’52 Mantle; Ruth, Gehrig sigs pace Coach’s Corner

A 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, autographs from Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Josh Gibson, plus a dozen items from a recent private signing with former President George H. W. Bush will be up for sale in the June Coach's Corner Sports and Celebrity Auction. The auction, which is slated to end on June 23, showcases more than 3,900 items. There is online and fax bidding currently available.

The lead item is an autographed National League ball bearing the signatures of 11 Hall of Famers, including Ruth on the sweet spot, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, Connie Mack, Walter Johnson and more. The ball rates a 7.5 overall and comes with forensic certification.

The '52 Topps Mantle No. 311 slabbed and graded card is also available in the auction. It was graded a 2, and carries a minimum bid of $1,000.

Several signed baseballs are also clustered at the top of the list with a Ruth sweet-spot signed American League Harridge ball leading the way. Also in that group is a Marilyn Monroe signed Official National League Giles baseball, a Gibson side-panel signed All Purpose ball, a Gehrig and Ruth signed Boys League baseball, a Bill Klem signed Tober ball and a Ray Schalk signed Wilson ball.

Other interesting and significant signed baseballs offered in this auction include a Roberto Clemente signed Spalding ball, an Elston Howard signed American League ball, a Jimmie Foxx sweet-spot signed American Association ball, a Cobb signed American League Cronin ball and an official National League ball signed by Dodgers immortals Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella.

On April 17, 2006, Bush, the 41st United States president, sat for a private signing of a limited number of items. The auction will include 13 of them, each with a COA from STAT Authentic and promoter Patrick Van Tiem.
Also included in this lot is a limited-edition Yale University baseball jersey (produced by Mitchell & Ness) that is numbered 21 of 41, a limited-edition Cooperstown Collection bat and such things as a signed silk tie, baseball, inaugural invitation, an Air Force One display, a White House sculpture and a photo of Bush with Ruth.

Other interesting signed baseballs include a 500 Home Run Club ball with 11 signatures, a 1939-40 New York Yankees team-signed ball (25 signatures including Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio), six autographed and hologramed Barry Bonds signed baseballs, a Yankees Legends baseball with signatures including Ruth, Gehrig, Lazzeri and Huggins, a Rudy Giuliani and Joe Torre signed Steiner 2001 World Series baseball, a lot of a dozen official 500 Home Run Club baseballs and a 1969 Miracle Mets signed baseball.

This auction features some noteworthy cuts, books and signed photos such as a Jackie Robinson signed personal check, a Mantle signed and framed photo, an Ed Delahanty cut, a Gehrig signed magazine photo, a Nelson Fox signed 8-by-10, a Hoss Radbourne signed cut, a Vince Lombardi hand-drawn football play, an old-timers signed photo album with 18 signatures, a Joe Louis signed boxing magazine, an Oscar Charleston signed cut and a 20-by-24 photo of Babe Ruth and Ted Williams, signed by Williams.

Other signed uniforms, memorabilia and equipment pieces include a Bill Russell signed Celtics jersey, a 500 Home Run Club bat, a Mantle signed Salvino figurine, a Sandy Koufax signed Salvino figurine, a Tiger Woods signed 2005 Masters pin flag and a set of 16 Willie Mosconi signed billiard balls.

Card collectors will also seek out a 1962 unopened Topps baseball wax pack, and a 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson rookie card, which graded a 10.
From the art and entertainment world comes a signed 1966 Beatles album, a signed Beatles 8-by-10, a full hand-written letter from Greta Garbo, a John Wayne signed 8-by-20, a Frank Sinatra signed 11-by-14 photo, a Jimi Hendrix signed LP and a Judy Garland signed photo.

From the pages of history comes a unique American flag signed by aviation pioneers Amelia Earhart and Charles A. Lindbergh and a legal document from 1904 signed by President Theodore Roosevelt.

The complete auction listings appear in a 17-page advertising section on pages 61-77 of this week's issue of SCD. Bids will be accepted online at www.myccsa.com, by phone at 215-721-9162 or by mail prior to the auction date.
- Ted Taylor