Mastro Auctions’ February Sale Rings in New Year of Collecting Excitement Classic Collector first major event of 2009 brings great Sports and Americana items to eager collecting public
Mastro Auctions, the world’s leading Sports and Americana auction house will kick off 2009 with a February Classic Collector auction loaded with a wide variety of Sports and Americana items. The sale will begin on February 16 and concluded on February 25 and 26. The Classic Collector auction will feature over 1,600 lots, each with an opening bid of $100.
“Despite the challenging economic environment that surfaced in 2009, Sports and Americana collectibles appear to be weathering the storm well,” said Doug Allen, COO and President of Mastro Auctions. “During the last part of 2008, prices realized, as well as bidding remained strong in our sales events. Our outlook for 2009 is optimistic and we are busy accepting preparing for our upcoming Classic Collector auction, along with accepting consignments for most of our sales through 2009.”
Specific highlights include:
SPORTS MEMORABILIA
BASEBALLS – SINGLE AND MULTI-SIGNED
Babe Ruth Single Signed Ball - "1927 World Champions"
Notation
Ruth's name was synonymous with all that was good with the game. Hence, it's no coincidence that the Bambino's autograph was sought more often than any other player's penning. This unofficial sphere showcases Ruth's black fountain pen sweet spot autograph. Ruth's signature technically rates "2". The moderately soiled sphere bears a bolder, black ink notation on its east panel (in an unknown hand) that reads "1927 World Champions"—one admirer's tribute to "Murderer's Row."
Paul Waner Signed Ball
Dubbed "Big Poison" because of the woes he brought to opposing pitchers, Hall of Famer Paul Waner (1903-1965) hit at an impressive .333 clip through 20 seasons in the big leagues. The offered ball features Waner's clean, blue fountain pen signature ("7-8") on a side panel.
May 12, 1962 Sandy Koufax vs. Bob Gibson Inscribed Game Used Victory Baseball
When the Los Angeles Dodgers traveled to Sportsman's Park III to face the St. Louis Cardinals on May 12, 1962, the starting pitchers were Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax for the Dodgers, and Bob Gibson for the Cards. Four hours and fifty-eight minutes later, the Cardinals were victorious. Here offered is the ONL (Giles) victory ball from that fifteen-inning contest. The sphere is covered in various statistics from that memorable game.
1951 New York Yankees World Champions Team Signed Ball (24 Signatures) Including DiMaggio and Mantle
This lightly toned and creamy OAL (Harridge) ball has been signed in black ink by the following 24 team members: Brown, Coleman, Collins, Crosetti, Dickey, DiMaggio (sweet spot, "9"), Ferrick, Hopp, Houk, Jensen, Lopat, Mantle ("8-9"), Mapes, McDougald, Mize, Morgan, Ostrowski, Raschi, Reynolds, Rizzuto, Silvera, Stengel (Mgr., "8"), Turner and Woodling. Signatures range from "7-9."
1931-1932 New York Yankees Team Signed Ball (15 Signatures) Including Ruth and Gehrig
The New York Yankees were the sporting world's most revered franchise throughout the 1930s, with the 1932 World Champion version certainly being no exception. Offered is a moderately toned and soiled OAL (Harridge) ball displaying the vintage black fountain pen signatures of fifteen players. Includes: Byrd, Chapman, Dickey ("2"), Gehrig ("2"), Gomez ("2-3" signed
