Auction closes November 27. Please note that we must begin collecting sales tax in AZ and NJ, in addition to NY.
FALL 2021 PREMIER AUCTION CLOSES NOVEMBER 27, 2021
(845) 750-6366 | www. loveofthegameauctions .com
A few months ago, my friend Graig Kreindler pointed out a song released by pioneering rap artist Chuck D of Public Enemy last year, called “It’s So Hard to See My Baseball Cards Move On.” Until then I’d known his music to be edgy, hard-hitting hip-hop, but this was something different: it was a downtempo, wistful remembrance of the baseball heroes he’d grown up with. The song opens “MVPs, Hall of Famers, big- time gamers/Bring out the big guns, strikeouts and home runs/Real dream team now restin’ in peace/A play-by-play on top of these beats.” The lyrics go on to describe an imaginary ballgame of departed stars, with Bob Gibson squaring off against Tom Seaver, joined by Lou Brock, Joe Morgan, Jimmy Wynn, Al Kaline, Jay Johnstone, and more, with the refrain “2020 threw us all a heck of a knuckleball – like Phil’s.”
make a living playing with sports cards and memorabilia. I get to talk about the hobby every day. But sometimes, especially lately, those discussions tend to sound more like investment advice than reminiscing about the history of the game. I get it – we spend real money on these things, and we like to do it with a clear head, and perhaps some vision into what the future might hold.
But all this talk of value sometimes clouds the beauty of our memories of the game, the things that helped propel us into this hobby. I will never forget those important events that made me fall in love with all of this. I’ll never forget Graig Nettles, saving Game 3 of the 1978 World Series for Ron Guidry, who had saved the Yankees all season. I’ll never forget watching Tony Dorsett break loose for a 99-yard run on Monday Night Football. And I’ll never forget being Dave Winfield, imitating his long strides as I chased a looping line drive, the ball gently settling into my glove, my cannon arm holding the ghost runner at third, because nobody runs on Winfield. These names, these people who are passing on, they’re more than just names on cardboard. We were those guys. We settled into those personas; our imaginary ballgames blended with reality in ways that are impossible to explain, unless you’ve done it yourself – which, of course, you probably have. I talk about my grandfather a lot; he’s the one who taught me baseball history and baptized me with a passion for the game that’s never gone away. At maybe nine or ten years old, I would bring him a pile of vintage baseball cards, and ask him to tell me about the players. For players he didn’t like, he’d jokingly toss their card on the floor. For guys he did like, he’d tell me stories. And once in a while, he’d pause, just for a minute, almost not even noticeable, and he’d get this look in his eye. Today, I understand what the look means. It means “It’s so hard to see my baseball cards move on.” Thanks, Chuck.
2021 hasn’t been any different, sadly. Beginning with the passing of Tommy Lasorda in January and most recently with Ray Fosse just a few days before I wrote this letter, we’ve lost some of the game’s greats this year. Hall of Famers Don Sutton and Hank Aaron passed in January, but so many other important names left us as well – names I pulled from wax packs as a kid. Grant Jackson, Ed Armbrister, Ken Reitz, Rennie Stennett, Dick Tidrow, Bill Freehan, and of course the great James Rodney Richard, are all among the players we’ve lost in 2021. At one point or another as a youngster, I most certainly pretended to be each of those players with my neighborhood friends, as we played daily backyard wiffle ball games, cycling through imaginary lineups of each team. I vividly recall being J.R. Richard, hurling fastballs in my backyard during a make-believe All-Star Game. And as a young Yankee fan, I was certainly Dick Tidrowmore than once, a giant wad of gum stuffed inmy cheek like tobacco. When I reminisce with the other guys from the neighborhood, those are the things we laugh about – the time Dave Winfield lost a big home run because it got stuck in a tree, or how in our neighborhood, Cecil Cooper’s nickname was “On the Roof ” because the neighborhood lefty pretending to be the Milwaukee first baseman once slammed a big home run onto the roof of our house, the ball getting stuck in the rain gutter. Because of those games, we called real-life major league home runs “on the roof,” as in “Did you see Reggie put another one on the roof last night?” I’m a pretty fortunate guy in that for the past nine years, I get to
Regards, Al Crisafulli
FALL 2021 PREMIER AUCTION − CLOSES NOVEMBER 27, 2021 1
AUCTION TERMS AND CONDITIONS ABOUT OUR AUCTION
13. “Max” or “Ceiling” bids can be placed on any lot. They must conform to the proper bidding increment based on a lot’s high bid at the time such a bid is placed. In the event of a tie between bids, the earlier bid received will be recognized as the winning bid. This is especially important with respect to “Max” bids and “straight” bids, because if a bidder places a “straight” bid equal to a “max” bid left by someone earlier, the “max” bid will be considered the winner. 14. We cannot see max bids. We do not have access to max bids in any way. If you choose to leave a max bid, we will not know the amount of that bid. We do not have a fancy brand name for this; we just call it “integrity.” It should go without saying. 15. Consignors may not bid on their own materials. Love of the Game Auctions reserves the right to cancel any bid should we believe that bid was made by a consignor, or representative of a consignor, bidding on his/her own materials. We reserve the right to decline consignments for the same reason, at any point before, during, or even after the auction, if we believe a consignor or his proxy is placing bids on his lots. Love of the Game Auctions is the sole arbiter of this decision, and by participating in the auction, both bidders and consignors agree to this. 16. Our auction system generates electronic bid confirmations and outbid notices electronically and automatically. Love of the Game Auctions cannot guarantee that you’ll receive the emails or text messages, however. We recommend checking the status of your bids online periodically. 