Baseball Autographs - Teams on Baseballs, 1939 Team Pages, Etc.
10 Lots
Lot 52. 1939 Boston Braves (Bees) Team Sheet Signed by 25 – HoFers Stengel, Kelly and Lopez. With Casey Stengel in his second season as the team’s manager, the Bees landed in seventh place in the NL standings with a 63-88-1 record. Former New York Giants teammate George L. Kelly was one of Stengel’s coaches, and Al Lopez was his team’s starting catcher. A complete list of Braves that signed the 8” x 11” team sheet follows. The sheet includes the 1939 Centennial of Baseball U.S. Postal Service stamp. The autographs are generally mint 9 or better. The Kelly signature has a slight retrace on the “G”; it appears that Kelly replaced a malfunctioning pen. Many of the autographs are scarce: Stanley Andrews, Barney Barnicle, John Cooney, Tom Earley, Leif Erickson, Lou Fette, Fred Frankhouse, Debs Garms, Bud Hassett, George Kelly (HoF 1973), Mike Kelly, John Lanning, Al Lopez (HoF 1977), Dan MacFayden, Hank Majeski, Phil Masi, Jim Outlaw, Carvel Powell, Sibby Sisti, Casey Stengel (HoF 1966), Joe Sullivan, Jim Turner, Rabbit Warstler (died 1964), Max West and Bill Wietelmann. PSA/DNA Pre-Certified.
Winning Bid $125
Lot 53. 1939 Philadelphia Phillies Team Sheet Signed by 23. By finishing last in the NL with a 45-106-1 record, this team helped manager “Doc” Prothro to compile what remains the worst career winning percentage among major league managers – .301 based on a 138-320 record. His son Tommy had more success as a football coach for Oregon State and UCLA; he is in the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach. One of Prothro’s coaches – Hans Lobert – is one of baseball’s more interesting individuals. In a playing career that spanned 1903-17 with five different NL teams, Lobert was known primarily for his speed. In 1913 at the Polo Grounds, he beat Jim Thorpe in a 100-yard dash. In 1908, he stole second base, third and home in the same inning. Before one game, he raced a racehorse around the bases. Lawrence Ritter recounted that event in his 1966 book “The Glory of Their Times.” In seven of eight seasons from 1907-14, he stole at least 30 bases, at least 40 four times, and as many as 47. In 1910, he stole 41 bases while appearing in only 93 games. A complete list of Phillies that signed the 8” x 11” team sheet follows. The sheet includes the 1939 Centennial of Baseball U.S. Postal Service stamp. The autographs are generally mint 9 or better: Morris Arnovich, Walter Beck, Jack Bolling, Gibby Brack (died 1960), Ray Bruner, Virgil Davis, Bud Hafey, Ray Harrell, Kirby Higbe, Roy Hughes, Syl Johnson, Bill Kirksieck, Hans Lobert, Herschel Martin, Leo Miller Walter Millies, Emmett Mueller, Hugh Mulcahy, Ike Pearson, Doc Prothro, George Scharein, Gus Suhr and Del Young. PSA/DNA Pre-Certified.
Winning Bid $138
Lot 54. 1939 St. Louis Browns Team Sheet Signed by 25. With Fred Haney as manager, the 1939 Browns finished last in the American League with a record of 43-111-2. One of the more recognizable names on this team is rookie John Berardino, who had a successful acting career after he retired from baseball. He was an infielder for the Browns, Indians and Pirates, 1939-52; he missed three seasons while serving in World War II. He began acting in 1948 and was part of the “General Hospital” daytime TV show from its beginning in 1963 until his death in 1996. For his work on the program, he received three Daytime Emmy Award nominations and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is the only individual to have a star and win a World Series (1948). A complete list of Browns that signed the 8” x 11” team sheet follows. The sheet includes the 1939 Centennial of Baseball U.S. Postal Service stamp. The autographs are generally mint 9 or better. Many of them are scarce: John Berardino, Mark Christman, Harland Clift, Joe Gallagher, George Gill, Joe Glenn, Joe Grace, Fred Haney, Bob Harris, Sam Harshany, Don Heffner, Fred Hofmann (died 1964), Myril Hoag, Vern Kennedy, Jack Kramer, Chet Laabs, Roxie Lawson, George McQuinn, Howard Mills, Frank Shellenback, Julius Solters, Hal Spindel, Bill Sullivan, Bill Trotter and John Whitehead. PSA/DNA Pre-Certified.
