Consign Your Best Items with Lelands. We Also Pay Cash on the Spot! Learn More Here.
Napoleon Lajoie Miscellaneous Collection with Cut Signature
Splendid cache of quite rare Lajoie treasures includes items that attest to Lajoie existing on another stratum in his day. Cut signature is on a 1 x 3" segment of an Indians player contract signed by Lajoie on the line designated "General Manager", a role he held while player manager from 1904-1909. Signature in black fountain pen is a crisp and clean 8/10 with the first name a tad darker than the surname. Corners and edges of the sheet are perfect. The 2 publications are a 1907 "Napoleon Lajoie's Official Base Ball Guide," the AL's information and stat guide, and a 1908 "Napoleon Lajoie's Official Schedules and Records of the American League, Vest Pocket Edition." Amazingly, Lajoie published these manuals -- as president of the American League Publishing Company -- while an active player, making him the AL's answer to Al Spalding. Guide is 4 1/2 x 6 1/2" and 288 ppg., with the blue and white cover boasting an image of Lajoie separated and lower left and right corners torn off and the back cover missing. Inside pages browned at the borders. Overall G-VG. Vest pocket book is 2 1/2 x 4 1/4"34 ppg. and EX with the black and gold cover strong and just slightly specked, and the inside pages evenly browned. Also a 4 1/2" tall pewter statuette depicting Lajoie throwing a ball from his 2B position. Piece is VG-EX with natural oxidation lending a vintage two-toned look. Other items speak more to Lajoie having made the Indians a viable franchise -- an EX grandstand ticket stub from an early game issued by the Cleveland Base Ball Company" and 5 Indians programs from 1928, 1938, 1932, the 1935 All-Star Game at Cleveland Stadium (with a signature by HOFer Bill Terry inside), and 1948 Indians-Braves World Series. Programs VG-EX. All items came directly from someone who was friends and did business with Lajoie.
Past Sports Card, Memorabilia, Non-Sports Card and Collecitble Auction Items
Other past auction items that may be of interest to you.
Napoleon Lajoie Handwritten Letter and Envelope
Napoleon Lajoie Miscellaneous Collection with Cut Signature