17. We do not have hidden reserves. Occasionally, on certain high- value items, we will institute a reserve to protect our consignor. Approximately one week prior to the auction closing, we disclose the specific dollar amount of any reserves that have not been met. When we disclose the reserve, the current bid will be set to one increment below the reserve amount, and the next bid will meet the reserve. PLEASE NOTE: The reserve should be treated as a “bidder.” If you choose to leave a max bid that is greater than the reserve, your bid will automatically meet the reserve, and you will become the high bidder at the reserve price. There is never a hidden reserve. It is our policy to disclose whether an item has a reserve, right in the description of that item. If a reserve is not noted, and the item receives a bid, it will sell. If the bidding meets the reserve, the item will sell. We do not permit consignors to add reserves after the auction is underway, and we will not accept a consignment with a reserve unless it is specifically agreed upon prior to the auction. 18. Love of the Game Auctions, its owner or employees are not permitted to bid on any lot in the auction, under any circumstances. Bidders are not bidding against any “house account.” There is no “house account.” 19. Unsold or unpaid lots may be privately sold or re-auctioned at the discretion of the consignor. Should Love of the Game elect to pay the consignor for an unpaid lot, we take ownership of that item and can re-sell it at our discretion. 20. If, for any reason, our auction is interrupted during bidding, Love of the Game Auctions may elect to extend bidding beyond the stated closing date or time. In the case of a serious outage that we feel impacts bidding, Love of the Game Auctions may elect to take more extreme measures to ensure that bidding is fair and all bidders have had sufficient opportunities to place their bids. Such measures may include stopping all bidding and re-starting from the point of stoppage on a subsequent day, and pushing the scheduled auction closing to a later date. This decision is entirely at the discretion of Love of the Game, and by bidding in our auction, you agree to this. If any bidder experiences a problem bidding, they should contact us at info@loveofthegameauctions. com. PAYMENT AND DELIVERY 21. Payment must be received on all winning bids within 14 calendar days of notification of items won. This is not negotiable, as it is important to us to pay our consignors as quickly as possible. Notifications and invoices are sent by email, except in the event that a phone bidder has no email address. These methods shall constitute “notification” of winning. It is your responsibility to check your account to see if you are a winning bidder. Any bidder not paid in full within 14 days of notification may have future bidding and consigning privileges revoked, and will be subject to legal action.
1. This auction is conducted by Crisafulli Ventures, LLC, doing business as Love of the Game Auctions . The auction is conducted under the following rules and applicable laws. Consignors and bidders in this auction agree to be bound by these rules. By bidding or consigning, you are expressly agreeing to these terms. If you have any questions, contact us at info@loveofthegameauctions.com. 2. A buyer’s premium equal to 20% of the high bid will be added to all lots. A $100 winning bidder will thus be charged $120. Any bidder who elects to pay by PayPal will also be subject to a 3% convenience fee on the entire lot. This fee applies only to payments made by PayPal (including credit card payments made through PayPal). 3. This auction closes using the “Double Overtime” method, with a 15-minute rule for the entire auction. In order to bid on an item during the extended bidding session beginning on the date of the auction close, you must place at least one bid on that item prior to 9:00 PM Eastern on the auction closing date. If you do not bid on it by 9PM Eastern on the closing date, you cannot bid on it afterward. To ensure that everyone gets a chance to bid, we will apply the 15-minute rule to the entire auction beginning at 9PM, with the clock resetting every 15 minutes. Bidding continues until no bids have been placed in the entire auction for a full 15-minute interval. As long as there is at least one lot that receives a bid during a 15-minute interval, the entire auction will extend for 15 minutes. Once a 15-minute interval passes without a bid on any item in the auction , the auction will close. At 1:00 AM Eastern, any item that has not received a bid for one hour or more will close without notice. The remaining items will enter “Double Overtime,” with the 15-minute rule applied to the remaining lots. NOTE: There are no exceptions to this. If an item is closed, it is closed and we cannot accept additional bids. This auction may close without notice at any time once the Extended Bidding period begins. We do not guarantee that bidders will receive a “Fair Warning” notice before the auction closes. 4. Winning bids will be subject to additional charges for packing, shipping and insurance. We do not make profit on shipping. As a convenience, we now offer a standardized schedule for packing and shipping, based on the total invoice amount. This standardized schedule is $12 per invoice valued at less than $750; $20 per invoice valued between $750 and $5,000; $30 per invoice valued between $5,000 and $10,000; $40 per invoice valued between $10,000 and $50,000; and $75 per invoice valued greater than $50,000. Bidders who win three or fewer graded cards valued at less than $400 in total may request USPS First Class shipping in a padded mailing envelope for $5, provided that they assume all risk of loss or damage. There are exceptions to the standardized shipping schedule in instances of shipments outside the continental US, or in the instance of large, heavy or fragile items that require special packing or shipping carrier (for example, stadium seats, oversized and framed items, large lots or graded sets), or oversized items such as bats or pennants. Such lots will be identified in their descriptions. ALSO NOTE THIS EXPLANATION OF HOWOUR SHIPPING WORKS: We primarily use the USPS and FedEx for shipping, and generally adhere to the following rules: • If your package is valued at $400 or less, we ship via USPS Priority Mail. • If your package is valued above $400, we ship via USPS Priority Mail with a signature confirmation requirement, USPS Express Mail, or Federal Express, at our discretion. • Oversized packages are shipped FedEx Ground. We generally do not use UPS, as we no longer trust their ability to safely move packages from Point A to Point B without damage or loss, and our experience has been that they do not guarantee their service. Please note, however, that the method of shipping is AT OUR DISCRETION, and we can choose whichever method we feel best fits the item we are shipping. WE DONOT CHARGE YOU FOR INSURANCE. We have a blanket policy that we have to buy, regardless of whether or not you win anything, and shipping is included in that policy, so we do not think it’s fair to make you pay for insurance.