Winning Bid $113
Lot 55. 1939 Chicago White Sox Team Sheet Signed by 26 – Appling, Lyons, Stratton, Etc. These White Sox finished fourth in the American League with an 85-69-1 record. Future Hall of Fame (1964) shortstop Luke Appling batted .314 and was selected for the All-Star game. He was a seven-time All-Star in his career. Future HoF (1955) pitcher Ted Lyons posted a 14-6 record with a 2.76 ERA. He also was an All-Star. Using a wooden leg, Stratton served as a coach and batting practice pitcher. In Nov. 1938, a hunting accident resulted in the amputation of his right leg. From 1934-38, Stratton pitched for the Sox and posted a 36-23 record. He was an All-Star in 1937. His efforts to return to MLB as a pitcher were portrayed in the 1949 movie “The Stratton Story” with Jimmy Stewart as Stratton. A complete list of White Sox that signed the 8” x 11” team sheet follows. The sheet includes the 1939 Centennial of Baseball U.S. Postal Service stamp. The autographs are outstanding, generally mint 9 or better. Many of them are scarce: Luke Appling, Ollie Bejema, Harry Boyles, Clint Brown (died 1955), Bill Dietrich, Jimmie Dykes (manager), Vallie Eaves (d. 1960), Johnny Gerlach, Jack Hayes, Jack Knott, Joe Kuhel, Thornton Lee, Ted Lyons, Johnny Marcum, Eric McNair (d. 1949), Marv Owen, Rip Radcliff (d. 1962), Tony Rensa, John Rigney, Larry Rosenthal, Muddy Ruel (d. 1963), Norm Schlueter, Eddie Smith, Monty Stratton, Mike Tresh (d. 1966) and Billy J. Webb (coach, d. 1943). PSA/DNA Pre-Certified.
Winning Bid $125
Lot 56. 1939 St. Paul Saints Minor League Team Sheet Signed by 22 - 15 with Big League Service. This team was an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Signers who played for a Major League team are Lloyd Brown (6 MLB teams, 1925-40), Merritt “Sugar” Cain (Athletics, Browns, White Sox), Gil English (4 teams, 1931-44), Vic Frazier (4 teams, 1931-39), F. P. “Babe” Ganzel (Senators, 1927-28; in his second season as the Saints’ manager), Art Herring (four teams, 1929-47), “Vedie” Himsl (Saints pitcher; Cubs coach 1960-64 and briefly managed in 1961), Johnny Pasek (Tigers, Sox – 32 games 1933-34), Babe Phelps (4 teams 1931-42; three-time All-Star for Dodgers), Bobby Reis (Robins (Dodgers), Braves, 1931-38), Ken Silvestri (Sox, Yankees, Phils, 1939-51), George Stumpf (Red Sox, White Sox, 1931-36), (James) Harry Taylor (Dodgers, Red Sox, 1946-52), Leo Wells (White Sox, 1942 and 1946), and Tony York (28 games for the Cubs in 1944). Seven others who signed the sheet did not play in the Majors. The autographs are generally mint 9 or better; many are scarce. They are on an 8” x 11” sheet includes four canceled 1939 Centennial of Baseball U.S. Postal Service stamps. PSA/DNA Pre-Certified.
Winning Bid $65
Lot 57. OAL Harridge Baseball Signed by 19 1946 St. Louis Browns - with a Full PSA/DNA LoA. Manager Luke Sewell and pitcher Jack Kramer signed the sweet spot of this off-white ex-m Reach Official American League baseball, which is evenly, lightly toned and shows wear on the William Harridge facsimile autograph. The north panel has the names of Vern Stephens, Hank Helf, Sam Zoldak, Lou Finnie and Al Zarilla; the south, Z. (Zack) Taylor (coach), Al Hollingsworth, Tex Shirley, Steve Sundra and John Lucadello; the east, Bob Dillinger and John (Ox) Miller; and the west, Walter Judnich, Fred Hofmann (coach), Chuck Stevens, Len Schulte and Stan Ferens. The autographs are primarily nm-m 8 with some nm 7 and mint 9. This St. Louis team finished seventh in the American League with a 66-88 record. Stephens was one of the team’s stars. In six full seasons in St. Louis, he was a three-time All-Star shortstop who finished in the top 10 in MVP voting four times. The cleanup batter for the 1944 AL Champion Browns and the 1945 AL home run champion, he led the league in RBI three times, once with St. Louis. The PSA/DNA Letter of Authenticity is dated Sept. 22, 2022.
