Lot 22. Baseball Signed by Tommy John and Dr. Frank Jobe, “Tommy John Surgery” Inventor. Known among surgeons as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, the surgery involves replacing a ligament in the elbow with a tendon from another part of the body. In 1974, John became the first professional athlete to undergo the surgery successfully. When Dr. Jobe performed the surgery, he estimated John’s chance of a successful recovery at 1 in 100. Today, the complete recovery rate is at least 85 percent. After the surgery, John required 18 months of rehabilitation. He returned to the majors in 1976 and pitched for another 13 seasons. He was 46 when he retired in 1989 as one of the most successful left-handed pitchers in major league history. Dr. Jobe signed two panels, the north and east, of a Rawlings Dodgers baseball that has Commissioner Selig’s facsimile signature. John autographed the west panel below the Dodgers logo. In addition, the south panel has Orel Hershiser’s autograph. Dr. Jobe, who serves as a special advisor to the Dodgers, performed rotator cuff surgery on Hershiser. The autographs are nm-m 8 to gem mint 10, and the ball is mint. Rare and unusual!
Winning Bid $242
Lot 23. Tommy John Autographed Photo from His First Pitching Appearance After Surgery. In 1974, John was breezing toward his first 20-win season. Two weeks before the All-Star break, he already had 13 victories, and only three losses. Six days before the game, however, personal disaster struck. Pitching in the third inning against Montreal, he felt something snap in his pitching elbow. He had torn a ligament. The probability was high that his career was over. On Sept. 25, Dr. Frank Jobe improved John’s chances of pitching again by performing breakthrough elbow surgery, technically called ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction. Jobe estimated the odds of John’s return to pitching at about 1 in 100. Through determination, perseverance and hard work, John overcame those long odds. A year after the surgery, in Sept. 1975, he returned to the mound for the first time. He pitched three hitless innings in the Arizona Instructional League at Rendezvous Park in Mesa. His appearance is capture in two 4.5” x 6.5” b&w photos mounted on an 11” x 13” laminated plaque. John placed a gem mint 10 autograph, authenticated by Kevin Keating, on the plaque. Seven months later, in April 1976, he returned to the majors. This is an important photo from the career of the courageous future Hall of Famer.
Minimum Bid $100
Lot 26. Tommy John’s Bar and 2 Custom-Made Baseball Bat Bar Stools. When Tommy pitched for the Yankees from 1986-89 and the John family resided in New Jersey, this attractive, decorative, sturdy wood bar frequently supported the elbows, brews and snacks of his teammates and stars of other American League franchises. It stands 47.5” tall and measures 18” deep and 65” across. The bar is offered with two custom bar stools constructed with primarily professional model baseball bats. The back of each stool is formed by eight complete baseball bats. With one exception, John obtained the pro model bats directly from his fellow players during 1978-83; some are game-ready, and possibly game-used. Many of the bats are from Yankees or Dodgers: Lou Piniella (H&B R43), Bobby Murcer (52L), Ron Cey (K55), Roy Smalley (D2), Johnny Oates (O50), Bob Watson (W262) and Graig Nettles (S44). Other pro model bats are from Rick Burleson (K75), Ted Simmons (Adirondack), Darrell Porter (K55), Gene Tenace (D113), Ron LeFlore (S44) and, the exception - Marshall McDougall (T141). In addition, each stool has a bat that is not a pro model signed by John, and one has a Minnesota Twins carved bat by Heavy Hitter. This lot comes with a Letter of Authenticity from Tommy.
Winning Bid $1,735
Lot 93. Tommy John Signed Original Oil Painting Portrait by Artist-Illustrator Scott Woods. In this 1990 original painting, Woods created two images of John, a portrait and an action scene. The 29.5” x 39.5” canvas is professional framed to 32.5” x 42.5”. Woods signed the painting, and so did John, with a large, bold gem mint 10 autograph. He added the span of his career, 1963-1989, and the number of his career victories, 288, seventh best all-time among left-handed pitchers. Autographs authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Minimum Bid $200
Lot 94. Original Oil Painting Autographed by Tommy John. The 23.4” x 29.75” canvas by M. Marrin, framed to 32” x 38”, shows John about to deliver a pitch for the New York Yankees. In the upper left corner, John placed a large, bold silver autograph and added details concerning his career – “1963 – 1989” and “288 Wins.” The signature is unimprovable and authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $294
Lot 95. Tommy John Autographed, Huge 41.5” x 72” Photo! To this six-foot tall color photo, John added a silver gem mint 10 signature that spans 12”. Below it, he wrote “288 wins.” Mounted on stiff paper, the photo shows John ready to deliver a pitcher for the New York Yankees. The photo has a few inoffensive scuffs and black tape on the edges. This same photo was used on the cover of his autobiography, “T.J.: My 26 Years in Baseball.” Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Impressive!
