Lot 99. Rare Autograph of HoFer Hilton Smith on a KC Monarchs Panoramic Photo. Large, bold signature on a 1946 Kansas City Monarchs 7” x 17” team photo printed on thin paper stock. Lefty Bryant also signed the photo. Less flamboyant than Kansas City Monarchs teammate Satchel Paige, Smith may have been the Negro Leagues best pitcher, certainly during the 1930s and early 1940s. Bob Feller thought he was better than Paige. In his first 12 seasons, he won at least 20 games. A strong hitter and excellent fielder, he also played the outfield and first base. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2001, almost two decades after his death in 1983. Bryant also pitched for the Monarchs, as well as a variety of other teams. He passed away in 1992. Authenticated by Kevin Keating, author of The Negro Leagues Autograph Guide. Two guides list a Smith signed index card at $500. This item is much better because Smith’s autograph on any photo is extremely rare.
Winning Bid $357.
Lot 100. Walter Buck Leonard Pre-Stroke Autograph. Playing for the Homestead Grays in the 1930s and early 1940s, Leonard and Josh Gibson were the Negro Leagues’ equivalent of Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth. A lifetime .328 hitter, Leonard averaged 34 home runs per year in an eight-season period. He was enshrined at Cooperstown in 1972. In 1986, Leonard suffered a stroke that partially paralyzed his right side. After that, he wrote with his left hand. Pre-stroke autographs such as this one command a premium. The signature is large, bold nm-m 8 beauty, filling a 1 ½” x 4 ¾” section of unlined paper that is matted and framed to about 10 ½” x 13 ½” with a Perez-Steel postcard of Leonard. Kevin Keating, author of The Negro Leagues Autograph Guide, authenticated this signature.
Winning Bid $92.
Lot 101. Negro League Legends Bat Signed by Dandridge, Day, Irvin, Leonard and Others. Including the four Hall of Fame members, the complete star-studded lineup that adorns this 34” Louisville Slugger consists of Ray Dandridge, Leon Day, Monte Irving, Buck Leonard, Gene Benson, Bill (Ready) Cash, Jim Cohen, Mahlon Duckett, Wilmer Fields, Stanley Glenn, Bob Harvey, Ted Radcliff, William Bobby Robinson, Edsall Walker and Al Wilmore. The autographs are bold, almost all 9s or 10s including Dandridge, Irvin and Leonard. The Day autograph is equally strong, with the “ay” somewhat compressed as he signed close to the end of the bat. There is some smudging on the Duckett and Radcliff autographs. The bat can be displayed so that the Leonard, Fields, Dandridge, Irvin and Day signatures are seen together with the “Negro League Legends” label. From the Wilmer Fields autograph collection. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $218.
Lot 114. 1985-95 Perez-Steele Great Moments Collection of 72 – with 42 Autographed! The signatures in this partial set, #1490 of 1500, come with a Letter of Authenticity from James Spence Authentication. In addition, Kevin Keating has authenticated the autographs for Collectible Classics. The cards are nm-m, and the autographs are bold mint 9s and gem mint 10s. Twenty of these 42 Hall of Fame signers are deceased: #2 Al Kaline, 5 Whitey Ford, 9 Hank Aaron, 11 Stan Musial, 13 Ted Williams, 14 Warren Spahn, 16 Sandy Koufax, 17 Robin Roberts, 19 Mickey Mantle, 21 Ernie Banks, 22 Willie McCovey, 23 Johnny Mize, 26 Pee Wee Reese, 27 Monte Irvin, 28 Eddie Mathews, 29 Enos Slaughter, 31 Chas. Gehringer, 33 Duke Snider, 34 Ray Dandridge, 35 Carl Hubbell, 36 Bobby Doerr, 37 Bill Dickey, 38 Willie Stargell, 39 Brooks Robinson, 41 Billy Herman, 43 Luis Aparicio, 44 Lefty Gomez, 48 Harmon Killebrew, 49 Johnny Bench, 53 Yogi Berra, 55 Red Schoendienst, 56 Juan Marichal, 59 Buck Leonard, 60 George Kell, 62 Jim Catfish Hunter, 63 Lou Boudreau, 65 Willie Mays, 66 Lou Brock, 67 Bob Lemon, 69 Billy Williams, 70 Rick Ferrell and 72 Carl Yastrzemski. These cards are housed in special binders created for the Great Moments set.
Winning Bid $932.
Lot 115. Extremely Rare Luke Easter Single-Signed Baseball. Like many black players of his era, Easter was already in his thirties when he was given an opportunity to play in the majors. In 1946-47, he established himself as a power hitter in the Negro Leagues. In his first full season with the Cleveland Indians in 1950, he belted 28 home runs and contributed 107 RBI. He had successful seasons in 1951 and 1952 as well. In following seasons, knee and ankle problems limited his playing time, and then ended his major league career in 1954. In three full seasons and three partial seasons, he hit 93 home runs, drove in 340 runs and batted .274. As a rookie, he hit the longest home run in the history of Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium, a 477-foot shot over the auxiliary scoreboard in right field. Only Mickey Mantle equaled this feat. After the majors, Easter played for Ottawa, Charleston, Buffalo and Rochester in the International League. He was the MVP in 1957. At the age of 48, he finally retired in 1963 and then did some coaching. Rochester and Buffalo each retired his number. In 1979, Easter worked for TRW and served as chief union steward for the Aircraft Workers Alliance. While he was transporting $40,000 for the union, two men confronted him and demanded the money. He refused to give it to them, and they killed him. In 1997, Easter was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, which cited his “grace and dignity on and off the field” and his “legacy as a friend to the community, a generous soul with plenty of time for any cause.” Bill James has rated him the second-best Negro Leagues first baseman of all time, with only Buck Leonard rating higher. James has also written that “if you could clone him and bring him back, you’d have the greatest power hitter in baseball today, if not ever.” Easter signed the east panel of a Wilson PONY Grads baseball, which is nm-m. His signature is large and strong, mint 9 to gem mint 10. All autographs of Easter are uncommon, and even index-signed cards are offered for $100 and more. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $693.
