3 Pieces of Early 1900s Sheet Music Linked to the World Champions Philadelphia A’s.
Lot 460. 3 Pieces of Early 1900s Sheet Music Linked to the World Champions Philadelphia A’s. Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics won the World Series of 1910, 1911 and 1913. Two pieces of sheet music soon capitalized on the Athletics’ success and the off-season jobs of some players. Like other star players, Cy Morgan, Chief Bender and Jack Coombs supplemented their baseball income by appearing in vaudeville. In fact, some made more from vaudeville than from baseball. Usually, the baseball players had minor roles; the vaudeville stars did most of the acting and singing. In 1911, the three A’s appeared in a vaudeville skit titled “The Learning Game,” which had a baseball theme. Advertising claimed the players were appearing in the uniforms they wore in the World Series. “Oh, Mr. Dream Man, Please Let me Dream Some More,” by Jimmie V. Monaco, was a song in the skit. On the front, the 1911 sheet music for the song pictures Morgan, an A’s pitcher and vaudeville off-season regular. The cover of the 10.5” x 14” sheet music is largely separated from the back cover. Otherwise, the music is vg-ex. The back promotes “I Want a Girl Just Like the Girl that Married Dear Old Dad” as “The Greatest March Ballad Ever Written.” The second sheet music, “Remember Me to My Old Gal,” may very well have a vaudeville connection. The cover claims that this 1912 song was “Successfully Introduced by Those Three Great Ball Players, Chief Bender, Coombs and Morgan, the Heroes of the World’s Series.” They are pictured in uniform on the cover. George Moriarty, third baseman for the Detroit Tigers, wrote the words, and Al. W. Brown and J. Brandon Walsh provided the music. (Moriarty’s name is misspelled “Moriarity.”) Vg+ to ex. Sheet music for “That Baseball Rag” doesn’t mention any A’s or picture them, but the team is designated with a World’s Champions 1913” pennant on the front cover. Dave Wolff wrote the words and Clarence Jones, the music, to this 1913 song. Vg+ with a tiny chip at the bottom right edge of the cover. As published, this sheet music ranges from 10” to 10.5” x 13.5” x 14.” It is complete. Recently, one of these three pieces, with a page missing, was offered for more than $170. We’ll start the bidding a bit lower. Winning Bid $55.
