New York Yankees Autographs and Memorabilia
23 Lots
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Lot 1. Thurman Munson 1979 Game Bat Authenticated by PSA/DNA. According to PSA/DNA, this Munson Hillerich & Bradsby S44 Professional Model Bat “is authentic and manufactured for Munson during the referenced labeling period (1979).” Although made for Munson, there is no confirmation that he used it. In addition to the PSA/DNA Letter of Authenticity, the bat comes with a Letter of Provenance from our consignor. His letter states that he obtained the bat from Juan Espino, a catcher who played for the Yankees in 1982, 1983, 1985 and 1986. When the bat exchanged hands, Espino was in the minors, and our consignor was in high school. Espino and our consignor met at a workout conducted by Detroit Tigers’ scout John Young at Patterson Field in Montgomery, AL. Subsequently, Espino encouraged our consignor in his efforts to become a professional baseball player. Espino gave our consignor the bat, which Munson gave to him. According to our consignor, Munson helped Espino and gave him bats and other equipment. This bat has No. 18 in black marker on the knob. It seems highly likely that Espino used the bat while playing for the Nashville Sounds in 1980. We have confirmed that he wore No. 18 with Nashville; we cannot find evidence that he wore this number at any other time. Later, our consigner had a shot with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but an injury ended his career. Eventually he served as a baseball chaplain in the majors. According to PSA/DNA, the Munson bat shows evidence of light use, including a few ball marks and ball stitch impressions on the right and back barrel. Also visible are blue bat rack streaks and a light coat of pine tar on the mid-handle. A crack on the back handle has been repaired with four finishing nails. The 35” bat weighs 30.1 ounces, is made of ash and has a Galen finish. The PSA/DNA letter notes also that the number “18” was assigned to infielder Dennis Sherrill by the Yankees in 1979. He didn’t get into a major league game in 1979 but did play in three games in 1980. Sherrill ordered S44 bats the same length as the Munson bat in 1977 and 1979. We are unaware of any link between this bat and Sherrill and believe the letter provided by our consignor to be an accurate account of its history.
Winning Bid $733.
Lot 2. Mickey Mantle Signed Bat Authenticated by Kevin Keating and JSA. Large mint 9 autograph on the barrel of 35” Hillerich & Bradsby Louisville Slugger K55 bat that has “MM5” impressed in the knob. The bat is nm to nm-m. The autograph comes with a full JSA Letter of Authenticity, No. X75822.
Winning Bid $1,183.
Lot 3. Scarce, Classic Photo Autographed by Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. When Maris set a record for home runs in a season in 1961 with 61, Mantle contributed 54 homers and a league-leading 126 RBI as the Yankees captured baseball’s world championship. Both stars signed the 8” x 10” color spring training photo in sharpie. Both signatures are large and bold with tiny spots of incomplete ink coverage. This condition is more pronounced on Maris’ autograph than Mantle’s. Nm7. The photo is mounted on a 9” x 12” plaque that has the players’ names at the bottom. Authenticated by both Kevin Keating and JSA Authentication. The JSA Auction Letter of Authenticity may be exchanged for a full LoA at a discount.
Winning Bid $783.
Lot 4. Mickey Mantle Gem Mint 10 Autograph on a Mint OAL Bobby Brown Ball from Upper Deck. Mantle signed the sweet spot. The ball has Upper Deck hologram AUB30583 on it and comes with Certificate of Authenticity AUB30589. Our best guess is that more than a decade ago, a collector bought several Mantle-signed balls from Upper Deck and, over time, got the CoAs mixed up. By email, we have had Upper Deck verify AUB30583 as a Mantle-signed ball that received its authentication. A copy of the email is included. In addition, Kevin Keating has authenticated the autograph.
Winning Bid $324.
Lot 5. Upper Deck Mickey Mantle Signed Portrait by “Time” and “SI” Photographer Neil Leifer. Mantle’s sharpie signature below the 16” x 20” color portrait is gem mint 10. It comes with Upper Deck Certificate of Authenticity AAF20369 and has been authenticated by Kevin Keating as well. Leifer also signed below the photo. Among sports photographers, it’s difficult to identify anyone more highly regarded than Leifer. More than 200 “Sports Illustrated,” “Time” and “People” covers have displayed his artistry. He is perhaps known best for this photo of Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston after their second title fight. His works are increasingly finding their way into high-end collections. The photo is double-matted and framed to 20.5” x 26.5”, and mint.
Winning Bid $533.
Lot 7. Joe DiMaggio Signed Photo Taken as He Set the A.L. Consecutive-Game Hitting Record. Playing at Washington on June 29, 1941, DiMaggio collected a hit in his 42nd consecutive game to break the American League record of 41 established by George Sisler in 1922. The single came against Red Anderson. DiMaggio’s steak continued for 15 more games. His record of hits in 56 straight games remains unequaled. Pete Rose reached 44 in 1978. In the 19th century, Willie Keeler had hits in 45 consecutive games, and Bill Dahlen in 42. Measuring 14” x 20”, this black & white print, No. 5 of only 42 issued, is double-matted and framed to 20” x 24”. It is mint. Kevin Keating authenticated the autograph, which is bold and gem mint 10. A plate below the photo credits DiMaggio with breaking Sisler’s “Modern Day” record, with the date given as June 30. Tremendous DiMaggio photo with an unimprovable autograph!
