Rare photographs, high-grade vintage cards featuring Hall of Famers from every major sport and vintage autographed
baseballs are just some of the treasures that await bidders in Memory Lane’s upcoming Summer auction. The sale begins July 18th and closes August 8th. A one-of-a-kind collection of Yankee photos that once resided in the famed collection of Barry Halper is one focal point. It’s a combination of 90 extraordinary original, unpublished photos and significant autographs (60+) spanning the early golden years of Halper’s favorite team, the Yankees. The break-up value of this book is phenomenal, but Memory Lane has chosen to preserve the collection intact just as Barry had created and owned it as part of his famed collection.
The photographs have been authenticated by PSA/DNA and include numerous shots of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Left Gomez , Bill Dickey, Joe DiMaggio and other Yankee greats. The group consists of two different collections that Halper combined and organized handsomely in a custom made book. The cover says it all in engraved gold lettering: “New York-Yankees” and “Collection of Barry Halper.”
As usual, Memory Lane will present an unmatched selection of high-grade, vintage baseball and other sports cards, many of which are among the best in existence. Included are cards that Yankee fans dream about owning but now have the opportunity.
There are multiple near mint and near mint-mint gems in quantity. Highlights include a 1933 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth, graded PSA 8 and a 1933 World Wide Gum #93 Ruth in PSA 7. While the Babe is king among collectors, Gehrig cards are a close second. Collectors will find a pair of Gehrig cards from the underrated 1934 Goudey series: #37 and #61, both a sparkling PSA 8.
DiMaggio was the talk of America in 1941. He started a hitting streak that simply wouldn’t end. Joltin’ Joe would hit in 56 consecutive games before Cleveland third baseman Ken Keltner’s stab at a DiMaggio liner ended the run. What better representative of that historic and still unmatched feat than a 1941 Play Ball DiMaggio in virtually pristine condition? Memory Lane has one, graded NM/MT+, available to someone who appreciates the player, the streak and the card.
You’ll also find a 1938 Goudey #274 DiMaggio in PSA 8 condition. A run of Mickey Mantle cardboard, including a 1952 Topps (PSA 5) is a prelude to the finest array of vintage Willie Mays cards ever offered at public auction, including a plethora of PSA 8 and 9 cards from the 1950s.
There could be some dog-eat-dog bidding on lot #3. A group of eight 1954 Topps baseball packs—still unopened and resting in GAI 7.5 holders will offer pack collectors a unique opportunity. Scarce doesn’t begin to describe this eye-catching lot.
The 1948 Leaf set is one of the most difficult to collect in high grade because of the propensity for print flaws and other issues, but MLI has a Ted Williams card in PSA 9 condition. There is a 1933 DeLong #21 Jimmie Foxx too.
The 1914 and 1915 Cracker Jack issue is represented by a pair of Hall of Famers. A 1915 #88 Christy Mathewson, graded PSA 9 and a 1914 Cracker Jack #30 Ty Cobb (PSA 6) should draw significant interest from collectors of these unique and popular pre-War sets.
There is also a 1911 S81 Large Silk card of Frank “Home Run” Baker and a pair of top-notch T206 cards. The Ty Cobb Piedmont back grades PSA 6 while a Sweet Caporal ad adorns the back of the Christy Mathewson (dark cap), graded an impressive PSA 8.
Two of the most important big men in NBA history have two of the sport’s most popular rookie cards, both represented in the MLI sale. There’s a 1948 Bowman #69 George Mikan rookie (PSA 8) and a 1969-70 Topps #25 Lew Alcindor rookie, blazing in its PSA 9 (Mint) holder. What kind of task would it be to complete any set in all PSA 10 holders, let alone one of the most popular sets of all-time? We don’t know, but MLI is offering one that’s already been done for you. All 10s, including the Michael Jordan rookie card. Likewise, perhaps the two best hockey players of all-time have cards featured in the sale. There is a 1951-52 Parkhurst #66 Gordie Howe rookie in near mint and a 1979-80 Topps Wayne Gretzky rookie card in PSA 9.
Yankee fans, World Series ticket stub collectors or those who favor press pins will be able to fill any hole in their collection when Memory Lane brings each and every Yankees World Series stub and press pin ever issued to the marketplace.
Ruth again touches several of the major lots including a 1921 World Series unused ticket to game two of the match up between the Yankees and Giants and a rare double-signed Ruth autographed baseball (PSA/DNA 7.5).
Yankee fans will also find a 1927 Yankees team signed photograph. The busy Babe coerced someone in the clubhouse to add his autograph to this rare item. Who has a World Series ticket stub and press pin from every New York Yankees World Series appearance since the early 1920s? One collector did and he’s consigned this incredible collection to MLI exclusively for this auction.
Full-color auction catalogs are available free of charge by contacting Memory Lane Inc. Bidding is encouraged of course, but collectors have found the catalogs to also be collectors’ items in themselves, stocked with page after page of rarely seen elements of perfection and priceless memorabilia that bear witness to some of America’s greatest players and teams. Contact Memory Lane to order your catalog or to bid by phone, toll free at 877-606-5263 or fax 714-730-0602. You may also bid via our website at: www.memorylaneinc.com
