Return to Louisville: Hunt Auctions' Sale Set for November

Hunt Auctions, Inc. will conduct the third annual Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory Live Auction on November 10th and 11th in Louisville, KY. With over 1,000 lots of historic sports memorabilia available, the sale will be the largest yet in the three year history of the event. The company's press release states "The auction, which includes several substantive collections being offered for the first time publicly, is among the finest in the 15 year history of Hunt Auctions."

Highlights from the sports memorabilia sale include:

Roy Campanella's 1951 NL Most Valuable Player award ($150,000-$200,000)

· "Shoeless" Joe Jackson professional model baseball bat c.1911-1915 ($75,000-$125,000)

· 19th century collection from early player James "Deacon" White ($125,000-$175,000)

· 1934 Tour of Japan photography collection from umpire John Quinn ($75,000-$100,000)

· Mickey Mantle 1960 World Series game-used bat ($40,000-$60,000)

· Ty Cobb game-used bat with H&B factory side writing c.1917-21 ($40,000-$60,000)

· Lloyd Waner Pittsburgh Pirates road uniform c.1936 ($30,000-$40,000)

· Joe DiMaggio rookie era game-used bat c.1936-37 ($25,000-$35,000)

· 1924 Steve O'Niell Chicago World Tour uniform ($25,000-$35,000)

The auction will begin with an evening session of approximately (250) lots on Friday, November 10th. For those who may have missed the Joe DiMaggio Auction back in May, the first session will offer the last opportunity to obtain items from DiMaggio's personal collection including autographed pieces, photography, equipment and several Marilyn Monroe related items. All lots are being offered directly by the family of Joe DiMaggio and will include a letter of provenance.

Several other vintage DiMaggio related items of import from outside consignors will be sold during the first session including a Joe DiMaggio professional model glove (Est. $15,000-$20,000), a Joe DiMaggio rookie era professional model baseball bat ($25,000-$35,000), and a baseball attributed to be the final home run of DiMaggio’s career hit in the 1951 World Series ($10,000-$15,000).

Although Hillerich & Bradsby Co. is legendary for its Louisville Slugger baseball bats, the company also played a major role in the manufacture of golf related equipment beginning in 1916. As such, Hunt Auctions is pleased to include a portion of H&B's golf related archives, which will eventually be offered in their entirety.

The first portion being sold in the 2006 auction includes paper ephemera, autographed items, antique sports advertising materials, and vintage sports photography with several superb large format photograph, by G. Pietzcker of St. Louis incl. a Bobby Jones example (Estimates range from $500-$3,000 each).

The remainder of the initial session will include sixty-five 2006 MLB All-Star Home Run Derby/Workout Day autographed jerseys. Hunt Auctions, Inc. was selected by MLB's Baseball Assistance Team to offer the jerseys, the proceeds of which will benefit B.A.T. in its various endeavors. A total of (65) jerseys will be sold, including Ryan Howard, Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, and David Ortiz.

The second day of the live event will take place on Saturday November 11, 2006 over two sessions. Nearly (800) lots will be hammered down. Included are a selection of materials dating primarily to the 1920s-30s. Highlights include the personal collection of former Washington Senators pitcher Ad Liska incl. his 1929 Senators home jersey ($5,000-$7,500). A Ty Cobb professional model baseball bat with factory side writing c.1919 has a pre-sale estimate of $40,000-$60,000. Others include: 1914 Boston Braves leather tobacco premium ($3,500-$4,500), Harry Heilmann professional model baseball bat with H&B return shipping label ($5,000-$7,500), and a 1927 Phila. Athletics team auto. baseball ($5,000-$7,500).

A mixture of vintage and modern era items with relation to the Negro Leagues will be knocked down including a selection of game worn Major League throwback jerseys to benefit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Vintage Negro League materials include a discovery collection of Cumberland Posey autographed documents and other signature rarities such as Raymond Brown and Martin Dihigo.

Hunt Auctions will also offer the continuation of several superb private collections of vintage baseball sportscards in both sessions on Saturday. Cards dating from the 1930s through the 1960s will be offered in the morning session including sets, star cards incl. 1952 Topps Mantle ($12,500-$17,500) and several high grade Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig 1933 Goudey cards ranging from $5,000-$20,000 each.

Other card issues to be sold will include Play Ball, R303 Goudey premium set, Kashin, and Leaf. The afternoon session will feature a collection of early 20th century tobacco and candy cards, which is not only large in quantity, but also includes some superb condition exemplars.

Highlights include (10) 1917 Boston Store cards incl. several graded SGC NM and NM/MT, 1910 E103 Williams Caramel Hans Wagner SGC 5 EX ($7,500-$10,000), 1910 E103 Williams Caramel Ty Cobb SGC 5 EX ($5,000-$7,500), 1910 E93 Standard Caramel Ty Cobb SGC 6 EX/NM ($10,000-$15,000), 1887 N28 Allen & Ginter Adrian Anson SGC 8 NM/MT ($10,000-$15,000), and a T-206 baseball tobacco card set ($20,000-$30,000).

Numerous autographed rarities from high quality estate collections will be offered including vintage signed baseballs from Grover Cleveland Alexander, Urban Shocker, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Mel Ott, Dazzy Vance, Tris Speaker, and Satchel Paige. A fine private collection of vintage baseball paper items will cross the block incl. handwritten letters, signed typewritten documents, 3”x5” autographed postcards, and other misc. flat pieces. One of the more unique items within the sale is a signed handwritten letter from Hall of Famer Ed Delahanty. The very scarce letter originates directly from the archives of Hillerich & Bradsby Co. and carries a pre-sale estimate of $10,000-$15,000.

Two early baseball memorabilia collections, from former American League umpire John Quinn and 19th century player James "Deacon" White, will headline the second session on Saturday. John Quinn participated in the 1934 U.S. All-Star Tour of Japan and assembled one of the most comprehensive and likely unique photographic accounts of the trip to come into the marketplace.

Offered for the first time publicly directly by the Quinn family, the collection includes a superb Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig auto. large format photograph ($20,000-$30,000), John Quinn’s 1934 Tour of Japan presentational album ($15,000-$20,000), and numerous unique original photographs, paper items, and presentational pieces given to Quinn during the 1934 Tour.

The second featured baseball collection originates from James “Deacon” White, who was one of the more prominent players during the formative period of professional baseball from the 1860s through the 1880s. The collection is being offered directly by the White family and is the most substantive of its type from a 19th century player to have entered the hobby.

The grouping includes several early photographs of great significance including 1878-80 Cincinnati Red Stockings, 1882 Boston Red Caps, several 1887-1888 Detroit Wolverines, and an important large folio albumen image of the Champion 1873 Boston Red Stockings measuring 14”x18” as presented to White as a member of the team. The photo is the largest of its type that Hunt Auctions has encountered and is estimated at $15,000-$20,000.

Many other significant pieces from the White collection are being offered including his 1887 Detroit Wolverines World Championship Dauvray Cup medal ($15,000-$20,000), a George Wright autographed Boston Red Stockings cabinet photo c.1873 ($10,000-$15,000), 1871 Cleveland Forest Citys team photograph, and Deacon White’s spider style catcher’s mask (Est. $7,500-$10,000). White was the first professional player to wear a mask in game play.

The auction also includes a selection of early baseball memorabilia including twenty 19th century trophy baseballs with historical significance, Charles Comiskey's presentational gold cane, a figural baseball music box attributed to the Wrigley family c.1920s, occupational shaving mugs, stadium related pieces, a Forbes Field terra cotta archway, and metalwork incl. 19th century flasks and trophies.