|
Tommy John Autographs
11 Lots
 Lot 1. Tommy John California Angels Home Uniform. Traded to the Angels in August 1982, John pitched for the Anaheim team until June 1985. Offered here is a complete uniform, including a jacket. Manufactured by Wilson, the size 46 jersey has an embroidered tag for 1984. Nm. The pants have a stitched label inside with John’s uniform number, his inseam length and “85.” Red stirrups and red and white Converse shows are part of the uniform, as well as a beige and red undershirt. All show good use. The hat, which shows substantial use, has John’s No. 25 on the underside of the bill. The Angels’ jacket has “TJ” on the manufacturer’s label inside; nm-m. No other Angels’ jersey is in the collection. At the request of the winning bidder, John will autograph the cap, jersey, pants, shoes and jacket. In addition, he will personalize the jersey autograph and add up to five notations. This is a rare collectible from one of the best left-handed pitchers in major league history and an excellent candidate for eventual enshrinement at Cooperstown. Comes with a letter signed by John.
Winning Bid $1,735.
|
 Lot 2. CORRECTED DESCRIPTION: Thurman Munson’s Catcher’s Mask and BATTING Helmet from His Final Season. PLEASE NOTE: This is a corrected description. In the original, we described the helmet as one that Munson wore for catching. That description was incorrect. Munson wore this helmet while batting. IT IS HIS BATTING HELMET FROM HIS FINAL MAJOR LEAGUE SEASON. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE ERROR. As described below, Yankees' equipment manager Pete Sheehy gave the helmet to Tommy John the following season. -- As battery mates in 1979, Munson, the Yankee veteran, and Tommy John, the veteran newcomer to the team’s pitching rotation, developed profound respect for each other’s capabilities. They also became friends. After one mid-summer game, Munson offered his mask to his friend. John accepted it with appreciation. Only weeks later, Munson’s life ended when his twin-engine Cessna crashed short of the runway at Akron-Canton Airport. Munson had obtained his pilot’s license and purchased the plane so that he could get home to his family more frequently. Early in the next season, the Yankees’ equipment manager, Pete Sheehy, gave the final BATTING helmet Munson wore to the catcher’s friend. The mask by Rawlings shows good use. The helmet, which has Munson’s No. 15 on the back, SHOWS EXTENSIVE USE. The helmet and mask come with a letter of provenance signed by John.
Winning Bid $28,851.
|
 Lot 4. Tommy John Signed 1953 Little League Ball – His Earliest from Organized Baseball. The nine-year-old pitcher printed his name, “Tommy J.,” on the north panel of the nm-m Official Little League ball, which has the facsimile signature of Little League founder Carl E. Stoltz. Dated 8/26/53, the ball is signed also by teammates and by Tommy’s father, T. E. John, who coached the team. The signatures are generally nm-m 8. Kevin Keating authenticated Tommy’s signature, and Tommy has provided a letter of authenticity. A utility company lineman, Mr. John was very influential in Tommy’s life and baseball career. Tommy dedicated his book, T.J.: My 26 Years in Baseball, to “my dad, who provided me with the motivation to succeed in baseball.” A unique collectible from an important MLB figure.
Winning Bid $297.
|
 Lot 5. 1962 Jacksonville Suns Team-Signed Ball – Tommy John’s Second Pro Season! John’s signature is on the west panel of this official International League nm baseball, which is signed by manager Ben Geraghty and 18 of John’s teammates. John started his second season of professional baseball with the Single A Charleston club of the Eastern League. He was promoted to AAA Jacksonville in time two record two victories and help the Suns post the IL’s best record. The team included some familiar baseball names, who also signed the baseball: Ted Abernathy, Art Ceccarelli, Harry Chiti, Vic Davalillo and Mike de la Hoz. The other signers are Ultus Alvarez, Larry Brown, Duke Carmel, Tony Curry, Edward Donnelly, John Gabler, Wynn Hawkins, Allen Jones, Tony Martinez, Dan Morejon and Joe Schaffernoth. Besides John, two signers are especially worth noting: Geraghty was one of the most highly respected managers in the minors. The 1962 Minor League Manager of the Year, he was only 50 when he died in 1963. Curry’s signature is rare. After two seasons with the Phils and one with the Indians in the 1960s, he returned to the Bahamas, and his autograph became essentially unavailable. He died there in 2006. The signatures on this baseball range from nm 7 to gem mint 10 and are authenticated by Kevin Keating. A letter of authenticity from John is provided. Here is a rare opportunity to own one of the earliest team baseballs signed by the seventh winningest left-handed pitcher in baseball history!
