Baseball Autographs Up for Auction
New York Giants pitcher Christy Mathewson's signed first edition of Won in the Ninth. Estimate: $7,500+
An extraordinarily rare Lou Gehrig handwritten letter is among Important Baseball Autographs up for bid in Boston-based RR Auction Sports auction closing August 20.
Sought-after one-page letter on Andrew Jackson Hotel letterhead, dated April 6, 1936. Letter to his accountant Theodore Witkin, in full: "Enclosed please find another letter, which is self explanatory. I just dropped Mr. Palmer a letter advising him that I felt quite sure this matter had been adjusted by you. Many thanks again, and hope you are having a little leisure now."
Rarely made available to the public market, handwritten letters from Gehrig are virtually nonexistent, with this neatly penned example—written a week before Gehrig would embark on his final MVP-winning season—representing the first our company has ever offered. (Estimate: $15,000+)
Among other featured lots is a Babe Ruth single-signed Baseball from 1927. The gorgeous official Spalding No. 6 'Star' baseball signed in fountain pen on the sweet spot, "'Babe' Ruth." This is a particularly desirable example, as the quotation marks around his first name date it to about 1927, as he stopped signing in that manner in subsequent years. Single-signed Ruth baseballs stand among the most sought-after pieces of all sports memorabilia, and this is a superior example. (Estimate: $10,000+)
Christy Mathewson Signed Book. The desirable signed book: Won in the Ninth. First edition. NY: R. J. Bodmer Company, 1910. Hardcover with attractive custom slipcase, 298 pages. Signed on a presentation copy bookplate affixed to the front pastedown in fountain pen by Christy Mathewson; the bookplate, No. 404, bears a typed inscription to "Mr. F. W. Harris." A superb book autographed by the dominant New York Giants pitcher, widely regarded as the greatest of his generation. (Estimate: $7,500+)
Hank Aaron's contract for the year he broke Babe Ruth's record. Contract, signed “Henry L. Aaron,” five pages on three adjoining sheets, December 19, 1973. National League uniform player's contract in which Hank Aaron agrees to render "skilled services as a baseball player during the year 1974" for the Atlanta Braves, for a salary of $220,000. Signed at the conclusion in ink by Hank Aaron, National League President Chub Feeney, and Atlanta Braves owner William Bartholomay. Following the 1974 season, Aaron was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, which is noted in a statement signed by Braves Executive Vice President Eddie Robinson, and in two approval stamps signed by NL President Chub Feeney and AL President Lee MacPhail. The contract also contains a "Special Covenant" addendum concerning a $300,000 loan given to Aaron and guaranteed by the ballclub.
The 1974 Major League Baseball season was hotly anticipated—and quite controversial—as Aaron began the year with 713 career home runs, trailing the legendary Babe Ruth by just one for the all-time record. Hammerin' Hank tied Ruth's record in his first swing of the season on April 4th, blasting a pitch from Reds pitcher Jack Billingham into the stands at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium. He broke the record when the Braves returned to Atlanta on April 8th, sending an Al Downing fastball into the bullpen for his famous 715th home run. Aaron would decide not to retire after the end of the season, and Atlanta traded him to the Milwaukee Brewers for Roger Alexander and Dave May. (Estimate: $10,000+)
Online bidding for the Sports Auction from RR Auction began Aug 13 and will conclude Aug 20, 2020. For more information, go to www.rrauction.com.
