Baseball Autographs – Signed “Sporting News” Covers (Full Issues)
8 Lots
Lot 62. 13 Autographs of 12 St. Louis Browns. The signatures are by Hank Arft, Ned Garver, Joe Grace, Don Gutteridge, Bill Jennings, Chet Laabs, Don Lenhardt, George McQuinn, Joe Schultz, Roy Sievers and Zack Taylor and Al “Zeke” Zarilla. Six are on the first title page of the 1991 hardcover book “The 1922 St. Louis Browns: Best of the American League’s Worst” by Roger A. Godin. Published without a dust jacket, the book is fine. Arft (Browns player 1948-52), Gutteridge (1942-45), Jennings (1951), Lenhardt (1950-53), Schultz (1943-48) and Sievers (1949-53) placed mint 9 to gem mint 10 signatures in the book. The page is signed also by St. Louis sportswriters Bob Broeg and Neal Russo and St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Tom Poholsky. Garver (1948-52) signed a 1951 souvenir program for “Ned Garver Day” in Defiance, OH, and an accompanying schedule. Both signatures are mint 9 to gem mint 10. The four other players signed various media: Joe Grace (1938-41, 1946), 2” x 3” card with his photo added, nm 7. Chet Laabs (1939-46), 3.75” x 6” Jack Sords newspaper cartoon, nm-m 8 to mint 9. George McQuinn (1938-45), 3.75” x 6.5” photo from “Baseball Digest,” nm-m 8 to mint 9 autograph. Taylor (manager, 1946 and 1948-51), mint 9 at the end of a two-page baseball resume. And Zarilla (1943-44, 1946-49), 1985 TCMA 1948 Play Ball card, mint 9. Five of these players had some role in the Browns’ lone American League Championship season (1944), and Taylor was a coach. All of these individuals are deceased. PSA/DNA Pre-Certified.
Winning Bid $25
Lot 63. George Brett Mint 9 to Gem Mint 10 Autograph on a “Sporting News” Cover. Nice blue sharpie signature across his image on the cover of the April 26, 1980 full edition. The publication shows edge soiling that could be matted out; otherwise, it is ex-m. The photo and autograph are outstanding! Brett was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. “TSN” ranked him 55th on its 1998 list of “Baseball’s 100 Greatest Players.” PSA/DNA Pre-Certified.
Winning Bid $35
Lot 64. Sandy Koufax Gorgeous Signature on the Cover of “The Sporting News,” Jan. 8, 1966. Large, strong signature by Koufax extending 3 ½” across his image, mint 9 on a somewhat dark background. The cover of the issue, which is complete, focuses on Koufax as the athlete who “had no peer in the production of (sports) thrills in 1965.” Two corners of the publication, which is complete, have been clipped, and a third shows some rounding; otherwise, the tabloid has an ex to ex-m appearance. On the first ballot in 1972, Koufax was voted into the Hall of Fame with a 165-87 record, a .655 winning percentage (.733 from 1961-66), a 2.76 ERA (five ERA titles from 1961-66), four strikeout titles and four no-hitters, including a perfect game. “TSN” listed him 26th on its 1998 list of “Baseball’s 100 Greatest Players.” PSA/DNA Pre-Certified.
Winning Bid $92
Lot 65. Outstanding Mickey Mantle Autograph on the Cover of the April 6, 1968 “Sporting News." Beautiful gem mint 10 autograph that extends for more than 5” across the 11.5” x 16” publication with Mantle and his family on the cover. This issue is complete. Two clipped corners and wear and foxing along the edges could be matted out to turn the cover or full publication into a fabulous display item. Mantle entered the Hall of Fame in 1974, his first year of eligibility, with 536 home runs, 1,509 RBI, a .298 career batting average, 20 All-Star appearances, seven World Series championships, three AL MVP awards and numerous other honors. He died in 1995 at the age of 63. PSA/DNA Pre-Certified.
Winning Bid $100
Lot 66. Cal Ripken Jr. Superb, Large Blue Sharpie Signature on a “Sporting News” Cover. Gem mint 10 autograph on the cover of the March 5, 1984 full edition showing him during his first MVP season! Cal’s signature is silhouetted against off-white paper for excellent eye appeal! The nm+ publication shows very light wear and very minor edge foxing. This outstanding display item is offered here for far less than Ripken’s show autograph price! Ripken receives full-page coverage inside. During his Hall of Fame career (2007 first-ballot induction), the Baltimore Orioles’ third baseman was the AL MVP again 1991. He also was the 1982 AL Rookie of the Year, a 19-time All-Star, eight-time Silver Slugger and received two Gold Glove Awards, collected 3,184 hits including 431 home runs, batted in 1,695 runs and set the record for consecutive games played (2,632). PSA/DNA Pre-Certified.
