Single or Duo-Signed Bats, Balls, Jerseys, Photos, Etc.
94 Lots
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Lot 3. Thurman Munson Signed Game Baseball Given Personally to Tommy John in 1979. Sitting in the Yankees’ dugout in July 1979, John asked the team’s catcher and captain to sign a ball for him. Munson complied. His signature is nm-m 8 on the sweet spot of an OAL MacPhail baseball. Generally, the ball is evenly toned to a dark-cream color, and the pre-printed areas are relatively strong. Ex-m. The ball was taken from the game bag. Whether it was used in a game is uncertain. Excellent defensively and aided by an exceptionally quick release, Munson was the 1970 A.L. Rookie of the Year, the 1976 MVP, a seven-time All-Star and a three-time Gold Glove winner. In 11 seasons, he batted .288. Less than a month after signing the baseball for John, he died when his twin-engine Cessna crashed 1,000 feet short of the runway at Akron-Canton Airport. He was only 32. Kevin Keating authenticated the autograph. John has provided a letter of provenance.
Winning Bid $5,453.
Lot 8. Gaylord Perry Autographed, Game-Used Baseball from His 300th Victory. Sitting in the New York Yankees’ dugout on May 6, 1982, Tommy John fielded a foul ball. The next day, he had Gaylord Perry sign it. Why? Because the ball is an important piece of baseball history; it is one of the balls Perry pitched as he recorded his 300th career win. Pitching for Seattle, Perry and his Mariners teammates defeated New York, 7-3. He hurled a complete game, yielding nine hits, walking only one and striking out four. The win made Perry the 15th member of the 300-win club. His signature is large, bold and mint 9 on the sweet spot of an OAL MacPhail ball. He added “#300 5-6-82” on the south panel. Autographed 300-win commemorative baseballs are plentiful; this is a game-used ball from the Tommy John collection, with the autograph authenticated by Kevin Keating. John has provided a letter of provenance.
Winning Bid $1,026.
Lot 18. Robin Roberts’ Personal, Autographed Wilmington Blue Rocks No. 36 Retirement Jersey. Roberts spent part of one, impressive season in the minors. In 1948, before being called up by the Phils, he won nine games while losing only one and posting a 2.06 ERA for the Wilmington (DE) Blue Rocks of the Interstate League. Today, the Blue Rocks compete in the Northern Division of the Carolina League. In 1998, the team honored Roberts at the Carolina League All-Star Game by retiring his No. 36. It was the first time the team had retired a former player’s number. At the retirement ceremony, the team gave Roberts a Wilson size 44 Blue Rocks jersey with his number on the front and back, and his name on the back. Subsequently, he autographed the jersey, added “HOF 76” and gave it to his business manager, who has provided a signed letter of provenance. The jersey is mint, and Roberts’ autograph and notation are gem mint 10. Truly unique! Kevin Keating authenticated the signature. In 1999, “The Sporting News” ranked Roberts No. 74 on its list of 100 Greatest Baseball Players. He won at least 20 games six times, was a seven-time All-Star, finished in the top 10 in MVP voting five times, led the N.L. in strikeouts twice and currently ranks 28th in career wins. Roberts passed away last year.
Winning Bid $294.
Lot 19. Robin Roberts 1986 Phils Coach’s and Game-Used Cracker Jack Uniforms – Both Signed! Roberts, who passed away in 2010, autographed two jerseys and a jacket in this collection. He gave them to his business agent, who has provided a signed letter of provenance, one for each uniform. Kevin Keating authenticated the autographs. In 1986, Roberts served as a roving pitching instructor for the Phils. He wore the uniform offered here. He autographed the tail of the size 48 Rawlings jersey, which has “Robby” embroidered on the left shoulder and his name and No. 36 on the back. The autograph is mint 9; he added “HOF 76” below the signature. Besides the jersey, the uniform includes Roberts’ size 36 Wilson pants, which have his name inside, socks, T-shirt and red belt. All show good use, but no abuse. His agent’s letter of provenance contains this interesting information: After Roberts spent a year looking at the Phils’ pitching talent in the minors, management wanted Roberts’ evaluation. “Robin bluntly stated that we had nothing; nobody could pitch in the bigs. Robin told me that’s not what they wanted to hear and did not ask him back the next year.” When his agent asked if anybody of these young arms made it to the majors, Robin “laughed and said one did.” The second uniform is from Roberts’ participation in a Cracker Jack Old Timers Baseball Classic. This National League uniform consists of a jersey, pull-over warm-up jacket, pants, undershirt and stirrups. The grey size 46 Rawlings jersey, trimmed in blue and white, has the word “National” on the front, Roberts’ name and No. 36 on the back and the Cracker Jack logo on the right sleeve. The Bike size XL jacket has the National Old Timers Baseball Classic logo on the front. Adding “HOF 76” to each, Roberts autographed the tail of the jersey and the lower left front on the jacket. The signature on the jersey is an unimprovable 10, and on the jacket, an nm-m 8 to mint 9 with some bleeding. The Rawlings pants are size 38, and the stirrups are blue. The uniform shows light use and displays very nicely. 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. This is a superb and affordable set of collectibles representing one of baseball’s great players, and an outstanding person as well.
