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Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth autographs, vintage cards highlight Memory Lane Spring Auction
Rare, high-grade autographed memorabilia from such baseball legends as Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig highlight the Spring Rarities Auction at Memory Lane Inc.
The auction, which opens April 15 and runs through May 16, features more than 1,900 lots and a 488-page catalog, highlighted by a single-signed baseball featuring a high quality autograph of Robinson, the trailblazing Brooklyn Dodgers star who will be honored April 15 on Jackie Robinson Day.
Robinson’s autograph on an official National League baseball is rated PSA 8 and includes a “Best Wishes” salutation.
Other rare Robinson-signed items include an autographed Exhibit card carrying a Beckett 9 autograph grade and a 1952 Topps Jackie Robinson card graded PSA 8.
Other rare, historic autographs include a 1955 Pittsburgh Pirates baseball featuring a PSA 9 MINT rookie signature from Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, as well as a signed four-page contract from his $700 per month “winter job” playing for the San Juan Senadores of the Puerto Rican League in 1962.
The catalog also features more than 50 lots of autographs from Yankee legends Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, including signed baseballs, photos, checks, artwork and two World Series programs signed by Ruth. Among vintage cards are numerous examples of their ever-popular 1930s Goudey cards.
There’s a also a three-page handwritten letter from Hall of Famer Eddie Plank; a Ty Cobb photo signed by Cobb and inscribed for baseball agent Christy Walsh; and multiple signed Mickey Mantle baseball cards.
The auction also includes thousands of graded and ungraded vintage singles, including a E92 Dockman & Sons and E95 Philadelphia Caramel Honus Wagner, both graded PSA 7.
Also See: Ruth Goudey cards top REA auction
Other key vintage cards include: a 1917 Collins-McCarthy Rogers Hornsby rookie card (PSA 4); a 1911 Ty Cobb Bat Off Shoulder (PSA 8); PSA 8 copies of the 1911 Sporting Life cards of Honus Wagner and Christy Mathewson; a 1916 Joe Jackson M101-5; a 1932 U.S. Caramel Cobb (PSA 8); a 1953 Topps Mickey Mantle (PSA 7); a 1954 Topps Willie Mays (PSA 9); 1951 Bowman rookie cards of Mays and Mantle; and more than 50 lots of graded T206 cards, including a variety of Hall of Famers.
The auction also features hundreds of high-grade single cards, post-War complete and partial sets, and several lots of unopened material, including a 1953 Topps 5-cent pack, a partial box of 1954 Bowman Football and more.
Among the top vintage photos being offered is a Type 1 Paul Thompson image of Joe Jackson taking a swing during his days in Cleveland as well as original photos of Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson and several featuring members of the 1919 Chicago “Black Sox.”
Vintage tickets up for bid include a variety of 1950s World Series stubs and one from Clemente’s 3,000th and final regular season hit on Sept. 30, 1972.
Among modern cards is a high-grade 2009 Bowman Draft Mike Trout X-Fractor autographed card.
For a catalog and more information, visit memorylaneinc.com.
