Question about "Shot Heard around the World" original photo

[Iwantmorecards77]

Hey all,

I just have a couple of questions. My grandfather was a photographer and snapped the shot of Bobby Thomson's famous home run in 1951. It's the photo of him swinging and the ball heading towards the stands (many prints have the dotted line that show the track of the ball.) My grandfather and his photo was featured in a Joshua Prager book.

We have a family member that has hit some tough times, including some difficult medical problems - so they are thinking it may be time to get some help.

What is believed to be the original photo as well as the negatives of that photo, are in the family. What would something like that be valued at? What auction houses do you feel would be interested or the best to handle something like this?

I've attached the photo (not the original but one from the internet - just so you know which photo I'm discussing.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Todd

[iwantitiwinit]

Cha Ching! REA all the way.

[packs]

Wow, really cool. I'm not sure you would want to go the eBay route with something so special but Henry Yee is a well known photo dealer and would probably get that photo a lot of looks. His stuff does really well on eBay.

[earlywynnfan]

I agree: REA

[Jlighter]

For comparison this Joe Jackson photo sold for over 30,000 and I believe yours is much more desirable.

http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/...n/2012/10.html

[BigJJ]

With this item, and at this time, Robert Edward Auctions (REA) is 100% where I would go with this item. Talk to Rob. Make sure your reserve is at a price that you would feel comfortable selling. Of course whether copyrights are coming along with the piece will come up. There are major baseball photo archivists and collectors such as John Rogers who I believe would love the highest resolution of this image, and they are bidding in REA. As a side note, I believe Bobby Thomson was a neighbor of Rob's in New Jersey.

[Iwantmorecards77]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I was thinking REA, originally, when my father said him and his brother were thinking of selling. They're going to have to really think about this - and if this is what they really want/need to do. If they decide to sell, I will certainly have them contact Rob (or if they want me to.)

Thanks again!

Todd

[Iwantmorecards77]

I apologize in advance for resurrecting a 13 year old thread. I though there might be some that would be interested in some details and a little history. I did share a couple of the photos a while back in some thread I can't remember.

The update - the photos (and negative) are still in the family, though there's a very good chance that they will be up for auction in 2026, the 75th anniversary of 'The Shot Heard 'Round the World.'

Even though grandpa passed away years ago and we (the family) knew of his story, I finally got around to reading Joshua Prager's book 'The Echoing Green.' (thanks, Josh!) Prager provides, in great detail, the story around the men (and women) involved in what many consider baseball's most famous home run. The neat thing is, the book is the copy that Josh gave to my grandfather (and he left a very kind note to my grandfather inside.) Better yet, the "bookmark" I used was actually a photo of grandpa with Ralph Branca and Bobby Thomson much later in life. (all photos below)


The writings took you back in time, providing not just the details of the home run, the 1951 season and seasons leading up to it, but also the people involved (the players, families, fans) - it took took you to a bygone era. A great book that I highly recommend.

We have two photos - one larger one, framed and matted on its own. There's some staining and discoloration, as well as a pencil mark pointing to where the ball is. The other photo (much better shape) is a bit smaller, framed with the original matte used way back in 1951. It is signed by many of the 1951 Giants, as well as Dodger's manager (Check Dressen), Laraine Day (actress and Leo Durocher's wife) and 'CHRIS' (Durocher's son.) I always wondered what little kid named 'Chris' signed that item - after reading Prager's book, I put two and two together. I also found it odd that Dressen signed it as well. We can make out most names, but I don't think rookie Willie Mays had signed it. I know he had a much different looking signature later in his career compared to his rookie season, but even with the two signatures we can't identify, I'm not so sure it's on there.


In June of 2009, Josh Prager wrote an article in the Wall Street Journal about the photo, my grandfather, and how the negative was found. In that article, he described the envelope that was discovered in NYC when a beloved family member had passed. Below is that envelope, and yes, the original negative inside.


The family is still deciding which direction to go in. There have been several discussions with major auction houses. There appears to be some roadblocks, especially as to the authentication process. Collectors prefer smaller type 1 photos, those that can easily be encapsulated. These are on the larger side. The provenance is there (the negative, Prager's investigative work/book, Hank Bauer confirming with Prager, and the display in the BBHOF crediting grandpa with taking the photo.) The question is with the photo sizes, the cost of authentication, and how many type 1's are out there. (One individual even suggested that this moment doesn't carry as much clout anymore, now that most people around back then are no longer with us or in old age.) Who knows.

Either way - I just thought it would be cool to show and provide a little history of the photo and the man/story behind the camera.

Thank you

[Lucas00]

Did your grandfather stamp the backs of his photos?

[Iwantmorecards77]

That's a great question. At the moment, I am unsure. The one photo (the one with the signatures on the bottom part) hasn't been removed from the frame. It has a paper backing that would have to be ripped off and then dismantled.

The secondary photo was in an old outdated frame. After removing the frame, it was discovered that the photo was affixed to a piece of cardboard backing. The photo would be much too delicate to attempt to remove. Back in 1951, I guess my grandfather just wanted to make a nice display piece.

The backs of the photos will play a huge part of the authentication process. Hopefully the "main" photo will have easier access to its backside.