Winning Bid $198.
Lot 8. Joe DiMaggio Autographed 14” x 19” Photo from a 1939 Negative. The mint modern print, numbered 21 of 250, shows DiMaggio reading a certificate in which “The Sporting News” cites him as the “perfect player” who batted .381 and served as “a big factor in enabling the Yanks to win their fourth consecutive American League pennant.” They also won their fourth straight world championship. Kevin Keating authenticated the autograph, which are large and mint 9. The photo is matted and framed to 17.25” x 22.25”.
Winning Bid $110.
Lot 10. Roger Maris Boldly Autographed 1963 Topps Card #120. Paper loss in the upper right corner of the card does not affect Maris’ image or the autograph, which is beautifully executed and displays as mint 9 against his portrait. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $198.
Lot 11. 6 Official New York Yankees Yearbooks, 1955-60. Until 1955, publication of Yankees’ yearbooks was the province of Big League Books, or Jay Publishing. In 1955, the Yankees began publishing their own official yearbooks. The 1955 issue is vg+; 1956, second edition, ex+ with Lon Keller cover artwork; 1957, 5” spine split at the center, vg, better appearance; 1958, vg+, name written on the front cover; 1959 revised edition, ex-m+, and 1960, ex+. Don Larsen and Bob Turley are pictured in a Yankees yearbook for the first time in 1955. Bill Skowron is in the 1956 issue, a year ahead of the Jay Publishing version. Roger Maris debuts in 1960.
Winning Bid $218.
Lot 12. 12 New York Yankees Yearbooks by Big League Books, 1950-60. From 1950 through 1960, Big League Books, or Jay Publishing, produced Yankees yearbooks. In 1955, the Yankees began publishing “official” yearbooks that competed with the Jay Publishing editions. The Yankees’ first yearbook, from 1950, contains two pages on Joe DiMaggio and full pages on Phil Rizzuto, Tom Henrich and Joe Page. Among the stars or potential stars are Yogi Berra, Allie Reynolds, Johnny Mize and Billy Martin. Vg-ex. Mickey Mantle joins this cast of consistently world champion performers in 1952; Gil McDougald in 1951; Whitey Ford in 1953; Elston Howard, Don Larsen and Bob Turley in 1955; Bobby Richardson in 1956; Bill Skowron in 1957; Clete Boyer in 1959 and Roger Maris in 1960. There are two copies of the 1951 yearbook, one with Big League Books advertising on the back cover, vg, and one without, vg+ to ex. The other yearbooks grade: 1957, nm-m; 1955 and 1956, nm; 1954 and 1958, ex-m; 1953, ex+; 1952 and 1960, vg+ to ex; and 1959, vg-ex.
Winning Bid $472.
Lot 13. New York Yankees Old Timers Day Baseball Signed by Mantle, Ford and 14 Others. Mickey Mantle and Ewell Blackwell share the sweet spot of this mint OAL Bobby Brown baseball. Occupying the north panel are John Sain, Whitey Ford, Bill Martin, Gil McDougald and Don Bollweg. Bill Miller, Allie Reynolds, Ed Lopat, Bob Kuzava and Yogi Berra are on the south panel. The other panels hold the signatures of Gene Woodling, Hank Bauer, Johnny Mize and Phil Rizzuto. The autographs are strong, nm-m 8 and better, and averaging mint 9. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $198.
Lot 14. 1980 NY Yankees Team Ball with 24 Autographs – Jackson, Gossage, Perry, Berra, Etc. This unofficial ball is something of a mystery because of the autographs of Billy Martin and Tony Kubek. Otherwise, it is nicely signed by players, broadcasters and staff associated with the 1980 Yankees. Kubek occupies one sweet spot on the ball with Phil Rizzuto. The Scooter was a Yankees broadcaster, and Kubek likely signed as an interested broadcaster as well. Martin is on the other sweet spot with one of the strongest Reggie Jackson signatures we’ve seen. He was fired (again) at the conclusion of the 1979 season. Elsewhere, the ball is signed by player and coaches Yogi Berra, Aurelio Rodriguez, Ron Davis, Tom Underwood, Jim Spencer, Lou Piniella, Rich Gossage, Mike Griffin, Gaylord Perry, Rick Cerone, Luis Tiant, Rudy May, Ron Guidry, Ruppert Jones, Eric Soderholm and Tommy John. The ball is signed also by Dom Scala, the Yankees’ bullpen catcher, and Bill White, another broadcaster. The ball is lightly shellacked and is moderately and somewhat unevenly toned. The autographs are generally nm-m 8 or better. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $138.
Lot 15. Mantle and DiMaggio Signed Reproduction Cards and 4 More Yankees Autographs. Charlie Keller (mint 9 autograph), Tom Henrich (mint 9) and Joe DiMaggio (ex-m 6) autographed 1941 Play Ball reproduction cards. Mickey Mantle’s signature is mint 9 on a 1957 Topps reproduction. Bobby Richardson (nm 7 to nm-m 8) and Tony Kubek (nm 7) autographs are on 1961 Renata Galasso Yankees Color cards. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $163.