We pride ourselves on packaging all items very carefully and diligently, but cannot honor special packaging and shipping requests. Please bear this in mind when bidding. WE DO NOT SHIP IN PADDED ENVELOPES, EXCEPT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCE INDICATED ABOVE. We generally ship in corrugated boxes, typically wrapped in heavy-duty bubble wrap with other ultra- protective packaging inside. As a result, we cannot reduce your shipping cost. It’s expensive to ship! 5. Residents of Illinois, New Jersey and New York are subject to sales tax on purchases unless we have a valid resale certificate on file. We reserve the right to modify our sales tax policies, even mid-auction, as the laws and our responsibilities are currently changing. 6. We accept Paypal, Check or Money Order. We no longer accept direct credit card payment, though you can pay by credit card through PayPal. By special arrangement we can accept payment by wire transfer. REGISTRATION AND CONSIGNMENT 7. In order to bid, you must be a registered bidder. In order to register, visit www.loveofthegameauctions.com and complete the bidder registration. Bidders are required to provide at least one hobby reference in order to register, and registrations are approved manually by management. Thanks to some non- paying bidders, we no longer accept registrations the day of the auction, because we cannot check references when other businesses are closed. Also please note that if “eBay” is your hobby reference, you must provide your eBay ID. By “hobby reference,” we are referring to an individual business entity (for instance, card dealer, auction house, etc) with whom you have done business as a buyer. All registrants must be 18 years of age. Love of the Game reserves the right to refuse any bidder registration or any consignment, for any reason. Registering to bid means you agree to these terms and conditions. 8. Bids can be placed online at www.loveofthegameauctions.com by registered bidders, or by phone at (845) 750-6366. Phone bids will be made by proxy, by Love Of The Game Auctions staff acting on your behalf as quickly as possible. We promise that we will execute these bids as quickly as possible but cannot take responsibility for internet bids that are placed by other users prior to executing a telephone bid. We also cannot take responsibility for busy phone signals or slow internet connections. 9. We reserve the right to withdraw any item from the auction at any time during the auction, for any reason. This includes after the close of the auction, in the event that there are issues or questions with title, authenticity, clerical error, untimely bid, untimely payment, or other issues related to human or mechanical error. 10. Love of the Game Auctions wishes to conduct a reputable auction with reputable collectors and consignors. As such, Love of the Game Auctions reserves the right to refuse to accept bids or approve bidders for any reason. Similarly, Love of the Game Auctions reserves the right to refuse or withdraw consignments for any reason. PARTICIPATION IN THE AUCTION 11. A bid is a financial commitment, and bidders are responsible for the accuracy of their bids. Once you place a bid, it cannot be retracted. If you’ve got questions about how to bid, please contact us PRIOR TO PLACING YOUR BID. Bidder error does not constitute a reason to retract bids, nor does a lack of understanding of the auction rules. You are required to read and agree to these rules prior to placing a bid. If you have a question, please ask before bidding. YOUR BIDS MAY NOT BE RETRACTED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Your bid is binding and cannot be retracted. This includes max bids. 12. 12. Bid increments are as follows: Last Bid Bid Increment $0-49 $5 $50-199 $10 $200-499 $25 $500-$999 $50 $1000-2499 $100 $2500-4999 $250 $5000-9999 $500 $10,000-34,999 $1,000 $35,000+ 5%
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31. Photo authentication: We have deep respect for the various photo authenticators in our field. However, we only recognize the opinion of one firm in the hobby: PSA/DNA. While we reserve the right to change this opinion in the future, it is our current policy. In the event that we offer a photo that does not carry a Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA, you can trust that that photo has been thoroughly scrutinized and is guaranteed to pass as advertised with PSA/DNA if noted. This guarantee is good for 90 days after the close of the auction in which the item was purchased, and must be accompanied by a rejection letter from PSA/DNA. It should be noted that unless expressly stated in our description, we provide no guarantees on framed or mounted photos. 32. Game-Worn/Used Items: For game-used items, we recognize the LOA of PSA/DNA, MEARS, Dave Grob, or the individual sports or athletes. 33. General Statement on Authentication and Grading: Graded and authenticated items are sold “as is.” We cannot, and will not, be responsible for an item that results in a difference of opinion on authenticity or grade between two competing companies. We will not issue refunds on items that have been authenticated by one company but rejected or graded lower by another after purchase. When we sell an item, we are selling it along with the opinion rendered by the firm that examined it, and nothing more. 34. Framed items: We frequently sell framed items. We assess the condition and eye appeal of framed items based on how they appear in the frame. Unless noted otherwise, framed items are not examined outside the frame, and it is possible that – good or bad – there are issues underneath the frame that are not taken into account when assessing grade. Framed items are sold “as is.” This also applies to dry-mounted or shrinkwrapped items. Further, while we do our best to package everything safely and securely to prevent damage, we are not responsible for frame or glass breakage that happens during shipping . The winning bidder assumes all risk associated with frame or glass breakage in transit. In the instance that a framed item should be damaged in shipping due to glass breakage, the buyer’s remedy, if any, shall be solely against the shipping company transporting the item. Should we sell an item that resides in a frame, we are selling the item inside the frame, and not the frame itself . Should the item be damaged in transit, we can take appropriate measures to refund or replace it. We do not, however, warrant the frame. HOUSEKEEPING 35. Any person who registers for the auction agrees to be bound by these terms and conditions, and accepts them freely. Anyone who places a bid agrees to personally guarantee payment on any winning bid. 36. Love of the Game Auctions will not be held liable for any damages or claims arising of or in connection with the