Auction closes November 26. Please note that winning bidders in Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania are subject to the appropriate sales tax.
10 TH ANNIVERSARY AUCTION CLOSES NOVEMBER 26, 2022
(845) 750-6366 | www.loveofthegameauctions.com
THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 27, 2012 , I was watching my son’s youth soccer game, but admittedly, my mind was elsewhere. Love of the Game’s Inaugural Auction closing was hours away, and Superstorm Sandy was rapidly bearing down on New Jersey. A lot of preparation had gone into the company’s first auction, and it seemed like there was a lot on the line.
Sure, it’s hard work. Sure, there’s lots of competition. But I’m proud of where we are and how we’ve gotten here, and I’m excited about the future. For this special auction, we wanted to put together a small, high-quality event with fewer than 500 lots, but each one of them special . Some of the lots are special because they’re high-value. Some are special because they’re super-rare, or historically significant. A few are special because they come with great stories. Some have other reasons, which may not be as apparent – maybe its personal, maybe it comes from a special consignor, or a good friend who wanted to be part of our 10th anniversary. The auction includes a number of items from the collection of Barney Pelty, one of the first Jewish players in the American League, who pitched for ten seasons – mostly with the St. Louis Browns – between 1903 and 1912. We’re featuring a complete run of
We had managed to procure a small backup generator, the last one available at our local big box retailer, and put it through a dry run. If we lost power temporarily, I’d be able to keep our refrigerator running, power the outlets in the kitchen, fire up our gas furnace, and operate the computer and a desk lamp in our small basement office. All I could do was wait. The storm plowed into New Jersey the following morning, and we lost power. Electricity was out for 11 days – I processed the invoices and packed the winnings by flashlight. It was days before I could ship anyone’s packages because delivery vehicles couldn’t get to us. But we got it done, the feedback was mostly positive, and so we moved forward with planning Auction #2. Since then we’ve hosted 37 auctions and sold more than 30,000 items to thousands of bidders. We’ve conducted a ton of hobby research and written countless auction descriptions. I’ve traveled tens of thousands of miles, crisscrossing the country multiple times, visiting all 48 of the Continental United States. I’ve met hundreds of people, visited dozens of homes, stopped at hundreds of tourist attractions, antique shops and museums. And after ten years, here’s what I learned: I have the greatest job in the world. I never want to do anything else. I’m surrounded by history, I’m immersed in vintage sports, and I seemingly learn a new story every day. I interact with the greatest people, and every day involves doing research, telling stories, helping hobbyists find pieces that have eluded them, and helping people turn their old collectibles into cash. And in ten years, I think we’ve built a pretty special company. We’re not the biggest, by a long shot. But I do think we’re one of the best. I think we do vintage auctions the right way. Ethically, with respect for the hobby, reverence for history, and a love of the game.
ticket stubs from every New York Yankees vs. Brooklyn Dodgers World Series game – with an outstanding article by Mark Armour, current SABR president and longtime director of the essential SABR Baseball Biography Project. This auction has what might be our best selection of baseball photography to date, our largest ever offering of complete sets (including a really special T206 set), and our usual assortment of Great Cards. The auction is small, but mighty. So it’s our 10th Anniversary auction, and all I can feel is thankful. The hobby has given me years of enjoyment, I’ve met some of the most unbelievable people, and learned so much. Every day – literally – has been a joy. I realize that Love of the Game Auctions would be nowhere if it wasn’t for the trust of our bidders, the confidence of our consignors, and the help of our friends. So, thank you for all your support over the years. If you’re able to read this, it means you’ve been a part of our growth, and for that, I thank you. And thanks for being part of our 10th Anniversary auction!
