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 3. Thurman Munson Signed Game Baseball Given Personally to Tommy John in 1979. Sitting in the Yankees’ dugout in July 1979, John asked the team’s catcher and captain to sign a ball for him. Munson complied. His signature is nm-m 8 on the sweet spot of an OAL MacPhail baseball. Generally, the ball is evenly toned to a dark-cream color, and the pre-printed areas are relatively strong. Ex-m. The ball was taken from the game bag. Whether it was used in a game is uncertain. Excellent defensively and aided by an exceptionally quick release, Munson was the 1970 A.L. Rookie of the Year, the 1976 MVP, a seven-time All-Star and a three-time Gold Glove winner. In 11 seasons, he batted .288. Less than a month after signing the baseball for John, he died when his twin-engine Cessna crashed 1,000 feet short of the runway at Akron-Canton Airport. He was only 32. Kevin Keating authenticated the autograph. John has provided a letter of provenance.
Winning Bid $5,453.
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 7. Tommy John’s 1978 All-Star Game Ring. John joined LA Dodgers teammates Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Rick Monday, Reggie Smith and Ron Cey on the roster for an All-Star Game won by the N.L., 7-3. His ring has a cubic zirconia within an onyx stone on a base of siladium metal. “San Diego,” the Padres’ logo and “All-Star Game” are on one side of the ring. John’s name, the MLB logo and “1978” are on the other. Nm. Here is a rare opportunity to own a significant collectible from the seventh-winningest left-handed pitcher in the history of Major League Baseball! A letter of authenticity from John is included.
Winning Bid $1,302.
Lot 8. Gaylord Perry Autographed, Game-Used Baseball from His 300th Victory. Sitting in the New York Yankees’ dugout on May 6, 1982, Tommy John fielded a foul ball. The next day, he had Gaylord Perry sign it. Why? Because the ball is an important piece of baseball history; it is one of the balls Perry pitched as he recorded his 300th career win. Pitching for Seattle, Perry and his Mariners teammates defeated New York, 7-3. He hurled a complete game, yielding nine hits, walking only one and striking out four. The win made Perry the 15th member of the 300-win club. His signature is large, bold and mint 9 on the sweet spot of an OAL MacPhail ball. He added “#300 5-6-82” on the south panel. Autographed 300-win commemorative baseballs are plentiful; this is a game-used ball from the Tommy John collection, with the autograph authenticated by Kevin Keating. John has provided a letter of provenance.
Winning Bid $1,026.
Lot 9. Wayne Gretzky 1984-Signed Hockey Stick. A large mint 9 to gem mint 10 Gretzky signature fills the blade of this Gretzky model Titan Super Pro hockey stick. In 1984, the California Angels played their AAA Pacific Coast League farm team, the Edmonton Trappers, at Renfrew Park. Following the game, each Angels' player, including Tommy John, received a hockey stick signed by Gretzky, the NHL’s top performer. In a sense, this is a Gretzky-signed John-used hockey stick. After receiving their sticks, the Angels players engaged in an impromptu hockey game in their locker room using a “puck” made of tape! It comes with a letter of authenticity from Tommy. Autograph authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $294.
Lot 10. Martina Navratilova Competition-Used Tennis Racquet and Autograph. Here is a rare opportunity to own a racquet used in a tournament by one of the greatest players in tennis history and an accompanying autograph. According to tennis historian Bud Collins, Navratilova is "arguably, the greatest player of all time." Billie Jean King called her “the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who's ever lived." ESPN called her the 19th greatest athlete of the 20th century. John purchased the Yonex RQ-180 racquet at a charity event in the late 1980s. Navratilova began using this type of racquet it 1988. It shows good use. The racquet cover has a large, bold gem mint 10 Navratilova autograph, signed simply as “Martina,” her usual signature. Kevin Keating authenticated the signature. The numbers documenting Navratilova’s success include 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 31 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, a record, and 10 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. John has provided a letter of provenance.
Winning Bid $525.
