Lot 2. Joe DiMaggio Autograph on a Museum-Quality Bachrach Photograph. Widely respected photographer Ernest Bachrach was know for eschewing background props and capturing the characteristic expression of his subjects. The result is a legacy of stunning portraits, such as this classic of the charismatic, dapper “Yankee Clipper.” Bachrach also photographed Marilyn Monroe, and this portrait likely was made during their relationship. According to many authorities, DiMaggio was Monroe’s one true love. We hope she had a copy of this magnificent portrait. It is matted and beautifully framed to 22 ½” x 26 ¼” with a gold DiMaggio signature, which measures 4” and grades gem mint 10. Autograph authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $700.
Lot 5. Rare 1970s Joe DiMaggio Prototype “1938 Goudey” Pocket Watch. The face of this watch, which is 2” in diameter, has the same image as Goudey used on its 1938 trading cards. Only a handful of prototypes were made; the watch was never mass-produced. This example, from a veteran collector of sports watches, works intermittently and is nm.
Winning Bid $220.
Lot 14. Rare Stangl Pottery Babe Ruth Bust by Noted Designer Dominick DeChristopher. Almost life-size, this limited-edition bust, #1 of only 50 produced, was intended for use as a hat stand. It commemorates Ruth’s first home run on May 6, 1915 at the Polo Grounds. There, Ruth connected with the first pitch off Yankee pitcher Jack Warhop and drove it into the right field grandstand. Neatly hand-lettered on the back of the bust is: “#1, May 6, 1915, New York, Warhop.” The bust is numbered 1 of 7,500. Only a few were actually produced, however, because the Stangl Company went out of business - for the second time. From the 1920s-70s, the company manufactured popular folk-art pottery. It folded in 1978 but was revived briefly in the early 1990s. DeChristopher had worked for the company in the 1960s-70s until health problems forced him into early retirement in 1975. He had designed many of the figural Avon cologne bottles. When Stangl started back up, DeChristopher worked on new designs from his home. This bust of Babe Ruth was his biggest project. He not only designed and sculpted the bust, but also hand-numbered and hand-glazed each one. Not long after completing the project, DeChristopher passed away, in October 1993. Of the 50 hat stand busts produced, 38 were actually sold. They were numbered 1 through 30 and 83 through 95. There apparently were two number 10s, 10 and 10B. Samples make up the remainder. The bust is nm-m with some very minor toning in Ruth’s hair. If that’s a concern, just cover it with a hat; after all, it is a hat stand! Take advantage of this opportunity to own a rare Ruth collectible, literally #1 of a kind!
Winning Bid $242.
Lot 18. 1936 Time Magazine with Rookie Joe DiMaggio on the Cover. It’s not often that a rookie sports figure adorns the cover of a news magazine, but DiMaggio accomplished the feat on July 13, 1936. No doubt he benefited from playing in the nation’s media center in New York, but a starting role in the All-Star Game and a high batting average certainly contributed to his notoriety. DiMaggio also received much of the credit for the Yankees’ success. Expected to face tough competition from Detroit, the Yankees were atop the A.L. in July, and at season’s end, they had outdistanced the Tigers by 19.5 games. In an article in the magazine, DiMaggio is compared favorably to Ty Cobb and Shoeless Joe Jackson. The copy of the magazine is clean and very collectable. The front and back covers have a library stamp. The date is written on the front cover along the spine, and there is a diagonal print line. Scarce.
Winning Bid $134.
Lot 252. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig Fishing? These baseball icons seem to have a special knack for fishing as well as hitting a baseball. This Diamond Images 22 ¾” x 19 ¼” framed and matted b & w limited edition photo captures Ruth and Gehrig showing off their catches. The print is #28 of 975 and will be a fine addition to your Yankees photo gallery.
Winning Bid $92.