Regards, Al Crisafulli
10 TH ANNIVERSARY AUCTION − CLOSES NOVEMBER 26, 2022 1
AUCTION TERMS AND CONDITIONS ABOUT OUR AUCTION
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 Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania 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 do not accept direct credit card payment, though you can pay by credit card through PayPal. By special arrangement we can accept payment by wire transfer. There is an additional fee of $10 per wire transfer under $10,000. 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%
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, domestic 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; $35 per invoice valued between $5,000 and $10,000; $50 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. In the case of high-value items requiring bonded, insured transport and/or transport by special carrier, the winning bidder will also pay all shipping, packing and insurance charges. ALSO NOTE THIS EXPLANATION OF HOW OUR 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 pride ourselves on packaging all items very carefully and diligently, but cannot honor special packaging and shipping requests.
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 our discretion. 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/or pushing the scheduled auction closing to a later date, or any other remedy that we feel is appropriate. 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.
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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, Dave Miedema 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 (our email software provider). 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. Should an account be late with payment more than once, it is our policy to assign a credit limit to that account. 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 generally 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. 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 issues 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 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 realize this is a one-week delay, which is partially why the buyer’s premium is 3% less for buyers who pay by check than for those who pay by Paypal. 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. Wire transfers under $10,000 are subject to an additional $10 fee. 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 camera and 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, Beckett or, on rare occasion, GAI. 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.
10 TH ANNIVERSARY AUCTION − CLOSES NOVEMBER 26, 2022 3
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10 TH ANNIVERSARY AUCTION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Featured Items.........................................................................................................................8
Great Cards...........................................................................................................................31
Baseball Memorabilia..........................................................................................................42
Brooklyn Dodgers vs. New York Yankees Ticket Stub Collection.................................52
Vintage Baseball Photography...........................................................................................76
Baseball Postcards................................................................................................................92
19th Century Baseball Cards..............................................................................................93
1900-1948 Baseball Cards...................................................................................................98
1949-Present Baseball Cards............................................................................................121
Miscellaneous Sports Cards .............................................................................................134
Miscellaneous Sports Memorabilia.................................................................................136
Baseball Autographs..........................................................................................................138
IMPORTANT NOTE: Customers in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania are subject to the appropriate state sales tax if we do not have a valid resale certificate on file.
10 TH ANNIVERSARY AUCTION − CLOSES NOVEMBER 26, 2022 5
AL CRISAFULLI – Auction Director ANDREW ARONSTEIN – Inventory Manager SANDY CRISAFULLI – Finance Manager DAVID HORNISH – Research/Copywriter STEPHANIE KOWALSKY – Graphic Designer
LOVEOFTHEGAMEAUCTIONS.COM 6
loveofthegameauctions.com
(845) 750-6366 QUALITY VINTAGE CONSIGNMENTS WANTED
$41,000 • 2021
$90,000 • 2019
$195,000 • 2021
$51,000 • 2022
$106,000 • 2021
$67,000 • 2020
$54,000 • 2022
$111,000 • 2021 $169,000 • 2021
VINTAGE AUCTIONS. DONE RIGHT.