Winning Bid $100
Lot 58. 1950 Boston Braves Team-Signed Ball – Jethroe, HoFer Southworth – with a PSA/DNA LoA. This Official Spalding National League Baseball and its 19 Braves autographs are accompanied by a Sept. 22, 2022 Letter of Authenticity from PSADNA. The sweet spot has the autographs of manager Billy Southworth and infielder Sibby Sisti; the north panel, Bob Keely (coach), Del Crandall, Bucky Walters (coach), Bob Elliot and John Sain; the south, Sid Gordon, Gene Mauch, Willard Marshall, Jimmy Brown (coach), Normie Roy and Sam Jethroe; the east, Paul Burns, Bob Hall and Bob Chipman; and the west, Luis Olmo, Ernie Johnson and Pete Reiser. The ball also has clubhouse signatures of John Antonelli, Johnny Cooney and Warren Spahn, all on the west panel, and Bobby Hogue, on the north. The ball is a light cream color with darker, uneven toning on the north panel. Ex 5. The autographs are primarily nm-m 8, with some nm 7 and mint 9. Southworth batted .297 through 13 seasons as an outfielder, but he was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee after he had success as a manager in 1929 and 1940-51. He led the St. Louis Cardinals to three NL pennants and two World Championships. With the Cardinals, he compiled a .642 winning percentage, the second best in the team’s history. He also won a pennant with the Boston Braves. In the 1950 season represented here, Jethroe was the Braves’ first black player and the NL Rookie of the Year. He starred in the Negro Leagues before joining Boston at the age of 32.
Winning Bid $110
Lot 59. 1963 Team Ball Signed by Musial, Schoendienst, Minoso & 13 More St. Louis Cardinals. These three Hall of Fame players head the list of signers on this Rawlings Bobby Shantz ex to ex-m baseball. Stan Musial and Minnie Minoso autographed the north panel, and Red Schoendienst, the sweet spot. Generally, the autographs are nm 7. Joining Musial and Minoso are Ed Bauta, Tom Smith and an unidentified signer. Smith’s autograph on this ball is uncommon; he never played in a regular-season MLB game. Hal Schumacher shares the sweet spot with Schoendienst. Autographs on the south panel are by Curt Flood, Tim McCarver, Johnny Keane (manager) and Eddie Stanky (in charge of player development); on the east, Howard Pollet (coach), Carl Sawatski, Cal Neeman and Ray Washburn; and on the west, Ken Boyer, Jeffrey Long, Al Cosgrove, Ernie Broglio and one other that is unidentified, apparently by a Japanese player. Bobby Shantz signed the panel with his name printed on the ball. A scuff obscures the “u” and part of the “r” in Curt Flood’s signature, and slightly affects one letter each in the McCarver and Keene autographs. This ball may very well have been signed at spring training. Four identified signers did not play for the Cardinals in 1993: Minoso was traded to the Senators on April 2. After spending part of the season in the minors, Neeman played for the Indians and Senators. And Smith and Cosgrove never played regular-season MLB baseball; in 1963, Cosgrove was the first baseman for the Cardinals’ Winnipeg team. This ball has 20 autographs, three by Hall of Fame stars, two unidentified, two by farm system players and 13 others. PSA/DNA Pre-Certified.
Winning Bid $113
Lot 60. ONL Baseball Signed by 25 1973 St. Louis Cardinals - 5 HoFers - Gibson, Brock, Etc. Manager Red Schoendienst (HoF) autographed the sweet spot of this ONL Feeney baseball. Two Hall of Fame members placed their signatures on the north panel – Bob Gibson and Joe Torre, along with Al Hrabosky, Vern Benson (coach), Ted Sizemore, Reggie Cleveland and Eddie Fisher. Signers of the south panel are John Andrews, Scipio Spinks, Tim McCarver, Lew Krause, Mick Kelleher, Rich Folkers and HoF outfielder Lou Brock. Johnny Lewis (coach), Jim Dwyer, Mike Nagy and Barney Schultz (coach) signed the east panel. The south panel presents the autographs of Rick Wise, Ted Simmons (HoF), Bake McBride, Mike Tyson, Tom Agee and Luis Melendez. The autographs are nm 7 and better. The ball is nm 7 to nm-m 8, off white, possibly lightly shellacked, and problem-free. It holds the autographs of five Hall of Fame members. PSA/DNA Pre-Certified.
Winning Bid $180
Lot 61. Pittsburgh Pirates Autographs – Bill Mazeroski, ElRoy Face and Nellie King. Mazeroski, the Pirates Hall of Fame second baseman and 1960 World Series hero, placed a mint 9 signature on an 8.5” x 11” promotion for the 1994 Upper Deck Heroes of Baseball All-Star Game. The game was played in Pittsburgh the day before the annual MLB All-Star Game. The promo has several relatively heavy creases away for Maz and his autograph. In addition to Maz, it pictures Reggie Jackson, Chuck Tanner, Steve Garvey and Willie Stargell. Face’s mint 9 to gem mint 10 signature is on an 8” x 10” color photo, and King’s mint 9 autograph, on an 8” x 10” b&w photo that has him talking with Roberto Clemente. Face is one of the better relief pitcher omitted from the HoF. His photo has light wrinkles toward the bottom. King pitched for the Pirates 1954-57 and then was part of a team that broadcast Pirates games from 1969-75. He died in 2010. Also included is a 3.5” x 6” Pirates card signed by Greg Brown, a Pirates broadcaster since 1994. His autograph is nm 7, and the card has creases at the bottom. PSA/DNA Pre-Certified.
Winning Bid $30
