Lot 151. Autographs of 25 World Champion 1961 N.Y. Yankees on an OAL Cronin Baseball. Signatures range from ex-m 6 to gem mint 10 and average nm 7 to nm-m 8 on this baseball, which once belonged to Yankees coach Wally Moses. Yogi Berra shares the sweet spot with a clubhouse autograph of Mickey Mantle. The north panel is signed by Bill Gardner, Joe DeMaestri, Tex Clevenger, Frank Crosetti, John Blanchard, Hal Reniff, Bud Daley and Clete Boyer, the south by Bill Skowron, Elston Howard, Bob Richardson, Whitey Ford and Roger Maris, the east by Jim Hegan, Luis Arroyo, Roland Sheldon, Bill Stafford, Hec Lopez, John Sain, Ralph Terry and Ralph Houk, and the west by Tony Kubek and Jim Coates. The autographs on the south panel – Skowron, Howard, Richardson, Ford and Maris, grade 7-8. The ball is nm to nm-m with some fading of the printed areas. These Yankees defeated Cincinnati in the World Series in five games. The ball comes with a 1989 Letter of Authenticity signed by Wally Moses. Authenticated also by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $636.
Lot 152. OAL Cronin Baseball Signed by Mantle, Berra, 27 More 1964 New York Yankees. Clean, white nm-m ball with autographs by members of the 1964 A.L. Championship team. The signatures range from nm 7 to mint 9 and average 7-8. Mickey Mantle (nm 7) and Yogi Berra (nm 7 to nm-m 8) are on the sweet spot. The ball is signed also by Ralph Terry over the printed area, Stan Williams, Jim Bouton, Steve Hamilton, Jim Hegan, Jim Gleeson and Roger Maris on the north panel, Whitey Ford, Bob Richardson, Clete Boyer, Archie Moore, Paul Sheldon, John Blanchard and Pedro Ramos on the south, Tony Kubek, Al Downing, Hal Reniff, Pete Mikkelsen, Tom Tresh, Bill Stafford and Joe Pepitone on the east and Bud Daley, Spud Murray, Hec Lopez, Elston Howard, Pedro Gonzalez and Phil Linz on the west. (“Mark Fox” also is printed on this panel.) The Maris autograph is an 8. A quality example of a 1964 team ball! Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $291.
Lot 153. Baseball Signed by Mantle, Maris, Rizzuto, Mize, Ford, Berra, Etc. OAL MacPhail baseball autographed by 18 one-time Yankees, as well as by Bob Feller and Al Rosen. Mickey Mantle (nm-m 8) occupies the sweet spot with a clubhouse signature of Joe DiMaggio. The other signatures, generally nm 7, are by Bill Skowron, Whitey Ford, Tom Gorman and Feller on the north panel, Yogi Berra, Charlie Keller, Phil Rizzuto, Bobby Brown, Ron Guidry, Irv Noren and Roger Maris on the south, Vic Raschi, Ed Lopat and Gene Woodling on the east, Al Rosen, Johnny Mize, Tom Henrich, Billy Martin (clubhouse signature) and Bob Lemon on the west, and Charlie Silvera above the pre-printed area. Apparently signed at an old-timers event, the ball is ex to ex-m with strong printed areas, one relatively large area of discoloration, and several smaller. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $198.
Lot 154. Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle Autographs on an 8” x 10” B&W Photo. Bold, striking gem mint 10 signatures by the New York Yankees’ Hall of Fame center fielders. The photo, double-matted and framed to 12” x 15”, captures a very young Mickey. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $477.
Lot 155. Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford Autographed 1979 Gateway Stamp Co. Envelopes. Postmarked June 12, 1979, these colorful “silk” cachet envelopes commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Each signature in ballpoint grades gem mint 10. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $134.
Lot 165. Mickey Mantle Fabulous, Bold Rookie-Era Pencil Signature. Removed from a scorecard, the signature is neatly mounted to a 3” x 5” index card with Mantle’s photo from his 1961 Topps card. An inoffensive piece of tape covers the bottom portion of “Mickey.” Early Mantle signatures are indeed rare. This one is extremely nice, and authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $121.
Lot 166. Mickey Mantle Signed OAL Bobby Brown Baseball. Large and bold mint 9 to gem mint 10 autograph on the sweet spot. Ex-m ball with strong pre-printed areas and cream to yellow toning that is slightly uneven. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $321.
Lot 167. Mickey Mantle Autograph on a Print from the Artwork for His 1953 Topps Card. Bold and beautiful gem mint 10 signature on a 7” x 10” print numbered 1952 of 2000. There are some light creases in the border, which brings the full size of the item to 11” x 15”; the creases could easily be matted out. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Proceeds from the sale of this lot will benefit the Society for American Baseball Research.
Winning Bid $240.
