Rare vintage material to highlight next Huggins &

If some is good, than more would have to be better, right? Huggins & Scott Auctions is putting that theory to the test with its next auction.

In its continuing effort to appease its ever-growing user base, Huggins & Scott has expanded its photo gallery and descriptions of its items just in time for its March 15-16 Worldwide Internet and Telephone Auction. Catalogs for the auction, which will feature more than 1,200 lots, will be mailed out March 1.

"We're going to have four times as many photos on our site than what we've used in the past," said Huggins & Scott's West Coast representative Josh Wulkan. "We're also going to have lengthier, much more detailed descriptions of the featured lots. Not that it was bad before this but we based the decision on some of the feedback we received after our last auction and some said they wanted more photos, different view of the items and things like that. Now will photograph the entire lot with fronts and backs of cards and people will get a chance to see the items from every angle."

Some of the highlighted items scheduled to go up for bids include: pieces from the James Downey Collection: a turn-of-the-century minor league ballplayer who played for the Eastern League's 1902 Toronto Maple Leafs. The team posted an 85-42 record in 1902 and is ranked No. 76 on the list of 100 greatest Minor League Baseball teams developed by baseball historians Bill Weiss & Marshall Wright. The collection, which was consigned by Downey's family, includes two player contracts, two game-used bats from the period and a cabinet photo of Downey and Edward Barrow, the Leafs manager at the time, future International League president, future manager of the Boston Red Sox and Hall of Famer.

One of the rarest items in the auction is an Indian squaw painting of a Seminole Indian on boars-hide leather circa 1903 (see photo). This photo was consigned for auction after being valued in an "Antique Road Show" type program at $5,000-$15,000.

Other items include: a completely graded 1934 Goudey set (96 cards in all, varying grades); Babe Ruth endorsed check (1930); two Walter Johnson signed baseballs; Harmon Killebrew game-used bat (MEARS A-8.5, the company's highest grade for killebrew bat ever); 1934 N.Y. Yankees team-signed baseball; single-signed Ruth ball; an Ozzie Smith game-used jersey (MEARS); 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle (PSA 5); E 90-1 Joe Jackson rookie card and a collection of presidential autographs from 1888-1980.

The March auction will also feature a huge collection of graded T206 cards (broken down into smaller lots); loads of vintage sets, near sets, autographs and game-used memorabilia.

The next Huggins & Scott auction will take place in September. For more information on any of the items featured in the March 15-16 auction go to www.hugginsandscott.com. or call 1-866-462-2273.