sale of any item. 37. In no event and under no circumstance will the liability of Love of the Game exceed the purchase price paid for any lot. 38. These terms and conditions shall be enforced in accordance of the law of the State of New York. Any claims arising from this auction shall be brought in the appropriate court in the State of New York, Ulster County. In the event the Love of the Game Auctions is the prevailing party in any such claim, it shall be entitled to the recovery of all attorney fees and costs, whether or not such remedy is entitled by law. 39. Love of the Game Auctions and Crisafulli Ventures reserve the right to amend these rules at any time, for any reason, without notification. It is the responsibility of our bidders and consignors to review these rules prior to bidding in any auction; continuing to bid in our auction serves as your repeated agreement to these rules and policies. PRIVACY POLICY We value your privacy, and are committed to protecting it. When you register for our auction, or consign material to us, we collect your information and store it in our system. We may also automatically receive and record information on our server logs from your browser. We utilize your contact information so that we can communicate with you, send you periodic marketing emails or “snail mail,” ship you your goodies, and send you money when you consign your valuable material to us. Any personal information that we maintain is stored on a secure server courtesy of our friends at CreateAuction and Mailchimp or YMLP (our email software providers). We do not sell or rent our customer lists. We do not store credit card information on our servers.
Additionally, we will publish the full name and location of all reneging bidders in our printed catalog, on our website and on our social media as a reneging bidder, and we will forward your name to other auction houses for informational purposes. Your bidding in our auction constitutes agreement to all these rules and policies, especially this one. Payments by check or money order should be made to Love of the Game Auctions, PO Box 3931, Kingston, NY, 12402. We make every effort to ship as quickly as possible. We ship under a “First In, First Out” policy, meaning we ship packages in the order that payment was received, unless there are extenuating circumstances. If you make your payment by PayPal or credit card, your payment is processed immediately and forwarded to shipping. This does not mean your item will be shipped right away. It means it is “ready to ship,” and is in queue with all the other packages that have been paid for. We hold all checks for 7 days. Sadly, this is a policy that we needed to institute, thanks to Mr. Jason Williams of Pioche, NV. Please note that the above does not say “we hold all checks until they clear,” it says “we hold all checks for 7 days.” Our bank has advised us that the best way to avoid being burned like we were with Mr. Williams is to hold each check for 7 days. This means that on the 8th day, we make sure checks have cleared, and then we forward the invoice to shipping. This does not mean your itemwill be shipped right away. It means it is “ready to ship,” and is in queue with all the other packages that have been paid for. We realize this is a one-week delay, which is why we offer a 3% discount on the Buyer’s Premium for those who pay by check. While it does require some patience, we can assure you that we are still quicker than most auction houses. 22. Insurance is provided by Collectibles Insurance Services. The buyer assumes the risk of loss on all items purchased once we ship said items. Shipping carriers are chosen at our discretion. In no event and under no circumstance will the liability of Love of the Game exceed the purchase price paid for any lot. 23. We will not commit customs fraud on packages shipped outside the United States. 24. All items are purchased “AS IS” and may not be returned for any reason. No returns are permitted. 25. ALL SALES ARE FINAL. Bid retractions are not permitted for any reason. Once a bid is placed, it may not be retracted. All items are offered “as is.” 26. We accept Paypal, checks, certified checks, cash or money orders. We do not accept any other form of payment. We can, by special arrangement, accept payment by wire transfer. We ship as soon as possible after payment in full is received. Ownership of any lot does not pass to the winning bidder until the lot is paid for in full, nor do we ship items to winning bidders without first receiving payment. 27. If a winning bidder has not honored his/her winning bid per these terms and conditions, then Love of the Game Auctions is entitled to sell the winning lot, re-auction the lot, or hold the non-paying bidder responsible for the entire amount, at our discretion, with the bidder responsible for the difference between the price received at resale and the non-paying bidder’s original bid. Love of the Game Auctions is also entitled to publicly disclose the names and locations of all reneging bidders, as well as any aliases or online handles. Bidding in our auction constitutes your agreement to our auction rules. As a bidder, you agree that a non-paying bidder is responsible for any and all losses incurred, plus all fees and/or commissions related to the subsequent sale of the item(s). Reneging or non-paying bidders are also responsible for interest charges at the rate of 2% per month for all outstanding balances until paid in full, as well as all legal fees and court costs incurred by Love of the Game Auctions in our efforts to collect their unpaid debt. In other words, if a winning bidder does not pay in full, he/she agrees to be held responsible for the value of the lot, any losses incurred as a result of having to re-sell the lot, plus interest charges of 2% per month on all unpaid balances, plus legal and court fees. AUTHENTICITY, GRADES, DESCRIPTIONS, and CAVEAT EMPTOR 28. Love of the Game Auctions makes every attempt to describe each item in our sale as accurately as possible. We do not “sweeten” or otherwise enhance any scans or images, save for general unsharp mask or image re-sizing, general color correction of photographs, and cropping out unsightly background distractions with the magical Photoshop program. Occasionally, an item in our
