Lot 1. Original 1933-34 “Sky Birds” Artwork of Canadian WWI Pilot Lt. Alan A. McLeod. This original gouache painting, approximately 4.75” x 5.75”, was used to create card #85 in the 108-card set National Chicle issued in 1933 and 1934. According to text on the card back, McLeod was the only bomber pilot in World War I to earn the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for British and Commonwealth forces for gallantry in the face of the enemy. We have not been able to confirm that he was the only bomber pilot honored, but he definitely deserved and received the award. While growing up in Manitoba Province in Canada, McLeod was only 15 when he first tried, unsuccessfully, to enlist in the military to serve in World War I. At the age of 18, he was more successful, and after training, he was shipped to France. He was still only 18 on March 27, 1918 when, flying over Albert, France, in a Whitworth F.K.8, he and his observer, Lt. Arthur Hammond, destroyed an enemy triplane. Immediately they were attacked by eight planes; they brought down three. During the battle, McLeod and Hammond both were wounded by machine gun bullets. When their plane’s gas tank was punctured and the aircraft set on fire, McLeod maneuvered the plane into a very steep side-slip to fan the flames away from him and Hammond. The flames continued to scorch him, however. To escape them, he then jumped out of the cockpit onto the left wing and crouched low, with the joystick pulled hard over in his right hand. Next he smashed a hole through the fabric in the fuselage so that he could reach the rudder-wire with his left hand and guide the plane. His action kept the flames away from him and Hammond and prevented the aircraft from burning up. During this time, the plane apparently remained under enemy fire. When it finally crashed in No Man's Land, McLeod, despite his own injuries, dragged Hammond from the burning wreckage and, under heavy fire, carried him to relative safety before collapsing from exhaustion and loss of blood. McLeod had three wounds; the six Hammond received caused him to lose a leg. Prior to this encounter, McLeod apparently was known for using his bomber as a fighter plane when he could. He and his observer had shot down several German aircraft. To recuperate from his injuries, McLeod returned to Manitoba. He was only 19 when the Spanish influenza epidemic claimed his life there. At the invitation of McLeod’s family, Hammond moved to Manitoba after the war. He remained in Canada and died there in 1959 at the age of 69. This one-of-a-kind National Chicle artwork of McLeod shows a number of tiny, light stains. It is free of creases and displays beautifully. (For an example of McLeod’s “Sky Birds” card, please see Lot 648.)
Winning Bid $3,146
Lot 2. 1933-34 Goudey R309-1 Babe Ruth Premium. This one is perfectly focused and exhibits excellent contrast. There are a number of creases, but the image of Ruth remains sharp and largely unaffected by them. The easel on the back is absent, and there is evidence of scrapbook residue on the back. Otherwise, the premium is as it should be top to bottom and side to side, with no alterations to the borders. It is an attractive example. A premium in similar condition sold in June for $2,000 on eBay.
Winning Bid $1,099
Lot 3. Scarce 1957 Sohio Gas Cincinnati Reds Complete Set of 18 Photocards with the Album. These 5” x 7” black and white photocards, perforated on the sides and blank-backed, are in great shape. They were meant to be pasted into the accompanying album, which is in exceptionally nice condition. Happily, none were. Players are: Bailey ex-m+, Bell ex-m+, Bridges nm+, Burgess ex-m+, Freeman nm+, Grammas nm, Gross ex-m+, Hacker ex-m+, Hoak nm-m, Jeffcoat vg+, Klippstein nm, Kluszewski (minor ink stain on the back; otherwise) ex-m, Lawrence nm, McMillan ex-m+, Nuxhall ex+, Post nm, F. Robinson ex-m+ and Temple nm.
Winning Bid $163
Lot 4. Lou Gehrig 1934-49 Hillerich & Bradsby 125 L.G. Store Model Bat. This 35-inch, 32-ounce bat has “Trade Mark Reg.” under the label. The “L.G.” designation is part of the label, next to “125.” The bat has been well used. The Hornsby knob, with “35” engraved on the top, shows a small chip. Soiling and stains are present on the barrel. Striations in the wood affect the “Geh” in Gehrig’s name, which is recognizable and presentable. These bats are scarce, and this is a collectible, affordable example.
