Lot 1. Rare Pair of 1922 E120 American Caramel Card “Stars of Baseball” Albums. The American Caramel Co. of York, PA, certainly needs no introduction, but these albums are scarce enough that they just might. One album is for cards of National League teams, and the other, for the American League. With gold lettering on heavy black stock, each is designed to hold 120 cards over 8 pages and measures 11 1/8” x 11 7/8”. The albums are arranged by team, with a manager’s name at the top of each horizontal page and space for 15 cards. The space for each player is identified. The covers are extremely decorative, with vintage artwork surrounding the “Stars of Baseball” logo. Both albums are unused. The NL album has a 1” split along the bottom of the spine and a light corner crease. The AL album has two soft creases at the bottom left corner. These conditions are mentioned for accuracy. Both are unused, with no marks of any kind on the pages. Both have an ex-m to nm appearance. These albums turn up infrequently, and these are the finest examples we have seen. They are a must-have complement to an E120 collection!
Winning Bid $656
Lot 106. Roberto Clemente Calendar Autographed by His Family, Large Promotional Photo. Roberto’s wife, Vera Clemente, and sons, Luis R. Clemente and Roberto Clemente Jr., signed the cover of this 1994-95 commemorative calendar in bold silver sharpie. Their signatures are gem mint 10s, and the calendar is #32 of 100 that the family signed. Basic Concepts of Pittsburgh produced the calendar, which is full of Clemente-related photos. The calendar is mint. Accompanying the calendar is a tremendous 20” x 24” close-up photo of “The Great One.” Basic Concepts used the photo inside the front cover of the calendar. The photo by Kurt Gunther is mounted on ½” board and apparently was used for promotional purposes. Ex+. The image is striking. Autographs authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Minimum Bid $100
Lot 107. Rare 1973 Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Clemente Fundraiser Program, Ticket. On Dec. 31, 1972, Clemente’s plane went down on a charity mission to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. During the next year, the world scrambled to honor him, extending even to the Hall of Fame, which waived the five-year waiting period in order to induct him in 1973. On April 9, 1973, the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony conducted a concert to raise funds for “Roberto’s Youth City” in Puerto Rico. Pirates broadcaster Bob Prince served as master of ceremonies, and pitcher Nellie Briles was the soloist. The program included a greeting from Bing Crosby, a vice president with the Pirates. The 22-page b&w program has a vg-ex cover with better contents. On the outside back cover is an autograph of (Manny) Sanguillen. The signature is a 9-10. The ticket stub, which pictures Clemente, is ex. Autograph authenticated by Kevin Keating. This is the first time we have seen this program.
Winning Bid $150
Lot 108. Original 1909 Panoramic Sepia Photo of Forbes Field. This 6 ¼” x 19 ½” photo is copyrighted in the plate and stamped on the reverse by the Chautauqua Photographic Co., a Pittsburgh company that operated from 1897 to 1911. On the back, the photo is dated September, which means that it was taken within a couple of months of the ball park’s official opening on June 30. The photo shows a game in progress with the Pirates in the field. A gorgeous Oakland district cityscape is in the background. Built at a cost of $1 million, Forbes Field was one of the first steel and concrete parks. It stood for almost 62 seasons and played home to the Pirates, Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Steelers. The University of Pittsburgh played there for 14 seasons, including three under “Pop” Warner. This photo documents the field’s earliest days. The new ball park was good to Honus Wagner and his fellow Pirates. After winning 110 games and the NL pennant, they defeated Ty Cobb and the Detroit Tigers in the first ever seven-game World Series. Although the photo has seen some hard times, the image area is impressive and remains very presentable. Three corners have chips of varying sizes. A section on the left about 3” wide has been detached and is held in place with tape. There are extensive tape repairs in the sky on the left, and additional repairs on the right. Remarkably, the grandstand and the game action are untouched except for a tiny area at the top of the grandstand. The focus and contrast of the photo are outstanding. The photo is an important early piece of Forbes Field and Pittsburgh Pirates history.
Winning Bid $100
Lot 111. Rare 1960 World Champs Pittsburgh Pirates Foam Display Cushion. Our consignor found this display item in a bar in Pittsburgh. It’s the first we’ve ever seen. The shape mimics a baseball with screen-printed “Pittsburgh Pirates World Champs” above, below and between the seams and the Pirates’ mascot on the “sweet spot.” The yellow foam, 12” in diameter, has a gold silk rope for hanging at the top. There are some minor edge chips and a larger chip at 7 o’clock. The printed colors remain strong. Scarce 1960 championship collectible!
