Love of the Game Auctions has launched its summer catalog, with hundreds of items on the block through Saturday, August 11. The sale features sports and non-sports cards and memorabilia from the late 19th Century to the present, highlighted by Don Zimmer’s 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers World Championship ring, and a real photo postcard containing the earliest known photo of Babe Ruth in a major league game.
Also featured is a 1955 Bowman complete, autographed set. The entire 160-card set has been authenticated and encapsulated by PSA/DNA, and includes a rare, signed rookie card of Hall of Fame defensive end Len Ford, considered one of the most rare autographs of all Pro Football Hall of Famers.
“We’re thrilled with the incredible selection of high-end material in this auction,” said Auction Director Al Crisafulli. “In six years of running auctions, we’ve never had a wider variety of high-quality items. We’ve got a ton of Babe Ruth signatures, more than 100 lots of Type 1 photos, more than 100 lots of vintage tickets and passes, more than 100 lots of autographs, and our typical selection of pre-war baseball cards. And of course, since it’s a Love of the Game auction, it’s got a host of items you never see at auction, and a ton of great back stories.”
The auction features more than 100 vintage photos, including more than 75 certified Type 1 by PSA/DNA. The selection includes more than 25 images of Hall of Famers that you’ll find on vintage baseball cards. 
Names like Connie Mack, Mickey Cochrane, Lefty Grove, Christy Mathewson, Charles Gehringer, and many more are represented.
Among the items in the sale that speaks to baseball’s sadly self-imposed segregation prior to the arrival of pioneers like Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby is a photo of the 1913 Philadelphia Athletics that pictures the entire team in costume. The photo includes many players – including Hall of Famer Eddie Collins – in blackface. “As an auction house that focuses on pre-war baseball, we occasionally are presented with material that deals with issues of race,” said Crisafulli. “Sometimes we’re presented with an item that’s difficult to present in a positive light, but still maintains historical significance in the bigger picture. Even though it strikes us as anything but funny, the costumes were surely intended to be humorous back in 1913. It’s certainly interesting.”
The ticket selection includes more than 100 tickets and stubs, many of which gained the bearer admittance to some of baseball’s most important games, highlighted by the 1923 World Series Game 6 at the Polo Grounds – the deciding game of the Yankees’ first World Series victory. Other tickets and stubs represented include Babe Ruth’s 1932 “Called Shot” game, the Detroit Tigers’ first World Series victory in 1935, the 1941 Mickey Owen “Dropped third strike” game at Ebbets Field, the August 23, 1942 benefit game when Babe Ruth hit a home run off Walter Johnson – the Babe’s final home run in a pro stadium.
Other important tickets include the 1946 National Colored All-Star Baseball Classic, the 1954 Willie Mays “Catch” game, Don Larsen’s World Series perfect game, Jackie Robinson’s final game, the 1936 All-Star game, Bill Mazeroski’s 1960 World Series walk-off home run, Mickey Mantle’s 500th Home Run, the 1969 Mets World Series “deciding game,” the Bill Buckner game, and many more.
The auction also includes the largest group of 1928 Star Player Candy cards ever to come to auction, save for a complete set sold earlier this year. The incredibly rare cards are seldom seen in groups, and the LOTG auction includes 19 different, including Babe Ruth.
Another highlight is a 1952 Topps near-complete set (406/407), entirely graded by PSA. With a GPA of 4.41, the set ranks #45 on the PSA Set Registry. Collectors looking to complete the set can choose from one of two 1952 Mickey Mantle cards featured in the auction.
LOTG is among the exhibitors at the 2018 National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland and some of the items are on display this week.
The final date to bid is Saturday, August 12. To register for the auction and review the selection online, visit http://www.loveofthegameauctions.com.
Love of the Game is in the process of assembling its Fall, 2018 catalog auction. For more information, contact Love of the Game at [email protected] or (973) 452-9147.
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