BABE RUTH 3½x5½ photo, shown in the outfield in Yankee uniform near the end of his career Photograph inscribed and signed: "To/Harold Myers/Sincerely/Babe Ruth". B/w, 3½x5½. Ink notation (unknown hand) on verso: "Taken at St. Louis June 24, 1933." Few would contest that Babe Ruth (1895-1948) was the greatest baseball player who ever lived. While his record for career home runs (714) has been surpassed by Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds, and his single season mark of 60 by four players, many other records stand unchallenged. One of the new statistics devised to measure baseball value perhaps says it best: Wins Above Replacement (WAR). How many more games did his team win by having the Babe on its roster instead of a replacement-level player? Over his career, his teams won 190 more games with him than they would have won in his absence, and he had the American League's best WAR in 12 seasons: two with the Boston Red Sox (1916, 1919), and 10 with the New York Yankees between 1920 and 1931. His other annual stats follow the same pattern: continuing leadership in on base percentage, slugging percentage, runs scored and runs batted in. read more...

PITTSBURGH PIRATES: 1933 The players for the Pirates sign their names Signatures: "Ralph Birkofer", "Leon Chagnon", "Adam Comorosky", "Doc Crandall", "Hal Finney", "Larry French", "To my/Little friend/Pete Lear/from Gibby", "Earl Grace", "Bill Harris", "Grover Hartley", "Waite C. Hoyt", "Woody Jensen", "Fred Lindstrom", "Heine Meine", "Leo Nonnenkamp", "Val Picinich", "Tony Piet", "Hal Smith", "Gus Suhr", "Steve Swetonic", "Bill Swift", "Tommy Thevenow" "Harold 'Pie' Traynor", "Floyd Vaughan", "J. Honus Wagner", "Lloyd Waner", "Paul Waner" and "Floyd Young". The way the powerful Pittsburgh Pirates were swinging the bat in 1933, they seemed unbeatable. However, the Pirates finished second in the National League that year to the New York Giants. Pittsburgh out-hit New York .285 to .263 for the season, but the big difference between winning and losing the pennant was the pitching. The Pirates had a good pitching staff, with their top thrower, LARRY FRENCH, placing second in the league in games pitched, with an ERA of 2.72 and a solid 18 wins. And the dependable Heine Meine finished third in winning percentage (.652) and had a win-loss record of 15 and 8. read more...

NEW YORK JETS Helmet signed by "Broadway Joe" Namath and teammates who brought the AFL its first victory in Super Bowl III (1969). Helmet signed: "Joe Namath", "Bill Mathis/#31", "Don Maynard/13", "Bake Turner/29", "Emerson Boozer/32", "Curley/Johnson 33", "Ralph Baker/51", "Matt Snell/#41", "Dave/Herman/#67", "62/Al Atkinson", "Bill Baird/46", "Jim Hudson/22", "Randy Beverly/#42", "John Schmitt #32", "Larry Grantham/#60", "Jim Turner/#11", "#61/Bob Talamani", "Carl/McAdams/#50", "John Elliott/#80", "Paul Rochester/#12", "Winston Hill/75", "Pete/Lammons/#87", "Cornell/Gordon/#48" and "Randy/Rasmussen/#66". 24 signatures in all. Official Riddell New York Jets football helmet, signed in green felt tip. This Jets team, 11-3 in the regular season, defeated the Oakland Raiders 27-23 in the AFL Championship game, and then whipped the heavily favored Baltimore Colts 16-7 to bring the American Football League its first Super Bowl victory. Signers here include quarterback Namath, running backs Boozer and Snell, receivers Maynard and Lammons, and 7 participants in that seasons Pro Bowl (Namath, Atkinson, Boozer, Elliot, Herman, Hill and Maynard). Signatures unusually bold and clear for having been signed on a piece of athletic equipment. Fine condition. read more...

GAYLE SAYERS Golden Helmet award presentation plaque, signed by Sayers on the golden helmet Ephemera signed: "Gayle Sayers" 20x12. Wooden base containing an engraved plaque honoring Sayers with the Golden Helmet Award, bearing the NFL logo and presented by the Coca Cola Company. On the right side of the base is a golden half-helmet, plastic, signed by Sayers in black sharpie. Hall of Famer Sayers (b. 1943), called "the Kansas comet" for his college play at KU, starred in seven seasons with the Chicago Bears. For his first entire season, Gale scored 22 touchdowns and 132 points, both then-rookie records. Quiet, unassuming, and always ready to compliment a teammate for a key block, Sayers continued to sizzle in 1967 and well into the 1968 season. Then, in the ninth game, Sayers suffered a knee injury that required immediate surgery. After a tortuous rehabilitation program, Gale came back in 1969 in a most spectacular manner, winding up with his second 1,000-yard rushing season and universal Comeback of the Year honors. But injuries continued to take their toll and, just before the 1972 season, Gale finally had to call it quits. In his relatively short career, he compiled a record that can never be forgotten. read more...

