One of the highest quality Jackie Robinson single signed baseballs will arrive on the auction block next month, kicking off Memory Lane’s Spring Rarities Auction.
Carrying a PSA 8 rated signature and a “Best Wishes” salutation from Robinson on an official National League Baseball, it’s a fitting leadoff batter for a 488-page catalog of high grade, rare, historic and highly sought after autographs, cards and memorabilia.
It’s not the only rare Robinson signed piece in the sale, though. There’s also a signed Exhibit card carrying a Beckett 9 autograph grade among the more than 1,900 lots that will launch in mid-April.
Collectors will see pages of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig autographs, an autographed 1955 Pittsburgh Pirates baseball including a PSA 9 rookie signature from Roberto Clemente as well as a signed four-page contract from his $700 per month “winter job” playing ball for the San Juan Senadores of the Puerto Rican League in 1962.
There’s a three-page handwritten letter from Hall of Famer Eddie Plank, a Ty Cobb photo signed by Cobb and inscribed for baseball agent Christy Walsh and multiple signed Mickey Mantle baseball cards.
The catalog includes thousands of graded and ungraded vintage singles. Among them: E92 Dockman & Sons & E95 Philadelphia Caramel Honus Wagner both graded PSA 7, a 1917 Collins-McCarthy Rogers Hornsby rookie card graded PSA 4, a PSA 8 1911 Ty Cobb Bat off Shoulder, PSA 8 copies of the 1911 Sporting Life cards of Honus Wagner and Christy Mathewson, a 1916 Joe Jackson M101-5, a 1952 Topps Robinson graded PSA 8, a PSA 8 1932 U.S. Caramel Cobb rated, a PSA 7 1953 Topps Mickey Mantle, a PSA 9 1954 Topps Willie Mays and the 1951 Bowman rookie cards of Mays and Mantle.
There are over 50 lots of graded T206 cards including a variety of Hall of Famers.
Collectors of current era cards aren’t forgotten with several lots set to be part of the action. Among them: a high-grade 2009 Bowman Draft Mike Trout X-Fractor autograph.
The auction will also feature hundreds of high-grade single cards, post-War complete and partial sets, lots and unopened material including a 1953 Topps 5-cent pack, a partial box of 1954 Bowman Football and more.
The catalog will have enough Ruth and Gehrig items to fill a special section. Over 50 lots devoted to the two enduring Yankee legends will be found there including autographed baseball, photos, checks, artwork and two World Series programs signed by Ruth. Among the cards are numerous examples of their ever-popular 1930s Goudey cards.
Memory Lane auctions are known for vintage photos and this event is no different. Among the top photos to be offered is a Type 1 Paul Thompson image of Joe Jackson taking a swing during his days in Cleveland. There are original photos of Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson and several featuring members of the 1919 Chicago “Black Sox.”
Vintage tickets up for bids include a variety of 1950s World Series stubs and one from Clemente’s 3,000th and final regular season hit on Sept. 30, 1972.
The auction is set to conclude on May 6. Registration and information is available on Memory Lane’s website.
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