Lot # 782: 1950s Multi-Sport Autograph Scrapbook and Flats Collection (67) Total Signatures with Vin Scully, Stan Musial, “Happy” Felton & Bob Mathias

A labor of love is put forth, with the presentation of this 1950s autograph collection. Totaling (67) signatures, this collection is comprised of an improvised scrapbook and a variety of loose flats. Looking over this collection, there’s little doubt it was assembled by a youth, and the lineup of signers arranged in the scrapbook by team suggests the year the signature gathering took place was 1953. While most of the signatures were provided by baseball players, a few figures from other sports are represented, as noted below. Signature quality is generally pleasing, though a small number are lesser examples. Unless noted, those listed below are baseball players.

Featured are:

1953 Scrapbook (49) signatures with: signatures with auction LOA from James Spence/JSA: “Preacher” Roe, Jim Hughes, Ben Wade, “Pee Wee” Reese (HOF), Billy Cox, Bobby Morgan, Robin Roberts (HOF, X2), Jerry Staley, Ray Jablonski, Eddie Yuhas, “Red” Schoendienst (HOF), Solly Hemus, Enos Slaughter (HOF), Stan Musial (HOF), Mike Garcia (d.1986), Early Wynn (HOF), Bob Feller (HOF), Bob Lemon (HOF), Phil Rizzuto (HOF), “Happy” Felton (d.1964, announcer), Vin Scully (HOF, announcer); and signatures offered without authentication due to time/cost restraints, that are presumed genuine: Bobby Morgan, Joe Black, George Shuba, Dick Williams (HOF), Russ Meyer, Curt Simmons, Hank Thompson, Daryl Spencer, Larry Jansen (X2), Bill Rigney, Bobby Thompson, Don Mueller, Al Dark, Ruben Gomez, Virgil Trucks, Al Rosen, Tom Gorman, Hank Sauer (X2), Paul Pettit, Vic Janowicz (two-sport star), Mike Sandlock, Cal Abrams, Eddie Pellagrini, Phil Montemayor, Frank Thomas.

Single items with auction LOA from James Spence/JSA (8) with: Allie Reynolds cut, “Red” Barber note page (HOF, announcer), “Whitey” Ford note page (HOF), Ralph Kiner real photo postcard (HOF), Larry Doby real photo postcard (HOF), Larry Doby magazine photograph clipping (HOF), boxer “Kid” Gavilan with “Champ 4/23/53” inscription (HOF), Olympic Decathlon gold medal winner Bob Mathias book photograph clipping.

Single items offered without authentication due to time/cost restraints, that are presumed genuine (10) with: Bill Rigney government postcard, Bill Connelly cut, Bobby Avila real photo postcard, Stan Musial faded signature on a 5” x 7” photograph (HOF), Bobby Thomson 5” x 7” photograph, and (5) on magazine clipping photographs with irregular edges: Bobby Avila, Al Rosen, Luke Easter, Frank Baumholtz, Ray McMillan.  

Are present are single bonus items that are not signed (6) with: (3) 6” x 7” souvenir photographs: Stan Musial, Bobby Shantz, football star Elroy Hirsch; book photograph pages (2): “Babe” Ruth with Lou Gehrig on the opposite side, Joe DiMaggio with Jackie Robinson on the other side; real photo postcards (1): Bobby Shantz.

Auction LOA from James Spence/JSA.