Lot 381. Autographed Photos of Negro Leagues Greats: Ray Dandridge, Leon Day and Monte Irvin. The Dandridge and Day signatures are mint 9 to gem mint 10 and 8” x 10” photos. Day added “1939” to his photo. Dandridge was a stellar third baseman who consistently hit for an excellent average. When he was finally allowed to play integrated baseball at age 36, he was the 1949 Rookie of the Year and the 1950 MVP in the American Association. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987 and passed away in 1994. A pitcher, Day was a seven-time All-Star in the Negro Leagues. Teammate Monte Irvin compared him favorably to Stachel Paige, Bob Gibson and Don Newcombe. Day died in 1995, the same year he was elected to the Hall of Fame. Irvin signed one Front Row card from a group of five. The autograph is ex-m 6. The Day photo comes with a JSA Letter of Authenticity that grades the autograph mint. Kevin Keating reviewed and authenticated all of the autographs.
Winning Bid $61
Lot 382. Autographs of 21 Negro Leagues Stars – Black, Dandridge, Irvin, Leonard, Radcliffe, Etc. Almost all of the signatures are on 8” x 10” black & white photos. The exceptions are Buck Leonard, who signed an 8” x 10” sepia photo; Ray Dandridge, whose signature is on a 1986 Negro League Baseball Stars card from Larry Fritsch, and Monte Irvin, who autographed a 1977 TCMA Galasso card. Unless otherwise noted, the autographs are nm-m 8 to gem mint 10, with most being 9s or 10s. The other signers are Russell Awkard, Gene Benson, Joe Black, Lyman Bostock Sr., Sherwood Brewer, Bill (Ready) Cash, Jim Cohen, Buster Haywood, James Pee Wee Jenkins, Lester Lockett, Max Manning, Buck O’Neil (on a K. C. Monarchs photo signed also by Brewer), Merle Porter, Bill Powell, Double Duty Radcliffe, Frazier Robinson and Jim Zapp. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $134
Lot 383. Buck Leonard Autographed Rawlings Adirondack 34” Bat. Nm 7 to nm-m 8 signature by the Hall of Fame first baseman who starred in the Negro Leagues. He entered the Hall of Fame in 1972. A photo showing Leonard signing the bat is included. He passed away in 1979. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $75
Lot 384. Side Written H&B Bat Signed by 24 Negro Leaguers - Radcliffe, Jethroe, Fields Etc. Hillerich & Bradsby used side writing from the early 1900s into the early 1940s in the process of receiving orders for and producing bats. They served as templates in manufacturing the bats. This 38” club has the nm 7 to gem mint 10 autographs (most nm-m 8 or better) of Sam Jethroe (1950 Rookie of the Year, died 2001), Art “Superman” Pennington, Emilio “Millito” Navarro, Bert Simmons, Leroy Toots Ferrell, Wilmer Harris, Gene Benson, James Cohen, Willie Pope, Bill (Ready) Cash, Wilmer Fields, Cecil Kaiser, Stanley Glenn, Pee Wee Jenkins, Double Duty Radcliffe, Jim Wilkes, Max Manning, Jim Zapp, Mahlon Duckett, Curly Williams, Ernest Burke and Gene Smith. This bat is from the collection of Wilmer Fields, star pitcher and third baseman for the Homestead Grays. It comes with a limited Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA. Kevin Keating authenticated the autographs.
Winning Bid $152
Lot 385. Negro Leagues Players Association Bat Signed by 37 – Leonard, Fields, Manning, Etc. From the Wilmer Fields collection, this 34” Adirondack 302 bat displays the mostly nm-m 8 and better autographs of Hall of Fame first baseman Buck Leonard, 1950 N.L. Rookie of the Year Same Jethroe, 1952 N.L. RoY Joe Black, Max Manning, Emilio “Millito” Navarro, Art “Superman” Pennington, Bert Simmons, Sammie Harris, Leroy Toots Ferrell (twice), Gene Smith, Josh Gibson Jr., Mahlon Duckett, Jim Zapp, Jim Fireball Cohen, Fields, Armando Vazquez, Rodolfo Fernandez, Cecil Kaiser, Cowan “Bubba” Hyde, Sherwood Brewer, Curly Wilson, Jose A Figueroa, Russell Awkard, Bill (Ready) Cash, Gordon “Hoppy” Hopkins, Al Wilmore, Larry Kimbrough, Jimmy Dean, Wilmer Harris and Stanley Glenn. Excellent display bat. Kevin Keating authenticated the autographs.
Winning Bid $102
Lot 416. Satchel Paige (HoF) Autographed Springfield Redbirds Business Card. The star of the Negro Leagues, and one of baseball’s great characters, was named vice president of the Illinois AAA American Association team in 1980. The team moved to Louisville after the 1981 season. Paige passed away in 1982. His signature is mint 9 on the card, which has “Satchel’s Rules for the Good Life” on the back. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. This lot is from the Ron Gabriel collection, and proceeds will benefit the Society for American Baseball Research.
Winning Bid $204
Lot 424. Unlined Index Card Autographed by Willie Wells (Sr.), HoF Negro League Shortstop. In a career that spanned 1924-49, Wells established himself as one of the best shortstops in any league. He was an exceptional hitter who batted .334 lifetime in the Negro Leagues and hit .392 against white major league competition. In 1997, he was posthumously elected to the Hall of Fame; he passed away in 1989. His signature is nm-m 8 to mint 9 on an unlined 3” x 5” index card. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $291