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1. Rare 1923-24 Billiken Oscar Charleston (HOF RC) - SGC GOOD 2
The Billiken Cigarettes issue of 1923-24 was a Cuban-issued set that featured 2” x 2 5/8” cards depicting 60 players from the Cuban Pro- fessional League. Each black and white glossy photo features an ad on the reverse, either for Billiken or, less frequently, La Mode Cig- arettes. One of the more popular and highly-prized Cuban league issues, this set includes many stars of the American Negro Leagues,
including the key card of Oscar Charleston, along with Pop Lloyd, Jose Mendez, Cristobal Torriente and Andy Cooper. One of the key figures of Negro League baseball and considered by Bill James the fourth greatest player of all-time, Charleston played or managed with more than a dozen teams in his 43-year career, also playing nine years of winter ball in Cuba. It was during this time that this card was issued, one of two cards con- sidered Charleston’s “rookie” card (the other being his 1923-24 Tomas Gutierrez card). Featuring a beautiful glossy photo of the Hall of Famer, Charleston’s Billiken card is often considered his most desirable due to the clear photographic image. Charleston’s lifetime batting average of .364 is good for second all-time, just .002 behind Ty Cobb. His 1921 sea- son was perhaps his finest, when he posted a .433 batting average and .512 OBP, though he continued to post in- credible numbers through the 1920s. In addition to rank- ing among the Negro Leagues’ top five all-time in batting average and home runs, Charleston is its all-time leader in stolen bases. Though James ranks Charleston fourth all-time, other baseball scholars feel Charleston may be the greatest player ever. The great John McGraw said of Charleston “If Oscar Charleston isn’t the greatest baseball player in the world, then I’m no judge of baseball talent.” One of just nine examples to have been assessed by SGC (PSA has graded just three), the extremely rare card boasts a crisp, clear image with outstanding contrast. A visible surface stain reduces the technical grade, though the eye appeal remains strong. A light diagonal surface crease can be observed at the upper left when viewed at an angle, and corner wear is mild. Perhaps the most desirable card of one of the game’s high- est echelon of players, 1923-24 Billiken cards of Oscar Charleston simply do not make themselves available at public auction, with examples coming to market only a few times each decade. Extraordinarily rare, the 1923-24 Billiken issue is quite possibly the most sought-after of all Cuban baseball card issues, with the Charleston card its most important. A tremendous card, one of the most sig- nificant we have ever offered.
MINIMUM BID: $5,000
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2. 1969-70 Topps #25 Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) HOF RC - SGC MINT 9
Lew Alcindor was a New York prep school legend, then went on to UCLA, where he embellished the legend, and then proceeded to the NBA, where he became one of it’s all-time legends. Pursued by the New York Nets with the No. 1 pick in the ABA draft, the Harlem Globetrotters made a run at him too, but he was drafted and ultimately signed by the Milwaukee Bucks as the biggest no-brainer No. 1 pick in NBA history. Still the holder of several ma- jor NBA career records, Alcindor was also a centerpiece of the first Topps Basketball set in 12 years, the oversized cards perfect for the 7’2” center that would change his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971. Presented here is a nearly-perfect example of Jabbar’s highly-prized debut card, a brilliant white frame offset- ting the red typesetting and full-color image of the future Hall of Famer, creating a dynamic presentation. Sharp corners and edges are also evident, a slight top-to-bottom centering issue keeping the card from a perfect gem mint grade but hardly detracting from its overall appearance. Among the most important of all basketball cards ever produced, MINT examples of Abdul-Jabbar’s rookie card have reached high into the six-figures in recent years. One of the finer examples we have seen, and certainly the most valuable basketball card we have ever offered.
MINIMUM BID: $15,000
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3. 1921 Exhibits Babe Ruth (HOF) - PSA EX-MT+ 6.5 (1/1, none higher!)