Lot 253. B&W Photo of Babe Ruth Giving Lou Gehrig a Big Hug. “They didn’t get along. Gehrig thought Ruth was a big-mouth and Ruth thought Gehrig was cheap. They were both right,” said teammate and fellow HoF member Tony Lazzeri. That may have been true, but the Sultan of Swat and the Iron Horse looked like friends the day Gehrig retired from baseball. The 19 ¼” x 23 ¼” framed, double-matted photo shows the Yankee duo reunited on “Lou Gehrig Day,” July 4, 1939.
Winning Bid $55.
Lot 254. Joe DiMaggio on the Cover of the Oct. 4, 1948 Issue of Time. Although the Yankees failed to make it to the World Series, the 1948 season was excellent for DiMaggio personally as he led the A.L. with 39 homes runs and 155 runs batted in. The front cover has an ex appearance with a light vertical crease. The interior is nm.
Winning Bid $45.
Lot 255. September 1947 and 1949 Issues of Sport with Joe DiMaggio on the Cover. Starting in 1946, DiMaggio graced the cover of the sports monthly each September in the first four years of its publication. He shares the 1947 cover with brother Dom. Inside is a 10-page article by Tom Meany on the three DiMaggio brothers. The cover of this issue is vg+ to ex. The 1949 issue features a magnificent Ozzie Sweet portrait of Joltin’ Joe. Ex-m cover with a nm interior that has a lengthy article on DiMaggio.
Winning Bid $55.
Lot 256. New York Yankees Program from Mickey Mantle’s Rookie Season. Mantle began the 1951 season in New York, but difficulty in hitting major league pitching resulted in a 40-game demotion to the Yankees’ Kansas City farm team. This program for a St. Louis Browns game apparently is from that period. In the pre-printed lineup, #7 is assigned to Bob Cerv. Meanwhile, Cliff Mapes is with the Browns; he was claimed by the St. Louis team July 31. Satchel Paige is on the Browns’ roster. Joe DiMaggio is the only Hall of Famer in the pre-printed starting lineup for the Yankees: Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto and Johnny Mize were on the bench. Ex program with the center folio loose.
Winning Bid $45.
Lot 257. Mickey Mantle Autographed “The Life of a Legend” Print. The print, #287 of 2,401, is a composite of more than a dozen images representing highlight of Mantle’s Hall of Fame career. For example, on a photo showing him with Billy Martin, Mantle comments, “Billy was like my brother to me. I always miss him.” The 19” x 25” print is matted and framed to 23 ½” x 30”. Mantle’ signature in the lower right is a gem mint 10 in gold sharpie. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $354.
Lot 258. Mickey Mantle Autograph on a Promo Card for “The 500 Home Run Club” Video. Green Johnson Enterprises of Atlanta and Cabin Fever Entertainment produced the 4” x 6” card, which pictures Mantle with Bob Costas. Mantle’s signature is a bold gem mint 10. Both James Spence and Kevin Keating authenticated the autograph. The card has a Spence certificate number on the back, and it comes with a verification certificate. Authenticated also by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $185.
Lot 260. 1962 “Mickey Mantle’s Big League Baseball” Game from Gardner & Company. Solid, rigid box with a couple of scuffs and a very small puncture on the lid. Inside, the game board of this dice game has an image of Mantle and is nm. Two sets of rules have Mantle’s image, vg. Some game pieces are present, although the Mantle photo and the dice cup are not.
Winning Bid $102.
Lot 261. Spectacular 1950s Mickey Mantle Photo Ring. This ring features a sepia photo of Mantle in a batting stance inside a ½” oval. The photo is mounted inside an adjustable metal band, which shows some wear. The photo itself is nm.
Minimum Bid $100.
Lot 262. Original 20 ½” x 26” Painting Based on Mickey Mantle’s 1953 Topps Card. The anonymous painting decently captures Mantle’s image. Creases in the lower corners and several very light stains toward the bottom add to its charm. The 24” x 28 ½” frame has a ½” section of damage.
Winning Bid $50.
