A collection of signed items from a long-time autograph collector and a rare rookie contact photo of Mickey Mantle—wearing number 6— highlight Huggins and Scott’s 2018 Spring Auction, which is set to run through May 10.
The 186-page catalog features the collection of Charles Evers, a New York native who hunted autographs from the 1940s through the early 2000s. Evers began going to Baseball Hall of Fame induction weekend as a child in the 1940s and also obtained signed items from long-age baseball greats through his many travels. Among the lots in the auction is a rare Christy Mathewson cut signature, a Babe Ruth cut from a 1943 NBC radio promotional event and several single-signed baseballs including one from Ed Walsh and another from Jackie Robinson. Other items from the Evers collection will be offered in future Huggins and Scott catalogs.
In addition to the Evers collection, the auction has a large number of other autographed baseball items including a 1927 New York Yankees team signed baseball; a Miller Huggins signed photo cut; a boldly signed Cy Young Black & White HOF postcard; a Lou Gehrig index card and a collection of Hall of Fame cut signatures.
Pre-War baseball card collectors have a chance to bid on a pair of T206 Ty Cobb Bat off shoulder (SGC 55 & PSA 3) cards and the only graded example of the 1916 Zeenut PCL Zip Zabel.
The post-War section includes singles, lots, complete and near sets from 1948 to present. Highlights include: a large offering of 1952 Topps high numbers including (2) #407 Eddie Mathews (PSA 4 & 4.5); a large collection of 1967 Topps Punch-Outs including Mickey Mantle (SGC 45), a 1951 Bowman complete set being sold as three lots, and a 1975 Topps unopened wax box.
The auction will also include a major modern era insert collection with multiple certified autographed card lots, short prints, 1 of 1s and signed relic cards including a Shohei Ohtani Orange Refractor.
Among the memorabilia offered in the auction is a collection of 1950s contact proof original photos with a 1951 shot of Mickey Mantle wearing uniform number 6. Others include images identical to the ones used for baseball cards such as Willie Mays (1955 Topps)and Al Kaline (1954 Topps Rookie Card). There is also a 1955 rookie year photo of Roberto Clemente.
Vintage Sports Illustrated magazines in the auction include the highest graded first and second copies from the summer of 1954 (graded CGC 9.8 & 9.4).
The basketball category includes a selection of high-end Michael Jordan short prints and inserts; three 1986-87 Fleer complete sets, with one completely PSA graded; a 1992 Dream Team signed basketball and a 1981-82 NCAA Champion UNC Tar Heels team signed basketball.
The football category features a spread of high grade singles, unopened boxes/packs and autographs including one of just four 1965 Topps George Blanda cards graded PSA Gem Mint 10; along with PSA 10 examples of the 1984 Topps John Elway and 1984 Topps Walter Payton and a six-box case of 2000 Bowman Chrome football.
Other football auction items include the 1997 Mackey Award Trophy presented to Barry Sanders and a copy of the first Washington Redskins program from 1937.
Hockey card collectors will find a large selection of uncut sheets, singles & unopened product. Better items include a rare high-grade example of the “holy grail” of hockey cards, the 1911-12 C55 Imperial Tobacco George Vezina graded SGC 92; a 1965 Topps near set all PSA graded split into 10 lots, a 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee complete set on three uncut sheets with a Wayne Gretzky Rookie and some late 1970s O-Pee-Chee sets.
Numerous vintage non-sports lots are also in the auction.
To see the catalog or request a physical copy, register to bid,visit HugginsandScott.com. The “Web Gems” section with lots that arrived too late to appear in the printed catalog,begin with Lot #1568.