Unique Sports Photos, Vintage Packers Memorabilia, Game Used Bats Headline MEARS Auction

The Thanksgiving holiday will be celebrated with a feast of historic memorabilia offered in the MEARS November 18^th-26^th, 2011 Auction. Pre-War football & baseball memorabilia along with vintage photography is on the menu.

In an unprecedented grouping, the entire sports contents of the Tampa St. Petersburg photo archive is being offered in three massive lots. Additionally, single shots originating from the Boston Herald are also featured. Most are unique, never before seen poses. “Buddy shots” such as Mickey Mantle & Yogi Berra (Lot #81), Ted Williams & Hank Greenberg (Lot #32), Mickey Mantle & Joe DiMaggio (Lot #46), and many more are available for immediate bidding. For game used bat collectors, over 100+ MEARS Authenticated & Graded bats are for sale. Many are one of a kind, and the grouping represents, Pre-War, HOFers, World Championship Team Members, and obscure stars.

Vintage Green Bay Packers

With a 10-0 start, the Green Bay Packers are the hottest team in the NFL.  It’s the team’s long and storied history that keeps collectors coming back to the table, though.  Up for bid this week are several rare pieces of the Pack:

Lot #2: 1921 Curly Lambeau Green Bay Packers 14″x19″ Rookie Action Mounted Original Studio Photo – First Glimpse at the Birth of a Franchise (Buff Wagner Estate) MEARS LOA

http://www.mearsonlineauctions.com/LotDetail.aspx?lotid=43194

Lot #527: 1931 Green Bay Packers Green Bay Bottle Works Ginger Ale Tray w/Curly Lambeau Johnny Blood Arnie Herber Michalske “Finest Example Known!”

http://www.mearsonlineauctions.com/LotDetail.aspx?lotid=43053

Lot #496: 1966-68 Jerry Kramer Green Bay Packers Game Worn Autographed Jersey (MEARS A10) Only Known Example!!!

http://www.mearsonlineauctions.com/LotDetail.aspx?lotid=43257

Lot #516: 1930s Green Bay Packers 28″ Full Size Pennant – Rare Image

http://www.mearsonlineauctions.com/LotDetail.aspx?lotid=42695

Original Photography from Tampa St. Petersburg Times & The Boston Herald

Yes, it’s an entire photo library up for grabs.  Unpicked, each item comes with official “St. Petersburg Times” hologram, insuring its origin and authenticity. The combined retail value of the lots is estimated to be $250,000 – $400,000.

Lot #4: 1910-91 Massive Collector/Dealer Baseball Lot, 100% Unpicked, Complete “St. Petersburg Times” Original Photos (“St. Petersburg” Hologram/MEARS LOA) – Lot of 20,000

http://www.mearsonlineauctions.com/LotDetail.aspx?lotid=43056

Lot #1: 1910-91 Massive Collector/Dealer Lot Basketball Boxing Golf Tennis Olympics, 100% Unpicked, Complete “St. Petersburg Times” Original Photos (“St. Petersburg” Hologram/MEARS LOA) – Lot of 85,000

http://www.mearsonlineauctions.com/LotDetail.aspx?lotid=43060

Lot #135: 1919-91 Massive Collector/Dealer Football Lot “St. Petersburg Times” Original Photos, 100% Unpicked, Complete (“St. Petersburg” Hologram/MEARS LOA) – Lot of 27,000

http://www.mearsonlineauctions.com/LotDetail.aspx?lotid=43058

Additionally, some of the finest single shots have been unearthed from the archives of the Boston Herald, one of the nation’s oldest newspapers.

“I have handled several archives from the John Rogers photo archives, including the world famous images from “The Sporting News”, states MEARS Auctions president Troy R. Kinunen. “As I was processing the lots, I could not happen but notice that the staff photographers of the Boston Herald had captured numerous shots that I have not seen before. Although the staple players, Mantle, Williams, Koufax, etc are included, an extremely high percentage of the shots were unique to me.”