Minimum Bid $100
Lot 96. Rare Tommy John Signed 1954 Photo Showing Him with HoF Coach Adolph Rupp. Only 10 years old then, John was the “mascot” for his hometown basketball team, Gerstmeyer Technical High School of Terre Haute, IN. The photo was taken at the University of Kentucky Field House, where Gerstmeyer faced Lafayette Lexington of Kentucky in a tournament game. As the university’s head coach, Rupp attended the game, in part to recruit Billy Ray Lickert, a Lafayette player inducted into the university’s Hall of Fame last year. Rupp was one of the most successful coaches in college history. Among college coaches, he ranks fourth in career victories and second in winning percentage. His teams won NCAA titles in 1948, 1949, 1951 and 1958. The vintage 8” x 10” b&w photo is laminated to a 13.25” x 11.25” wood plaque. John signed atop the lamination, and his autograph is mint 9 and authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $121
Lot 97. Tommy John Signed High School Yearbooks, Science Award and Air Force Photos. This collection includes 19 autographs that are mint 9 or gem mint 10. Seven are in his 1961 senior-year yearbook, “Scarabaeus,” from Gerstmeyer Technical High School in Terre Haute, IN. Tommy was an excellent student-athlete, and he signed next to both academic and sports photos, and his senior picture as well. The 1960 yearbook has two autographs; the 1959, four, and the 1958, three. The yearbooks have various inscriptions to Tommy inside; they average ex. Tommy also signed a 6.5” x 8” plaque awarded to him in 1961 for his classroom work in science. His last name is incorrectly spelled “Johns” on the plaque. After college, Tommy served in the Indiana Air National Guard. He signed a 10” x 20” b&w photo (vg) from Amarillo Air Force Base, where he completed a training course, and the matt surrounding a 5” x 7” photo (nm) of him in uniform. The latter photo is framed without glass. Also included is a Certificate of Training from the Amarillo AFB course. Impressive autograph collection authenticated by Kevin Keating from the formative years of the probable Hall of Fame member.
Winning Bid $100
Lot 98. Tommy John’s Autographed 44-Year-Old Stetson 3 X Beaver Hat. In 1967, while serving in the U.S. Air Force, John purchased this size 7 3/8 hat while attending training in Amarillo, TX. Since then, it has traveled with him to baseball cities throughout the country. This 3 X Beaver hat shows its age, but it hasn’t been abused. John autographed the underside of the brim and annotated the signature with a note of provenance. The autograph and additions are 10s authenticated by Kevin Keating. A very special Tommy John collectible!
Minimum Bid $100
Lot 99. Tommy John Autographed Western-Style Straw Hat by Keyston. John wore this hat for many years. He obtained it while playing for the California Angels. At one time, Keyston made cowboy hats endorsed by Angels' owner Gene Autry. John’s signature, authenticated by Kevin Keating, is nm-m 8 on the underside of the brim.
Minimum Bid $50
Lot 100. One Dozen Tommy John Autographed Autobiographies. Three hardback and nine softcover copies of “T.J.: My 26 Years in Baseball.” In this 1991 book, John tells the story of his life and career, which were built on perseverance, belief in himself and faith in God. The books are new. Some show minimal shelf wear. John signed the title page of the hardbacks and softcovers. The hardbacks are numbered 33, 34 and 38 of 59, and the paperbacks, 22, 31, 35, 37, 53, 54, 55, 72 and 78 of 87. The autographs, authenticated by Kevin Keating, are gem mint 10. MB $50.
Winning Bid $92
Lot 101. Tommy John Autographed Surprise Party Jacket from Mickey Mantle’s Restaurant. A size large jacket from “Mickey Mantle’s” (Restaurant) is embroidered on the front with “Surprise!!! 46th Birthday Party for Tommy John, May 22, 1989.” Mantle’s logo is on the front and back. John autographed the jacket. His signature is mint 9. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $225
Lot 102. Tommy John 1969 Transogram Statue with an Autographed Complete Box. Ex-m figure intact in the box, which has a tear in the cellophane and sticker residue on the top. The cards is crease-free, ex+, with a mint 9 autograph authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $50
Lot 103. 6 Tommy John Signed Photos – One from Each Team He Played For. During his 26-season, 288-victory career, John pitched for Cleveland, Chicago, New York, California and Oakland in the A.L., and Los Angeles in the N.L. All of the photos are black & white. Four are laminated on plaques, and John boldly signed atop the lamination. All of his signatures are mint 9 or gem mint 10. For Chicago, where he pitched 1965-71, John signed a laminated Rawlings Advisory Staff Photo. We can’t find John on any checklist for these photos. The other laminated photos are for Cleveland, New York and Los Angeles. Each plaque is about 10.5” x 12.5”. For California and Oakland, John signed 8” x 10” photos that are framed without glass to the same size as the plaques or slightly larger. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $40
Lot 104. Tommy John Autographed Display Commemorating 1977 – His First 20-Win Season. Atop this laminated 26” x 33” display, John placed a bold gem mint 10 signature. The display contains newspaper headlines, photos and ticket stubs marking highlights of the 1977 season. John won 20 games for the first time, losing only seven and posting a 2.78 ERA. He finished second in the Cy Young voting. His success helped the LA Dodgers to capture the National League Pennant. The season also included the birth of a son, John III. Ex-m to nm. Autograph authenticated by Kevin Keating. MB $100.
Minimum Bid $100
