Ruth-Gehrig items headline the Coach’s Corner’s Ma

A dual signed Babe Ruth-Lou Gehrig baseball, a page of Hall of Famers
out of a 1939 autograph album and important baseballs signed by the likes of Eddie Collins, Walter Johnson, Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker top a list of more than 3,500 items up for sale in Coach's Corner Sports & Celebrity March Auction. This auction will end on March 3. It is the first of two March auctions, with the second ending March 31.

The Ruth-Gehrig is signed and certified red-and black-laced baseball with Ruth on the sweet spot and Gehrig on a side panel. The ball is valued at $15,000 by company president Scott Malack. This dual-signed ball and a single-signed Ruth ball both carry $750 minimum bids. The Ruth ball, also certified, is an Official American League William Harridge ball and valued at more than $10,000.

A 5-by-7 autograph book page, cover included and from the 1930s, comes ink-signed by 11 of the all-time baseball greats as they were inducted in 1939 into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Signatures include Connie Mack, Cobb, Honus Wagner, Eddie Collins, Cy Young, Larry Lajoie, Speaker, George Sisler, Walter Johnson, Ruth and Grover Cleveland Alexander.
Another top item is a Mark McGwire game-used 1998 St. Louis Cardinals road gray jersey.

Other significant autographed baseballs include a Collins signed Rawlings ball, a Walter Johnson signed DeBeer & Son ball, a Cobb-signed R&N ball and a Cobb-signed Official American League ball, a lot of nine 500 Home Run Club single-signed baseballs, a Speaker-signed 1950s ball, a Rogers Hornsby signed Official Regulation League ball, a Mickey Welch game-used red-and black-laced ball, a Martin Dihigo signed Official ball, a Jimmie Foxx signed DeBeer & Sons ball, a Chuck Klein signed All-Purpose practice ball, a Triple-Crown winners signed ball, a Thurman Munson signed DeBeer ball and a 1937 American League All-Stars signed Official American League ball.

Other noteworthy cuts and signed photos included in the auction are a Harry Wright signed 4-by-6 cut, a Christy Mathewson signed baseball scorebook page, a Norman "Turkey" Stearnes 3-by-5 cut, a Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio signed baseball display, a signed Mickey Mantle artist's proof, a 3,000 Hit Club signed large poster, a 500 Home Run Club poster with all 11 signatures, a W. A. Hulbert signed 3-by-5 card, a Munson signed 8-by-10 photo, a J. H. O'Rourke signed U.S. postcard, a Jack Chesbro cut signature, a Ruth-signed and inscribed photo, a Wilt Chamberlain signed 8-by-10 photo, a Bob Jones signed golf postcard, a Jackie Robinson signed personal check and a Michael Jordan signed 8-by-10 photo.

Signed uniforms, memorabilia and equipment include a George Brett signed and game-used Royals 1993 jersey, a Cal Ripken Jr. signed Orioles cap, a Cobb game-used "R&R" bat piece display, a Roberto Clemente signed Pirates cap, a Stan Musial signed Rawlings Pro Model bat, a Mantle signed Yankees cap, a Mantle-signed Yankee home white Russell jersey, a Derek Coleman game-used full 76ers uniform and an Earl Campbell game-used Oilers helmet.

For trading card fans, the auction will feature an Upper Deck DiMaggio piece, which is numbered 406 of 500 and includes four porcelain baseball card reprints in a wooden display case. One of the cards is signed.
Also available are a lot of 13 different signed 1941 Play Ball cards, including Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams, also 30 game-worn jersey and one game-worn pants cards that were inserted with major baseball card brands over the years, a 1971 Topps Nolan Ryan card graded Pristine 10 and a 1973 Topps Mike Schmidt rookie card graded Gem Mint 10.

Bids will be accepted online at www.myccsa.com, by phone at 215-721-9162 or by mail prior to the auction date. The complete auctions listings appear in this week's issue of SCD.

- Ted Taylor