Lot 31. Tommy John Autographed, Game-Used Baseballs from 7 of His 11 Wins in 1972! In his first season with the LA Dodgers, John won 11 and lost only five while limiting opponents to 2.89 runs per nine innings. His performance was part of a 10-season run (1971-81), interrupted by his surgery and rehabilitation in 1974-75, that produced an impressive 152-84 record. In fact, for the period, his winning percentage of .644 is similar to Sandy Koufax’s for his career – 165-87 and .655, and equals Dizzy Dean for his career, 150-83 and .644. ONE OF THE BASEBALLS IS FROM JOHN’S FIRST WIN AS A DODGER, a 3-1 victory at Atlanta Stadium on April 18. In seven innings, John gave up four hits and three walks. The other baseballs are for games in which he recorded his SECOND WIN, an 11-1, complete game on April 29 vs. the Mets at Dodger Stadium; #3, 6-4 over the Mets, May 11, at Shea Stadium; #4, 8-3 vs. St. Louis, June 2; win #6, 2-1 over St. Louis, June 13, Busch Stadium; #7, 5-0 against the Braves, June 25, Dodger Stadium, and #11, 4-2 over the Cubs, Aug. 19, Dodger Stadium. With one exception, each game-used ONL Feeney baseball has the opponent, date and score printed on the sweet spot. The ball from John’s seventh win lacks the date. In addition, the ball from his sixth win has an erroneous date, June 12 instead of June 13. One each ball, John placed a mint 9 or gem mint 10 autograph. Kevin Keating authenticated the autographs. This is the most complete group of game-used signed baseballs we have seen representing a season in the career of a top-flight major league pitcher! Please check out LOT 32, which is a companion piece to this important collection.
Winning Bid $541.
Lot 32. Tommy John Autographed, Game-Used Ball from a 1972 Three-Hit Shutout. At Dodger Stadium on Aug. 3, 1972, John pitched a complete game and blanked the San Francisco Giants on three hits. Dave Rader singled in the sixth and eighth innings, and Tito Fuentes doubled in the ninth. John also issued three passes. The win boosted his record to 9-5. He would earn two more victories without a loss by season’s end. In seven seasons with the Dodgers, John went 87-42. This game-used ONL Feeney baseball has the date, score and opponent printed on the sweet sport. John placed a gem mint 10 signature on the south panel, which has “3 Hit Shutout” printed beneath. This baseball complements LOT 31, which has seven game-signed baseballs from John’s 11-win 1972 season. It is one of eight signed game baseballs available from his 11 victories in 1972. Autograph authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $102.
Lot 33. Tommy John Autographed, Game-Used Ball from His 20th Win in 1977. John achieved the 20-game milestone for the first time on Sept. 25, 1977, when he and his LA Dodgers teammates defeated Houston, 5-4. With his damaged elbow repaired and fully rehabilitated, he had one of his best seasons ever, posting a 20-7 record and a 2.78 ERA. In eight innings in his first 20-win game, he yielded four runs on eight hits and two walks in eight innings. Joe Niekro lost for the Astros. On offense, Steven Yeager and Dusty Baker supported John’s efforts with home runs. John won at least 20 games in two subsequent seasons. The ONL Feeney ball that he saved from the game has “20th Win” printed on the sweet spot and “Houston 5-4” on the east panel. The date - Sept. 25, 1977 is on the east panel with the second 7 traced over. John’s gem mint 10 signature, authenticated by Kevin Keating, is on the north panel. This important piece of baseball history could be yours for our
Winning Bid $240.
Lot 34. Autographed Game Ball from Tommy John’s 19th Win in 1979. The 1979 season was one of John’s best as he posted a 21-9 record and a 2.96 ERA. On Sept. 19, he and his NY Yankees teammates defeated Cleveland, 2-0, for his 19th triumph. Only five Indians batters reached base in 8 2/3 innings, including two on walks. Ron Davis got the final out after John gave up a single with two out in the ninth. John autographed the south panel of this MacPhail ball used in the game. The date is on the north panel, and the score on the sweet spot. His signature is a 10 authenticated by Kevin Keating. Rare memento from one of three seasons in which John won at least 20 games.
Winning Bid $110.
Lot 35. Tommy John Signed Baseball Commemorating a 1984 California Angels’ Win. John won seven games for the 1984 Angels. He chalked up his sixth win on Aug. 1 against Oakland, pitching 7.1 innings and giving up three runs on six hits as the Angels won, 6-4. John recorded the score of the game on the sweet spot of a mint OAL Bobby Brown ball and placed the date on the north panel. His mint 9 to gem mint 10 autograph, authenticated by Kevin Keating, is on the south panel.