Lot 168. Mickey Mantle Signed “A Day to Remember” Number 7 Retirement Picture Sleeve. One June 8, 1969, at Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Bombers honored Mantle by retiring his uniform number. Only Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio had their numbers retired before him. Events of the day are captured on a 7” Columbia 33 1/3 rpm record. It features the voices of Mel Allen, Mantle and others. The record has an ex-m appearance. It is housed in a vg+ picture sleeve that looks better than the grade and has multiple images of Mantle. Across “A Day to Remember,” Mantle boldly placed a large, unimprovable autograph. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $291.
Lot 169. Mickey Mantle Autograph on His 1957 My Greatest Thrills in Baseball Comic Book. The 16-page color comic was produced apparently to promote Mission of California orange soda. It was distributed by a local bottler, Pioneer Valley Ginger Ale Co. Three stories in the comic book outline Mantle’s life, from high school through the 1956 season. The final chapter, titled “Chasing the Great Bambino,” has two boys debating whether Mantle might break Babe Ruth’s home run record. The comic has a stain in the upper right corner; otherwise, ex. Mantle’s signature is large and bold, mint 9 with inoffensive bleeding. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. The comic book itself is scarce and well worth our
Winning Bid $218.
Lot 174. Brooklyn Dodgers Collection of 75+ Autographs – Reese, Snider, Amoros, Grimes, Etc. These autographs are on baseballs, baseball cards, 8” x 10” photos and commemorative envelopes. They are overwhelmingly mint 9s and gem mint 10s. The photos are signed by Pee Wee Reese, Cal Abrams (2 diff., one personalized), Ralph Branca (nice vintage image), Don Newcombe (pers.) and George “Shotgun” Shuba (pers.). The strongest of the baseballs, a Jackie Robinson Coca-Cola commemorative, has Reese on the sweet spot and, on side panels, Mickey Owen, Jim Romano, Duke Snider, Shotgun Shuba, Andy Pafko and Clem Labine, as well Dodgers’ press agent Irv Rudd and Boys of Summer author Roger Kahn. The Romano and Kahn signatures are ex-m 6, and Snider’s, nm 7 to nm-m 8. A Little League ball has ex 5 to nm 7 autographs of Ralph Branca, Mrs. Gil Hodges, Steve Lembo, Hank Behrman, Joe Pignatano, Abrams, Newcombe, Saul Rogovin and Clem Labine. Another Little League ball has autographs of Eddie Basinski, Johnny Frederick Jr., Spider Jorgensen and Pete Coscarart. Sandy Amoros leads a list of signatures on commemorative envelopes and other slightly larger items; the others are Rex Barney (large dinner ticket), Behrman, Wayne Belardi (blotter), Joe Black, Carl Erskine, Billy Herman (retrace on “m”), Labine, Freddie Lindstrom, Sal Maglie (article photocopy), Newcombe, Pafko and Reese. Unlined index cards hold the autographs of Abrams, Bobby Bragan, Rocky Bridges, Dolph Camilli, Coscarart, Fred Fitzsimmons, Jim Gilliam, Andy High, Paul Hoffman, Waite C Hoyt, Charlie Hargreaves, Kirby Higbe, Clyde King, Ken Lehman, Ed Liberatore (scout), Rube Marquard, Joe Oeschger, Owen, Pete Reiser, Preacher Roe, Romano, Johnny Rutherford, Howie Schultz, Shuba, Don Thompson and Ben Wade. Signed cards: 1956 Topps #190 Carl Furillo; 1947-66 Exhibits Duke Snider (“B” on cap); 1978 Grand Slam #34 Babe Herman, 38 Burleigh Grimes (nm 7) and 44 Cookie Lavagetto; and another card by Billy Loes. And finally, Casey Stengel on a paper “baseball” (signed twice) and Johnny Podres on a “Johnny Podres Fan Club” card. Outstanding Dodgers collection of Hall of Fame members, stars and primarily deceased players. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. From the Ron Gabriel collection. Proceeds from the sale of this lot will benefit the Society for American Baseball Research, a non-profit membership organization open to all that fosters the research, preservation, and dissemination of the history and record of baseball.
Winning Bid $354.
Lot 186. Roy Pitts’ Autograph and Ephemera File with Hundreds of Signatures in All Fields! UPDATE: There are approximately 200 autographs in this collection. The autograph of Hank Ketcham shown in our photo is printed on; it is not an acutal autograph.