auction may appear differently in the catalog photograph than in person, due solely to lighting or white balance. We do not enhance scans or photographs, but we do shine light on items we are photographing, in an effort to ensure it is as visible as possible. Despite all this, subtle variations in print color, computer monitors, background lighting, and even scanner settings could result in a catalog or website image not being 100% color accurate, and we make no such guarantees. We cannot accept returns due to discrepancies over color, brightness, contrast, flaws, etc. Any bidder who is unsure of an item’s true appearance is more than welcome to contact us with questions or to schedule an in-person preview or receive additional photographs. Similarly, we cannot accept returns on graded items because of a condition issue or flaw that is not addressed in the written description of an item. This includes marks, discolorations, stains, or any other defect that might not have been described in our written description or is not easily visible in the scan or photo. 29. Card grading and authenticity: We utilize the card grading service of PSA and SGC, and are authorized dealers of each. Additionally, we occasionally offer cards graded by CSG or Beckett. As stated above, we make every effort to properly represent and describe items in our auction. However, we cannot be held responsible for the opinion of a third-party grader or authenticator. As most collectors understand, opinions on grade or authenticity, while typically rendered by skilled workers with vast experience, are exactly that: opinions. We cannot guarantee that every card graded by a third-party grading service, or every item authenticated by a professional authenticator, would receive the same grade upon resubmission to a different (or even the same) grading service, nor would we guarantee that the item would receive a grade or be authenticated at all. All we can tell you is the number on the holder and the company that graded it. This is important: if a graded card that we sell is subsequently discovered to be overgraded or altered, we cannot be held responsible. We do our best to ensure that the items we sell are as described, but we cannot be held responsible for the opinion of an unrelated party, including the accuracy of a grade and whether flaws or alterations were “missed.” We do not warrant or guarantee any item authenticated or graded by a third party. Graded and/or authenticated items are sold “as is.” THIS IS IMPORTANT: Love of the Game shall not in any way be liable for any defect (either patent or latent) or controversy pertaining to or arising from any encapsulated collectible. In any such instance, the buyer’s remedy, if any, shall be solely against the authentication or grading company certifying the collectible. All graded cards are sold “as is” with no exceptions. Your participation in the auction constitutes your acknowledgement, agreement and acceptance of this rule. Furthermore, we do our best to accurately describe the condition of ungraded items in our auction. We do not guarantee that a bidder, consignor, grading or authenticating company will agree with our descriptions. Our descriptions, like those of the grading and authentication companies, are based on our opinions. We try to be as detailed and thorough as possible, but occasionally make errors in descriptions or images. Any error we discover or that is brought to our attention will be rectified as quickly as possible, provided that such an error is an actual error, and not an issue of opinion or speculation. 30. Autograph authentication: We utilize the autograph authentication services of James Spence Authentication and PSA/DNA, exclusively. We do recognize the LOAs of Beckett, GAI, Major League Baseball and its individual players and SGC Authentic, and occasionally sell items authenticated by those companies. Similar to card grading, the opinion of an autograph authenticator is an opinion, and we cannot be held responsible for differences of opinion between authentication companies. Authenticated, signed items are sold “as is.” We do not warrant or guarantee authenticity of any item authenticated by a third party authenticator, nor do we guarantee that an item authenticated by one company will be authenticated by another - or even by that same company, upon resubmission. With respect to any large lots of authenticated autographed items, we offer these lots with the understanding that a few of the items in such a lot may not be authentic. When rendering an opinion on such a lot, authenticators may spend more time verifying the authenticity of the “key” items, and thus an inauthentic signature may occasionally slip by. All bidders who choose to bid on such lots do so with this understanding.
SUMMER, 2021 PREMIER AUCTION − CLOSES AUGUST 28, 2021 3
LOVEOFTHEGAMEAUCTIONS.COM 4
FALL 2021 PREMIER AUCTION
Featured Items.........................................................................................................................6 Great Cards........................................................................................................................... 17 Vintage Baseball Photography. .......................................................................................... 28 19th Century Baseball Memorabilia.................................................................................. 36 1900-1948 Baseball Memorabilia....................................................................................... 17 1950-Present Baseball Memorabilia.................................................................................. 41 Baseball Tickets and Passes. ............................................................................................... 45 Baseball Postcards................................................................................................................ 47 19th Century Baseball Cards.............................................................................................. 49 1900-1948 Baseball Cards................................................................................................... 52 T3 Turkey Red Tobacco Cabinets...................................................................................... 58 1949-Present Baseball Cards.............................................................................................. 91 Football Cards and Unopened Boxes.............................................................................. 102 Basketball Cards and Unopened Boxes. ......................................................................... 106 Hockey Cards and Unopened Boxes............................................................................... 114 Miscellaneous Sports, Nonsports Cards and Unopened Boxes................................... 116 Football Memorabilia........................................................................................................ 117 Miscellaneous Sports Memorabilia. ................................................................................ 124 Baseball Autographs.......................................................................................................... 125 TABLE OF CONTENTS
IMPORTANT NOTE: Customers in Arizona, New Jersey and New York are subject to the appropriate state sales tax.
