Autographs, memorabilia headline Clean Sweep Auctions’ current sale

The current auction hosted by Clean Sweep Auctions has a particularly interesting mix of items. It is the company’s unique-to-the-industry affordable autographs and memorabilia-only auction, as nearly every lot has a retail value of $500 or less and low minimum bids.

Classic Brooklyn Dodgers tickets, programs and pinbacks, and a great collection of signed football helmets and mini-helmets, jerseys and memorabilia headline the auction. The Dodgers and football categories are among the strongest the company has ever offered.

Day one of the two-day auction features baseball autographs, mainly flats. There are some better signed cards, including a 1965 Topps Roger Maris and many quality Red Sox signed cards, often in lots, including some of the key 1967 Red Sox cards.

Perez Steele collectors will see a strong run of signed postcards, including George H.W. Bush, Jo DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Nolan Ryan and Ted Williams. There is also a particularly deep offering of signed Yellow HOF Plaques, with many classic rarities, some nice group lots and keys including Earle Combs, Sam Crawford, Dizzy Dean, Elmer Flick, Chick Hafey, Carl Hubbard, Mantle, Kirby Puckett, Schalk and Zack Wheat.

Collectors of signed 8x10 photos can have a field day here, with no less than 133 different lots. This includes some tougher 1933 Who’s Who signed pages, the usual run of classic HOFers and many tougher vintage signed photos.

Collectors of 3x5s, GPCs and cuts will see a wide range of vintage HOFers and scarcities, with note to Home Run Baker, Howie Fox, Don Hoak, Gil Hodges, Dummy Hoy, Connie Mack, Roger Maris, Walter O’Malley, Mel Ott, Dazzy Vance and Paul Waner.

There are also many interesting signed documents and letters, including two Mickey Cochrane checks, a Nellie Fox document, a Branch Rickey document, an Eppa Rixey check and an Al Simmons check. Letters, many with remarkable content, including Earle Combs, Gavvy Cravath, Connie Mack, Walter O’Malley, George Sisler and Bill Veeck are also available. Collectors of large prints will see three pages of content, including several fine Mantle signed oversize prints, 300 Win Club, a very comprehensively signed Brooklyn Dodgers poster, and fine Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera signed/framed large photos among much more.

Day two begins with basketball. There is a fine earlier John Havlicek signed rookie card, many vintage programs and some nice autographs. Boxing collectors will see several interesting Ali signed items and some unusual signed photos, including a 1927 Jack Dempsey and the very scarce Carlos Monzon.

Football is a vital part of this auction, as it includes a fresh run of high-quality, signed jerseys, including Terry Bradshaw, Jim Brown, Peyton Manning, Joe Namath, Ray Nitschke and Johnny Unitas. Also included is a run of signed full-size helmets, with key HOFers Brown, John Elway, Manning, Dan Marino and Namath. The auction has an amazing single-owner collection of signed mini-helmets, checking in at a whopping 132 different lots, probably the most varied collection to ever appear at public auction.

These were all obtained in person by a former police officer who worked at many football games over the past several decades.

Football continues with some desirable vintage autographs, a quality collection of vintage helmets, and some excellent publication lots from the 1930s through the 1950s.

Baseball memorabilia begins with a terrific offering of Brooklyn Dodgers material. There is an outstanding pin collection, spread out over 30 different lots. It continues with lots of white-hot tickets that are arranged in very manageable group lots by year from 1947 through 1956, with super low minimum bids. The auction also has a fine run of programs from the same years, and other related paper memorabilia.

Baseball memorabilia continues with many interesting non-Dodger tickets and memorabilia, going back to the 19th century. There are some game used jerseys, quality pennants, vintage signs and other interesting images. Baseball publications go back to 1908, with note to World Series Programs from 1933-1967, yearbooks from 1941-1971 and the fourth issue of Baseball Magazine from 1908.

Autographed baseballs conclude the auction, with offerings of deceased players, HOFers and current and recently retired star players. All of the usual suspects are here. Checking in at 249 lots, there are also some great value group lots at the close of this section.

Team and multi-signed balls are also very strong here, with note to quality Cincinnati Reds team balls from 1941 through the Big Red Machine era, affordable 1946 and 1964 Cardinals team balls, 1969-71 Mets signed balls and it concludes with quality all star balls from 2007 and 2008.