Winning Bid $75
Lot 121. Ron Stark 20” x 24” Color Print of Mickey Mantle on Canvas. Stark has been likened to Norman Rockwell, and it is easy to see why. The colors, detail and shading of Mantle’s image work together to make the artwork so captivating as to convince onlookers that Yankee star might take that swing at any moment. Stark is able to shut out the modern world and capture a moment of innocence from one of baseball’s brightest eras. Framed to 23 ½” x 27 ¾” and signed in the lower right by Stark. Magnificent!
Winning Bid $198
Lot 126. 1947 Photo of Ruth with the Inspiration for His 1926 World Series 3 HR Game. This AP wire photo captures Babe Ruth visiting with Johnny Syslvester, who inspired him to hit three home runs in Game 4 of the 1926 World Series. When Sylvester, who was 11, fell ill, members of his family contacted the Yankees and Cardinals, who were facing off for baseball’s World Championship. Both teams responded. Ruth sent a note saying that he would “knock a homer for you” in Game 4. Ruth did just that. And then for good measure, he socked two more. Sylvester recovered and lived to the age of 74. He credited Ruth with his recovery. The two men met a year before Ruth’s death. The 7” x 9” photo is vg-ex with the caption taped to the back. A light stain from the tape shows very lightly on the front. The photo is an interesting adjunct to a major World Series accomplishment and an important event in The Babe Ruth Story.
Minimum Bid $75
Lot 127. 1942 Babe Ruth Pride of the Yankees Original Press Photo. In this sepia press photo, Ruth sits in a make-up chair on the set of Pride of the Yankees, the Lou Gehrig biographical movie starring Gary Cooper. Ruth played himself in the movie. In this photo entitled “Babe in Hollywood” in the caption, Ruth stares into a mirror and holds a cigar. The caption points out that this photo was taken “before (Ruth’s) illness” and “By physician’s orders, he smokes only (a) pipe now!” The photo is 7 ½” x 9” and vg-ex.
Winning Bid $75
Lot 128. 11 1930s-40s Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig Ads. Three of the ads feature Ruth, and the remaining eight, Gehrig. Babe Ruth Ads: 1. 1934 Quaker Oats. This huge colorful ad, measuring 15 ½” x 21”, offers a mail-in coupon to join the Babe Ruth Fan Club. Membership offers the possibility of winning a Spalding Ruth model glove or baseball or a trip to New York or Chicago. The Babe’s radio show is also advertised. Two pieces about 1 ½” x 6” each are missing from the upper and lower left corners. F-g. Beautiful display potential! 2. 1933 Wheaties 8 ½” x 11 ½” color ad from the back cover of The American Magazine, Aug. 1933. Vg. 3. 1948 Chesterfield. 14” x 10 ¼” colorful ad features William Bendix as Babe Ruth in “The Babe Ruth Story.” Lou Gehrig Ads: 1. 1937 Camels, 10 ½” x 14” color, g-vg. 2. 1935 Wheaties, color, 10 ½ x 13 ¾.” Ex-m. 3. 1935 Camels, color 10 ½” x 13 3/4”, vg. 4. 1936 Gillette Razor, “For Clean-Up King, I Nominate Lou Gehrig,” 10 ½” x 13 3/4” b&w. Ex-m. 5. Colorful newspaper comic with Gehrig strip at bottom for Huskies. Ex . 6. 8” x 11 ½” color Wheaties ad. F-g. 7. Camels 8 ½” x 12” color ad with Gene Sarazen, Gehrig. Ex. 8. Camels 8 ½” x 12” color ad with Gehrig, other sports stars. Vg-ex.
Winning Bid $75
Lot 129. New York Yankees American League Champions 1950 Pennant. Blue text on a cream-colored felt field proclaims “American League Champions 1950 N.Y. Yankees.” Accompanying the text is an illustration of a catcher awaiting the ball as a runner slides home. There are pin holes in the corners and near the tip, and the tip is torn away. Technically fair, the pennant displays very nicely.
