Lot 171. Ten/One/Sixty-One – Roger Maris’ 61st Home Run Captured by Bill Purdom. On Oct. 1, 1961, in the final game of the season, Yankees slugger Roger Maris blasted a pitch from Tracy Stallard into the seats in right field. It was Maris’ 61st home run, one more than Babe Ruth swatted in his best home run season, 1927. Purdom, a member of the Bill Goff stable of sports artists, faithfully captures the moment in this 21 5/8” x 29 ¼” color lithograph signed by the artist. He even shows a field-level auxiliary scoreboard that presents Maris as the right fielder. Actually, as the large Ballantine scoreboard shows, Maris played center field that day. Photographic evidence supports this representation. The lithograph, #457 of 600, which is rolled, has a 3 ½” crease to the left of Maris’ feet, a couple of minor creases in the image area, edge creases and minor tape on the back that was used to attach it to a wall. Matted and framed, it will display very well. With copies of this lithograph being offered elsewhere for as much as $1,200, this copy is well worth our
Winning Bid $1,119.
Lot 172. Classic “1956 Mickey Mantle” Artwork. A very young Mantle is seated in the dugout in the 16” x 20” photographic printed professionally matted and framed to about 22” x 18”. A plaque that is part of the display notes that Mantle won the batting triple crown with 52 home runs, 130 RBI and a .353 average.
Winning Bid $75.
Lot 173. Mickey Mantle 16” x 20” Humorous Photo. Professionally matted and framed to 21 ½” x 28 ½”, the photo captures Mantle, attired in a suit, hitting a snowball at snow-covered Yankee Stadium. A plaque with the photo notes that Mantle was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and that he belted 563 home runs during his remarkable major league career.
Winning Bid $92.
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 176. “1955 Jackie Robinson” Cooperstown Teddy Bear. Wonderful bear made of mohair in the style of early 1900s bears. This bear is 21” tall (15” as seated), has leather pads on his paws, wears a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform and comes with a 16” Louisville Slugger Cooperstown Bears bat. Mint, like new, in the original box and accompanied by a Cooperstown Teddy Certificate of Authenticity identifying it as #144 of 1,000. Please note that “1955” refers to the style of the bear, not the year of production.
Winning Bid $100.
Lot 177. Jackie Robinson Lithograph by Frank Stapleton. The 19” x 23” print commemorates the 50th anniversary of Robinson’s success in breaking baseball’s color barrier. Offering eight images of the Brooklyn Dodgers great, it is professionally matted and framed to 23 ¾” x 29 ½”.
Minimum Bid $75.
Lot 178. Photographic Large Composite Display Featuring the Dodgers of Brooklyn and LA. The Dodgers of each city are represented by two 10” x 10” sepia photos each. Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella and Gil Hodges are pictured for Brooklyn. In one LA photo, Sandy Koufax and his teammates celebrate their triumph in Game 7 in the 1965 World Series. The other provides a close-up of Koufax and Don Drysdale. The photos are matted and framed to 26” x 26 ¼”.
Minimum Bid $75.
Lot 179. “Dem Bums” 1992 Commemorative Bat Set of 3 from Cooperstown Bat Co. Each bat commemorates the Hall of Fame induction and career of a Brooklyn Dodgers star – Roy Campanella in 1969, Duke Snider in 1980 and Pee Wee Reese in 1984. The bats are numbered 285 of 500 and come with the matching wall rack.
Winning Bid $154.
