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.