Winning Bid $646.
Lot 20. Mickey Mantle Signed Mitchell & Ness Cooperstown Collection 1951 Yankees Jersey. Large, bold and beautiful gem mint 10 autograph on a mint jersey that has the Mitchell & Ness and Cooperstown Collection Authentic tags. Kevin Keating authenticated the autograph. Like the real 1951 jerseys, this example has the American League Golden Anniversary (1901-51) patch on the left sleeve. This jersey could serve as a stunning centerpiece for a Mantle or Yankees display!
Winning Bid $1,183.
Lot 22. Hack Wilson (HoF) Autograph and Photo. Nm-m 8 to mint 9 signature of the Hall of Fame outfielder matted with an 8” x 10” photo and surrounded by a 13.25” x 20.25” vintage frame. Wilson was one of baseball’s premier hitters – and characters. For his career, he batted .307 with 1,062 RBI, including a record 191 runs knocked in 1930. He also belted 56 home runs that season, an N.L. record eclipsed only be Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. A hard drinker, he was only 48 when he died in 1948. The Veterans Committee voted him into the Hall of Fame 31 seasons later. Among 20th century Hall of Famers, his signature is one of the more difficult to obtain. This example shows part of another name lightly written below it. Some other writing may have been erased to make a place for Wilson’s signature, which is strong, bold and authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $1,149.
Lot 23. Roger Maris Autographed Unlined Index Card. Bold gem mint 10 signature. One of the strongest Maris autographs we’ve seen. Kevin Keating authenticated it.
Winning Bid $393.
Lot 24. Roger Maris 61st Home Run “Story Ball” Done Entirely in the Hand of Tracy Stallard! Magnificent mint OAL Budig baseball signed on the sweet spot “Tracy Stallard #61 to Roger Maris 10/1/61.” On the four other panels, he tells the story of delivering the pitch for this record-setting home run: “-1- Last game of 1961 season. I arrived Yankee Stadium one hour before game time, with no clue who was going pitch when Sal Maglie handed me the ball. I warmed up for 15 minutes. 1st inning Maris popped out. -2- He hit it high & hard in the right field seats for his 61st home run. -3- The hit broke Babe Ruth’s single season record set in 1927. I pitched to Roger in the 7th and struck him out. (-4-) When I later talked to Roger he thanked me for having the nerve to pitch to him. (We) lost (the) game 1-0.” Stallard pitched for the Red Sox. His autograph and inscription are bold, mint 9 to gem mint 10. An incredible, unique, “must-have” for all serious collectors, especially Maris and Yankees collectors! Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $360.
Lot 39. George Steinbrenner Signed Letter Praising Tommy John. In a typed Sept. 12, 1984 letter on his New York Yankees’ letterhead, Steinbrenner recommend John for an award from the Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge. In part, he writes, “I think Tommy John, not only as a competitor on the ball field, but as a person and a citizen, exemplifies the highest level of citizenship, conduct and religious belief of perhaps any athlete I have known.” He asserts that he is well qualified to judge whether John deserves such an award because “at times Tommy and I have been in somewhat adversarial positions with each other. But when I put petty things aside, and stop to consider the values, beliefs and actions of the man, he is an exceptional young man.” He also says that since elbow surgery, John “has probably been one of the 10 most-effective pitchers in the American League.” Steinbrenner’s signature at the close of this uncommon letter of praise is a 10. Authentication by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $390.
Lot 40. Tommy Lasorda Letter Recommending Tommy John for a Freedom Foundations Award. In a typed, signed 1984 letter on Dodgers’ stationery, Lasorda describes John as “a perfect example of what we look for in a man. He is a rare combination of a true professional and a gracious man.” The Dodgers’ manager also writes that John “is as competitive as anyone you will find” and that he “was as gracious after a loss as he was after a win.” In 1984, the Orange County Chapter of the Freedoms Foundation nominated John for a Freedoms Foundation Award in recognition of his exemplary citizenship and community service. Lasorda’s signature, authenticated by Kevin Keating, is mint 9.
