Lot 60. Joe DiMaggio Uncommon 1973 Bob Laughlin-Autographed Super Stand-Up. Possibly the scarcest of the Laughlin issues, these die-cut figures are infrequently offered. This stand-up of the Yankees’ Hall of Fame center fielder is printed on layered heavy paper and stands just over and is a maximum of 7” wide. It has a light surface crease behind DiMaggio’s left knee; otherwise, ex with some very minor soiling. The standee on the back is unused and rests to the right of Laughlin’s autograph, which is bold with a smudge on the first “L.” Seldom-seen and desirable DiMaggio, New York Yankees and “type” collectible. Autograph authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $242.
Lot 61. 1887 N184 Kimball Champions Opened Pack – Possibly the World’s Finest! To compete with Allen & Ginter and Goodwin, the W. S. Kimball Co. of Rochester issued a set of 50 “Champions of Games and Sport” in 1887. Cards were offered in boxes of High Grade and Little Jock- ey cigarettes. The High Grade pack offered here is just that. Its appearance is nm. Close examination reveals a scuff on each side of the tray, and also on one side of the box. One scuff seems to be where a tab on the tax stamp may have been removed, and the other, where something was attached to the tray and the side. There also is a very light crease on the top of the box. These conditions have little effect on the appearance of the box. The colors are strong and bright, as though the lithography were completed yesterday, instead of 123 years ago. If measured against 99 other 19th century opened cigarette packs selected at random, this one almost certainly would be in the top 5. And if anyone could find 99 other Kimball packs, it’s unlikely that any of them would rate higher than this one!
Winning Bid $148.
Lot 62. 1887 N172 Old Judge Stemmeyer, P., Boston with Original Old Judge Tobacco Tin. The card of Stemmeyer exhibits significant paper loss on the blank back along with a moderate amount of glue and scrapbook residue. The front, which has several light inoffensive creases, possesses spectacular eye appeal. Unlike many N172 photos, the photo of Stemmeyer exhibits strong contrast and razor-sharp focus. It is absolute eye candy for the vintage collector. The Old Judge Tobacco tin measures 4” x 3” x 2”. It features the “Old Judge” logo on the lid and on the front panel. Above his image, the large bold text reads “Old Judge Smoking Tobacco.” Below it, “Goodwin & Co.” also appears in large bold text. The tin has a small to moderate amount of scratching that seems to do little more than add to its overall appeal. It displays beautifully. This is the first such tin we have seen. What can be said of the card and the tin together? Smokin!
Winning Bid $218.
Lot 64. HoFer John Ward in an Impressive, Historically Significant 1888 Newspaper Print. On the front page of the Nov. 27, 1888 Daily Graphic published in New York, artwork by C. Rigby portrays the New York Giants’ star shortstop on the auction block with the caption “Slavery Days Again.” The artwork and caption refer to the predicament of major league players resulting from the actions by the baseball owners in 1887 and 1888. In 1887, the owners made the (in)famous “reserve clause” a standard part of players’ contracts. That year, Ward published an article in Lippincott’s Magazine criticizing the clause and other owner practices. He was in a position to do so because in 1885, the players had formed the Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players and elected him president. In the article, Ward asked, “Is the Base Ball Player a Chattel?” He specifically mentioned Chicago’s sale of King Kelly to Boston for $10,000. Kelly had no say in his sale. Matters became worse for the players in 1888. At the end of the season, Al Spalding took a group of players, including Ward, on a world tour. While Ward and they were out of the country, the owners instituted a salary classification that limited salaries to $1,500 to $2,500. The new scheme effectively lowered players’ salaries. While on the tour and as the owners’ shenanigans progressed, Ward and other players came up with the idea for a “Players League.” Ward and others launched the short-lived new league in 1890 after the owners declined to recognize the Brotherhood. After baseball, Ward became a successful lawyer. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1964. The Daily Graphic artwork depicting Ward and presaging the Players League is large, about 14” x 20 ½” and framed. It is incredibly clean and bright with a horizontal crease at the center where the paper was folded, and there may be a ½” border tear along the fold. Great display, and an outstanding piece of baseball history.
Winning Bid $321.
Lot 146. Roberto Clemente (HoF) Limited Edition Lithograph. Artist Angelo Marino provides five images of the Great One in this 17” x 23” print, #17 of only 50, double-matted and framed to 22 ½” x 28 ½”. Signed by Marino. The Clemente cut signature in Lot 145 would be a great addition to it. Nm-m.
Winning Bid $61.