Winning Bid $200.
|
 Lot 6. Game-Used, Autographed Baseball from Tommy John’s 200th Win. Pitching for the Yankees at Seattle’s Kingdome on June 6, 1980, John earned his 200th victory by shutting out the Mariners on two hits. Only a second-inning single by Willie Horton and fourth-inning single by Tom Paciorek prevented him from achieving perfection. He walked no one. Home runs by Bobby Brown and Bobby Murcer provided the offensive support he needed. The win improved John’s record to 8-2 and dropped his ERA to 2.92. He concluded the season at 22-9, his best ever for wins. After the Mariners game, he posted 88 more victories and retired as the sixth winningest left-hander in baseball history. He printed “200th Win” on the sweet spot of the OAL MacPhail baseball and added “Yankees vs. Seattle” on the south. He autographed the north panel; his signature is a 9-10. The game-used ball is evenly toned, and the pre-printing is essentially obliterated. Kevin Keating authenticated the autograph. Signed GAME balls from milestone events are extremely rare.
Winning Bid $270.
|
 Lot 56. Tommy John Signed, Uncorrected Proof Book of T.J.: My 26 Years in Baseball. The proof is accompanied by an autographed hardcopy version of the final book (limited signed edition, #12 of 59) and a paperback version (limited signed edition, #12 of 87) as well. All three books are nm or better and autographed on the title page. The signature in the proof copy is mint 9, and in the other books, gem mint 10. Kevin Keating authenticated the autographs. This copy is the only proof example in John’s collection. The books come with an autographed 8.5” x 11” copy of the photo used on the cover of the published books.
Winning Bid $121.
|
 Lot 57. 50 Tommy John Autographed Photos. Predominantly mint 9 or gem mint 10 signatures on photos that are primarily 8” x 10” or larger. One photo is 3.5” x 5”, 12 are about 3.5” x 5.25” and two are 5” x 7”. Fifteen are in color; the rest are black & white. They show John with the White Sox, Dodgers, Yankees, Angels and A’s. The group includes several postcards and seven autographs on photocopied photos. There are 28 different photos. One signed photo is of a television screen announcing John’s 1,500th strikeout. Several show John with others, including Steve Yeager, Gene Autry and Tom Lasorda (9.5” x 14” with creases and edge tears). In one photo, John is a golfer, and in another, he operates a radar gun. Most of the photos are action shots with excellent images of baseball’s seventh winningest left-handed pitcher. This group has excellent potential break-up value. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Minimum Bid $150.
|
 Lot 58. 50 Tommy John Autographs on Publications and Various Other Media. Authenticated by Kevin Keating, the signatures are overwhelmingly mint 9 or gem mint 10. They are on such media as the Sept. 11, 1983 New York Times Magazine, the Chicago Baseball Writers’ News (inside), a promotion for an event benefitting the Deerfield Beach, FL, Little League (2), New York Yankees bumper stickers (4), 1974, 1977 (2) and 1978 Dodgers team photos, the cover of the June 22, 1974 Sporting News (cover only), the cover of the June 1, 1981 NY Yankees Magazine (full issue), a 1987 Z Cachet with his image (g) and a New York Times crossword puzzle that contains his name. Two of the more uncommon items are a 1980 voter registration card (scarce THOMAS E. JOHN JR. signature) and the sleeve of a 45 rpm record titled “Terre Haute” by Tom Montgomery. He also signed a large digitized image, three photocopy photos, a Yankees postcard, two postcard-sized photos of him with the White Sox, a Certificate of Appreciation from an LA Optimist Club, four Dodgers 1974 posters, a 5” x 7” b&w photo and other items with his image. Only one autograph is personalized. Featuring the autographs of the winningest pitcher not in the Hall of Fame who put together a series of consecutive seasons that produced numbers rivaling Sandy Koufax’s for his career, this collection has significant potential break-up value.
Winning Bid $125.
|
 Lot 60. Tommy John and Glen Campbell Signed 1976 Los Angeles Open Golf Tournament Plaque. John’s teammates for the Pro-Am event at the Riviera Country Club on Feb. 18 were Campbell, Pat Fitzsimons, the pro on the team; Congressman Dan Rostenkowski and Larry Wheat, associated with the Collegiate All-Star Golf Team Asian Tour. The 14.5” x 15.75” laminated plaque consists of a 6” x 4.5” photo of the quintet, autographs of each and their original scorecard. While the photo is faded, the images remain clear. The autographs are mint 9 authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Minimum Bid $75.
|
|