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 187. 1916-17 Hillerich & Bradsby “Crawford” Bat Linked to Hans Lobert, D. J. Crawford. This 35” bat bears the 1916-17 Hillerich & Bradsby Co. logo, has lathe marks on the end of the knob and says “Crawford” on the barrel. Whether it is a model representing Hall of Fame Detroit outfielder Sam Crawford is unclear. What is certain, according to a Mears Letter of Opinion, is that it is a “side-written” or “side-signed” bat returned to Louisville Slugger by on May 18, 1919 by one-time major leaguer J. B. (John Bernard or “Hans”) Lobert. For 14 seasons, Lobert played primarily third base for the Pirates, Cubs, Reds, Phils and Giants. Retiring after the 1917 season, he then coached baseball at West Point through 1925. If the bat has no direct connection to Sam Crawford, then according to Mears, “It is possible and likely that the Crawford that is stamped into the barrel was one of the player’s (sic) on his (Lobert’s) Army team.” This speculation is supported by the presence of David James Crawford on the Army baseball team. Frequently referred to as “D. J.,” Crawford entered the U.S. Military Academy in 1918 and played baseball in his plebe (freshman) season and apparently in subsequent years as well. Like Lobert, he was a fast runner. In fact, he led the drive to establish a track team and Army. He became the captain of the first team and led the Cadets to two undefeated seasons. After graduation, he served in the 83rd Field Artillery. During World War II, he was ordnance officer of the Allied Forces Headquarters in the Mediterranean theater in 1943-44. He died in 1959. Engravings on the bat are strong except for the logo in the upper left. Mears has given the bat a grade of A4.5, including a base grade of 5 and a use grade of 3, with this description: “The bat exhibits heavy use with deadwood present on the back of the barrel. Eight vintage nails have been applied to the deadwood. The knob…appears to be chipped on one side. Remnants of the original shipping label to Louisville Slugger appear between the centerbrand and the barrel signature. The side writing appears very crisp and legible for the most part.” Made of professional grade ash with a natural finish, the 35.1 ounce bat displays nicely. What’s more, it is historically interesting because of its link to an early major leaguer and a West Point star athlete and a possible link to a HoF outfielder.
Winning Bid $240.
Lot 188. 29 AP 1966 Wire Photos Loaded with Stars – Koufax, Mays, Ford, Gibson, Etc. These Type 1 glossy photos range from 7” x 9” to 8” x 10”; 17 are 8 x 10s. Twenty-two have the caption printed below or next to the photo; the others have a paper copy of the caption attached. They average ex to ex-m; there generally are creases where the paper caption is adhered. Six photos feature Hall of Fame pitchers: Sandy Koufax portrait (along with a Denny McLain portrait) as starting pitchers for the All-Star Game; Juan Marichal, two images on one photo; Marichal and Gaylord Perry; Bob Gibson, and Whitey Ford (two different). Six more photos show managers or players arguing with umpires: Frank Robinson, who either is arguing with the ump or doing the Chicken Dance; Tim McCarver, in a photo with Red Schoendienst and Frank Secory; Gil Hodges being ejected from a game (by Al Salerno) for the first time in his career; Lou Johnson of the Dodgers; Tommy Harper, and Maury Wills with Secory. Hall of Famers are the subjects of three other photos: Willie Mays slugging his 512th home run, Rod Carew, and Warren Giles. Other photos picture Jim Kaat after winning his 21st game (very nice close-up); Ray Sadecki and Tito Fuentes; Ed Kasko’s son; Johnny Callison; Hal Lanier (four images); Clete Boyer (four images), Bobby Wine (three images); Joe Cardenal; Bob Raudman (Cubs); Jack Lamabe wedding photo; Fred Valentine and Dick Egan; All-Star Game managers Walt Alston and Sam Mele with baseball commissioner William D. Eckert, and Eckert with various team executives.
Winning Bid $390.
Lot 190. Boston Red Sox 2004 “World Series Champions” Watch Presented to Pitcher Bob Stanley. The men’s watch, which is mint and in excellent working order, has the Red Sox logo on the face with “World Series Champions” at the top and “2004” at the bottom. It has an unused dark-blue leather band. Accompanying the watch is a handwritten letter from Stanley saying that he received the watch at the 2006 Red Sox Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The Red Sox established their own Hall of Fame in 1995, and Stanley was inducted in 2000. Stanley spent his entire 13-season career with Boston, posting a 115-97 record and 132 saves. Kevin Keating authenticated Stanley’s signature on the handwritten letter. The watch and letter will make an attractive addition to a Red Sox collection.
Winning Bid $92.
Lot 191. Connie Mack Original 16” x 20” Charcoal by Washington, D.C. Artist Armando. Mack led the Philadelphia Athletics to nine pennants as manager, and he was enshrined at Cooperstown in 1937. Armando’s charcoal portrait eclipses the photo it is based on; the photo was used for Mack’s 1983 Big League Collectibles Original All-Stars card. A Connie Mack autograph would be a perfect complement to this original work of art, which is framed.
Minimum Bid $75.
Lot 192. Louisville Slugger Bat Commemorating the 1955 Baseball Hall of Fame Induction. Cooperstown’s Class of 1955 comprised Joe DiMaggio, Gabby Hartnett, Ted Lyons, Ray Schalk, Dazzy Vance and Frank Baker. The names of these stars are inscribed in gold on a 34” Hillerich & Bradsby bat with a chestnut-like finish. The bat is #357 from a limited edition of 500. Nm-m beauty!
Winning Bid $110.