Winning Bid $100
Lot 5. NY Yankees 1942 Team Baseball Signed by McCarthy, DiMaggio, Dickey and Gomez. Twenty-four autographs are on an ex-m Official American League Harridge baseball. Fourteen signatures are ex 5 to nm 7. They include Joe McCarthy (nm 7) on the sweet spot; George Selkirk, Jim Turner, Hank Borowy and Joe DiMaggio (ex 5 to ex-m 6) on the north panel; Marv Breuer and Bud Hassett on the south; Lefty Grove (ex 5) on the east; and Bill Dickey (ex-m 6), Roy Cullenbine, Charlie Keller, Arthur Fletcher (coach), Tuck Stainback and a second Joe DiMaggio (ex 5 to ex-m 6) autograph on the west. Eight more autographs are generally vg-ex 4, with some vg-ex 4 to ex 5: Rollie Hemsley (vg 3 to vg-ex 4) above McCarthy on the sweet spot; Phil Rizzuto and Spud Chandler on the north; Red Ruffing, Red Rolfe, John Lindell, Ernie (Tiny) Bonham and one indecipherable on the south; and Johnny Murphy on the east. The ball also has a clubhouse Joe Gordon signature. These Yankees finished the season atop the American League, nine games ahead of the Red Sox. In the World Series, they lost to the Cardinals in five games.
Winning Bid $1,129
Lot 6. 80 Different Baseball HoF Autographs on 8” x 10 Photos. Unless otherwise noted, these 80 signatures are nm-m 8 or better on black & white photos: Hank Aaron (ex-m 6), Luis Aparicio (color photo), “Luke” Appling, Rich Ashburn (color), Earl Averill, Ernie Banks (color photo), “Al” Barlick, James “Cool Papa” Bell, Yogi Berra, Lou Boudreau, Lou Brock, Jim Bunning (color), Steve Carlton (color), Orlando Cepeda (color), A.B. Chandler, Jocko Conlan, Stanley Coveleski, Ray Dandridge (color), Leon Day, Bill Dickey (ex 5), Larry Doby (color), Bob Doerr, Bob Feller, Rick Ferrell, Rollie Fingers (color), Whitey Ford, Chas. Gehringer, Lefty Gomez, Goose Gossage (color), Hank Greenberg, Burleigh A. Grimes, Doug Harvey, Billy Herman, Waite C Hoyt, Carl Hubbell (pictured with Lou Gehrig), Monte Irvin, Judy Johnson (personalized), Al Kaline, George Kell, George L. Kelly, Harmon Killebrew, Ralph Kiner, Bob Lemon (nm 7 to nm-m 8), Buck Leonard, Al Lopez, Ted Lyons, Eddie Mathews, Lee MacPhail, Juan Marichal, Willie Mays (signed a reproduction of a 1954 “Time” cover), Bill Mazeroski, Joe McCarthy, Willie McCovey (color), Johnny Mize, Eddie Murray (color), Stan Musial, Hal Newhouser (color), Phil Niekro (color), Tony Perez (color), Gaylord Perry (color), Pee Wee Reese, Phil Rizzuto (color), Robin Roberts (ex-m 6 to nm 7), Brooks Robinson (color), Frank Robinson, Edd Roush, Red Schoendienst (color), Joe Sewell, Enos Slaughter, Duke Snider, Warren Spahn, Don Sutton (color), Wm H (Bill) Terry, Lloyd Waner (added “Little Poison”), Earl Weaver (ex 5 to ex-m 6, strong autograph, dark background), Hoyt Wilhelm, Billy Williams (color), Dick Williams (color), Dave Winfield (color) and Early Wynn.
Winning Bid $2,004
Lot 7. Ted Williams, Stan Musial and Willie Mays Autographs on an 8” x 10” B&W Photo. Mint 9 to gem mint 10 Sharpie signatures by these stars of the 1940s-60s. Despite significant changes in baseball and their combined loss of more than seven seasons to military service, these baseball icons still rank among the top 32 in home runs and the top 15 in runs batted in. On its list of 100 Greatest Players of the 20th century, “The Sporting News ranked Mays second, Williams eighth and Musial tenth.
Winning Bid $321
Lot 8. Scarce Lou Brock Signed Letter on Cardinals Stationery. Letters signed by Brock are scarce. This autograph is nm-m 8 to mint 9 on a 1978 letter with this baseball content: “Breaking Ty Cobb’s record was a big honor for me and it was nice to receive your letter of congratulations.” And “I’m looking forward to seeing that plaque in the Hall of Fame showing Louis Clark Brock had a lifetime total in excess of 3,000 hits and 1,000 stolen bases.” Brock surpassed his first goal but fell short of his second. In his first year of eligibility in 1985, he was elected to the Hall of Fame. He died last year at the age of 81.