Lot 147. Original Sepia Photo of the 1925 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates. Piloted by Hall of Famer Bill McKechnie, these Pirates defeated the Washington Senators in seven World Series games. The team featured several other future Hall of Fame members, all pictured, including Pie Traynor, Kiki Cuyler, Max Carey and owner Barney Dreyfuss. The photo has a variety of creases and a small chip in the upper right corner. It is sharply focused with very good contrast.
Winning Bid $163.
Lot 148. 1925 World Series Game 7 Ticket Stub Framed with a Pirates Team Photo. In a series-deciding game that was something less than an artistic success, Pittsburgh defeated Washington at Forbes Field, 9-7. Together, the teams committed five errors. Walter Johnson gave up four unearned runs. Senators shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh made both of his team’s errors. Kiki Cuyler drove in the winning runs. The ticket stub-rain check measures 2” x almost 3”, and the bottom is irregular. Two names and the date, Oct. 15, 1925, are written at the top of the stub, and there is a small hole toward the bottom left. There is a somewhat heavy horizontal crease, a couple of lighter creases, and the back is damaged. These stubs are scarce in any condition. It is framed to 12” x 27 ½” with a circa 1940s photo that has “1925 ‘Pirates’ World Champs” written on it. Good-looking Pirates display.
Winning Bid $264.
Lot 149. Forbes Field Original Box Seat Folding Chair. Blue wood and metal folding chair that was used in the box seat area behind the first base dugout as late as the mid-1940s. While showing extensive use, the chair remains serviceable, and it displays a great deal of character. Multiple layers of paint reveal that it was once painted green. It comes with a photo showing similar chairs in use at Forbes Field. This seat will make an excellent addition to a vintage Pirates collection.
Winning Bid $700.
Lot 150. 1960 World Series Stubs for Pirates’ Home Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 – Maz’s Home Run! The 1960 World Series yielded one of the greatest moments in baseball history – Bill Mazeroski’s dramatic Game 7 ninth inning home run. This collection includes two sections of an original ticket – the stub and the rain check – for all four games played at Forbes Field. The stubs are matted and framed to 15 ½” x 21 ½” with a reproduction cover of a Pirates’ World Series program. The back of each ticket is glued to a background panel. The stubs for Games 1 and 2 each have a small section of tape, about ¾” x ¾”. Otherwise, the front of the Game 1 stub is f, and Game 2, g-vg. The stubs for Games 6 and 7 have tape or tape stains on them. This is a case in which the whole is better than the sum of the parts. The overall display is outstanding and will make a great addition to the wall of a game room, family room or sports bar.
Winning Bid $321.
Lot 156. Peter Rubino Plaster Cast Bust of Babe Ruth. Dated 1991, this meticulously detailed sculpture is #132 of 2,000. Rubino is widely recognized for his sports sculptures and his instructional book The Portrait in Clay. His signature is engraved on the back of the bust, which is 10 ¼” tall and 5 ½” across. The bust is a fitting tribute to baseball’s greatest player. Mint bust centered to the right on the base, which has some inoffensive scuffs.
Minimum Bid $150.
Lot 157. 1948 Exacta Babe Ruth Men’s Watch. The face of this colorful watch is nm-m with a superb image of the New York Yankees great. The watch shows wear on the back and has a metal elastic band. An ageless timepiece!
Winning Bid $121.
Lot 158. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig Professionally Framed Lithograph. The 16” x 20” color print of the two New York Yankee legends is double-matted and framed to about 22” x 26”. Numbered 1 of 150, the print shows Gehrig and Ruth peering at game action from the dugout.
Winning Bid $152.
Lot 159. Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio Matted and Framed B&W 16” x 20” Photo. The framed size is 24 ½” x 25 ½”. The display includes a plate noting the DiMaggio-Monroe marriage lasted for only months and that “for 20 years Joe sent a dozen roses to her crypt three times a week.” A definite conversation starter!
Minimum Bid $75.
Lot 160. Yankee Stadium Scoreboard Letter “V.” In 1974 and 1975, the New York Yankees moved to Shea Stadium while Yankee Stadium underwent major renovations. During this period, the scoreboard was replaced. Offered here is the letter “V” from the original scoreboard. Measuring 15 ¾” x 22”, it is orange with a black background.
Winning Bid $248.
Lot 162. Tremendous Wall Display of Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. The focus of the display is a 16” x 10 black & white photo of the New York Yankees stars. The photo is matted and framed with a facsimile gold signature of each and a plaque with career information. The 29” x 30” frame has a grained leather appearance.
Minimum Bid $75.