Minimum Bid $50
Lot 67. Frank Robinson Beautifully Signed Magnificent Portrait on a “Sporting News” Cover. A smiling photo of Robinson, designated the “All-Star of All-Stars,” occupies almost all of the publication’s 11.5” x 16” cover. Robinson’s blue sharpie autograph is unimprovable, a gem mint 10 sprawling almost 4.5” across his off-white jersey. The magazine, which is complete, has two slightly clipped corners, a chipped lower left corner on the cover, and minor border foxing. All of these conditions could easily be matted out to create a wonderful Robinson display. Inside, Robinson receives coverage on parts of two pages. A full-page is devoted to him by Rawlings as the winner of its “Arch Ward Memorial Award” as the MVP of the 1971 All-Star Game. In his Hall of Fame career as an outfielder, Robinson played for the Reds, Orioles, Dodgers, Angels and Indians. In 1975, with the Indians, he became MLB’s first black manager. The only player to earn MVP honors in both the American and National Leagues, Robinson was 1956 NL Rookie of the Year, a 14-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion, 1966 World Series MVP and Triple Crown achiever, and a 1958 Gold Glove recipient. He was also the 1989 AL Manager of the Year. For his career, he batted .294 with 2,943 hits, 586 home runs and 1,812 RBI. In 1982, Robinson was a first-ballot inductee into the Hall of Fame. He died in 2019. This is the finest Robinson signed item we have seen. PSA/DNA Pre-Certified.
Winning Bid $25
Lot 68. Autographs of Brooks and Frank Robinson as Orioles on Separate “Sporting News” Issues. Both issues are complete. Brooks and Frank Robinson were teammates in Baltimore from 1966-71. During these six seasons, they appeared in four World Series and emerged twice as World Champions. Brooks autographed the Aug. 1, 1983 “TSN” marking his Hall of Fame induction. The cover features the HoF Class of 1983 with depictions of him, Walter Alston, Juan Marichal and George Kell. His autograph on his image is mint 9 to gem mint 10. The publication shows a light horizontal fold, edge toning and a partially removed mailing label. Robinson’s Hall of Fame election came in his first year of eligibility with support on almost 92 percent of the ballots. In 23 MLB seasons (including four in which he played in 50 games or fewer), Robinson was an 18-time All-Star and a 16-time Gold Glove recipient. He was the A.L. RBI leader and MVP in 1964 and the World Series MVP. He is widely regarded as baseball’s best defensive third baseman. Frank Robinson placed a mint 9 blue Sharpie signature across his image on the cover of the complete July 20, 1987 issue, which has some edge foxing, and the mailing label has been removed. He shares the cover with a beauty pageant winner and bowler and a football photo. Frank Robinson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1982, the first year he was eligible. In 1975, he became baseball’s first black manager. His accomplishments also include 1956 N.L. Rookie of the Year, an All-Star 14 times, the only player to receive MVP honors in both the N.L. and A.L., the Triple Crown in 1966 and A.L. Manager of the Year in 1989. His leadership played an important role in the Orioles’ 1966-71 success. Robinson died in 2019. PSA/DNA Pre-Certified.
Winning Bid $30
Lot 69. Ted Williams Huge, Fabulous Autograph on the March 15, 1969 “Sporting News” Cover. Williams’ blue sharpie signature, covering 4.5”, is gem mint 10 on a light gray background. His portrait, as skipper of the Washington Senators, fills most of the 11.5” by almost 16” cover. The magazine is complete with two clipped corners, very light edge foxing and a light horizontal crease. In “TSN’s 1998 list of “Baseball’s 100 Greatest Players,” Williams ranked eighth. Only Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Hank Aaron, Lou Gehrig and Christy Mathewson were rated ahead of him. In 19 seasons, all with the Boston Red Sox, Williams was a 19-time All-Star, two-time AL MVP, six-time AL batting champion and four-time AL home run and RBI leader. Twice he achieved the Triple Crown. For his career, he batted .344 and collected 2,654 hits, 521 home runs and 1,839 RBI. His on-base percentage was .482. In 1941, he was the last MLB player to hit at least .400 (.406) in a season. He was selected for the MLB All-Century and All-Time Teams. His numbers would have been higher if he had not lost three seasons to military service in World War II and another to service in the Korean War. In 1966, the first year he was eligible, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame. From 1969-71, he managed the Washington Senators, and in 1972, the Texas Rangers. He was the AL Manager of the Year in 1969. In 1991, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award bestowed by the United States government. He died in 2002. PSA/DNA Pre-Certified.
Winning Bid $110