Lot 116. Joe DiMaggio (HoF) Single-Signed OAL Bobby Brown Baseball. Mint 9 to gem mint 10 autograph on the sweet spot by the Yankees’ Hall of Fame center fielder. The nm ball has strong printed areas and some light, somewhat uneven discoloration behind the signature. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $264.
Lot 118. Quality Starter Group of 29 Autographed Hall of Fame Gold Plaque Postcards. Outstanding collection of crisp autographs, all mint 9s or gem mint 10, except for Koufax, whose signature grades nm-m 8. The cards are signed in ballpoint unless otherwise noted: “Luke” Appling, Earl Averill, James “Cool Papa” Bell (green sharpie), Yogi Berra, Lou Boudreau, Max Carey, Stanley Coveleski, Bill Dickey, Bob Feller, Chas. Gehringer, Lefty Gomez, Burleigh A. Grimes, Billy Herman (fine-tip felt), Waite C. Hoyt (sharpie), Carl Hubbell, Monte Irvin (sharpie), George L. Kelly, Sandy Koufax, Al Lopez (sharpie), Ted Lyons, Rube Marquard (sharpie), Stan Musial, Robin Roberts, Edd J. Roush (sharpie), Joe Sewell (sharpie), Duke Snider (sharpie), Warren Spahn, Wm. H (Bill) Terry and Early Wynn. Twenty-three of these signers are deceased. 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 $324.
Lot 119. Joe DiMaggio Autographed Gold Hall of Fame Plaque Postcard. Outstanding, bold fine-sharpie signature. A 10. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Proceeds from the sale of this lot will benefit the Society for American Baseball Research.
Winning Bid $125.
Lot 120. Elmer Flick Signed Type 2 Black & White Hall of Fame Plaque Postcard. In 1963, the Hall of Fame right fielder placed a mint 9 to gem mint 10 signature at the bottom of the ex card. He wrote the date and added “now 89.” Flick passed away in 1971. His signature on b&w plaque postcards is comparatively scarce. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. From the Ron Gabriel collection. Proceeds from the sale of this lot will benefit the Society for American Baseball Research.
Winning Bid $180.
Lot 121. Frank Frisch Autograph on a Black & White Hall of Fame Plaque Postcard. Frisch’s signature at the bottom of the postcard is bold, a 9-10 that has a light line running through it. Frisch died in 1973. His work at second base and his .316 career batting average helped to earn him a place in the Hall of Fame in 1947. Ex-m+ card. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Proceeds from the sale of this lot will benefit the Society for American Baseball Research.
Winning Bid $168.
Lot 122. Hank Greenberg Signed Real-Photo 1952 Cleveland Indians Postcard. Strong mint 9 fountain pen autograph on a glossy photo. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Proceeds from the sale of this lot will benefit the Society for American Baseball Research.
Winning Bid $100.
Lot 123. Satchel Paige Signed Hall of Fame Gold Plaque Postcard. A nm-m 8 to mint 9 autograph in the top left corner is authenticated by Kevin Keating. From the Ron Gabriel collection. Proceeds from the sale of this lot will benefit the Society for American Baseball Research.
Winning Bid $301.
Lot 124. Zack Wheat Autographed Type 2 Black & White Hall of Fame Plaque Postcard. Clear, sharp mint 9 to gem mint 10 signature by the Brooklyn left fielder at the bottom of the vg-ex postcard. Wheat died in 1978. His signature on b&w plaque postcards is relatively uncommon. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Proceeds from the sale of this lot will benefit the Society for American Baseball Research.
Winning Bid $245.
Lot 125. Pete Rose Incredible Collection of 11 Autographs – Signed Baseball, Books, Etc. For the Pete Rose fanatic, here is an outstanding group. The signatures are gem mint 10s unless otherwise noted. 1. ONL Feeney ball signed on the sweet spot. Great signature. The ball exhibits uneven moderate toning, which is relatively even behind Rose’s signature. 2. The Pete Rose Story hardback autobiography signed on the flyleaf. Vg 1970 first printing, dust jacket absent, and a “window” cut in the flyleaf to reveal the book’s title. 3. Charlie Hustle, hardback by Rose, signed on the flyleaf by Rose and George Foster, 1975, book and dj ex. 4. 1975 Reds ex-m scorebook signed on the cover. 5. Pete Rose 4,192, an nm-m Cincinnati Enquirer publication; Rose signed his photo inside. 6. Reds’ 1985 yearbook signed on the cover by Rose and his son. 7. The Official Pete Rose Scrapbook, 1985, signed on the first title page, nm-m softcover. 8. 4192! Softcover from 1985 signed on the cover. 9. Signed Reds autograph card, ex-m 6 signature. 10. Aug. 1985 Baseball Digest signed on the cover, magazine and autograph faded. 11. Wheaties 18-oz. front box panel matted and framed to 12” x 16”. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $100.
