Lot 1. Robin Roberts’ Philadelphia Phillies Uniform – Autographed by the HoF Pitcher. During 1987, Roberts served as a roving pitching instructor for the Phils. This is the uniform he wore. It comes with a Letter of Authenticity from Roberts dated July 24, 2009. Kevin Keating has authenticated the signature on the letter and jersey; Roberts added “HOF 76” below the jersey autograph. A Phillies team issue shows Roberts wearing the jersey, which has number 36 on the front and back, and Roberts’ name on the back. Besides the jersey, the uniform includes Roberts’ pants, socks and hat. All show good use, but no abuse. In the early 1950s, no pitcher was better than Roberts. He won at least 20 games each season from 1950 through 1955, for a total of 138 victories during the period. In 1999, The Sporting News counted him among the top 100 players (#74) in baseball history. Roberts passed away at his home in Florida on May 6. For the rest of this baseball season, the Phillies will wear a commemorative “36” patch on their jerseys and hang a Roberts uniform in the dugout. Tremendous collectible representing one of baseball’s great players, and an outstanding person as well.
Winning Bid $1,391.
Lot 2. 1955 World Series Program Signed by Robinson, Campanella, Hodges and 12 More! In 1955, the Brooklyn Dodgers finally did it! At last, they won their first and only World Championship! Few mementoes of the Dodgers’ success are more impressive than this 48-page Yankees at Dodgers World Series program. Inside, on or near their photos, 15 players have neatly and boldly written their names in blue ballpoint pen. Almost every autograph, including those of the key players, is a 9 or a 10. The program is signed by four Hall of Fame members: Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Roy Campanella and Duke Snider. Gil Hodges is the best of the rest, which includes Don Bessent, Carl Erskine, Carl Furillo, Billy Loes, Russ Meyer, Don Newcombe, Johnny Podres, George Shuba, Karl Spooner and Rube Walker. The program, from the Ron Gabriel collection and very close to ex, also has clubhouse signatures of Sandy Amoros, Roger Craig, Jim Gilliam, Don Hoak, Dixie Howell, Frank Kellert, Sandy Koufax, Clem Labine and Ed Roebuck. The autographs have been authenticated by both PSA-DNA, which has provided a Letter of Authenticity, and by Kevin Keating. Proceeds from the sale of this lot will benefit the Society for American Baseball Research, a non-profit membership organization open to all that fosters the research, preservation, and dissemination of the history and record of baseball.
Winning Bid $2,004.
Lot 3. Ty Cobb Mint 9 to Gem Mint 10 Autograph Authenticated by Spence and Keating. The “Tyrus R. Cobb” signature is on a 1949 check made out to “Cash” and drawn on a Reno, NV, bank. It comes with a Letter of Authenticity from JSA Authentication (James Spence), and Kevin Keating has authenticated it as well. The Spence LoA assigns a grade of 9.5. One of baseball’s top 10 all-time players, Cobb was in the inaugural Hall of Fame class. He passed away in 1961.
Winning Bid $783.
Lot 4. Mickey Mantle Boldly Signed 1951 New York Yankees Replica Jersey. Gem mint 10 autograph authenticated by Kevin Keating on a mint Cooperstown Collection home jersey by Mitchell & Ness of Philadelphia. The jersey has Mantle’s familiar “7” on the back and an American League Golden Anniversary patch on the left sleeve. The autograph and jersey display magnificently!
Winning Bid $1,433.
Lot 99. Rare Autograph of HoFer Hilton Smith on a KC Monarchs Panoramic Photo. Large, bold signature on a 1946 Kansas City Monarchs 7” x 17” team photo printed on thin paper stock. Lefty Bryant also signed the photo. Less flamboyant than Kansas City Monarchs teammate Satchel Paige, Smith may have been the Negro Leagues best pitcher, certainly during the 1930s and early 1940s. Bob Feller thought he was better than Paige. In his first 12 seasons, he won at least 20 games. A strong hitter and excellent fielder, he also played the outfield and first base. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2001, almost two decades after his death in 1983. Bryant also pitched for the Monarchs, as well as a variety of other teams. He passed away in 1992. Authenticated by Kevin Keating, author of The Negro Leagues Autograph Guide. Two guides list a Smith signed index card at $500. This item is much better because Smith’s autograph on any photo is extremely rare.