THE FOLLOWING ARE NON-PAYING BIDDERS FROM OUR PREVIOUS AUCTION: • Bill Orloff of San Pedro, CA – Unpaid $9,600 invoice • Dan Prosterman of Winston-Salem, NC – Unpaid $20,800 invoice
FALL 2021 PREMIER AUCTION − CLOSES NOVEMBER 27, 2021 5
1. 1917 E135 Collins-McCarthy #147 Babe Ruth (HOF) - PSA PR 1
The 200-card 1917 Collins- McCarthy “Baseball’s Hall of Fame” issue is the company’s only non- PCL issue. Printed on thin stock and featuring black and white player photos with a thick, gloss surface, the set is loaded with stars and Hall of Famers, and has become incredibly popular among collectors in recent years due to player selection and scarcity. The glossy surfaces are also subject to wear, resulting in condition- sensitivity that makes high-grade examples difficult to obtain. Presented here is the unquestion- able key card of the issue, one of the earliest cards of Babe Ruth. Grad- ed PR 1 by PSA, the card presents extremely well, despite being ac- curately graded. The primary con- dition flaws relate to cracking and light wrinkling of the gloss surface, primarily light, with heavier creas- es at the right corners. Some ad- ditional wrinkling is visible near Ruth’s cap, as well as very light hor- izontal wrinkling near Ruth’s glove. In this image, Ruth is pictured as a Boston pitcher, coming off his sec- ond complete season with Boston, in which he led the league in ERA (1.75) and games started. Though
The Babe boasted a strong bat for his position, he had yet to take his eventual place in the outfield and begin wielding his prodigious bat. Indeed, heading into the 1917 season, Ruth had just seven lifetime home runs. Cards from the Collins-McCarthy issue are extremely difficult to find, the card of Ruth is ultimately one of the most scarce of all Ruth’s card issues. Indeed, PSA has assessed just 14 examples of the Collins-McCarthy card, with PSA grading just ten. Issued just one year after his 1916 major league rookie card, the E135 is exceptionally rare, an extremely desirable early card of Babe Ruth.
MINIMUM BID: $25,000
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2. Beautiful 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle (HOF) - PSA EX 5
Easily the most popular and significant postwar baseball card, the 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle goes beyond the now-overused term “iconic,” moving into the stuff of legend. Atop the want list of thousands of collectors, experienced and novice alike, it is often stated that the 1952 Mantle, along with the T206 Honus Wagner, are the best-recognized cards in the hobby. Certainly owning any 1952 Topps Mantle is a badge of collecting honor, but an example of this quality is a truly desirable item destined to be the centerpiece of any collection. Crease-free and colorful, with spectacular image clarity dominated by rich, bright blues, this is a truly spectacular specimen. A card that so often appears with severe centering issues, this example is only slightly oriented to the top right, enough to be noticeable but not enough to distract from the wonderful eye appeal. The corners are square but with slight softness well within the parameters of the grade. This is a card that should be chased not for its grade but for its appearance within the grade - typically a card in this condition will exhibit a notice- able flaw, and softer corners and centering (consistent with the grade) aside, there is no such issue with this example.
A 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle remains one of those baseball cards that transcends the hobby - one that people outside the hobby rec- ognize at a glance. Still one of the game’s most widely-recognized names, Mickey Mantle remains one of the most revered figures in sports, and despite not being his official ”rookie” card, the 1952 card is certainly his most popular and sought after. Completing the 1952 Topps set remains a monumental collecting achievement, partially due to the difficulty of obtaining the more scarce high number cards but mostly due to this - postwar collect- ing’s most treasured card. Truly spectacular, a wonderfully colorful and clean specimen. MINIMUM BID: $20,000
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3. Stunning 1965 Topps #477 Steve Carlton (HOF RC) - PSA GEM MINT 10 (1/8)
For much of his career, Steve Carlton was a dominant strikeout pitcher, winning the first of his four Cy Young Awards after an incredible 1972 season in which he would win 27 of his team’s 54 victories, against a stellar 1.97 ERA. Carlton would post a lifetime ERA of 3.22 across 24 seasons, dueling with Nolan Ryan throughout the 1983 season for the major league career strikeout total. Carlton would hold the top spot for the majority of the 1983 season, and for much of 1984. Carlton still ranks fourth on the all-time list, and is the all-time career strikeout leader in the National League, where he spent all but the twilight years of his career. The key card in the 1965 Topps set and one of the most important baseball cards of the 1960s, the Carlton rookie is still underrated in comparison with his strikeout rival Ryan. Offered here is one of the most spectacular examples, and certainly one of the finest cards we have ever presented: the Steve Carlton rookie card, graded GEM MINT 10 by PSA. One of just eight examples to reach this plateau, the card is simply perfect, well-centered and as sharp as if it were brand new. The color is vivid and clear, the surface free of the print defects that plague 1960s Topps cards, the white borders even and brilliantly bright. The reverse is also extremely well-centered, with the tiniest bit of slight chipping along the right edge of the reverse, mentioned here only for the sake of accuracy. Simply a spectacular card, beyond a doubt the finest we have seen. MINIMUM BID: $15,000
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4. 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle (HOF RC) - PSA EX-MT 6