Winning Bid $61.
Lot 36. 2 Tommy John Signed Game-Used Baseballs from 1985 California Angels Victories. John won two games with the Angels in 1985. His first victory came on April 28 at Seattle’s Kingdome. He pitched 5.2 innings in a 2-1 triumph. In a rare relief appearance, he captured his second win on May 11 at County Stadium. Relieving Mike Witt, he pitched 1.2 scoreless innings against Milwaukee, and the Angels won, 6-5. Donnie Moore pitched the final inning. On each Bobby Brown OAL ball, the score on the sweet spot and the date on the north panel. His autographs, each on the south panel, are mint 9 to gem mint 10 authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $148.
Lot 37. Tommy John Signed Baseballs, One Game-Used, Commemorating His Oakland A’s Wins. Released by the Angels on June 19, 1985, John signed with the Athletics on July 12. Two weeks later, on July 26, he posted his first victory in an A’s uniform, 7-3 over Milwaukee. He pitched six innings, surrendering four hits and an unearned run. The Yankees were his second and last victim with Oakland. Going seven scoreless innings and giving up only three hits on Aug. 27, he defeated former and future teammate Ron Guidry. The score is on the sweet spot of each OAL Bobby Brown baseball, and the date, on the north panel. John autographed the south panel of each. Kevin Keating authenticated the signatures, which are mint 9 to gem mint 10. The ball for the July 26 game is ex-m. The Aug. 27 ball is game-used.
Minimum Bid $150.
Lot 38. 2 Signed Baseballs Marking Tommy John’s 4th and 5th Wins for the 1987 Yankees. The ball for the fourth win on May 25 is game-used. John pitched 6.1 innings and yielded two earned runs in a 6-3 win over the Angels at Anaheim Stadium. The OAL Brown ball has an incorrect date of May 15 on the sweet spot; the game was actually on May 25. Often, game balls were put aside and marked later in the season. The ball has the Yankees’ score on the north panel, and the Angels’, on the south. John signed the north panel. He earned his fifth win, for a 5-1 record, on May 31 against the A’s at Yankee Stadium. Pitching six innings, he gave up five hits and two runs. The Yankees won, 9-5. John commemorated the victory on an nm (very minor discoloration spots) Brown ball, which has the date on the north panel, the score on the sweet spot and “Win #5” on the south. He signed the north panel. Kevin Keating authenticated both signatures, which are mint 9 to gem mint 10.
Winning Bid $121.
Lot 39. George Steinbrenner Signed Letter Praising Tommy John. In a typed Sept. 12, 1984 letter on his New York Yankees’ letterhead, Steinbrenner recommend John for an award from the Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge. In part, he writes, “I think Tommy John, not only as a competitor on the ball field, but as a person and a citizen, exemplifies the highest level of citizenship, conduct and religious belief of perhaps any athlete I have known.” He asserts that he is well qualified to judge whether John deserves such an award because “at times Tommy and I have been in somewhat adversarial positions with each other. But when I put petty things aside, and stop to consider the values, beliefs and actions of the man, he is an exceptional young man.” He also says that since elbow surgery, John “has probably been one of the 10 most-effective pitchers in the American League.” Steinbrenner’s signature at the close of this uncommon letter of praise is a 10. Authentication by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $390.
Lot 40. Tommy Lasorda Letter Recommending Tommy John for a Freedom Foundations Award. In a typed, signed 1984 letter on Dodgers’ stationery, Lasorda describes John as “a perfect example of what we look for in a man. He is a rare combination of a true professional and a gracious man.” The Dodgers’ manager also writes that John “is as competitive as anyone you will find” and that he “was as gracious after a loss as he was after a win.” In 1984, the Orange County Chapter of the Freedoms Foundation nominated John for a Freedoms Foundation Award in recognition of his exemplary citizenship and community service. Lasorda’s signature, authenticated by Kevin Keating, is mint 9.
Winning Bid $100.