Winning Bid $357.
Lot 100. Walter Buck Leonard Pre-Stroke Autograph. Playing for the Homestead Grays in the 1930s and early 1940s, Leonard and Josh Gibson were the Negro Leagues’ equivalent of Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth. A lifetime .328 hitter, Leonard averaged 34 home runs per year in an eight-season period. He was enshrined at Cooperstown in 1972. In 1986, Leonard suffered a stroke that partially paralyzed his right side. After that, he wrote with his left hand. Pre-stroke autographs such as this one command a premium. The signature is large, bold nm-m 8 beauty, filling a 1 ½” x 4 ¾” section of unlined paper that is matted and framed to about 10 ½” x 13 ½” with a Perez-Steel postcard of Leonard. Kevin Keating, author of The Negro Leagues Autograph Guide, authenticated this signature.
Winning Bid $92.
Lot 101. Negro League Legends Bat Signed by Dandridge, Day, Irvin, Leonard and Others. Including the four Hall of Fame members, the complete star-studded lineup that adorns this 34” Louisville Slugger consists of Ray Dandridge, Leon Day, Monte Irving, Buck Leonard, Gene Benson, Bill (Ready) Cash, Jim Cohen, Mahlon Duckett, Wilmer Fields, Stanley Glenn, Bob Harvey, Ted Radcliff, William Bobby Robinson, Edsall Walker and Al Wilmore. The autographs are bold, almost all 9s or 10s including Dandridge, Irvin and Leonard. The Day autograph is equally strong, with the “ay” somewhat compressed as he signed close to the end of the bat. There is some smudging on the Duckett and Radcliff autographs. The bat can be displayed so that the Leonard, Fields, Dandridge, Irvin and Day signatures are seen together with the “Negro League Legends” label. From the Wilmer Fields autograph collection. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $218.
Lot 114. 1985-95 Perez-Steele Great Moments Collection of 72 – with 42 Autographed! The signatures in this partial set, #1490 of 1500, come with a Letter of Authenticity from James Spence Authentication. In addition, Kevin Keating has authenticated the autographs for Collectible Classics. The cards are nm-m, and the autographs are bold mint 9s and gem mint 10s. Twenty of these 42 Hall of Fame signers are deceased: #2 Al Kaline, 5 Whitey Ford, 9 Hank Aaron, 11 Stan Musial, 13 Ted Williams, 14 Warren Spahn, 16 Sandy Koufax, 17 Robin Roberts, 19 Mickey Mantle, 21 Ernie Banks, 22 Willie McCovey, 23 Johnny Mize, 26 Pee Wee Reese, 27 Monte Irvin, 28 Eddie Mathews, 29 Enos Slaughter, 31 Chas. Gehringer, 33 Duke Snider, 34 Ray Dandridge, 35 Carl Hubbell, 36 Bobby Doerr, 37 Bill Dickey, 38 Willie Stargell, 39 Brooks Robinson, 41 Billy Herman, 43 Luis Aparicio, 44 Lefty Gomez, 48 Harmon Killebrew, 49 Johnny Bench, 53 Yogi Berra, 55 Red Schoendienst, 56 Juan Marichal, 59 Buck Leonard, 60 George Kell, 62 Jim Catfish Hunter, 63 Lou Boudreau, 65 Willie Mays, 66 Lou Brock, 67 Bob Lemon, 69 Billy Williams, 70 Rick Ferrell and 72 Carl Yastrzemski. These cards are housed in special binders created for the Great Moments set.
Winning Bid $932.
