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Ron Guidry Spittoon Signed to Barry Halper
Ron Guidry was a terrific left-handed pitcher who had both speed and control - he hit the target as a pitcher enough to have an outstanding lifetime record of 170-91, with a career 3.29 ERA, all with the New York Yankees. But pitching wasn't the only endeavor in which Guidry liked to hit the target. Whether sitting with his home state friends in a Louisiana bayou while hunting or seated with teammates and writers in a baseball clubhouse, Guidry was a neat fellow who disliked making a mess, yet he habitually chewed tobacco. Hence, Guidry had his own brass spittoon, one which he later gave to his friend, famous baseball memorabilia collector Barry Harper, who also was a former limited partner of the Yankees. Halper was born in 1939, and he grew up in Newark, New Jersey, the home (1926-49) of a top Yankees farm team. Halper was an extensive collector of baseball memorabilia, and he was friends with Joe DiMaggio, Tommy Lasorda, Pete Rose, Don Mattingly and others. Halper often invited those baseball friends to his home in Livingston, New Jersey, the cite of his wonderful baseball collection, and Halper would raise money for Livingston's Burn Center at St, Barnabas by allowing organizations to view his collection in exchange for a donation to the Burn Center. Although it is not certain exactly where Guidry used the spittoon, it came in handy for Guidry. Sportswriter John Lawrence wrote in the July 7, 1991, edition of the Baltimore Sun that after games, Guidry would politely take questions in the clubhouse, and when he was finished talking, he would spit out his tobacco into a two-inch paper cup, often three or four feet away. Guidry's spitting accuracy, Lawrence wrote, "Would put NBA stars to shame." Guidry played all or parts of 14 seasons in the Major Leagues, from 1975-88. He was a 2-time World Series winner, 2-time ERA Champ, 4-time AL All-Star, 5-time Gold Glove recipient, and the American League 1978 Cy Young Award winner. The brass spittoon has a diameter of 8.7" at the top, but that is deceiving. The actual target hole inside the flared top is only approx. 3.5", so Guidry still needed top accuracy. The bottom of the spittoon has a diameter of 3.75", it is 7" tall, and it weighs 19.1 ounces. The spittoon is signed and personalized, with Guidry writing in blue ink, "To My Pal Barry, Ron Guidry 1989." There is a Halper Auction sticker on the bottom. Ron Guidry didn't hit the target every time, however, so the spittoon exhibits great use. Spit and tobacco stains are all over the spittoon, and the metal shows some tarnishing and minor chipping. The item shows at least one small ding, probably from being dropped. Guidry was a wonderful athlete who was the fastest Yankee during his time with the club, and he actually played center field, very briefly, in two games. Yet, despite his great talent, Guidry remained down-to-earth, and this spittoon is a fitting remembrance of his down-home country ways. The spittoon comes with a JSA LOA.
Past Sports Card, Memorabilia, Non-Sports Card and Collecitble Auction Items
Other past auction items that may be of interest to you.
1977 Thurman Munson Testimonial Collection
2001 Paul O'Neill Last Yankee Stadium Game Used Baseball
1978 World Series Black Bat Set of 2
1930's-60's New York Yankees & Others Signed Baseballs (13) & World Series Programs (5)
1996 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball
1964 New York Yankees Yoo-Hoo Cardboard Advertising Sign (11x14”)
Circa 1968 Joe DiMaggio & Mickey Mantle Signed Photograph (8x10")
