October Legends Closing November 1
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2014
Before 8 x 10 glossies and private signings were de rigueur, the thrill of most young boys back before electronic media was getting their baseball heroes signatures in the standard autograph book. One such boy named William McKinley (we kid you not!) owned this 6 x 4.75 inch book, which contains 48 such signatures, most in pencil with some ballpoint pen signatures. According to the inscription inside the front cover, this book was given to young William of Auburn, NY “From Mother” likely in 1951 and promptly lost at Cooperstown, NY. How do we know? Opposite the name and address (plus inscription) on the first page reads “To Bill Don’t be careless when mother gives you something Hold on to it. Found at Cooperstown, NY 7/23/51 By H. E. Rozansky… Brooklyn, NY.” How wonderful of this Good Samaritan who witnessed the induction ceremonies of Mel Ott and Jimmie Foxx to return this book to William, who likely earned a valuable lesson. This book records all of William’s memories of that day (minus the humiliation and crying after his book was originally lost) when he met baseball legend after baseball legend. Included in the pages are vintage signatures of Cy Young, Tris Speaker, Chas. Gehringer, Jimmie Foxx, Mickey Cochrane, Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider, Jackie Robinson, AB Chandler, Mel Allen, Ford Frick, William Harridge, Andy Pafko, Rube Walker, Vern Stephens, Bob Thomson (who was to hit the Shot Heard Round the World a few months later!), Ralph Branca (who allowed that Thomson HR!), Birdie Tebbetts, Dom DiMaggio, Geo. Hooks Wiltse (d. 1959), Steve O’Neill (twice!), Vern Stephens, Connie Mack, Jr., Carl Erskine, Jake Pitler, Maurice McDermott, and several others including a few “Hollywood” personalities. This is a wonderful memory of the 1951 Hall of Fame induction ceremony seen through the eyes of a young boy meetings his early heroes. Many of the HOF signatures are single-scripted on their own pages, perfect for encapsulation. Full LOA from James Spence Authentication, cert number Y27977.