WORN BY BONDS DURING HIS 73 HOME RUN SEASON!   BARRY BONDS. Pair of his cleats worn by him during the 2001 season, signed: "Barry Bonds" on the right shoe. File size 11½. "25 Barry Bonds Authenticated" hologram (obtained directly from Bonds) affixed to shoe to the right of the signature. FILA brand shoe. "25 Barry Bonds Authenticated" certificate of authenticity included. In 2001, San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds set the major league record of 73 home runs. Bonds moved to second place on the all-time home run list, behind only Hank Aaron (755), after passing Babe Ruth's previous second best of 714 in May 2006. Fine condition. read more...

JACKIE ROBINSON Having just retired from baseball rather than accept a trade from the Dodgers, Robinson signs a typed 1957 letter to a sportswriter, declining to comment for an upcoming Saturday Evening Post article on Dodger skipper Walter Alston because "I couldn't say too many nice things about him as a manager." Typed Letter Signed: "Jackie Robinson", 1 page, 8½x11. New York, N.Y., 1957 May 1. On letterhead of Chock Full o' Nuts to Mr. Mal Mallette, Winston-Salem Journal, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Begins: "Dear Mal". In full: "Frankly, Mal, I would prefer not getting involved in a story on Walt. I have a great deal of respect for him as a man and would much prefer leaving it at that. I am sure you understand why I don't want to get involved as I couldn't say too many nice things about him as a manager. I hope you will keep this confidential and if you do want to see me when you come in, it will be a pleasure. Glad to hear things are working out well for you. My position is really heartening to me and it has lived up to expectation. Sincerely". Lightly creased with folds, not at signature. read more...

NOLAN RYAN Collection including a signed baseball used during his 300th victory! Comprises: (1) Baseball signed: "Nolan Ryan" on the sweet-spot, Official American League "Bobby Brown". On July 31, 1990, at Milwaukee's County Stadium, Texas Rangers right hander Nolan Ryan added to his list of legendary mound accomplishments by becoming the 20th pitcher in Major League history to record at least 300 wins during his career. Ryan worked seven and two-thirds innings that night, allowing one earned run and striking out eight. The tying runs were on base in a 5-3 game when Texas manager Bobby Valentine took Ryan out after he had thrown 146 pitches. The Rangers scored six runs in the ninth inning to seal Ryan's victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, 11-3. Moderately soiled. (2) Typed Letter Signed: "Al Clark", 1p, 8x10. On stationery of The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, 1990 July 31. To Whom It May Concern. In full: "Please be advised that the Nolan Ryan autographed baseball you have in your possession was, in fact, one of the baseballs used during Nolan Ryan's 300th victory pitched at Milwaukee's County Stadium, July 31, 1990 read more...

CAL RIPKEN, JR.'S CONSECUTIVE GAME STREAK A baseball used in his record-breaking game, signed by Ripken and all four umpires and authenticated by an umpire. Baseball Signed (Game Used): "Cal Ripken, Jr." (on the sweet-spot), "Larry Barron #22", "Greg Kosc/#18", "Al Clark/A.L. Ump/#24" and "Dan Morrison/#34". Official Ball American League, Gene A. Budig, PRES., with "Ripken 8 2130 2131 Orioles" printed on the ball, which was used during the September 6, 1995, game in which Ripken (uniform #8) broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive game playing streak of 2,130 games by playing in his 2,131st consecutive game. The baseball has been signed by Ripken and all four umpires of game #2131. Lightly worn and stained, all signatures legible. Accompanied by TLS: "Dan Morrison", American League Umpire #34. New York, 1995 September 6. On official 8½x11 stationery of The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs. In part: "To whom it may concern: The Cal Ripken Jr. #8 commemorative baseball which accompanies this letter was used on the historic night in baseball history. read more...

BASEBALL USED THE NIGHT CAL RIPKEN, JR. PASSED LOU GEHRIG, PLAYING IN HIS 2,131st CONSECUTIVE GAME; SIGNED BY RIPKEN & THE FOUR UMPIRES, WITH CERTIFYING LETTER FROM UMPIRE DAN MORRISON   Comprises: (1) Baseball signed: "Cal Ripken, Jr.", "Larry Barnett/A.L.#22", "Greg Kosc/A.L.#18", "Al Clark/A.L./#24" and "Dan Morrison/A.L. Umpire #34". "Official Ball/American League/Gene A. Budig pres.", with "Ripken 8 2130 2131 Orioles" printed on the ball. Used during the September 6, 1995 game in which Ripken (uniform #8) broke New York Yankee Lou Gehrig's consecutive game playing streak of 2,130 games by playing in his 2,131st consecutive game. The baseball has been signed by Ripken and all four umpires of game #2131. Lightly worn and soiled, but all signatures legible. (2) TLS: "Dan Morrison" as American League Umpire #34, 1p, 8½x11. New York, 1995 September 6. On official stationery of The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs. In full: "To whom it may concern: The Cal Ripken Jr. read more...