Lot 11. Nelson Mandela Autographed “Long Walk to Freedom” Autobiography from Easton Press. This is the rare limited-edition leather-bound version of the South African leader’s autobiography. Mandela personally hand-signed a special page inside that attests to the fact that he signed it. In addition, the book comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Easton Press documenting the validity of the autograph on the special signature page. Easton specializes in high-quality leather editions, many signed by the author. In 1994, Mandela became the first president of South Africa elected with the full participation of the country’s black majority. He served until 1999. From 1962 until 1990, he was imprisoned for his opposition to the country’s apartheid government. In 1993, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his promotion of reconciliation among South Africa’s races. Today, he is revered in his country and respected worldwide. His autograph in the book grades gem mint 10. Kevin Keating authenticated it for Collectible Classics. The book is mint. Our consignor purchased the book when Easton Press issued it in 2000 and then preserved it in like-new condition. On the Internet, copies in lower condition have been offered for more than $4,000. This is a remarkable book detailing the life of a remarkable man.
Winning Bid $1,500.
Lot 12. President Ronald Reagan Autographed Autobiography. First Edition of “Ronald Reagan: An American Life” published in 1992 by Simon and Schuster. Reagan signed the second inside page, which has the publisher’s logo, and dated the autograph “Oct. 29 – ’92.” The signature, authenticated by Kevin Keating, is mint 9 to gem mint 10. Containing numerous photos, the book is ex to ex-m with a surface crease in the front board. The dust jacket is ex-m. In the year marking the 100th anniversary of the 40th President’s birth, this signed book will make an excellent addition to a Reagan or Presidential autograph collection. Please note that many other books offered as “autographed” actually have Reagan’s signature on a bookplate insert. This book is signed, and its value is further enhanced by having the signature dated. The Reagan Library offers this book with a signed bookplate for $4,000. Books that are actually signed typically are considered much more desirable.
Winning Bid $477.
Lot 13. “Earth Rise” Jar by the Wife of Astronaut Owen Garriott. In 1973, as part of the Skylab 3 mission, Garriott set a record for time in space. Subsequently, his wife put her considerable artistic talents to work to create a series of jars and pots representing the Moon’s surface and its relationship to Earth. This wonderful hand-made black porcelain jar, approximately 5.5” tall, features fine detailing, including gray, blue and white specks of ceramic sand representing the Moon’s surface. Rhinestones designate lunar landing spots. Tiny footprints represent Neil Armstrong walk on the lunar surface, the first by any Earthling. The Earth is depicted on the lid of the jar. Hold the jar at arm’s-length in a tilted position, rotate it slowly, and the Earth “rises,” just as it did for the Moon’s astronaut visitors. The jar, which is mint, is signed and copyrighted by Mrs. Garriott. On Skylab 3, Owen Garriott spent 60 days in space, more than double the previous record. He was also aboard Spacelab 1 in 1983. He appears in the Ultima II computer game, which his son Richard created. In 2008, Richard went into space as a tourist aboard Soyuz TMA-13, becoming the first U.S. citizen to follow a parent into space. This attention-grabbing jar will make an excellent addition to a space-age collection!
Winning Bid $222.
Lot 14. Buzz Aldrin Autograph on a Replica of the Plaque Left on the Moon on July 20, 1969. That day, Neil Armstrong and Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the Moon. They left behind a plaque declaring “We Came in Peace for All Mankind.” The replica plaque, which is 9” x 8” mounted on a 10 ½” x 13” wood-grain backing, has the facsimile signatures of President Nixon, Armstrong, Aldrin and Michael Collins. In addition, Aldrin has placed a large, bold gem mint 10 autograph in the lower right corner of the plaque, which is No. 306 of 750. He was the Lunar Module pilot for Apollo 11, the first manned flight to the Moon. Autograph authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $218.
Lot 15. Rare Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) Autographed Record Sleeve. Mint 9 to gem mint 10 signature on a vg-ex 7” x 7” picture sleeve that contains the nm 45 rpm 1963 record “I Am The Greatest! Cassius Clay.” On the B side, Clay presents “Will the Real Sonny Liston Please Fall Down.” Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali about a year after issuing the record. Copies of the picture sleeve signed as Cassius Clay are rare. Kevin Keating authenticated the autograph.
Winning Bid $1,119.