One of the first cards to picture Babe Ruth as a mem- ber of the Yankees and likely the first to picture him in a Yankee uniform, the 1921 Exhibits card of the Babe is also one of the few that depict him in a field- ing pose. The majority of Ruth’s non-portrait cards, both before and after this point, pictured him either pitching or hitting, the two facets of the game for which he was best known. Ruth’s 1921 Exhibits card is extraordinarily desirable for all those reasons, one of the most important Exhibit cads ever distributed. Presented here is the highest-graded example of the 115 1921 Exhibits Babe Ruth cards to have been grad- ed by PSA, the only card attaining the lofty grade of EX-MT+ 6.5. The image is clear, with strong contrast, the corners sharp with just a hint of toning at the lower-right and a minor chip along the right edge, mentioned here solely for accuracy. The card reverse is clean. An extraordinary card, the finest assessed by PSA in its history. MINIMUM BID: $7,500
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4. 1909-11 W600 Sporting Life Cabinets Honus Wagner (HOF - Uniform) - SGC PR 1 Along with the T3 Turkey Red and M110 Sporting Life issues of the same era, the W600 Sporting Life was a cabinet-style issue that featured a player illustration set atop a cardboard backing, similar to the cabinet photos that were popular in the era. The W600 issue consisted of more than 600 cards sold by Sporting Life magazine for ten cents each (or given away for six cents in postage plus a coupon issued in the paper) and are very rare and desirable among prewar card collectors today, seldom found in high grade. Presented here is a key card in the issue, the “in uniform” card of the great Honus Wagner. One of fewer than 18 graded examples, this Type 4 variety presents extraordinarily well but has been graded POOR 10 by SGC due largely to a notch in the cardboard border at the top right, as well as a pinhole along the right edge. Additionally some light and neat writing along the top of the reverse documents The Flying Dutchman’s Hall of Fame election, as well as his birth and death. Despite the grade, the card is in outstanding overall condition with very little additional wear, and most importantly, a clean image marred only by some minor staining of very little consequence. On the rare occasions that a W600 Wagner becomes available for public sale a $50,000 price tag for a middle-grade example is common. Despite the few condition issues, the classic Horner image of Wagner is largely untouched, the borders and “mount” largely clean and quite attractive. Most collectors of cabinet cards understand that the purpose of the cardboard mount is to protect the image contained inside it and are more than willing to accept a damaged mount that holds a clean image; such is the case with this wonderful example. A very appealing example of one of Wagner’s most rare cards, a key card from one of the highest- quality card sets of its era. MINIMUM BID: $4,000
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5. 1909-11 T206 Complete Set w/Complete Polar Bear & Complete Old Mill SL Subsets (520)
While the prewar hobby offers a vast array of card types and is- sues for collectors, few sets carry the mystique - and popularity - of T206. Books have been written about it. Websites are devot- ed to it. It dominates not only message board discussions among vintage hobbyists, but dealer tables at shows and auction catalogs alike. The issue is so popular that PSA has nearly 80 different types of registry sets devoted to various subsets of T206, includ- ing teams, Hall of Famers, artwork format and, of course, back advertisements. Collecting individual T206 cards is easy. Completing a set, how- ever, is a different story - 70 Hall of Famers add considerable ex- pense, while multiple player poses and variations, tough Southern Leaguers, and difficult-to-locate scarcities within the set create collecting challenges that eventually frustrate all but the most patient and passionate collectors to the point of abandonment. Certainly the number of collectors who have completed a T206 set is just a fraction of the number who have a started - there are currently more than 130 sets registered on the PSA registry - but only 12 are complete. For most collectors, obtaining the set’s 520 cards necessary to be considered “complete” is enough (T206 is one of the few sets with cards that are challenging/expensive enough that most collectors consider it complete without them). Adding extra layers of diffi- culty is a challenge that lies beyond the patience of most collec- tors. Yet that is exactly what highlights this set: within the set’s 520 cards lies a complete run of 250 cards with Polar Bear backs (representing every known card offered with that back), and a complete run of 48 Southern Leaguers with Old Mill backs. An incredible exercise in patience and diligence, the set also includes 11 cards with Sovereign 350 backs, plus one Sovereign 150 and one EPDG. 111 of the cards have been graded. We would definitely describe the set as collector-grade, with a condition breakdown as follows: VG: 2%, GOOD 20%, FAIR
