Tommy John Little League and Minor League Collectibles
7 Lots
Lot 43. 1955 Honus Wagner “A Great Day” Calendar. Featuring artwork by Bill Medcalf of Brown & Bigelow, this calendar shows the Flying Dutchman signing a baseball for a young fan. Medcalf created the artwork for a Baseball Hall of Fame series. The 16” x 33” calendar displays nicely despite a few problems. The calendar pages have been removed, writing decorates the area near where they were and water damage marks the top. The image area generally has a vg appearance. Medcalf calendars this large are comparatively difficult to find.
Winning Bid $50
Lot 44. Tommy John Signed 1953 Little League Ball – His Earliest from Organized Baseball. The nine-year-old wrote “Tommy” on the west panel of the nm+ Official Little League ball, which has the facsimile signature of Little League founder Carl E. Stoltz. John shares the panel with his father, T. E. John, the team’s coach, and three others. A total of 15 signatures are on the ball, which is dated 8/26/53. The signatures are generally nm-m 8. Kevin Keating authenticated Tommy’s signature, and Tommy has provided a letter of authenticity. A utility company lineman, Mr. John was very influential in Tommy’s life and baseball career. Tommy dedicated his book, “T.J.: My 26 Years in Baseball,” to “my dad, who provided me with the motivation to succeed in baseball.” A unique collectible from an important MLB figure. Kevin Keating authenticated young Tommy’s autograph.
Winning Bid $150
Lot 45. Tommy John Autographed 1955 Ball – from His Little League Career. John’s major league pitching career had its origin in the Terra Haute, IN, Little League. In 1955, he and 15 of his teammates signed an nm-m Official Little League Carl Stoltz (the Little League founder) baseball. Tommy’s autograph, authenticated by Kevin Keating, is nm-m 8 to mint 9 on the sweet spot with a teammate. A unique and very desirable collectible from Tommy’s earliest days in organized baseball!
Minimum Bid $150
Lot 46. Tommy John Signed LL and Babe Ruth League Photos and a St. Louis Browns Ball. Three interesting collectibles from John’s earliest days in organized baseball. The first is an undated Little League 8” x 10” b&w photo that shows Tommy and his teammates. A second 8” x 10” b&w photo captures Tommy and the other members of the 1957 Indiana Babe Ruth League champions. John placed a gem mint 10 autograph on each photo. In 1953, a local cleaner sponsored a trip for Tommy’s Little League championship team to a St. Louis Browns game. Tommy came away from the game with an ONL Giles baseball autographed by Dick Kryhoski, Lou Kretlow, Bob Cain (twice), Bob Scheffing, Bill Hunter, Bob Young, Vic Wertz, M (Marty) Marion, Jim Crandall and Don Lenhardt. The ball is nm, possibly with a very light coat of shellac, and the autographs are generally ex-m 6 and nm 7. Kevin Keating authenticated the signatures. This group also includes eight photos of other Little League teams or game action.
Winning Bid $100
Lot 47. Tommy John Signed Little League Huge Photo and a Related Cincinnati Reds Baseball. On his image in a 38” x 26” reproduction b&w photo, John placed a gem mint 10 autograph authenticated by Kevin Keating. The photo is of John’s 1955 Little League team. His father, a major influence in his life and career, is one of the coaches pictured. The photo is an outstanding display item from John’s earliest days in organized baseball. In 1954, John’s Little League team, sponsored by a local cleaner, won the “National League” championship. The cleaner took the team to at Cardinals-Reds game, where Tommy had a baseball autographed by Ted Kluszewski (sweet spot), Tom Poholsky (d. 2001), Stan Musial (very light), Joe Cunningham, Jackie Collum, Vic Raschi, Solly Hemus, Hobie Landrith and others. The baseball is ex, and the autographs are generally a mix of ex-m 6 and nm 7. Kevin Keating authenticated the autographs.
Minimum Bid $75
Lot 48. 1961 Dubuque Packers Team-Signed Ball – Tommy John’s First Pro Team and Season! At the age of 18, John joined 18 teammates in signing this nm+ Rawlings Official League baseball, which is white to off-white, has several minor spots of discoloration and displays strong pre-printed areas. His autograph is a gem mint 10 at the top of the west panel, which he shares with two other players. John’s professional career got off to a strong start with Dubuque, an entry in the Class D Midwest League. He won 10 games, lost only four and finished the season with a 3.17 ERA. His performance was good enough to earn him a promotion to Class A Charleston at the start of the 1962 season. Three others who signed the ball made it to the majors: Tommie Agee, Steve Bailey and Jack Hernandez. Bailey is on the panel signed by John, along with Frank (Chico) DeCastris. Other signers are Sam Ladatto, another 18-year-old pitcher who chose the sweet spot, John Butler, Walt Bugajski, Art Siefert, Buck Hutchinson, Don Bowen, Dick Allen, Don Johnson, Orlando Centellas, Larry Patterson, Hector Cardenas, Hal Raeford, Jim Gaskill and Terry Screnar. Kevin Keating authenticated the autographs, which range from nm-m 8 to gem mint 10 and average mint 9. A letter of authenticity from John is provided. Here is a rare opportunity to own the earliest known team baseball from the pro career of baseball’s seventh winningest left-handed pitcher!
Winning Bid $200
Lot 49. Tommy John Signed Game-Used Baseball from a 1962 Minor League Shutout. After starting the 1962 season with Single A Charleston, 19-year-old John advanced to Triple A Jacksonville. There, he contributed two victories that helped the team to capture the International League championship. One of the victories was a 4-0 two-hit shutout on Aug. 18, 1962, against Columbus. The triumph is memorialized with a ball from the game autographed by John. The signature grades mint 9 and is authenticated by Kevin Keating. This ball is one of only three from John’s minor league career.
Minimum Bid $100
