SOTHEBY’S/SCP AUCTIONS SET TO OPEN WINTER INTERNET-ONLY AUCTION OF IMPORTANT SPORTS MEMORABILIA & CARDS, TO BE HELD JANUARY 15-30, 2008. OVER 900 LOTS OFFERED, HIGHLIGHTED BY FINE SELCTION OF T206S, QUALITY GAME USED BATS AND SIGNIFICANT BABE RUTH MEMORABILIA.
Mission Viejo, Ca. – The partnership of Sotheby’s and SCP Auctions is prepared to bring forth another impressive array of fine sports memorabilia and cards as part of their latest internet-only auction, set to open for online bidding on January 15th at www.scpauctions.com.Â
According to Dan Imler, Managing Director of SCP Auctions, the sale includes a high percentage of property that is “fresh†to the marketplace. “It is always exciting to present collectors with quality cards and memorabilia that are new to the marketplace, or from ‘old collections’ that have kept the material out of recent circulation. Many of the graded cards in this sale were only recently graded under our direction, and some of the most prominent memorabilia pieces in this sale will be seen by collectors for the first time.†Imler states.  Â
Highlighting the fresh card offerings is a large selection of T206s, including singles and lots yielded from a complete T206 set from the esteemed Allan Schwartz Collection. Other notable pre-war cards include a group of 1911 T3 Turkey Red Cabinet Cards offered as singles and lots, a High Grade 1912 S81 Silk #108 Christy Mathewson, a 1914 Cracker Jack #30 Ty Cobb SGC 60 EX, and a 1894 N302 Mayo Football PSA Graded Partial Set (24/36).
An impressive run of complete sets, lots and singles from the post-war era is headlined by an attractive mid-grade 1952 Topps Baseball Complete Set. An additional offering of graded singles from Topps inaugural issue is led by a 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle PSA Graded 7 NM. A solid selection of other Topps and Bowman complete sets from all sports include the following; 1951 Bowman Baseball, 1948 Bowman Basketball and 1952 Bowman Small Football. Collectors of Topps Test Issues and Oddball will have their first opportunity to bid on a previously unseen group of Proof Cards from issues such as 1969 Super, 1970-73 Candy Lids, and 1974 Deckle.
 Anchoring the sale is a wide variety of memorabilia that will appeal to all ranges of collectors from beginners to the most advanced hobbyists. At the forefront of the memorabilia category is a extraordinary selection of Game Used Bats from some of baseball’s most prolific sluggers. Topping the list is a Superb 1921 Babe Ruth H&B Game Bat (PSA/DNA Graded GU7) from The Bill Nowlin Bat Collection formerly displayed at The Ted Williams Museum and Hitter’s Hall of Fame. The extraordinarily hefty (36 in., 43.2 ounce) war club is an outstanding example from perhaps the most pivotal era in Ruth’s career. The offered Ruth bat represents a sampling of the Nowlin Collection, the rest of which is set to be offered in Sotheby’s/SCP Auctions April, 2008 Live Auction. Other significant bats in the January 15-30th Internet Auction
include the following;
Other Significant Game Used Bats
Extraordinary Ty Cobb 1917-21 H&B Game Used Bat – PSA/DNA Graded GU 8
Circa 1938-39 Jimmie Foxx H&B Game Used Bat (PSA/DNA Graded GU7.5)
Circa 1950s Ted Williams H&B Professional Model Game Bat
Circa 1965-68 Willie Mays Game Used Bat (PSA/DNA Graded GU9)
Circa 1965-66 Mickey Mantle H&B Game Used Bat (MEARS Graded A7)
Harmon Killebrew Circa 1960 H&B Game Used Bat (PSA/DNA Graded GU9)
Barry Bonds Bat Used During Historic 2007 Season Between Home Runs 754 & 755 (With Video Documentation)
Sotheby’s/SCP Auctions January event is loaded with fresh memorabilia items ranging from significant autographed pieces, game used items, programs, display pieces, and more. As usual, items related to Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig abound. Some of the other marquis memorabilia offerings are as follows;
More Memorabilia Highlights Include:
*Â 1862 Proclamation Signed By Abraham Lincoln
*Â 1902 Cincinnati Red Sterling Silver Season Pass
* Tris Speaker’s 1920 Pair of Platinum And Diamond Cuff Links
*Â Christy Mathewson 1923 Signed Contract as President of Boston Braves
*Â High-Grade Babe Ruth Single Signed Baseball
*Â 1934 US Tour of Japan Team Signed Baseball
*Â Circa 1920’s Babe Ruth Autographed Louisville Slugger 125 Model Bat
* Babe Ruth Double Signed Baseball – PSA/DNA Graded 7.5 NM+
*Â Fine Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig Signed Baseball
*Â 1955 World Champion Brooklyn Dodgers Team Signed Baseball
*Â Roberto Clemente Single Signed Baseball
*Â 1969 Curt Flood Rawlings Gold Glove Award
*Â 1999 New York Yankees Full-Size World Series Trophy
*Â Barry Bonds Home Run Ball #754 – Hit July 27, 2007
*Â Complete Run of 41 Full Unused Super Bowl Tickets (I-XLII)
*Â 1986-87 Larry Bird Boston Celtics Road Game Jersey (MEARS Graded A10)
Another noteworthy component of the sale is items from the personal collection of former Detroit Tigers pitcher Tommy Bridges, including his 1934 Detroit Tigers World Series Ring, Bridges’ Game Bat Signed by The 1934 World Champion Detroit Tigers, and an impressive Babe Ruth Signed Photograph to Tommy Bridges.
Each of the 900-plus items will be featured in Sotheby’s/SCP Auctions full color catalog as well as on the SCP Auctions website at www.SCPAuctions.com. The auction will be open to registered bidders on January 15thth with the conclusion of bidding for lots 1-496 to take place on January 29th and lots 497-925 on January 30th, 2008. Call (800) 350-2273 for more information on how to participate.