Winning Bid $100
Lot 130. Yankees Collection of 35 Items Including Yearbooks, Press Passes and Tickets. These collectibles are from the 1980s-90s: 1-2. Press passes for 1991 and 1992, laminated, ex-m. 3-4. Single-game press passes for 1985 games, vg. 5. Press pass for the 1981 East Division Series, vg+ to ex. 6-8. ALCS tickets, two from 1977 plus a stub from a unknown season, vg-ex to ex. 9-12. Three 1978 or 1979 World Champs or Opening Day pin-backs plus an undated Yankees pin, ex. Reggie Jackson and Thurman Munson are pictured on the 4” World Champs pin, nm. 13-14. Early 1960s team-issued photo postcards of Jack Reed and Steve Hamilton, ex. 15-16. Babe Ruth reprint exhibit cards, ex+ and nm. 17-19. Mickey Mantle restaurant postcard and two other postcards, ex. 20-21. Two Terry Cashman record albums: Talkin’ Baseball: American League, 33 1/3 rpm, sealed, mint, and The Bambino, The Clipper & The Mick, 45 rpm, nm with “sample” stamp on label. 22. Yankee Stadium, 45 rpm, narrated by Mel Allen, nm record in vg-ex picture sleeve. 23. 1983 Yearbook, Billy Martin cover, Babe Ruth centerfold poster, ex cover, nm inside. 24. 1983 Photo Album with great player photos, ex. 25-27. 1983 calendars, Martin cover, vg-ex, and 1984 calendar, vg+ to ex. 28. 1989 Yearbook, ex-m. 29-35. Various1998 and 1999 New York Times sports sections featuring the Yankees.
Winning Bid $204
Lot 163. 1950s Baseball Card Vending Machine by Calex Manufacturing. Forget the gum balls. This Criss Cross Card Machine was made by Calex Mfg. of Amityville, N.Y., with just one purpose in mind: to sell sports and non-sport cards. Criss Cross Cards apparently produced the “Big Little Book” series of cards in the 1930s. This card vendor holds standard-sized late 1950s baseball cards. The paper panel on the front encourages collectors to “Buy the Entire Series” by purchasing six cards for 5 cents. The steel gray machine, which is 11” wide, 6 ½” deep and 23” tall, holds a large quantity of cards. A key provides access to the machine’s interior. The exterior is ex-m. There is a small amount of paper loss on the promotional panel, which holds five 1958 Topps baseball cards. These cards are included. This vendor has been refurbished to require a quarter instead of a nickel. It is in good working order. This machine is uncommon and attractive.
Winning Bid $330
Lot 164. Fabulous 1930s Art Deco Baseball Game by Pace Mfg Co. of Chicago. This machine recalls the art deco styling of the movie theatres. Typically, they had an arcade, where children and adults likely played this game. The “field” and front are stark industrial polished steel. Hand-painted yellow and red embellishments decorate the front. For one cent, the player received five chances to press a lever on the side and fired small steel balls into slots labeled home run, single, double, triple, walk, out or shoot again. The game is 17” tall, 9” wide and 7” deep with a painted steel chassis and cherry stained wood base and crown. On its very top rests a die cut, painted steel sign with “Base Ball, Pace Mfg. Co, Chicago, Illinois.” The machine has keys and is in good operating condition. A beautiful example with a few minute paint chips or stains.
Winning Bid $1,987
Lot 165. 1950s Victor Vending Baseball Gum Machine. For 1 cent, this vintage vendor dispensed a gumball and allowed the purchaser to play a game by catapulting the ball to achieve a Single, Double, Triple, Home Run, Fly Out or Strike Out. The 16 teams that made up the major leagues then are represented by 1 ¼” decals on the front glass panel. The Dodgers were still in Brooklyn, and Cincinnati fielded the “Red Legs.” The case, 8 ¾” wide x 8 ½” deep x 13 ¾” high, is made of wood, and the front is glass and steel. On each side is a plastic panel that provides a view of the machine’s interior, which is lighted. The machine shows use, but not abuse, with a few scratches on the plastic panels and steel front. It is in good working order and comes with four keys. This is an excellent machine that displays with plenty of character.
Winning Bid $300
Lot 166. 1930 Pie-Eyed Mickey Mouse Baseball Catcher Bisque Figurine with Label. This bisque measures about 3 ¼” high, is impressed with “Walt E. Disney” on his shorts and “Made in Japan” on the backs of his shoes. Mickey retains 85% - 90% of the paint and is remarkable because on the bottom of his left shoe is a paper tag that reads “Mickey Mouse, Copy 1928-1930, by Walter E. Disney.” One of the most desirable of the Mickey Mouse bisques.
Winning Bid $264