24%, POOR 54% with a few visibly trimmed and a few additional light trims. Hall of Famers fare somewhat better, breaking down as follows: VG 3%, GOOD 30%, FAIR 31%, POOR 34% with one trimmed. Southern Leaguers are all graded by PSA or SGC, with 10% grading VG, 58% grading GOOD, 22% grading FAIR and 10% grading POOR. Clearly the collector who assembled this group built the set with budget in mind, but still obtained the key cards in the highest possible quality within that budget. The graded cards break down as follows: PSA VG 3: four cards; SGC VG 3: three cards; SGC GOOD+ 2.5: two cards, PSA GOOD 2: 44 cards, SGC GOOD 2: 10 cards, BVG GOOD 2: 1 card, PSA GOOD 2 MK: 1 card, PSA FAIR 1.5: 8 cards, SGC FAIR 1.5: 17 cards, PSA POOR 1: 18 cards, SGC POOR 1: 7 cards. Among the set’s many key cards, the grades are was fol- lows: Cobb (Green - PSA 1), Cobb (Red - PSA 1.5), Cobb (Bat Off - SGC 1.5), Cobb (Bat On - PSA 1), Johnson (Pitching - SGC 1.5), Johnson (Portrait - PSA 1), Lajoie (Portrait - PSA 1.5), Lajoie (Throwing - SGC 3), Lajoie (Batting - SGC 2), Mathewson (Dark Cap - SGC 1), Mathewson (Portrait - PSA 1), Mathewson (White Cap - PSA 1), Speaker (SGC 1.5), Young (With Glove - SGC 2), Young (Bare Hand - PSA 2), Young (Portrait - SGC 2). Assuming that one considers a T206 Set complete at 520 cards, this is the fourth complete set we have offered since 2021 - the most of any auction house. Of the four, this is the most interesting and certainly the most difficult to complete, with 250 Polar Bear and 48 Old Mill backs. A collector-grade set, this is an extremely tough example of one of the most important and popular of all prewar baseball card sets, with the added challenge of a complete run of Polar Bear backs and a complete run of Old Mill Southern League cards dramatically increasing the degree of difficulty here. The most widely collected prewar baseball card set but still among the most challenging, we have once again tamed the monster for you, while adding challenging Polar Bear and Old Mill subsets. 520 cards total.
MINIMUM BID: $15,000
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6. 1916 Boston Red Sox Original Type 1 Team Photo w/Babe Ruth (HOF - PSA/DNA)
the same shoot appeared in New York papers just prior to the start of the World Series and on the back cover of the 1916 Red Sox World Series program. Along with Ruth, fellow Hall of Famers Harry Hooper (middle row, second from left) and Herb Pennock (first row, second from left) are also present in these images. Surface of the photo does exhibit a single, approx. 1” crease visible to the naked eye along the bottom edge towards the center. A few wrinkles in the emulsion are also present but cannot be seen unless the photo is tilted to catch the light. Corners exhibit light chipping and creasing but do not deter from the historic central image. Verso displays evidence of being removed from it’s original mount, known to be an extremely rare and desireable cabinet photo advertising piece from the Sprague-Hathaway company. Measures approx. 5” x 7”. MINIMUM BID: $3,000
On the heels of their 1915 World Series victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, pitching once again led the way for the 1916 Red Sox in the Fall Classic as they bested Wilbert Robinson’s Brooklyn Robins in five games. While he did make a brief pinch- hitting appearance in the 1915 World Series, young Babe Ruth made his first World Series start on the mound in 1916 — a 2-1 fourteen-inning complete-game in Game 2 that began a historic 29.2-inning World Series scoreless streak, a mark not surpassed until fellow Yankees Hall of Famer Whitey Ford achieved the feat in 1961. Featuring 27 members of the 1916 Boston Red Sox plus their trainer and batboy, the presented photograph was captured at Fenway Park on October 2, 1916. This very image then appeared in the Boston Globe the following day and alternate angles from
