10. Signed 1949 Cleveland Indians Picture Pack Photo Satchel Paige (HOF) – PSA/ DNA GEM MINT 10
A beautiful windup photo of legendary Hall of Fame pitcher Satchel Paige from the Cleve- land Indians team picture pack, as dated to 1949. Paige’s sideline warmup could precede a night game, which Cleveland first played in 1939, or reflect a daytime photo flash used to maximize detail. The overall impact is im- pressive, with every uniform stitch revealed and set against the photo’s bright white bor- ders. PSA has graded the card itself VG 3, an impressive grade given the size of the photo (6 1/2” x 9”), method of distribution (typical- ly by mail), and overall fragility. The proverbial elephant in the room, howev- er, is the autograph, carefully placed vertical- ly in the light area of Paige’s uniform. A vin- tage signature applied in the year of issue, this photo was consigned as part of a complete set that included many signed examples, all of which appear in this auction. This example is the key, boasting an incredibly strong signa- ture, and is one of just two signed examples to have been assessed by PSA. The other, auc- tioned earlier this year for $12,200, also fea- tured a signature graded GEM MINT 10 by PSA/DNA – however, that was a more mod- ern signature, described as “blue Sharpie” (likely just a fiber tip marker). This example is signed in blue ballpoint, a vintage signature much closer to the period, the writing instru- ment producing a much thinner, clearer, and more legible autograph. One of just two grad- ed by PSA/DNA, an incredible discovery and likely the finest surviving example of a signed rookie-era Satchel Paige card, the large-for- mat piece presenting a tremendous canvas for such an important autograph. MINIMUM BID: $2,500
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