Vintage Non-Hall of Famer Signed Government Postcard Collection (379) with Many Stars

Auction: 2023 Summer Classic

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2023 Summer Classic
The Long Beach Autograph Collection

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Vintage Non-Hall of Famer Signed Government Postcard Collection (379) with Many Stars

Collection of 379 signed postcards, each featuring the signature of a formal professional ballplayer, umpire, coach, or manager, with just a few duplicates. Although no Hall of Famers are included here, many notables are featured, including Bobby Lowe (first player to hit four home runs in a game), Eddie Cicotte (main conspirator in the 1919 Black Sox scandal), and Dummy Hoy (prominent deaf player), as well as many stars. In addition to the 379 individually signed cards, the collection also contains a few multi-signed postcards and miscellaneous items. These cards are part of a much larger signature collection compiled by our consignor's father in the late 1940s ("The Long Beach Autograph Collection"). Like nearly all autograph collectors at the time, his main method was to write each player and enclose a prepaid self-addressed government postcard to be signed and returned. As we can see here, most players were more than happy to oblige. All the items from the collection are featured in nineteen separate lots in this auction, including the signatures of many prominent Hall of Famers. It should be noted that although the autographs were obtained in the late 1940s, many of the ballplayers represented in the collection played much earlier and were retired at the time. Nearly all the postcards in this collection are government postcards dating from the late 1940s. The signatures, scripted in a variety of inks (including a few in pencil), average 8/10 in grade. Many have been personalized (to "Bob" or "Robert") and display handwritten notations from the original recipient on the autographed side of the postcard. The majority have a piece of vintage clear tape affixed to the base and nearly all display light-to-moderate creasing. The following nine postcards have been encapsulated by PSA, with each signature certified as "Authentic" (cards were submitted by Lelands): Ossie Bluege, Bill Carrigan, Eddie Cicotte, Harry Coveleski, Bill Dinneen, Howard Ehmke, Dummy Hoy, Bobby Lowe, and Pepper Martin. Additional signers include "Joe Jackson" (signed by Mrs. Joe Jackson), Fred Snodgrass, Rube Walberg, "Bullet" Joe Bush, Art Fletcher, Erv Palica, Joe Hatten, Eddie Sawyer, Stuffy McInnis, Rube Oldring, Steve O'Neill, Preacher Roe, Freddie Fitzsimmons, Kirby Higbe, Babe Herman, Rex Barney, Billy Cox, Carl Furillo, Gene Hermanski, Russ Meyer, Pete Reiser, Eddie Stanky, Nick Altrock, Heinie Groh, Charlie Grimm, Hank Gowdy, Dick Bartell, Max Bishop, Joe Boley, Guy Bush, Harry Danning, Spud Davis, Paul Dean, Bill Doak, Jimmie Dykes, Wes Ferrell, Lew Fonseca, Elbe Fletcher, Augie Galan, Randy Gumpert, Stan Hack, Fred Haney, Mel Harder, Pinky Higgins, Oral Hildebrand, Smead Jolley, Ken Keltner, Max Lanier, Red Kress, Dutch Leonard, Phil Masi, Barney McCoskey, Bob Meusel, Wilcy Moore, Wally Moses, Lefty O'Doul, Joe Oeschger, Claude Passeau, Monte Pearson, George Pipgras, Roger Peckinpaugh, Red Rolfe, Eddie Rommel, Nap Rucker, Schoolboy Rowe, Marius Russo, Muddy Ruel, Rip Russell, Wally Schang, Rip Sewell, Burt Shotton, Gabby Street, Sibbi Sisti, Riggs Stephenson, Dizzy Trout, Johnny Vander Meer, Mickey Vernon, Bucky Walters, Jack Warhop, Joe Wood, Bobby Avila, Ralph Branca, Luke Easter, Ferris Fain, Ned Garver, Larry Jansen, Nippy Jones, Ted Kluszewski, Ellis Kinder, Jim Konstanty, "P-Nuts" Lowrey, Marty Marion, Mike McCormick, Andy Pafko, Johnny Pesky, Eddie Robinson, Aaron Robinson, Al Rosen, Johnny Sain, Bobby Shantz, Roy Sievers, Dick Sisler, Vern Stephens, Eddie Waitkus, Vic Wertz, Gus Zernial, Charlie Keller, Allie Reynolds, Sam Jones, Bill Bevens, Gene Woodling, Vic Raschi, Stub Overmire, Joe Page, Cliff Mapes, Eddie Lopat, Bobby Brown, Hank Bauer, Frank Crosetti, and Spud Chandler.