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7. Iconic 1941 Joe DiMaggio (HOF) Signed Original Type 1 Photo (PSA/DNA/JSA) On June 29, 1941, Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees treated an overflow crowd in Washington, D.C. to a seminal moment in both baseball history and his own storied career by tying, then surpass- ing, George Sisler’s mark of 41 consecutive games with a base hit. The occasion was a Sunday doubleheader at Griffith Stadium that saw the future Hall of Famer tie Sisler’s record in the first game with a double in the top of the 6th inning, then break that record with a single in the 7th inning of the second game. DiMaggio would ulti- mately end his hitting streak at 56 consecutive games with a base hit — a milestone that endures to this day and one that will require a herculean effort to surpass. Incredibly, the offered Type 1 photograph was not only captured on the day DiMaggio broke, then tied Sisler’s mark but it has also been signed by DiMaggio himself in blue Sharpie as authenticted by both PSA/DNA and JSA. Measuring 6.5” x 8.5”, the iconic photo presents exceptionally well with DiMaggio, the catcher, and umpire in sharp focus, appealingly framed by the sellout crowd of 30,000+. The pho- to surface is clean, bright, and free of creases with just a hint of wear to the corners. The verso exhibits scant toning along the edges and features a large, red International News stamp at center, with pencil notations at top. This photo originates directly from the personal collection of former long-time Baltimore-area sportscaster Ted Pat- terson, and we are thrilled to present it to the hobby here, for the very first time. MINIMUM BID: $5,000
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8. Incredible Babe Ruth Signed Photo & Scrapbook From Ruth’s Sister! (JSA) In ten years of hosting auctions featuring interesting and seldom-seen memorabilia, we have handled our share of unique Babe Ruth items. None, however, have been more compelling than this fascinating scrapbook. Highlighted by a Ruth-signed postcard-sized photo origi- nally owned by none other than Babe Ruth’s sister, it tells the story of New York Yankees superfan Jack Marcus, his campaign for the cre- ation of a U.S. stamp bearing the image of Babe Ruth, and his subse- quent search for Mary Moberly, the long-lost sister of Babe Ruth.
The story begins in 1980 as Marcus wrote various figures in the base- ball world, campaigning for the creation of a U.S. stamp honoring Ruth. In the postscript of a response to Marcus, Baseball Hall of Fame Director Ken Smith wrote “Which reminds me, Mamie Ruth Moberly, Babe’s sister lives in Lakeland, Fla.” Thus began Marcus’ search to locate Moberly, ultimately leading him to the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce and the Ledger news- paper of Lakeland. As a result of Marcus’ search, journalist Ray Weiss penned a September, 1980 article titled Anyone Know Mary Moberly?” Ruth’s sister, a private woman living in the central Florida city, eventu- ally was located and became pen pals with Marcus - and the subject of a September 21 article titled Babe: Babe Ruth’s Only Sister Remembers Her Brother’s Days of Glory.” Carefully preserved are a number of letters between Marcus and Smith discussing his search (and Smith’s subsequent regret of divulging her location), the newspaper articles, and, of course, correspondence be- tween Moberly and Marcus. The highlight of this correspondence is, of course, a 3 1/2” x 5 1/2” photo print of the Babe, signed by Ruth for his sister and later personalized on the reverse by Moberly as a gift to Marcus. Marcus shared the photo with friends in the Yankees family, and their correspondence is included as well. The entire story is preserved in a three-ring binder that does exhibit some wear from repeated reading, though the contents are carefully preserved. In addition to the Ruth photo, the binder contains an original photo of Ruth with Moberly during a visit at Yankee Stadium, an original photo of Moberly from 1980, and correspondence from Julia Ruth Stevens (the Babe’s daughter), Ken Smith of the Hall of Fame, various Lake- land, Florida figures that factored into Marcus’ search, Hall of Famer Waite Hoyt, Hall of Fame broadcaster Red Barber, and others. Also included is a Lakeland Ledger article that actually pictures the signed photo Moberly gave to Marcus.
The postcard itself is well-preserved, housed in a plastic sleeve careful- ly set inside a scrapbook page so that both Ruth’s signature and Mober- ly’s personalization on the reverse are visible. The postcard appears to be in excellent condition, the Babe’s blue fountain pen signature clear and bold. A wonderfully interesting document of a superfan’s determined search for Babe Ruth’s sister, their subsequent friendship, and a signed photo of the game’s greatest figure with impeccable provenance. LOA on the Ruth photo from James Spence Authentication. MINIMUM BID: $3,000
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