In very few areas of the hobby can one call a five-figure card “underrated,” but in the case of the 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle, the description is appropriate. Despite its status as the “true” rookie card of postwar baseball’s most revered and popular player, the 1951 Bowman Mantle has long been overshadowed by the legend of the 1952 Topps card (which many even refer to as his rookie card). Still, nothing can change the fact that the 1951 Bowman #253 Mantle is his rookie card, and it is a beautiful, desirable card depicting the Yankee outfielder from the waist up in his batting stance, blue sky and puffy summer clouds in the distance. Despite being underrated, the card has begun an explosive period of popularity growth, reaching into the five figures at even the lower grades. This example is quite clean and sharp, graded EX-MT 6 by PSA, with rich, vivid color and outstanding print registration. The image is centered slightly to the top left, though not in a way that distracts from the tremendous eye appeal of the card. Surface and clarity are outstanding. An exquisite specimen, one of the finest we have offered. MINIMUM BID: $7,500
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5. 1960 Hemmets Journal #23 Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) HOF RC - PSA EX 5
The first-known image of Cassius Clay on something resembling a trading card was published as part of a four-photo panel in a Swedish magazine. Depicting Clay as an Olympic boxing champion, the future Greatest of All Time was joined on the page by speedwalker John Ljunggren, Wilma Rudolph and Danish soccer player Harald Nielsen. While the panel was intended to be put into a two-ring binder, col- lectors have chosen to cut the panel into cards, making this hand-cut gem the rookie card of Muhammad Ali, perhaps the most famous celebrity in the history of the world. Dating to Clay’s Olympic medal victory in Rome, the card includes some biographical information on the reverse. Well-centered, clean, and sharp, with just a tiny bid of moderate toning. A monumentally important card. MINIMUM BID: $2,500
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6. Outstanding 1975 Topps Complete PSA-Graded Set (660) - #25 on the PSA Registry! One of the most interesting and colorful baseball sets ever produced by Topps, the 1975 issue is extremely condition-sen- sitive, due to the colorful borders and poor Topps quality control. The cards are frequently found off-center or miscut, sometimes even with pronounced tilts and print snow, and on the infrequent occasion when the cards are properly centered and clean, the colorful borders conspire against collectors by being susceptible to chipping. Despite the challenges of build- ing a high-grade set, it remains extremely popular among col- lectors - nearly 250 different sets are in varying states of com- pletion on PSA’s current finest list. Presented here is the set ranked #25 among PSA’s current finest list, with an astonishing rating of 8.37. The set condition break- down is nothing short of incredible, with 21 cards (3% of the set) grading GEMMINT 10, 185 cards (28%) grading MINT 9, 21 more (3%) grading NM-MT+ 8.5, 430 (65%) grading NM- MT 8, and just two cards grading NM - #52 Darrell Porter and #53 Dave Giusti, both commons, relatively inexpensive to re- place. The set was assembled carefully by a dedicated collector with a discriminating eye, paying close attention to both color and centering.
The key cards and Hall of Famers in the set grade as follows: PSAMINT 9: #5 Ryan HL, #35 Santo, #80 Fisk, #140 Garvey, #180 Morgan, #260 Bench, #280 Yastrzemski, #300 Jackson, #370 Seaver, #450 McCovey, #560 Perez, #622 Lynn RC; PSA NM-MT+ 8.5: #2 Brock HL; PSA NM-MT 8: #1 Aaron HL, #3 Gibson HL, #4 Kaline HL, #20 Munson, #21 Fingers, #30 Blyleven, #50 Robinson, #60 Jenkins, #61 Winfield, #70 Schmidt, #75 Simmons, #100 Stargell, #130 Niekro, #150 Gibson, #185 Carlton, #220 Sutton, #223 Yount RC, #228 Brett RC, #230 Hunter, #320 Rose, #335 Palmer, #500 Ryan, #530 Perry, #540 Brock, #545 B. Williams, #554 Gossage, #565 Torre, #580 F. Robinson, #600 Carew, #616 Rice RC, #620 Carter RC, #623 Hernandez RC, #640 Killebrew, #660 Aaron. This is an outstanding set. In addition to the litany of high-grade Hall of Famers and key cards included above, there are several examples of cards where there are just one or no examples in higher grades: #12 David Clyde (PSA 9, one higher), #28 Murphy (PSA 10, 1/17), #34 Renko (PSA 10, 1/27), #58 Taylor (PSA 9, one higher), #59 Henderson (PSA 10, 1/26), #92 Upshaw (PSA 9, one higher), #136 Mason (PSA 9, one higher), #139 Pina (PSA 9, one higher), #188 Griffin (PSA 9, two higher), #202 1964 MVPs (PSA 9, one higher), #232 Segui (PSA 10, 1/18), #279 May (PSA 10, 1/42), #300 Jackson (HOF - PSA 9, one higher), #301 Roberts (PSA 9, none higher), #317 Lahoud (PSA 9, none higher), #324 Kranepool (PSA 10, 1/29), #327 Hairston (PSA 10, 1/28), #330 Marshall (PSA 10, 1/13), #332 Kendall (PSA 10, 1/13), #334 Gross (PSA 10, 1/19), #353 Melendez (PSA 9, one higher), #363 Fanzone (PSA 9, two higher), #365 Bailey (PSA 10, 1/22), #373 Sharp (PSA 10, 1/23), #381 Curtis (PSA 10, 1/10), #393 Gentry (PSA 10, 1/16), #394 Blanks (PSA 10, 1/14), #401 Wallace (PSA 9, one higher), #410 Cuellar (PSA 9, one higher), #416 Lintz (PSA 9, one higher), #424 Lowenstein (PSA 9, one higher), #454 Griffin (PSA 10, 1/19), #542 Broberg (PSA 10, 1/12), #547 Joshua (PSA 9, one higher), #559 Montgomery (PSA 10, 1/40), #569 White (PSA 10, 1/29), #582 Rodriguez (PSA 10, 1/20), #585 Chambliss (PSA 10, 1/18), #628 Leflore (PSA 9, one higher). A tremendous high-grade 1975 Topps set, with many population rarities, each in extremely high-grade, carefully assembled by a dedi- cated collector with a keen eye for high-grade cards. 660 cards total. MINIMUM BID: $5,000
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7. Amazing 1921 Chicago Staleys vs. Green Bay Packers Official Program - First Bears/Packers Game, Green Bay’s First NFL Season!
