Rare 1939 Cleveland Indians Team Sheet Signed by 19 – Feller, Boudreau, Harder, Etc.
Lot 204. Rare 1939 Cleveland Indians Team Sheet Signed by 19 – Feller, Boudreau, Harder, Etc. In 1939, baseball marked its 100th anniversary, and this autographed 8.5” x 11” page has at the top the baseball centennial stamp from the U.S. Postal Service. All of these signatures were written in black fountain pen. Almost all are mint 9 or gem mint 10, with a few nm-m 8: Johnny Allen (died 1959), Johnny Bassler, Lou Boudreau, Bruce Campbell, Ben Chapman, Joe Dobson, Bob Feller, Oscar Grimes, Mel Harder, Jeff Heath, Rollie Hemsley, Willis Hudlin, Ray Mack (d. 1969), Oscar (“Ski”) Melillo (d. 1963), Al Milnar, Luke Sewell, Floyd Stromme, Lefty Weisman (trainer) and Oscar Vitt (d. 1963). Boudreau, who appeared in 53 games in 1939, and Feller, who won 24, had Hall of Fame careers. Mel Harder’s pitching failed to create HoF numbers, but it earned him the respect of some of the game’s best hitters, including Joe DiMaggio and Hank Greenberg. Luke Sewell was outstanding as a catcher defensively, and then after he retired, he became the manager who guided the St. Louis Browns to their only World Series appearance. Rollie Hemsley was a five-time All-Star catcher. Johnny Bassler was a former catcher who, as and Indians coach, is credited with helping to make Bob Feller a Hall of Fame pitcher. (Max) Lefty Weisman was the team’s trainer from 1921 until his passing in 1949. Tris Speaker looked upon him as a son, and on his 25th anniversary with the Indians, owner Bill Veeck honored him with Lefty Weisman Day and $5,000 in silver dollars. Weisman and Indians players subsequently appeared in the 1949 movie “The Kid from Cleveland.” A number of autographs on this sheet are difficult to find. Winning Bid $204.