Veteran collectors are familiar with Pitts’ name. He was a pioneer collector who began writing to personalities in multiple fields in the 1930s. He continued his pursuits until his death in 1998. During that time, he claimed that he acquired more than 1 million autographs through various means, but mostly through the mail. While Pitts often traded duplicates to other collectors, he was also one of the first collector-dealers. By the time of his death, most of his collection had been long dispersed by sales and trades. Offered here is a random box of “stuff” from the final Pitts hoard. Most of the items are signed and include representations from baseball, hockey, boxing, basketball, figure-skating, and football, as well as politics, entertainment and such miscellaneous categories as writers, cartoonists, religious leaders, historians, sociologists, physicists, musicians and others. Though far from comprehensive, here is a representative cross-section of the overall group: 1. Sports Autographs: Baseball, Joe Oeschger vintage photo, Bruce Connatser TLS, Garland Braxton 1936 ALS, Johnny Moore, Davey Lopes, Rip Sewell ANS, Whitey Ford photo, Ray Collins ALS, Lee MacPhail, Bill (Wamby) Wambsgnass on a “1920 World Series Scrap Book” published in 1953. Boxing, Jack Sharkey photo, Frankie Garcia photo, Clarence Snell ALS. Basketball, Sean Elliott photo, Willis Reed photo, Al Cervi photo, J. Dallas Shirley photo. Football, Fran Tarkenton photo, Tom Hamilton TLS, Rodney Peete photo. 2. Miscellaneous Autographs: William Buckley photo, Art Buchwald photo, Ring Lardner Jr. 3x5, Betty Crocker photo, Eve Queler handwritten music sheet, F. R. Pemberton 1912 document, Clarence Allen published original 9” x 11” political cartoon art, artist Carmello Cappello signed book of works, book titled Hallerlooga, The Story of a Little Arkansas Negro Boy Who Took a Ride With Santa Claus by Bernie Babcock, seven more misc. books/booklets, and intriguing documents or letters dating 1861, 1894, 1899, 1913 and 1924, A.G. Spalding Bros. letterhead dated 1890. 3. Political Autographs: Dean Rusk photo, Alexander Hamilton Rice 1884 ALS with mailing envelope, Bob Kerry photo and TLS, Chris Dodd TLS and photo, George Wallace photos (2), Hale Boggs TLS, Robert McNamara photo, Barry Goldwater, Al D’Amato photo, three unsigned Christmas cards with an original photo of Dean and Alice Acheson (signed by Alice Acheson only), 1965 facsimile signed White House Christmas card (LBJ and Ladybird), etc. 4. Entertainment Autographs: Joanne Woodward photo and four index cards, Nina Foch photo, Raquel Welch photo, Ruth Dunning TLS, Walter Brennan Jr., Fess Parker and more. 5. Unsigned Items: Multiple uncatalogued files, notes, and printed material, brochures, booklets, photos, etc., including Chicago Cubs 1941 Players’ History and Record Book, 1947 book The Rose Bowl, 1949 Putnam book The Cleveland Indians, 1982 World’s Fair guide book, a near set of Pure Oil Co. Atlanta Braves and various media guides. Important Note: We have done our best to pull and identify any secretarial or autopen examples; nevertheless, a few may remain. The group is un-researched, presenting the winner with a good possibility of some significant “sleeper” items! A fun-time lot for collectors with excellent potential break-up value for dealers. Autographs authenticated by Kevin Keating
Winning Bid $763.
Lot 195. Harmon Killebrew 1960s Photo Pennant, Autograph and Other Memorabilia. Excellent collection for fans of the Hall of Fame slugger from Payette, ID. The key to the collection is a 19 ½” pennant with a 3 ½” x 5 ½” color photo of Killebrew with the Minnesota Twins. Produced by Asco of Winona, MN, the pennant is vg+ to ex with the tip slightly clipped and light soiling on the white stripe at the left. It is free of pin or tack holes. Also: 2. 1964 Topps card #177 autographed by Killebrew: nm card with a gem mint 10 autograph. 3. 6 ¾” Twins-Pepsi statue by Alexander Global Promotions (AGP), mint in the original box, which pictures Killebrew and provides career information. 4. 2005 Killebrew bobble head from AGP marking the 40th anniversary of the Twins’ 1965 A.L. championship. Mint in the box. 5-6. Two Killebrew 16” mini bats, one brown, one green, both nm-m. 7. Official Player Logo Ball commemorating Killebrew’s 1984 Hall of Fame induction, mint. 8. 1966-67 Bazooka card #11, ex+ as trimmed (slightly short). 9. 2005 Upper Deck Wingfield Collection card showing Killebrew with President Eisenhower, ex-m+. Autograph authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $92.
Lot 240. Wayne Gretzky Autograph – on a Mario Lemieux Photo (!) and Other Autographs. Actually, the signature is on the cover of the program for Lemieux’s 1999 charity golf event, and that’s where our consignor caught up with the Great One! The autograph is a bold 10. Inside, next to their photos, are autographs of Johnny Bench, John Elway, Mario Lemieux, Jim McMahon, Joe Morgan, Dan Quinn and Lynn Swann. Among these autographs, the Bench is especially strong and attractive. In addition, the program is signed also by Kevin McClatchy, former CEO and lead owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The autographs are bold 9s and 10s. The program comes matted and framed to about 11” x 14”. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $138.
