barnhart” fountain pen signature that would grade 10 of 10 except for minor smudges on the “C,” “L” and “B.” Barnhart passed away in 1980. Excellent signature from this important member of the Pirates’ 1925 World Series championship team. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. This lot and Lot 184 are not just vintage-signed photos; they have the appearance of works of art!
Winning Bid $132.
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 Lot 186. Historically Interesting 1954 Pirates Team Ball Signed by Branch Rickey, Curt Roberts. Hall of Fame executive Branch Rickey is renowned for his role in breaking baseball’s color barrier in 1947. Much less widely known is that he also broke the color barrier in Pittsburgh in 1954 when the Pirates made 24-year-old Curt Roberts their starting second baseman. Unfortunately, Roberts’s success was limited, and his major league career ended in 1956. The autographs of Branch Rickey and Curtis Roberts are on an ONL Warren Giles baseball with 29 others. Very lightly shellacked, the ball otherwise is an nm-m beauty. The signatures are impressive; almost all are nm-m 8 or better, bold in blue ballpoint with a hint of red shadowing or “bleed” behind each. Rickey signed the pre-printed area, along with manager Fred Haney (died 1997). A portion of his bold signature intersects with the Warren Giles pre-printed example. Roberts is on the north panel with Joe Page (d. 1980), Sam Narron (d. 1996) and Clyde Sukeforth (d. 2000) above and Jake Thies, Vernon Law and Walker Cooper (1991) below. Other signers are Len Yochim, Paul LaPalme, John Hetki, Cal Hogue (d. 2005), Gail Henley, Max Surkont (d. 1986) and George O’Donnell on the south panel, “Doc” Jorgensen, Bob Purkey, Dick Smith, Bob Skinner and Dick Cole on the east and Dick Hall, Preston Ward, Bob Friend, Nele (Nellie) King, Jack Shepard (d. 1994), Jerry Lynch, Gair Allie and Sid Gordon (d. 1975) on the west. Pittsburgh broadcaster Ray Scott and Pirates traveling secretary Bob Rice signed the sweet spot. Rickey passed away at 83 in 1965. In 1969, Roberts was killed when he was struck by a car while changing a tire on his auto. He was only 40. Roberts’ signature is uncommon. This is the first time we have seen his signature and Rickey’s together on a ball. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $572.
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 Lot 187. Roberto Clemente Autograph and 15 More 1961 Pirates on an ONL Ball. Clemente’s ex-m 6 to nm 7 signature shares the south panel of an nm ONL Giles baseball with ElRoy Face (mint 9), Al McBean (nm-m 8) and Clem Labine (nm 7). The Clemente signature is strong in blue ballpoint with even pink “bleed” shadowing the letters. Hal Smith (7) has the west panel to himself. John Logan (8), Vinegar Bend Mizell (4-5), Don Leppert (5), Billy Virdon (5) and Harvey Haddix (6) are on the north panel, and on the east, Frank Oceak (4-5), Bob Friend (5-6), Sam Narron (5-6), Walt Moryn (9), Joe Gibbon (6) and Dick Groat (7). Besides these 16 autographs, there are two clubhouse signatures, Danny Murtaugh on the sweet spot and Smokey (sic) Burgess on the south panel. The ball has not been shellacked. Nice 1961 example featuring 14 members of the 1960 World Champions! (McBean and Logan joined the Pirates in 1961.) Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $436.
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 Lot 188. Roberto Clemente Limited Edition Lithograph Signed by 9 Pittsburgh Pirates. This 24 ½” x 31 ¾” print from artwork by Tom Mosser presents two images, a batting stance and a portrait, of the legendary Pirates outfielder. Titled “Tribute to Roberto,” the print is signed by Bill Mazeroski, Harvey Haddix (died 1994), Vern Law, Hal Smith, Bill Virdon, Bob Friend, Bob Skinner, Dick Groat and ElRoy Face. Their pencil signatures are 10s, and so is the artist’s. A “must” for a Pirates game room or a Pittsburgh-centered sports bar! Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $198.
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 Lot 189. 1908 St. Louis at Pittsburgh Scorecard Program for a Game at Exposition Park. Rare program with photos of Hall of Fame members Honus Wagner, Fred Clarke and Barney Dreyfuss. The program is neatly scored for a Sept. 8 game, which Pittsburgh won- 2-0. The pre-printed lineup has Wagner, Clarke, Leach, Wilson, Gibson and Camnitz playing for Pittsburgh. The eight-page program plus covers isn’t exactly a thing of beauty, but it has plenty of character. It was folded vertically and horizontally. The covers have tape and chips; the spine is taped, and a newer staple has been added to it. Besides the photos of the Hall of Famers, the inside has an ad for a jeweler featuring a baseball diamond, a vintage car ad, and an ad for Coca-Cola. The 1908 season was the Pirates last full season in Exposition Park. The next year, they moved to Forbes Field. The 1908 team narrowly missed capturing the N.L. pennant, finishing one game behind the Cubs. Programs from 1908 are rarely seen in any condition.
Winning Bid $113.
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 Lot 190. Bob Skinner Pittsburgh Pirates Circa 1960 Salesman’s Sample Road Jersey. This size 44 Wilson jersey has letters spelling out “Pirates” stitched to the front and Skinner’s #4 (but not his name) on the back. Pittsburgh used this style of road jersey from 1957-61. In 1962, the franchise added the number to the front. Nm example that displays magnificently.
Winning Bid $218.
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 Lot 191. Pittsburgh Pirates 1966-71 Gold Base Bobbing Head. Ex with a barely noticeable hairline crack in the back of his head, a tiny chip on his cheek, some minor paint cracking toward the under side of the head and light wear on “Pittsburgh” on the base.
Winning Bid $75.
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 Lot 232. 8 Copies of 1904 Husky Hans Sheet Music Honoring Honus Wagner. Published in Wagner’s home town of Carnegie, PA, the sheet music features his image on the cover and honors him as “3 Times Champion Batsman of the National League.” All eight copies have significant border damage. Six copies are free of significant toning or stains. In all cases, the image of Wagner is unaffected by the border issues, and in all but one case, the title is unaffected. NOTE: SEVEN OF THE EIGHT COPIES HAVE ALL SIX PAGES. ONE COPY IS MISSING THE CENTER SECTION, PAGES 3 AND 4.
Winning Bid $393.
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