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Baseball Signed by Eddie Waitkus, the Real-Life “Natural,” Other Memorabilia.
Lot 2. Baseball Signed by Eddie Waitkus, the Real-Life “Natural,” Other Memorabilia. World War II interrupted Waitkus’ baseball career for four years. Returning with four bronze stars, he resumed his baseball career in 1946. In 1948 and 1949, the first baseman was an NL All-Star. On June 14, 1949, Ruth Ann Steinhagen, an obsessed 19-year-old fan, lured Waitkus to her hotel room, where she shot him in the chest with a .22 rifle. Bernard Malamud wove Eddie’s story, with a bit of Joe Jackson’s added, to create “Roy Hobbs” for the 1952 novel The Natural. Robert Redford starred in the 1984 film version. This collection includes two autographs of Waitkus, who passed away in 1972 at the age of only 53, and a photo of Redford as Hobbs. It also includes media coverage of the shooting and other aspects of Waitkus’ life and career. 1. ONL Ford Frick ball signed on the sweet spot “Eddie Waitkus.” Teammate Bill Nicholson signed a side panel. Ex-m to nm lightly toned ball with nm-m 8 to mint 9 vintage signatures. The ball was signed when both men played for the Chicago Cubs, probably 1946-48. Nicholson was a regular in 1941, but Waitkus was with the Cubs for only 12 games. The ball is accompanied by a letter from the original owner who recalls that “Waitkus was with the Cubs” when he gave her the ball and that Bill Nicholson asked where she was sitting so he could wave when he hit a home run for her. 2. Waitkus fountain pen signature on a government postcard, 7 of 10. 3. 1949 Bowman card #142, vg+ to ex. 4. 1952 Baseball Magazine Supplement, vg-ex. 5-6. June 15, 1949 N.Y. Journal American with the front-page headline in red: “Ed Waitkus Shot By Girl.” Very displayable with a striking photo of the shooter, ex-m. A related article from an unidentified magazine says “Silly Honey with a Gun.” 7. 8” x 10” color photo of Robert Redford, who is shown as the Waitkus-inspired Hobbs. The photo has a signature that says “Robert Redford,” but it wasn’t signed by Redford.. 8-11. June 22 & 29, 1949 TSN single pages chart the crime and Waitkus’s recovery. Also there is a full-page color magazine photo of Waitkus in street clothing and a small newspaper clipping about well-wishes from the Dodgers. These collectibles will make for an outstanding Waitkus-The Natural display. Waitkus autographs authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $1,119.
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