Individual shots from the Herald archives also include:

144: 1926 Dave Bancroft Boston Braves & Lee Fohl.  Original 5 1/4″ x 4 1/4″ Photo (Boston Herald Hologram/MEARS LOA)

Lot #43: 1950 Joe DiMaggio Kisses 2,000th Hit Ball New York Yankees. Original 7″ x 8″ Photo (Boston Herald Hologram/MEARS LOA)

Lot #19: 1937  Bill Terry New York Giants w/ Arm Band for Owner Charles Stoneham. Original 6.5″ x 8.5″ Photo (Boston Herald Hologram/MEARS LOA)

Lot #17: 1935-40 Hank Greenberg Detroit Tigers “Boston Herald Archives” Original Photo – Lot of 2 (Boston Herald Hologram/MEARS LOA)

#23: 1939 Honus Wagner Pittsburgh Pirates.  Original 3.5″ x 4.5″ Photo (Boston Herald Hologram/MEARS LOA)

#34: 1946-59 Stan Musial St. Louis Cardinals.  Original Photos (Boston Herald Hologram/MEARS LOA) – Lot of 8

#50: 1951-53 Mickey & Merlyn Mantle New York Yankees.  Original Photos (Boston Herald Hologram/MEARS LOA) – Lot of 4

#63: 1954 Jackie Robinson & Wife At National Conference Of Christians And Jews.  Original 7.5″ x 8.5″ Photo (Boston Herald Hologram/MEARS LOA)

#76: 1955 Yogi Berra With 200th Home Run Ball New York Yankees. Original 7″ x 9″ Photo (Boston Herald Hologram/MEARS LOA)

#142: 1924 Zack Wheat Brooklyn Dodgers. Original 6.5″ x 8.5″ Photo (Boston Herald Hologram/MEARS LOA)

#150: 1934 Frankie Frisch Chicago Cubs Bill Terry New York Giants. Original 6.5″ x 8.5″ Photo (Boston Herald Hologram/MEARS LOA)

#167: 1950 Warren Spahn Boston Braves. Original 7″ x 9 3/4″ Photo (Boston Herald Hologram/MEARS LOA)

The entire Boston Herald section can be viewed here:

http://www.mearsonlineauctions.com/Catalog.aspx?category=399

For game used bat collectors, especially those interested in Pre War players, MEARS promises one of the most diverse offerings ever offered with 102 vintage, fully MEARS authenticated and graded game used bats  available. Highlights include:

#222: 1917-21 Duffy Lewis H&B Louisville Slugger Professional Model Game Used Bat (MEARS A8)

#223: 1920’s Tris Speaker Carolina Sporting Goods Professional Model Game Bat (MEARS Auction LOA)

#224: 1921 Bobby Roth New York Yankees H&B Louisville Slugger Professional Model Game Used Bat (MEARS A7.5)

#225: 1921-30 Frank Snyder H&B Louisville Slugger Professional Model Game Used Bat – Side Written Frank Snyder 5-17-28 (MEARS A9)

#226: 1921-30 Johnny Gooch H&B Louisville Slugger Professional Model Game Used Bat (Pirates, Dodgers, Reds) MEARS A7.5

#227: 1921-30 Lewis Fonseca H&B Louisville Slugger Professional Model Game Used Bat (MEARS A7.5)

#228: 1921-31 George Kelly H&B Louisville Slugger Professional Model Game Used Bat (MEARS A8)

#230: 1922-25 Ty Cobb H&B Louisville Slugger 40K Professional Model Game bat (DIRECT FROM THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER FIND)

#232: 1924 Max Bishop Rookie H&B Louisville Slugger Professional Model Game Used Bat – Side Written 6-3-24 (MEARS A10)

#237: 1928 Eddie Moore Brooklyn Dodgers H&B Louisville Slugger Professional Model Game Used Bat – Side Written Moore 1928 (MEARS A9.5)

#247: 1934-37 Walter Berger Boston Braves H&B Louisville Slugger Professional Model Game Bat (MEARS A7)

#248: 1934-38 Joe (Jo-Jo) Moore New York Giants H&B Louisville Slugger Professional Model Game Used Bat (MEARS A7)

#250: 1934-44 Phil Cavarretta Chicago Cubs Autographed H&B Louisville Slugger Professional Model Game Bat (MEARS A7)

The majority of these bats are one of a kind, and offered in high grade.  The auction ends Saturday, November 26^th, 2011 at 9:00 CST w/ 15-Minute rule in effect. Questions can be directed to Troy R. Kinunen at (414) 828 9990 or email [email protected]

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About Rich Mueller

Rich is the editor and founder of Sports Collectors Daily. A broadcaster and writer for more than 30 years and a collector for even longer than that, he's usually typing something somewhere. Type him back at [email protected]