Lot 120. Tommy John Signed Bat, Ball, Yankees Batting Helmet, Caps and Other Memorabilia. While the items are not game-used, John’s autographs are bold and superb for display on: a 34” black and natural D-Bat from a 2005 celebrity baseball game (mint 9 autograph; black color is “frosted” on the back); an OAL MacPhail ball (mint 9 autograph, ex-m to nm ball); an nm Yankees’ batting helmet (gem mint 10 signature); a Yankees’ cap that may be game-used, but not by John (nm 7 to nm-m 8), and a Yankees’ red cap by New Era (mint 9). The signed baseball is accompanied by a 9” x 12” plaque given by the March of Dimes in 1990 at a “Tommy John Tribute Dinner.” It includes a special card with a mint 9 John signature. The top of the ball holder is missing. Other signed items are a hardcopy of John’s autobiography, “T.J.: My 26 Years in Baseball,” (#31 of 59), an unsigned hardback and five autographed copies of the paperback edition (#3, 69. 70, 74 and 84 of 89). The autographs are 9s or 10s, and the books are nm-m. The collection also includes a Tommy John 7.5” bobbing head; five sets of children’s Yankees pinstripe pants, including small, medium and large, most by Wilson, Rawlings or Medalist; two children’s small Yankees jerseys, both with No. 25 on the back and one with “T.J.”; five 4” plastic cups with a Yankees’ team photo; a Yankees’ game cap from New Era; three miscellaneous caps, including one with the 2001 World Series logo; two full-sized team photo pennants, from 1979 (vg, stained) and 1986 (vg+, tip clipped, pin holes); four of John’s undershirts, all game-used; a 1982 “The Little Yankee” 8.75” decorative limited-edition plate by artist Anthony Sidoni in the original box, and road pants that are not team-issued. Generally, the items are ex-m, and the autographs are mint 9 or gem mint 10. They come with a letter from John saying they are from his collection. Autograph authentication by Kevin Keating. Twelve quality autographs among 35+ collectibles from Tommy John.
Winning Bid $168.
Lot 140. Joe DiMaggio Autographed 1937 Wheaties Advertisement. Taken from the back cover of the “Saturday Evening Post,” the ad measures about 10.75” x 13.5”. Some foxing in the bottom and left margins could be matted out. DiMaggio’s autograph is large and bold, an impressive 10. Matted and framed, this ad will be an attention-grabbing display piece. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $163.
Lot 141. Rookie Joe DiMaggio Signed 1936 World Series Photo. Vintage 8”x10” vg-ex photo that apparently came from the Barry Halper collection. DiMaggio’s nm-m 7 to nm-m 8 autograph is comparatively recent and was placed over a washed-out identifier. In vintage writing, someone also added the names of Frank Crosetti, Ripper Collins, Tommy Richardson and Tony Lazzeri. The 1936 Yankees defeated the New York Giants in the World Series. Playing in his rookie season, DiMaggio batted .323, was selected as an All-Star and hit .346 in the Series. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $332.
Lot 143. Whitey Ford Autographs on One Dozen Baseballs. According to manager Casey Stengel, “If you had one game to win and your life depended on it, you’d want him (Ford) to pitch it.” With 236 wins and only 106 losses, Ford posted the best winning percentage of any 20th century pitcher - .690. In 1961, he earned the Cy Young Award with a 25-4 record. In eight of 16 seasons, his ERA landed below 3.00. In post-season play, his feats include 10 World Series victories. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974. On each ball, Ford signed the sweet spot. Eleven autographs are on nm-m or better OML Selig baseballs, and one is on an OAL Budig ball with scattered and light discoloration. Two signatures are nm-m 8, and the others are mint 9 or gem mint 10. Ford added “CY ‘61” to one ball and “HOF 74” to four balls. The others are signed without additions. Kevin Keating provided the authentication. With baseballs signed by Ford being offered at $50 and more, this group has significant potential break-up value!
Winning Bid $390.
Lot 144. Whitey Ford Autographed Gartlan Figurine, HoF Postcard, Photo and OML Baseball. This collection will form an attention-grabbing display. Ford autographed a 1990 Gartlan 4.25” figurine, which was issued unsigned. He signed also a Gold Plaque Hall of Fame Postcard, an 8” x 10” b&w photo that shows him in the Yankees’ locker room and a mint OML Selig baseball. All four autographs are at least mint 9. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $138.
Lot 145. Whitey Ford Collection of 17 Autographs Including a Photo Signed by Yogi Berra. Fifteen Ford signatures are on 8” x 10” photos. The exceptions are his 1959 Topps card #430 and a Hall of Fame Gold Plaque Postcard. Two photos Ford’s signature and another players’ – one showing him with Berra, and the other, with Luis Arroyo. Of the remaining 13 photos, 12 picture him alone and are single-signed. Ford also autographed a photo that has him next to Brooklyn’s Billy Loes. There are no duplicates among the photos. Five are color, and the rest are black & white. The signature on the Topps card is nm-m 8. The others are mint 9 or gem mint 10. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $321.
