A Type 1 Joe Jackson photo dating to the Black Sox scandal headlines the new Love of the Game Auctions Spring catalog, which is slated to run through April 13.
Taken in 1919, the 5×7 photo shows unmistakable signs of having been used in newspaper coverage of the indictments of the players the following season. The indictments were handed down on September 28, 1920 and the date 9/29/20 is written on the reverse in grease pencil amidst numerous editorial markings, stamps and paper remnants used in the production of a newspaper.
Bidding quickly passed $6,000 on the opening weekend.
The auction features cards and memorabilia from the 19th century forward. Another key item is a rare 1887 Kalamazoo Bats Jim O’Rourke, one of just three known examples, and the highest graded. Other high-end cards include a scarce 1907 Dietsche Postcards Ty Cobb (Fielding), a newly-discovered example of the 1910 E98 Honus Wagner, graded NM 7 by PSA.
The auction features the company’s largest-ever selection of advertising display material, highlighted by a rare Tuxedo Tobacco Christy Mathewson trolley card display and other advertising display materials from the 1910s through the 1960s.
Additionally, the sale is also highlighted by extensive collections of PSA-graded World Series and All-Star tickets, as well as a large collection of autographed cards that have been authenticated and encapsulated by PSA/DNA.
“We were thrilled to receive the autographed card consignment,” said Auction Director Al Crisafulli. “The collection was assembled by a dedicated collector of autographs who began picking up autographs in person and through the mail in the 1970s. His preferred method of obtaining the signatures was on baseball cards – and he did it at a time when that was considered a ‘no-no’ because the autograph damaged the card, Now, all these years later, collectors have realized the rarity of many of these cards.”
The collection is primarily made up of Topps and Bowman cards from the 1950s and 1960s. “What’s amazing is that the highlights aren’t necessarily super-valuable Hall of Famers – they’re beautiful signatures of ’common’ players who passed away early, before the TTM hobby became so popular. It’s a very sophisticated collection, and the overwhelming majority of it was obtained in person or through the mail.”
The auction features a host of 19th and early 20th Century cabinet photos, including some extremely rare examples. Highlights include an incredible 1890 cabinet photo of baseball Founding Father Henry Chadwick, a beautiful 1888 W.A. Stratton cabinet of Hall of Famer Hoss Radbourn, and a rare 1889 Police Gazette cabinet of Hall of Fame pitcher “Smiling” Mickey Welch.
The ticket selection includes nearly 100 tickets, passes and stubs, many of which gained the bearer admittance to some of baseball’s most important games, highlighted by the a ticket to Game 1 of the 1923 World Series – the first World Series game at Yankee Stadium. Other rare ticket stubs include Game 6 of the 1912 World Series at the Polo Grounds, Game 5 of the 1913 World Series (which featured Christy Mathewson against Eddie Plank), a rare 1910 New Orleans Pelicans ticket that featured Joe Jackson, and a ticket to the 1933 All-Star Game at Comiskey Park – the first-ever All-Star Game.
Other important tickets include Willie Mays’ 400th Home Run, the 1934 All-Star Game where Carl Hubbell struck out five sluggers in a row, Joe DiMaggio’s final game, Enos Slaughter’s “Mad Dash” in the 1946 World Series, the first-ever walk-off home run in a World Series, Willie Mays’ great World Series catch in 1954, and Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off homer to end the 1960 World Series.
The auction also includes a nearly complete set of N174 Old Judge “script series” boxing cards, 13 of the first 15 N174 boxing cards issued. Incredibly scarce and desirable, the cards all present extremely well, some of which are the highest graded known.
Bidding is underway on the company’s website.
LOTG’s next auction is scheduled for this summer and consignments are being accepted.
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