Lot 41. Letter Signed by Tommy John Surgeon Frank Jobe, Photo with Jobe Signed by John. Dr. Jobe performed the revolutionary surgery that averted a premature end to John’s career. On Sept. 25, 1974, he removed the injured ulnar collateral ligament from John’s pitching arm and replaced it with a tendon from his right forearm. After 18 difficult months of recovery and rehabilitation, John became the first professional athlete to receive the surgery. Subsequently, the procedure became known as “Tommy John Surgery.” In a Sept. 4, 1984 letter, Dr. Jobe supports John for a Freedoms Foundation Award. He was nominated for the award by the Orange County Chapter of the foundation. In the letter, Jobe credits John for the success of the surgery: “Even though the operation was a good one, the results wouldn’t have been successful without his long hours of work and, most of all, his optimistic attitude. Many athletes take their physical prowess for granted and, when they sustain a serious injury, are unable to apply themselves to the tedious work of rehabilitation necessary if they are to reattain their previous level of competence. This is not true of Tommy John; he never wavered in his determination.” He also credits John with helping “us in developing appropriate programs for other players with this problem.” Jobe’s signature at the close of the two-page letter is gem mint 10. With the letter is an 8” x 10” color photo of Jobe with John and Orel Hersheiser. Jobe performed rotator cuff surgery on Hersheiser. John placed a large autograph that rates a 10 on the photo. Kevin Keating authenticated the autographs.
Winning Bid $1,491.
Lot 42. Gene Autry Signed Letter Supporting Tommy John for a Freedoms Foundation Award. John was nominated for an award in 1984 by the Orange County Chapter of the Freedoms Foundation in recognition of his responsible citizenship and community service. In the Sept. 26, 1984 typed letter on California Angels’ stationery, Autry commends John as “a true gentleman, both on and off the field, a fine family man, and a responsible citizen.” He added that “I think he totally represents a fine upstanding American citizen.” Autry’s signature is a large, bold 10 authenticated by Kevin Keating. The “Singing Cowboy” owned the Angels from 1961-97. John played for Autry from 1982-85.
Winning Bid $148.
Lot 43. 16 Letters Signed by Baseball and Other Figures Supporting John’s Award Nomination. In 1984, the Orange County Chapter of the Freedoms Foundation nominated Tommy for a Freedoms Foundation Award. Each year, the organization honors Americans from all walks of life who set examples in responsible citizenship, free enterprise education and long-term civic accomplishment. Tommy’s life and his accomplishments are extolled in letters of support by Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, New York Yankees Vice President and General Manager Clyde King, Carl Erskine, Al Rosen (secretarial signature) and various other leaders. A number of religious leaders supported the nomination, including Robert Schuller (“Hour of Power”) and religious author, pastor and executive O. S. Hawkins. Other letters are signed by Dave Anderson, “New York Times” sports columnist; Will Grimsley, special correspondent for the Associated Press; John Myers, U.S. Congressman representing Indiana’s 7th District; Lareau Londquist, president of the Institute of Holy Land Studies; Richard G. Landini, president of Indiana State University, and Hugh A. Barker, chairman of Public Service Indiana. In addition, there is one-page statement signed by John outlining his philosophy of life. The Kuhn letter is on Office of the Commissioner stationery, and the King letter, on Yankees’ letterhead. Erskine’s signature is on 1st National Bank of Madison County (IN) letterhead. The autographs, almost all mint 9s or gem mint 10s, have been authenticated by Kevin Keating. John’s signature is a large, bold 10. The letters are presented in a 13” x 15” leather portfolio with John’s name on the front. The portfolio also contains articles on John and photos of his family. In addition, there is a 1984 letter from the National Father’s Day Committee recognizing John as a recipient of a “Father of the Year” Award. A newspaper photo shows him at award ceremonies with other awardees, including Sen. Bill Bradley, Willard Scott, the TV weatherman, and Peter Jennings, the ABC News anchor. The portfolio holds 60 pages of letters and information.
Winning Bid $163.
Lot 44. Tommy John 1973 “Most Improved Dodger Pitcher” Award Trophy. Presented by the Go-Go-Dodgers Fan Club of Los Angeles, this impressive trophy stands 35” tall. The base is 12” wide and 9” deep. In 1972, his first season in LA, John did well enough, winning 11 games and losing only five. He improved to 16-7 with the N.L.’s best winning percentage in 1973. The trophy comes with a signed letter “From the Desk of Tommy John.”
Winning Bid $218.
Lot 45. Tommy John 1976 “Freeway Series” Lefty Phillips Memorial Trophy. Before interleague competition, the Angels and Dodgers of the Los Angeles area met annually in one or more exhibition games. John was honored as the “Outstanding Pitcher” of the 1976 series. The trophy is 22.5” tall with a base that is 7” wide and 3.5” deep. Phillips was a pitching coach for the Dodgers and managed the Angels. The handsome trophy comes with a letter signed by John stating that it is from his collection.
Winning Bid $110.
