Winter Auction 2015 closing February 7
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/8/2015
Few figures in sports history have been as widely popular as baseball’s “Ol’ Perfesser,” the venerable Casey Stengel. This beautiful framed, matted selection also includes a rare treasure, in addition to the 7x9” photo and autograph. The picture shows Stengel in Yankee pinstripes, pointing from the top dugout step, while the autograph looks to have been cut from a 3x5” index card, but is still substantial. Perhaps the centerpiece is a tobacco felt, circa 1914, depicting the Hall of Famer in his playing days with Brooklyn (commonly, though not officially, known as the Robins in those days). This 5x5” felt square is of the kind issued by tobacco companies of the era as collectibles, and depicts a young Casey starting a swing. The felt is in amazing condition with clean edges and no visible damage or staining, trimmed in brown with red border and a blue field (others were done in green), with one flag on each side stating “Brooklyn” and “NL” as well as the name “STENGEL” below the illustration. While two faint folds are visible – presumably from packaging – and the lettering is a bit faded, this element alone makes this a unique and valuable keepsake. The entire piece measures 15x21” plus wood frame, and includes a JSA LOA.