Ball signed by Ruth, Gehrig, others tops Coach’s C

A baseball signed by Yankees immortals Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Tony
 Lazzeri and Miller Huggins sold for $3,820 and was the highest selling item in the 3,751-lot May Coach's Corner Sports and Celebrity Auction.

The unbranded red-laced ball - personalized by Ruth "To George the Babe Ruth of Umpires" (former major league umpire George Magerkurth), while Lazzeri addressed it to "Mr. Magerkurth" - was signed in black fountain pen by all four men.

A signed Gehrig vintage Louisville Slugger scored the second highest selling price in the auction, going for $3,473. Meanwhile, a Babe Ruth signed bat brought $3,184 and a Christy Mathewson signed Andia Official League baseball sold for $3,151.

In addition, a Nelson Fox signed Official American League McPhail baseball sold for $2,721, followed by a Ruth signed Official National League ball that went for $2,665. A Ty Cobb signed Official American League ball went for $2475.

This auction had a historian's Presidential theme to it, as it showcased a George Washington cut selling for $2,450, an Abraham Lincoln cut bringing $1,645, an Andrew Jackson signed document selling for $1,448 and a baseball signed by president and Mrs. John F. Kennedy that sold for $1,342. Also in the realm of history, a signature from the legendary Indian Chief Sitting Bull went for $2,359 (likely obtained during his days with Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show).

A baseball signed by one-third of the legendary Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance double play combination saw $2,250 paid for Joe Tinker's signature. A bat signed by Mickey Mantle, including his handwritten stats, sold for $2,100.
Other top sellers included a Jimmie Foxx signed baseball for $1,915, a Gehrig signed ball for $1,898, a Honus Wagner signed ball for $1,575 and $1,531 paid for a Cap Anson signed baseball.

Bids for all Coach's Corner Auctions are accepted online at www.myccsa.com, by phone at (215) 721-9162 or by mail prior to the auction date.
- Ted Taylor