Winning Bid $403
Lot 9. 1950s “PREMIERE Gum and Card Vendor” Vending Machine. This vintage machine dispensed gumballs and cards in the 1950s. It measures 13” x 12 ¾” x 5 ½”. The two glass panels displaying the cards are intact, as is the center glass panel. The baseball cards pictured are included. The machine shows moderately light wear with several nicks in the paint and minor oxidation on the silver parts. Well over 90% of the paint is present. It is in good working order. A key that provides access to the machine’s interior is present. Text says “Premiere Ball Gum and Card 2 cents.”
Winning Bid $932
Lot 10. 6 Different 1935 Wheaties All-Americans of 1934 – One-Half of the Set with Don Hutson. These fancy-frame cards were cut from the backs of Wheaties cereal boxes. The Hutson card is the key to this set. After starring as an end at the University of Alabama, he had an 11-season Hall of Fame career with Green Bay, helping the Packers to win three NFL championships and leading the league in receptions eight times, in receiving yards seven times and in receiving touchdowns nine times. And playing both offense and defense, he led the NFL in interceptions in 1940. Of course, he made “The Sporting News” list of Football’s 100 Greatest Players – coming in at No. 6. With the fancy frame, these cards measure about 6” x 6.5”. The Hutson card retains the inner frame and is 5 5/8” x 6”. As neatly cut from the box, it is free of creases and grades vg+ to ex. Two of the five other players were Hutson’s teammates at Alabama. The list follows; all grades represent the card as cut from the box: Millard “Dixie” Howell, the second most important card in the set, 5.5” x 6.25”, tiny pin hole at the top, otherwise vg. Howell was an All-American halfback at Alabama. He played one season for the Washington Redskins, spent eight seasons in minor league baseball and coached both. He is mentioned in popular culture, including the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” and in Randy Newman’s song “My Daddy Knew Dixie Howell.” He is in the College Football Hall of Fame. Also representing Alabama – tackle Bill Lee, 6” x 6.5”, vg with the full fancy frame that has a chip in the upper right corner and small tears in both upper corners; within the inner frame, the card is free of defects. In the NFL, Lee played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and was Hutson’s teammate on the Packers’ 1939 championship team. He was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1930s. George Maddox, 5.5” x 6.25” with the inside frame present. A tackle, Maddox was the captain of Kansas State’s 1934 team, and he played for the Green Bay Packers in 1935. He is in the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame. The card has a barely noticeable pin hole at the top and two tiny pin holes at the bottom; otherwise, vg+. J. Regis Monahan, 5 3/8” x 5 7/8” with the inside frame, vg-ex. A guard at Ohio State, he played for the Detroit Lions for four years, including the 1935 NFL championship season, and also appeared in two games for the Chicago Cardinals. And John Robinson, no frame, trimmed to 5” x 5 3/8”, two pin holes, p-f. Robinson was the center for the 1934 Notre Dame team, which was coached by Elmer Layden.
Winning Bid $433
Lot 11. Vince Lombardi Large, Bold PSA-Authenticated Autograph. The mint 9 to gem mint 10 autograph in black fountain pen ink is on the back of a 1967 Green Bay Packers’ 6” x 9” color team postcard. The 3.5” sprawling autograph is written across a completely white background and displays magnificently! It comes with a FULL PSA LETTER. Lombardi is widely regarded as the greatest coach in NFL history. He led the Packers to five NFL championships in seven years and won the first two Super Bowls. He never had a losing season in the NFL. His teams won 73.8 percent of their regular-season games and 90% of their post-season encounters. Cancer claimed Lombardi’s life in 1970. The following year, he was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the Super Bowl trophy was renamed for him.
Winning Bid $770
Lot 12. Basketball Signed by George Mikan – Charter HoF Member – with “H.O.F. 59” Added. One of the game’s greatest players, Mikan, at 6’ 10”, was instrumental in defining basketball as a game of big men. A prolific rebounder and shot blocker, he was known also for his ambidextrous hook shot. Mikan’s pro career spanned 1946-56 in the National Basketball League, Basketball Association of America and NBA. He led the NBL in scoring in 1948, and the NBA, three times. Mikan was the first player inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959. After his playing career ended, he helped to create and became the commissioner of the American Basketball Association. In 1996, he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history. He died in 2005. His autograph is large and bold, mint 9, immediately north of the Spalding logo on an Official NBA indoor outdoor basketball. Scarce memento from a pro basketball pioneer and superstar!