Presented here is an outstanding original program from one of the most significant games in American professional football history — the very first meeting between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Staleys, who would become known as the Chicago Bears in 1922. On the day this program was issued — November 27th, 1921, Curly Lambeau led his Green Bay Packers against the Chicago Staleys at Cubs Park (renamed Wrigley Field in 1926) where they were routed 20-0 by George Halas’ men. This initial contest kicked off a classic rivalry that has stood for exactly 100 years as of the current NFL season. Though the Pack- ers lost the very first encounter, their current all-time record against the Chicago Staleys/ Bears stands at 102-95-6. Presently, the NFL ranks the 1921 Chicago Staleys #86 on their list of “100 Greatest” teams. It’s worth noting that the National Football League (NFL) was known as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) from 1920-1921 before changing their moniker to the National Football League prior to the 1922 season. Condition of the program appears excellent with minor wear to the edges and spine, along with minor age-related discoloration consistent with delicate paper from this era. There are two folds down the center of the program (one vertical, one horizontal) which are heavier on verso than front. Verso has some paper loss near spine and also contains some handwriting in pencil. Interior pages are clean throughout. Though there is a small hole in center of final three pages this does not detract from overall eye appeal when opened. MINIMUM BID: $2,500
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Most important rookie card of the future Hall of Fame quarterback, with production limited to just 1,250 cards. Graded NM-MT+ 8.5 by Beckett, the card has sub grades of 9.5 for centering, 9 for edges, 9 for surface, and 8 for corners. Strong image quality and a clean, crisp surface, one of the blue chip modern cards experiencing explosive growth during the hobby renaissance. Serial numbered 0561/1250. 8. 2000 SP Authentic #118 Tom Brady (RC) - BVG NM-MT+ 8.5
MINIMUM BID: $3,000
9. 2000 Bowman Football Factory-Sealed Hobby Box Trio In early Spring of this year, we met with a collector who wanted to consign some complete sets that he’d accumulated during his youth, which were taking up space in his home and no longer an important part of his life. While we were chatting, he mentioned that he also had some unopened boxes, mostly modern football and basketball. We expressed our interest in those items as well - and were promptly blown away by some of the items he brought us from his collection. Presented here are three boxes from that collection - unopened, factory-sealed 2000 Bowman football boxes. The Tom Brady rookie routinely eclipses $3000 in PSA 9, with GEMMINT examples selling in the $10,000 range. Factory-sealed boxes have become important hobby investments - and a group of three gives a collector the ability to search for that elusive Brady rookie in one box, while keeping two unopened for investment purposes. A tremendous find, three very desirable unopened boxes. MINIMUM BID: $1,500
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10. 1959 Hoshi Gangu Gold Border Sadaharu Oh (RC) - SGC NM+ 7.5 Graded NM+ 7.5 by SGC. First card of the Japanese Base- ball Hall of Famer, the first Japanese ballplayer to become well-known in America for his home run prowess, his 868 lifetime clouts the stuff of legend. The all-time home run king of the WORLD, Oh also leads Japanese baseball with 2,170 lifetime RBI, and 1,967 runs scored. In 1973 and 1974, Oh won the Triple Crown two years in a row. There are two versions of his 1959 Hoshi Gangu card - a more common white bordered variation, and this gold-bordered example, which is much more rare. To top it off, this example features a tougher back variation, which pictures Superman on the back. The sharp and colorful card pictures Oh’s teammate Shigeo Nagashima in the background; Nagashima and Oh are considered the best two players in Japanese baseball history. An exceptional card, a true must-have for any collector seeking a collec- tion of all the game’s greatest players. MINIMUM BID: $2,000
11. 1935 National Chicle #34 Bronko Nagurski (HOF RC) - PSA GOOD 2 The 1935 National Chicle football set is undoubtedly one of the most popular and certainly one of the most import- ant football sets ever manufactured. The set contains some of the game’s biggest names and includes the first card of virtually every key subject in the set. The set”s colorful art deco design was typical of the day”s contemporary art and the popular design was repeated by National Chicle in their “Diamond Stars” baseball set of 1934-36 as well as their Sky Birds cards of 1933. What makes the 1935 Na- tional Chicle football set so important, however, is the in- clusion of the card we present here: the first card of Hall of Famer Bronko Nagurski. The 1935 National Chicle Bronko Nagurski has been widely established as the most valuable and important football card in the hobby. Clearly the key to this set, the card achieved this notoriety because it is the first card of the well known Hall of Famer and famous pro wrestler as well as because it comes from the set’s ultra scarce high number series. There is no question that this is the most important and highly sought-after football card in existence. Presented here is a very strong collector-grade example, likely one of the finest examples at the GOOD 2 level. Extremely well-centered, the card boasts excellent image quality with some light surface abrasions on the front of the card that result in a few small areas of paper loss, in incon- sequential areas of the card image at the bottom-right, and along the left edge. Light corner rounding is evident, as is
some very mild fading. A small stain graces the reverse, and a light surface wrinkle breaks the blue area of the card in the bottom-right corner, over the word “Nagurski.” Despite the areas of wear, the card boasts outstanding eye appeal for the grade. A clean, collector-grade example of the hobby’s most important foot- ball card.
MINIMUM BID: $2,000
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