Lot 115. Extremely Rare Luke Easter Single-Signed Baseball. Like many black players of his era, Easter was already in his thirties when he was given an opportunity to play in the majors. In 1946-47, he established himself as a power hitter in the Negro Leagues. In his first full season with the Cleveland Indians in 1950, he belted 28 home runs and contributed 107 RBI. He had successful seasons in 1951 and 1952 as well. In following seasons, knee and ankle problems limited his playing time, and then ended his major league career in 1954. In three full seasons and three partial seasons, he hit 93 home runs, drove in 340 runs and batted .274. As a rookie, he hit the longest home run in the history of Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium, a 477-foot shot over the auxiliary scoreboard in right field. Only Mickey Mantle equaled this feat. After the majors, Easter played for Ottawa, Charleston, Buffalo and Rochester in the International League. He was the MVP in 1957. At the age of 48, he finally retired in 1963 and then did some coaching. Rochester and Buffalo each retired his number. In 1979, Easter worked for TRW and served as chief union steward for the Aircraft Workers Alliance. While he was transporting $40,000 for the union, two men confronted him and demanded the money. He refused to give it to them, and they killed him. In 1997, Easter was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, which cited his “grace and dignity on and off the field” and his “legacy as a friend to the community, a generous soul with plenty of time for any cause.” Bill James has rated him the second-best Negro Leagues first baseman of all time, with only Buck Leonard rating higher. James has also written that “if you could clone him and bring him back, you’d have the greatest power hitter in baseball today, if not ever.” Easter signed the east panel of a Wilson PONY Grads baseball, which is nm-m. His signature is large and strong, mint 9 to gem mint 10. All autographs of Easter are uncommon, and even index-signed cards are offered for $100 and more. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $693.
Lot 116. Joe DiMaggio (HoF) Single-Signed OAL Bobby Brown Baseball. Mint 9 to gem mint 10 autograph on the sweet spot by the Yankees’ Hall of Fame center fielder. The nm ball has strong printed areas and some light, somewhat uneven discoloration behind the signature. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $264.
Lot 118. Quality Starter Group of 29 Autographed Hall of Fame Gold Plaque Postcards. Outstanding collection of crisp autographs, all mint 9s or gem mint 10, except for Koufax, whose signature grades nm-m 8. The cards are signed in ballpoint unless otherwise noted: “Luke” Appling, Earl Averill, James “Cool Papa” Bell (green sharpie), Yogi Berra, Lou Boudreau, Max Carey, Stanley Coveleski, Bill Dickey, Bob Feller, Chas. Gehringer, Lefty Gomez, Burleigh A. Grimes, Billy Herman (fine-tip felt), Waite C. Hoyt (sharpie), Carl Hubbell, Monte Irvin (sharpie), George L. Kelly, Sandy Koufax, Al Lopez (sharpie), Ted Lyons, Rube Marquard (sharpie), Stan Musial, Robin Roberts, Edd J. Roush (sharpie), Joe Sewell (sharpie), Duke Snider (sharpie), Warren Spahn, Wm. H (Bill) Terry and Early Wynn. Twenty-three of these signers are deceased. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. From the Ron Gabriel collection. Proceeds from the sale of this lot will benefit the Society for American Baseball Research, a non-profit membership organization open to all that fosters the research, preservation, and dissemination of the history and record of baseball.
Winning Bid $324.
Lot 119. Joe DiMaggio Autographed Gold Hall of Fame Plaque Postcard. Outstanding, bold fine-sharpie signature. A 10. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Proceeds from the sale of this lot will benefit the Society for American Baseball Research.
Winning Bid $125.
Lot 120. Elmer Flick Signed Type 2 Black & White Hall of Fame Plaque Postcard. In 1963, the Hall of Fame right fielder placed a mint 9 to gem mint 10 signature at the bottom of the ex card. He wrote the date and added “now 89.” Flick passed away in 1971. His signature on b&w plaque postcards is comparatively scarce. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. From the Ron Gabriel collection. Proceeds from the sale of this lot will benefit the Society for American Baseball Research.
Winning Bid $180.
Lot 121. Frank Frisch Autograph on a Black & White Hall of Fame Plaque Postcard. Frisch’s signature at the bottom of the postcard is bold, a 9-10 that has a light line running through it. Frisch died in 1973. His work at second base and his .316 career batting average helped to earn him a place in the Hall of Fame in 1947. Ex-m+ card. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Proceeds from the sale of this lot will benefit the Society for American Baseball Research.
Winning Bid $168.
