Finally An Estate Auction Worth Attending

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

This had been to my memory the single worst Summer for estate auctions in my locale that I can ever remember...Nothing and I mean nothing had shown up that fits my collection until today. I was able to pick up a lot of Lincoln Athletics items that I did not have.


Not the best condition, but this is the first 1952 program I've ever run across. I also got two 1949 programs, but I've posted them before so I won't post the ones I got today.


These next two items pertain to the Lincoln Chiefs selling stock...both a little water damaged, but once again the first time I've seen them for sale.








Here are some other items I picked up just because they were baseball - they don't necessarily fit my collection, but I couldn't pass them up.

A Reach Heavy Hitter bat and a 1916-29 Cy Williams LS125




Nice old Spalding split finger and Rawlings Blanchard model catcher's mitt - anyone know the dating on the Spalding tag?




Some items I didn't get were an old red and blue stitch baseball because it was mixed into a box that went higher than the ball was worth, a Hamm's beer baseball themed stored display (only sold for $85, but my friend was bidding on it so I let him have it), and a circa 1940 Montgomery Ward baseball still in the original box - that was very cool, but it was mixed in with Christmas ornaments and another friend told me that if I didn't bid against him he'd just give me the baseball. Well that sure didn't work out well when the box went for way more than it was worth to some lady I'd never seen before....I walked up and asked her if she wanted to sell the ball and she ignored me or didn't hear me, so I asked again and she yelled at me that she wasn't going to sell it to me...."Okay then"....

Oh yeah...and for good measure I couldn't pass up this Ike and Dick sign from 1956...it's huge, approx 3' x 2'. For $5 it was a steal

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

I'll be curious to see what the campaign sign is worth. Is it definitely an original?

Visit www.vintage-autographs.com for the hobby's finest selection of vintage baseball signatures.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Yeah, it's for sure original...has the union label down near the bottom. I also got two 1950s Carl Curtis yard signs in the same $5 lot...he was a Senator from Nebraska back in the 50s through the 1970s. I don't really collect political stuff, but I liked the sign so I threw in the opening bid and was surprised no one else bid. There was a ton of Republican Party ephemera at this auction, but this is the only thing I bid on in that area.

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Posted By: Mike H

Dan, Could the Cy Williams bat be a gamer? What is on the knob and what is the length?

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Posted By: Clint

Dan, awesome pickups! I really like that stock certificate. It's not often that you find a nice cache of items like those.

I would agree with Mike in the bat may be a pro model. It would definately be worth checking into.

Clint

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Mike, the length of the bat is 34" and there is nothing stamped into the knob...I am certain the bat is cracked underneath the tape...I can tell when I knock on the bat. Still couldn't pass it up it was so cheap.

Clint, I had that stock certificate on my wantlist for years after a friend of mine told me his dad had one and yesterday I picked up not just the one I scanned, but there were two certificates. Reading the letter it sounds like they sent out a card to people to entice them to invest in the team so I'm wondering if any of those cards are still out there.

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Posted By: Mike H

That could be a gamer Dan. Don't do anything with it til you confirm. I'm not sure what size Williams used, but an unmarked knob on an early 125 is a good thing. You may want to consult Dave Bushing regarding potential for it.

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Posted By: brock

Not trying to be rude to anyone but were kinda making it sound like its a $10,000 bat. I would bet that it is a gamer and worth alot more than Dan payed for it. Sorry if its being rude to anyone.

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Posted By: Clint

Brock, were a friendly group on this side and try to look out for each other. Granted it's not a $10,000 bat but it could sell in the $200-$300 range easy enough. Dan could get some great Nebraska stuff for that. He couldn't get much for a $30-$40 store model. I just think it's worth finding out. I didn't think you were being rude and I don't believe that Mike or I believed the bat was worth $10,000.

Clint

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Posted By: Mike H

Brock I'm one of the least offendable (if that is a word) people on the planet. If it's a gamer, I wouldn't be surprised to see it bring $400. Like Clint mentioned, Dan could move it and purchase more treasures to share with us.