A pendant cousin to the ultra-scarce 1911 World Series press pin –and one with an interesting back story—will make its hobby debut next month.
Consigned by the family of former Washington Senators infielder George McBride who received it 106 years ago, the 1911 “All-Star American Team” pendant is likely to fetch $15,000 or more when it’s sold by Heritage Auctions in its fall catalog auction.
McBride was a member of an American League barnstorming all-star squad that traveled with the 1911 World Series champion Philadelphia Athletics following the World Series. Among the tokens of appreciation was the pendant, which measures 1.25″ in diameter and weighs twenty-four grams (24 g.), inclusive of the original chain. The 14-karat gold and blue enamel piece was struck from the same die used to create the 1911 World Series press pin, the very earliest of its kind. Heritage sold one such pin eight months ago for a record price of $108,000.
The pendant is even more remarkable, however, thanks to the inclusion of a genuine diamond at center of the figural baseball near the center of the design. The back carries a cursive-style inscription that reads, “George McBride of the All-Star American Team of 1911 From the American Base Ball Club of Philadelphia, The Athletics.” A maker’s mark stating, “Allen A. Kerr, 1004 Chestnut St., Phila” completes the text.
The pendant includes a letter of provenance from McBride’s descendants. The long-time major league veteran died in his hometown of Milwaukee 44 years ago at age 92. He spent 16 years in the majors, mostly with the Senators. While he hit just .218 lifetime, McBride was a slick fielder, leading the league in fielding percentage five times and spending much of his career as the club’s captain.
The pendant is one of hundreds of items in the upcoming auction, which is set for November 16-18. A preview is online now.
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