Hundreds of items from a determined collector of vintage Philadelphia Phillies autographs and photos, some dating back more than 125 years, are among the nearly 2,300 lots in Clean Sweep Auctions’ latest catalog.
It’s one aimed at collectors who prefer more bang for their buck. Nearly all items in the catalog have a retail value of $500 or less.
Clean Sweep’s Steve Verkman calls it “one of the most interesting and exciting auctions that we have offered in our 30+ years in the hobby.”
The auction contains the fruits of three long-time collections. The Phillies autographs and vintage photos come from a fan who attempted to get one of each for every Phillies player back to the 19th century. There’s a large selection of scarce autographs of deadball era players who died before 1950, and photographs from 1900-1940.
Other auction anchors include a Cleveland Indians and Browns autograph and memorabilia collection going back to the 1940s, much of it with unique content.
There’s also a one owner collection of New York Mets memorabilia that features tickets, paper items and game used memorabilia.
The auction will close over two nights, August 17 and 18.
Day one is all about baseball autographs with numerous signed baseball cards, including desirable Hall of Fame Rookie cards, 1952 Topps signed cards including a Minnie Minoso rookie, 1950s to 1980s Hall of Famers and group lots.
Perez-Steele postcards and yellow HOF plaque postcard collectors will have large groups to review, with some tough pieces offered as singles.
Collectors of signed photos will see a large run of signed George Burke photos, 8x10s and scarce autographs along with pre-War players and other rarities including signed letters, documents and contracts penned by players who are difficult to find today.
There is also a selection of autographed team sheets from the 1940s-70s and more traditional signed jerseys, bats and baseballs (including multi and team-signed balls dating back to the 1920s.
The second day will be devoted primarily to other sports. Football is a big part of the auction with Clean Sweep offering the largest selection of football autographs and memorabilia it has ever offered. The auction contains a huge selection of Goal Line postcards as singles and lots, signed jerseys, signed footballs and a collection of signed mini-helmets.
Collectors will see dozens of signed photos, 3x5s, large prints, programs and some signed HOF rookie cards and star cards that go back to the 1940s.
Football memorabilia includes a full Super Bowl program run broken into lots, Cleveland Browns programs and paper items dating back to the 1940s. Hockey collectors will see some classic signed large prints, and items signed by the sport’s icons.
Wilt Chamberlain items, signed basketballs, jerseys and photos and autographed Muhammad Ali items are also on the docket.
A Wheaties collection comes next, with many signed boxes from well-known athletes, display pieces and other seldom seen items.
Baseball memorabilia closes out the auction with over 100 original photos dating back to 1900, tickets and stubs, World Series programs, vintage Dodgers and Yankees scorecards, a run of older SPORT magazines and vintage team yearbooks.
Bidding takes place on the Clean Sweep Auctions website.
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