Winning Bid $301
Lot 13. 1997 WNBA Phoenix Mercury Signed Basketball - Lieberman, Miller, 12 More. The 1997 season was the first for the Women’s National Basketball Association. Cheryl Miller coached the Phoenix team, and Nancy Lieberman was its most recognizable star. Lieberman is now a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Miller was inducted into the Naismith HoF in 1995; four years later, she was in the inaugural class of the Women’s HoF. In addition, in 2010, in recognition of her international accomplishments, she was enshrined in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Hall of Fame. During the 1997 season, Phoenix won the WNBA Western Conference title but lost to New York Liberty in the playoff semifinals. Miller autographed the panel of the Spalding full-sized basketball that presents the WNBA logo. She shares the panel with Steve Smith, the team’s assistant coach. Both signatures are mint 9 to gem mint 10. Signing as “Nancy Lieberman-Cline” and adding her uniform number, Lieberman and teammate Desma Thomas placed large, bold gem mint 10 autographs on another panel. Other signatures are by Tia Jackson and Jennifer Gillom, both gem mint 10; Tara Williams and Toni Foster, nm 8; Miko Hagiwara, mint 9, and Monique Ambers, nm 7; Umeki Webb and Bridget Pettis, mint 9; and Michele Timms and Marlies Askamp, nm-m 8 to mint 9. In addition, Smith, the assistant coach, single-signed a panel; the autograph is gem mint 10. Foster finished the season among the WNBA’s top 10 in rebounds, steals, blocks and field goal percentage. Gillom ranked among the top 10 in free throw percentage, field goals, points and points per game. And Timms was among the leaders in three categories – steals, assists and minutes per game. At age 39, Lieberman was the oldest player in the league; she missed much of the season with injuries. Miller subsequently served as sports reporter for TNT and other media. She is now the women’s head basketball coach California State Los Angeles. Generally regarded as one of the top contributors to U.S. women’s basketball, Lieberman served as a coach and general manager in the WNBA, as an assistant coach in the NBA and, more recently, as a broadcaster with the New York Pelicans. Timms and Gillom are members of the Women’s Basketball. Timms is also in FIFA Hall of Fame.
Winning Bid $61
Lot 14. Scarce 1979 “Supersisters” Set of 72 Cards. This set is both a sport and non-sport issue, containing the photos and stories of women who achieved success in multiple fields. It includes Suzy “Chapstick” Chaffee, champion skier, ex-m; Nancy Dickerson, the first woman TV news correspondent for CBS and the first woman anchor at NBC, nm; Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman nominated for President by a major U.S. political party, nm+; Margaret Mead, the distinguished anthropologist, mint; Bonnie Tiburzi, the first woman hired as a pilot by a major U.S. airline, nm+; Rosa Parks, “the mother of the modern civil rights movement,” nm-m+; Gloria Steinem, “Ms.” magazine founder and editor and leader of the women’s movement, nm-m; Helen Hayes, “the First Lady of the American Theater,” mint; Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress, nm, and 63 more. The set originated in 1978 from a question nine-year-old Melissa Rich, a baseball card collector, asked her mother, Lois: "Mom, why aren't there any pictures of girls on the cards? It isn't fair!" In response, Lois Rich, with the help of her sister, Barbara Ergerman, obtained a $3,000 grant through the New York State Education Department and created the set. The cards have color or sepia photos on the front and information on the individual’s achievements on the back. Cards generally range from nm to mint and average nm-m.
Winning Bid $301
Lot 15. Scarce 1951 Bowman R701-13 “Jets, Rockets, Spacemen” Near Set – 102 of 108 Cards. This fantastic futuristic set presents colorful scenes of earthlings exploring the universe. The stories on the card backs provide entertaining reading. The missing cards are all from the middle series - #37, 38, 47, 55, 56 and 60. Card #1 grades vg+, and #108, vg+. Here are the grades of the cards by series: #1-36, ex 2 cards, vg-ex 16, vg 10, g 5 and f 2. #37-72, ex 1 card, vg-ex 13, vg 6, g 5, f 4 and p 1. And #73-108, ex 2 cards, vg-ex 26, vg 4, and g 3. This Bowman offering is one of the stars of the non-sport universe.
Winning Bid $433