Lot 151. Mickey Mantle Autographed Golf Ball. Bold mint 9 autograph on a Uniroyal ball that has a Carrier logo. Unusual. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $218.
Lot 152. Roger Maris Autograph Framed with an 8.5” x 11” B&W Photo. Mint 9 to gem mint 10 signature on 3” x 3.75” light-blue paper. The photo and autograph are matted in a frame that measures approximately 11.5” x 17.5”.
Winning Bid $264.
Lot 161. Casey Stengel Autographed All-Time Greats Card. Strong autograph on the somewhat dark background of the card, apparently a TCMA issue. The signature displays as nm 7 to nm-m 8. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $204.
Lot 162. Dave Winfield Autographed Game-Worn Yankees Baseball Cap. The Hall of Fame outfielder and Tommy John played together for New York in 1981 and 1982 and again from 1986 through 1989. Given to John by Winfield, the hat has a large mint 9 to gem mint 10 Winfield autograph on the underside of the bill, which also has the outfielder’s uniform number, 31, in another ink. The hat shows considerable use, and “NY” is off-white. Rarely does a game cap from a Hall of Famer of Winfield’s era and caliber enter the market with ironclad provenance comparable to that offered here. It comes with a letter from John attesting to its origin. Autograph authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $218.
Lot 171. 17 Yankees Autographs – Berra, Skowron, Richardson, Jeter, Niekro and 9 Whitey Ford. These signatures, mint 9 and gem mint 10 unless otherwise noted, are on various media and authenticated by Kevin Keating: Yogi Berra on a Hall of Fame Gold Plaque Postcard. Jim Coates, Bobby Richardson and Bill Moose Skowron on color 8” x 10” photos, and Ralph Terry on a b&w photo. Phil Niekro on an unlined index card matted to 13” x 17” with an 8” x 10” color photo. Ralph G. Houk on a 1964 letter on Yankees’ letterhead signed as General Manager. And Derek Jeter on 1992 Classic Draft Picks card #6; the signature is ex 5. Ford signed a HoF Gold Plaque postcard, a 1989 Ted Williams postcard with Ford’s image, an unlined index card and a second unlined card matted to 13” x 17” with an 8” x 10” color photo. He also autographed a 6.5” x 9.5” photo and four different 8” x 10” photos, including one showing him with four Negro Leagues players, who also signed, including Don Johnson, Hank Presswood and Sonny Weston. Three photos show Ford with other Yankees; one pictures DiMaggio, another Mantle and the third, Berra.
Winning Bid $204.
Lot 172. 12 NY Yankees Autographs – Jackson, Rizzuto, Henrich, Larsen, Skowron, Etc. + Seaver. Ten signatures are on 8” x 10” photos. A photo produced from Petronella artwork holds the autograph of Reggie Jackson. Moose Skowron and Hank Bower signed a b&w photo that shows them celebrating after a victory. Don Larsen’s personalized signature is on a b&w photo that captures him pitching in the ninth inning of his perfect World Series game. A sepia photo has the autograph of Tom Henrich, who added “Old Reliable.” Five players signed color photos: Bauer, Johnny Blanchard, Phil Rizzuto (pers.), Tom Tresh and Gene Woodling. In the photo he autographed, Rizzuto stands next to a Holstein cow. On the photo, he added his catchphrase “Holy Cow!” and “H.O.F. ’94.” His autograph and those of Tony Kubek, Tom Seaver and Jim Palmer are on the cover of a Yankees’ 1991 “Photo Album.” Rizzuto’s autograph on the photo is nm 7 to nm-m 8. The others on the various items range from nm-m 8 to gem mint 10 and average mint 9. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $138.
Lot 173. One Dozen Baseballs Autographed by NY Yankees – Ford, Henderson, Gossage, Kubek, Etc. Each of 12 different players has neatly placed a mint 9 or gem mint 10 autograph on the sweet spot of a mint OML Selig baseball. Among the singers are three Hall of Fame members and two pitchers who hurled perfect games. The players and the notations they added: Luis Arroyo (“1961 W.S.C.”), Jim Bouton, David Cone (“P.G. 7-18-99”), Whitey Ford (“HOF 74”), Joe Girardi, Rickey Henderson (HOF 09”), Goose Gossage (“HOF 2008”), Tony Kubek, Willie Randolph, Mickey Rivers (“77-78 W.S. Champs”), Ralph Terry (62 W.S. MVP, N.Y.Y. ’56-’57, ’59-’64, All Star ‘62”) and David Wells (“P.G. 5-17-95”). Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $403.
Lot 196. Lou Gehrig New York Yankees Replica 1939 Jersey by Mitchell & Ness Home Jersey. The mint size large Cooperstown Collection Authentic jersey has the Baseball Centennial patch on the right sleeve. Of course, the disease subsequently given his name forced an end to Gehrig’s Hall of Fame career in 1939. The jersey retains its Mitchell & Ness tags and displays magnificently.
Winning Bid $102.
