As the push toward the World Series continues next week, Goldin Auctions will open its October Legends & Americana event Monday with hundreds of pieces of baseball history on the block.
The auction, which runs through November 14, includes the only known game-used ball from the 1918 World Series, items from the estate of Hall of Famer Al Simmons, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card (PSA 6), a one-of-a-kind 1952 Topps high number 25-card uncut sheet with Mantle and hundreds of other lots with baseball singles, lots and sets.
“Since the market for vintage baseball cards has recently heated up, it’s the perfect time for us to offer the largest collection of vintage baseball cards we have ever included in one auction,” said company founder Ken Goldin. “In addition, it’s exciting to bring many one-of-a-kind items like the 1918 World Series ball and 1952 Topps uncut sheet to auction for the first time.”
1918 will always be synonymous with the Red Sox as it was the year Babe Ruth lead them to their last championship for 86 years. Company officials say the ball, used in the decisive game six versus the Cubs, was signed immediately after the game by three top Red Sox executives – E.G. Barrow, Harry Frazee and U.J. Hermann and inscribed by Ruth. Dated Sept. 11, 1918, the game’s final score of 4-2 is inscribed. It comes with letters of authenticity from MEARS and James Spence Authentication.
Although most of the uncirculated 1952 Topps cards were dumped into the Atlantic Ocean, the partial uncut sheet survived. Goldin believes it is a one-of-a-kind item, never before offered at auction. The 25-card sheet, which was cut from the original 100-card sheet used for pack production includes Mantle, Jackie Robinson, Bill Dickey, Bobby Thomson, Hoyt Wilhelm, Dick Groat and others.
Two other pre-War cards should also attract plenty of attention. There is a PSA 8 example of the rare 1933 #106 Napoleon Lajoie card, intentionally left out of the set by Goudey but offered to frustrated customers who wrote Goudey about the missing card in their sets. Meanwhile, collectors will also 
see a rare 1916 D329 Weil Baking Company Ruth card graded SGC 60.
Items from the Al Simmons collection come directly from the estate of the former Philadelphia A’s Hall of Famer. The lots include the final out baseball from Walter Johnson’s 1926 Opening Day 15-inning shutout; Simmons’ 1934 All-Star Game Pendant; a game-used Hillerich & Bradsby Bat (PSA/DNA GU 9.5); a lot of 15 Simmons signed checks; his All-America Board of Baseball Certificate signed by Babe Ruth; an April 1932 game-used and inscribed home run ball and a 1931 Silver Bat presented to Simmons by the City of Milwaukee (his hometown).
To register for the auction and receive a free catalog, visit www.GoldinAuctions.com.
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