An official National League ball signed by Babe Ruth in blue fountain pen sometime during the final two years of his life (1947-1948), originating from the personal collection of former Boston Braves catcher Phil Masi who requested an autograph during spring training, and graded NM-MT 8, achieved $137,620.
Photos Courtesy Of Lelands
NEW YORK CITY — A magnificent Babe Ruth single-signed baseball garnered $137,620 and a one-of-a-kind collection of Nineteenth Century baseball cartes de visite (CDVs) sold for a total of $528,848 in the Lelands Fall Classic Auction, which closed on November 18.
The Babe Ruth autographed baseball is graded NM-MT 8 overall by PSA. Fresh to the hobby and signed by the Great Bambino in blue fountain pen across the sweet spot, the ball originates from the personal collection of ex-Boston Braves catcher Phil Masi. Ruth signed the ball when he visited the Braves spring training facility during the late 1940s.
This certified authentic 1870s carte de visite capturing Baltimore Canaries outfielder Lipman Pike, the first home run champion of the National Association, sold for $131,971.
The CDV collection dating from the 1870s featured more than 40 hobby fresh individual portrait images of many of the game’s earliest stars. Originating from a remarkable and unprecedented find of early photographs recently discovered in a Nineteenth Century photo album, the trove included a CDV of the game’s first home run champion and the sport’s first great Jewish ballplayer, Lipman Pike ($131,971), and a CDV of Hall of Fame pitcher Albert Spalding ($63,750).
Hall of Famer Greg Maddux’s game-used Wilson glove, photo-matched to eight games, including two 1995 World Series games and the National League record-setting performance for most road wins in a row, earned $41,094.
The auction also featured a 1995 Greg Maddux Braves World Series game-used glove ($41,094), a Sandy Koufax game-worn Los Angeles Dodgers cap from his 1965 Cy Young and Triple Crown season ($39,137), Mike Tyson’s fight-worn mouthpiece ($3,894) and Tyson’s gloves from his 1986 fight vs Reggie Gross ($28,072), Andy Pettitte’s signed Yankees game-worn jersey from his last career win at Yankee Stadium ($36,210), a Babe Ruth signed baseball cutout graded a PSA Mint 9 ($39,922) and a Lou Gehrig signed baseball cutout graded a PSA Mint 9 ($38,021).
Mike Tyson’s red and black leather Everlast gloves worn in the 1986 fight against Reggie Gross, paired with a detailed letter of authenticity from Tyson’s assistant manager Steve Lott, another from JO Sports’ president Craig Hamilton and a DVD video of the fight they were worn in, were knocked out for $28,072.
Additional highlights included a 1960 Jerry West signed original Type 1 photo used for his 1961 Fleer Basketball rookie card ($34,924), a 1990-91 Anthony Munoz Bengals season-long game-worn, photo-matched jersey ($25,180), a 1957 Topps Basketball #1 Nat “Sweetwater” signed rookie card ($19,914), a 1996 Kobe Bryant first NBA point ticket stub PSA EX-MT 6 ($8,666), a Cliff Levingston 1990-91 Bulls game-worn uniform ($8,413) and the finest known Honus Wagner signed index card and graded a PSA Gem Mint ($8,070).
For additional information, www.lelands.com.
A signed 8-by-10-inch original Type 1 photograph of Los Angeles Lakers forward Jerry West, which was used for his 1961 Fleer Basketball card, sold for $34,924.
Bringing $39,137, this LA Dodgers hat was game worn by Sandy Koufax during the 1965 season when the pitcher won both the Triple Crown and the Cy Young Award.
