LOTG Opens Fall Premier, Ringside Auctions

It’s two catalogs in one.

New Jersey-based Love of the Game Auctions has launched its 2017 Fall Premier auction of vintage sports cards and memorabilia but the catalog’s flip side will appeal to those who are fans of the sweet science.  The “Ringside” sale is the auction’s first session, focusing specifically on boxing cards and memorabilia. For the second year, it is curated by Love of the Game Auctions in conjunction with Adam Warshaw, author of America’s Great Boxing Cards.

The sale features items from the 19^th Century to the present, highlighted by a rare and valuable signed postcard of Victor “Young” Perez.  Perez was a French-Tunisian boxer who, as a prisoner in Auschwitz, was forced to fight gladiatorial matches for the entertainment of SS guards.  Over the three-year period of his imprisonment, he won more than 100 matches before finally being murdered by the guards, legend being that he was caught stealing food and giving it to the other prisoners, and was therefore executed.  Very few exemplars of his signature are known.

“The auction features a host of boxing-specific cards and memorabilia, including some of the rarest cards, and the most important names in the field,” said Auction Director Al Crisafulli.  “We’re thrilled with the great variety and historically significant materials in our second Ringside auction, and hope the hobby continues to enjoy the material we bring to market.”

The closing date of the session is Friday, November 24. 

Premier Auction

Running simultaneously with the Ringside auction is Love of the Game’s Fall Premier auction.  The entire Premier auction closes as a second session on Saturday, November 25.  The highlight of the Premier auction is a rare 1909 Chicago Leland Giants real photo postcard featuring Hall of Fame Negro Leaguers Rube Foster and Pete Hill. 

One of just two examples known, this specimen originates from the estate of Foster, and is considered one of the most important postcards in the hobby.

Boxing Rarities 

Another important boxing rarity featured in the auction is the ringside bell from the San Diego Coliseum.  The Coliseum was an important boxing landmark, and it was fitting when San Diego native Archie Moore, who held the World Light Heavyweight Championship longer than any other fighter, passed away, that the bell was tolled at his funeral service by fellow San Diego native Ken Norton.  The bell was subsequently signed by Norton.

The auction features a large assortment of vintage boxing memorabilia, including Type 1 photos, tickets, and premiums featuring the likes of Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, James J. Braddock, Gene Tunney, Jim Corbett, Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali and more.  Also included is an oversized Jack Johnson postcard, autographed on the reverse by Johnson. 

Boxing Cards 

The Ringside auction is highlighted by a large selection of 19^th Century and early 20^th Century boxing cards, including an assortment of more than 60 prewar cards in total.  A wide selection of 1887 N174 Gypsy Queen Cigarettes cards includes a stunning example of Charles Godfrey’s card (graded EX-MT 6 by PSA), along with cards from JP Clow, Jake Kilrain, John L. Sullivan, Patsy Cardiff and many more.

The N174 Old Judge selection is highlighted by the highest-graded cards of Jack Dempsey (graded NM 84 by SGC) and George LaBlanche (graded NM-MT 8 by PSA).  Other attractive Old Judges include Jake Kilrain, JP Clow, Tug Wilson, Dominick McCaffrey and more.

The auction also features a wide selection of rare 1901-02 Ogden’s Tabs boxing cards, including an incredibly rare, high-grade Australian card of Peter Jackson, three examples from the rare 1901 Ogden’s Boer War and General Interest issue (Dick Burge, Bob Fitzsimmons and Peter Maher), as well as a number of complete Ogden’s boxing sets, highlighted by the 18-card Heroes of the Ring master set from 1901, which includes a Jim Jeffries rookie card.

Type 1 Photos 

The Premier auction is highlighted by a grouping of Type 1 photos, including a 1916 Boston Red Sox team photo that features Babe Ruth at the dawn of his baseball career.  A second Type 1 photo features Ruth in his prime, during the 1927 “Bustin’ Babes” barnstorming tour.  Yet a third photo features Ruth in his last appearance in a major league ballpark, on June 13 of 1948 in the famous “The Babe Bows Out” game.

Other important Type 1 photos include a 1917 photo of Jim Thorpe by famed sports photographer Charles Conlon, a 1916 photo of Ty Cobb, a 1917 shot of John McGraw and Hank Gowdy at the World Series by George Grantham Bain, and a 1939 photo depicting Lou Gehrig talking with his teammates about his recent diagnosis and retirement.

The auction features a host of memorabilia, including photos, autographs, tickets, publications, press photos, and promotional items from the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Joe Louis, Jim Jeffries, Benny Leonard, and more.

Autographs 

The Fall auction autograph section includes a large grouping of signed Artvue and Albertype black and white Hall of Fame plaque cards, including difficult examples of “Home Run” Baker, Rogers Hornsby (with a signature graded MINT 9 by PSA/DNA), Ed Walsh, and others.  Signed 1948 Exhibit cards of Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner are featured, as are a host of cards signed by the likes of Ted Williams, Jimmie Foxx, Paul Waner, and a large assortment of signed Mickey Mantle cards, all obtained in person by the original owner.

Memorabilia 

Collectors will have a chance to check out a group of vintage bats being sold including those from Jimmie Foxx, Tris Speaker and Arky Vaughan.  Another interesting piece is a scarce 1915 Draper & Maynard equipment catalog with fabric swatches, a tape measure, order forms and letter from the company.  The auction features a host of tickets, season passes, publications, premiums, and booklets from the 19^th Century to the present.

A large assortment of football memorabilia is also featured, including numerous NFL Championship ticket stubs, college football scorecards and programs dating back to the 19^th century, and a 1951 North Carolina Tar Heels Bench Blanket and sweater worn by team captain Joe Dudeck.

Baseball Cards 

Vintage baseball cards are always prevalent in LOTG’s catalogs.  One highlight is an example of the newly catalogued “Red 8” variation of Hall of Famer Rube Marquard’s T206 card.  The recently-discovered variation in his well-known “Follow through” pose features a red “8” printed on his shirt sleeve.  An extremely rare variation with just several examples known, this is the first specimen to be graded by PSA.

featured is a high-grade 1911 M116 Sporting Life Blue Background card of Honus Wagner (graded NM 7 by PSA), a freshly-graded T206 Kid Elberfeld (Portrait, Washington) variation graded PSA EX-MT+ 6.5, a high-grade 1911 M116 Sporting Life Christy Mathewson (graded NM-MT 8 by PSA), and a small grouping of complete 1940s and 1950s Bowman sets.

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 Spring, 2018 catalog auction.  For more information, or to consign, contact Love of the Game at [email protected] or (973) 452-9147.

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About Rich Mueller

Rich is the editor and founder of Sports Collectors Daily. A broadcaster and writer for over 40 years and a collector for even longer than that, he's usually typing something somewhere. Type him back at [email protected]