1954-55 Santurce Signed Photo with Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente

Auction: June 2005

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June 2005
Willie Mays

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1954-55 Santurce Signed Photo with Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente

In a moment made in Fantasy League heaven, Roberto Clemente and Willie Mays partnered up on the 1954-55 champion Santurce Cangrejeros of the Puerto Rican winter league. This unbelievably rare team photo montage by Medina is made more valuable by their ultra vintage signatures among 19 others on the blank verso. Among the best early signatures by these two giants -- with Roberto's dominant in large blue ink and Willie's in a block-letter style very different look than the flowing one he used later on in his career. The size of the Clemente signature is a barometer of his immense popularity on the island although he hadn't played a game yet for the Pirates. The front of the photo is adorned with facial shots of the players in nifty baseballs. Three larger-size baseballs loom on top that feature Mays, Clemente and Sam Jones. Willie does get 3 action photos along the bottom. Sigs on the back are amazing (matching those on the front): “Bus” Clarkson, Harry Chiti, Valmy Thomas, Alfonso Gerard, Ben Quintana, Pat Burnside, Ruben Gomez, Roberto Clemente, Pedro Arroyo, George Crowe, Fellito Lopez, Bill Greason, Willie Mays, Bob Thurman, Luis Olmo, Sam Jones, Pedrin Zorilla and two others. Signatures in blue and black ink are NRMT or Mint. Piece measures 8 x 9" and has had a 1” section trimmed off which does not affect any sigs. It has some other wear and tear but sigs are unaffected. On the whole, a truly outstanding piece of ‘50s baseball and the only item of its kind uniting Clemente and Mays as teammates.