Winning Bid $100.
Lot 55. Tommy John Autographed Majestic Genuine Merchandise Size XL Yankees Home Jersey. Mint jersey with an nm-m 8 signature on the front authenticated by Kevin Keating. AT THE WINNING BIDDER’S REQUEST, John will sign the back as well, personalize the signature and add two notations concerning his career.
Winning Bid $110.
Lot 62. Baseball Signed to Tommy John by Teenager and A.L. MVP JOSH HAMILTON. In the late 1990s, John coached Charlotte Christian School in the North Carolina High School Baseball Championships at Raleigh. When a woman approached with a baseball, he thought she wanted him to sign it. Instead, she presented him with a baseball autographed by Raleigh native and teenage baseball phenomenon Josh Hamilton! His signature is a 10 on the sweet spot of a nm-m Wilson baseball. The first overall pick in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft, Hamilton signed the north panel: “To Tommy John, From one Lefty to another!” John signed the south panel; his signature is light. After battling drug and alcohol addiction, Hamilton has had three consecutive All-Star seasons. Last year, he won the A.L. batting championship with a .359 average and drove in 100 runs. He received 22 of 28 votes for MVP. This is a truly unique item linking a great lefty and a lefty with great potential! Kevin Keating authenticated the autographs, and John has provided a letter of provenance.
Winning Bid $354.
Lot 64. Jack Clark Signed 1990 Padres Game Home Jersey. Nm-m 8 autograph authenticated by Kevin Keating on the right side of the uniform above “Padres.” The Rawlings size 50 jersey has a “Set 2 1990” tag inside. It has stains on the left front. A four-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger Award recipient, Clark batted .267 in 18 seasons, hit 340 home runs, drove in 1,180, scored 1,118 runs and ripped 332 doubles. The jersey comes with an authentication letter “From the Desk of Tommy John.”
Winning Bid $152.
Lot 65. Baseball Broadcaster Collection with Signatures by Caray, Harwell, Buck and Mazer. A signed letter “From the Desk of Tommy John” accompanies this collection. The autograph of ERNIE HARWELL (died 2010) is on the flyleaf of his book “Tuned to Baseball.” Gem mint 10 signature, nm-m 1985 apparent first edition book, ex-m+ dust jacket. The signature of HARRY CARAY (d. 1998) is on two items, an unofficial baseball and a “Holy Cow!” size large T-shirt with his face superimposed on the body of a cow. His autograph on the sweet sport of the bright white baseball – as “Holy Cow! Harry Caray” – is ex-m 6 to nm 7. He signed the T-shirt as “Harry”; nm-m 8. His autographs are accompanied by an unsigned 1988 tribute program. JACK BUCK (d. 2002) signed the flyleaf of the softcover book “We Saw Stars,” which he wrote with Stan Musial and Bob Broeg. The personalized signature, dated 1977, is gem mint 10. The 1976 book is ex. The other signers are: Indians, Reds and Red Sox broadcaster KEN COLEMAN (d. 2003), twice, in “Talking on Air: A Broadcaster’s Life in Sports,” 2000, nm book, vg-ex dj. He signed on the flyleaf and the next blank page with his co-author, Dan Valenti. These autographs are personalized 10s. BILL MAZER’S autograph is also a personalized 10; it’s on the flyleaf of his book, “Amazin’ Baseball,” 1999 first printing, ex-m book and dj. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $134.
Lot 66. Baseball Signed by Rod Dedeaux, the Top College Coach, to Coach Tommy John. College baseball’s winningest coach with a record of 1,332-571-11 (.699), Dedeaux autographed the south panel of a 1984 Olympics official baseball. On the sweet spot, he wrote, “To My Favorite Pitching Coach USC – USA.” John was his favorite. He often took time out to coach Dedeaux’s pitchers at USC, and he worked with the 1984 Olympics team as well. Dedeaux had a two-game major league career as an outfielder with Brooklyn in 1935. As a college coach, he led Southern Cal to 11 national championships. He also helped to develop 59 major leaguers, including Tom Seaver, Mark McGwire, Randy Johnson, Fred Lynn, Dave Kingman, Roy Smalley, Don Buford, Ron Fairly, Rich Dauer, Steve Busby, Jim Barr and Steve Kemp. His signature is nm-m 8 to mint 9; it appears that some writing may have been removed before his autograph was applied. The ball has strong pre-printed areas and shows light-to-moderate uneven discoloration. Kevin Keating authenticated the signature. The ball comes with a signed letter “From the Desk of Tommy John.”
Winning Bid $83.
