1955 Dodgers World Series Painted Sosnak Baseball

This might be my favorite painted Baseball of all time.

Over the years I've come across and shared on this blog numerous folk art Baseballs painted by former minor league umpire George Sosnak. There was Branch Rickey and the incomplete Jackie Robinson ball from a few years back (see that here), and I especially loved the Chuck Connors ball with both a Baseball and cowboy theme (see that here). This ball featured here, though, is a clear favorite. After all, this ball celebrates the Dodgers very first World Series Championship.

Don Drysdale Collection at SCP - Part III - The Streak

If there is one defining event that marks the greatness of Don Drysdale then it has to be "The Streak."  During the summer of 1968 Drysdale recorded a scoreless pitching streak that lasted 58 2/3 innings - a record that lasted 20 years.

Featured as part of the Don Drysdale Collection currently on auction at SCP are numerous artifacts that celebrate the accomplishment.  Directly below is the game ball from shutout #6 against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 4, 1968.  (Auction Link Here)  At this point he had recorded 54 scoreless innings by games end.

(Auction Link)

A George Sosnak Painted Baseball of Orel Hershiser/1988 Dodgers at Hunt Auctions

George Sosnak is the king of the "painted ball" as an artistic medium, so whenever an example pops up featuring a Dodger player I have to share it.  Available at Hunt's current MLB All-Star FanFest auction is a grouping of original Sosnak Baseballs from his estate, and featured above is an unfinished 1988 LA Dodgers World Series ball showcasing Orel Hershiser on a panel.  Check out the auction here.

Per the auction description:

Hand painted baseball decorated across two panels with "1988 World Series Champions" decor on one side and MVP Orel Hershiser on the other panel. The adjacent side panels has been signed by Hershiser in blue ink rating 8 out of 10. Other side panel has faded signature of Tracy Woodson.

I do not know why Tracy Woodson's signature is on the ball.  He didn't record a hit in four at-bats during the Fall Classic, but he was an instrumental piece of the vaunted "Stuntmen" bench corps that helped drive the club to a championship that season.

Of special note, numerous unfinished examples of Sosnak's work have recently made it onto the market.  When he died in 1992 a large cache of Baseballs that he never got around to completing were found.  The ball above is one of those balls obtained directly by a Sosnak family representative and offered here for the first time.

From a previous post of mine: 

George Sosnak was one of the earliest recognized artisans to use a Baseball as his medium.  In 1956, during his time as an umpire in Pioneer League, he fulfilled a fan request for a painted Baseball.  Soon, his work became legendary, and everybody under the sun requested his work.  Notably, he rarely turned down a request, and often gave the balls away as personal gifts.  Sure, he got paid from time to time, but that wasn't his motivation.  He needed an outlet, and painting on Baseball's became it.

His work can be found at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, the American Folk Art Museum in New York City and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library (it includes a ball commemorating JFK’s Opening Day pitch at a 1962 Senators game).

All said, he has painted at least 800 Baseballs; while other estimates put the number as high as 3,000.  Dave Bailey wrote a great article about George Sosnak at Sports Collectors Digest that is worth a read.  Check that out here.

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Check Out Some Dodger Goodies at Legendary Auctions - Pee Wee, Jackie, Sandy and Zach

Now that SCP has just closed their Spring auction, Legendary opens up their May extravaganza with over 2,000 lots of sports memorabilia goodness.  As usual, there are some great Dodger collectibles to gawk at.  Below are my favorites.

Below is a March 7, 1940 Central Press Association press photo of rookie and future Hall of Famer Pee Wee Reese.  Based on the date, this photo was taken during Spring Training as he prepares to make the big club for the first time.

(Auction Link)

The next two photographs are original "The Jackie Robinson Story" movie stills from 1950.  Jackie is wearing a Montreal Royals uniform in the photo below.

(Auction Link)

Below, Jackie is captured sliding into 2nd base.

(Auction Link)

Here is an original painting by Baseball artist Dick Perez; of Diamond Kings and Perez Steele Gallaries fame.  It is of Dodger Hall of Famer Zach Wheat and was used in Perez's recent book “The Immortals Collection”.  Via the auction description:

Card collectors will recognize this classic pose from the 1921 Exhibit Card set, and it's a picture-perfect Perezian homage to Wheat's trademark swinging style. As described by SABR biographer Eric Enders:

"Wheat was a natural left-handed hitter who corkscrewed his spikes into the dirt with a wiggle that became his trademark. Unlike most Deadball Era hitters, he held his hands way down by the knob of the bat, refusing to choke up. 'There is no chop-hitting with Wheat, but a smashing swipe which, if it connects, means work for the outfielders,' wrote one reporter. He was an outstanding first-ball hitter, and he was also so renowned as a curveball hitter that John McGraw reportedly had a standing order prohibiting his pitchers from throwing him benders."

(Auction Link)

By now, you know how much I love painted Baseball artwork, and my favorite of all the artist I've featured over the years is George Sosnak.  His work is some of the best folk art America has to offer, so it's no surprise his efforts can be found at New York's American Folk Art Museum, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Below is a painted ball Sosnak did of Sandy Koufax.  It appears to be an unfinished ball that may have been part of an estate sale conducted after Sosnak's death (numerous work-in-progress Baseballs were sold by his widow).  Featured on one side is a Koufax signature. 

(Auction Link)

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Dodgers Memorabilia at REA Auctions - Dodgers' Themed George Sosnak Painted Baseballs

Here is my second post featuring Dodgers memorabilia found at REA.  Yesterday, I featured some historically significant Dodger memorabilia (you can see that post here).  This time, I share several painted baseballs created by noted Baseball folk artist George Sosnak.  I should note that I absolutely love this guys work. 

George Sosnak was one of the earliest recognized artisans to use a Baseball as his medium.  In 1956, during his time as an umpire in Pioneer League, he fulfilled a fan request for a painted Baseball.  Soon, his work became legendary, and everybody under the sun requested his work.  Notably, he rarely turned down a request, and often gave the balls away as personal gifts.  Sure, he got paid from time to time, but that wasn't his motivation.  He needed an outlet, and painting on Baseball's became it.

His work can be found at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, the American Folk Art Museum in New York City and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library (it includes a ball commemorating JFK’s Opening Day pitch at a 1962 Senators game).

All said, he has painted at least 800 Baseballs; while other estimates put the number as high as 3,000.  Dave Bailey wrote a great article about George Sosnak at Sports Collectors Digest that is worth a read.  Check that out here.

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Below is a Branch Rickey painted ball.  On one panel it commemorates the signing of Jackie Robinson to the Dodgers, and on another is his Hall of Fame plaque.

This next Baseball is of Jackie Robinson.  This ball appears to be unfinished, and may have originally come from a mini-hoard purchased from Sosnak's widow after his death.

This next George Sosnak painted Baseball commemorates Johnny Podres and the "1955 World Series - Game 7".  One panel features Podres embracing Roy Campanella after the Game 7 win.

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Legendary Auctions: Stuff From Chuck Connors

Before you knew him as The Rifleman he was a Brooklyn Dodger first baseman trying to stick with the big club. Heck, before that he was a forward for the Boston Celtics. Chuck Connors was a man who could do anything. He was athletically gifted and had a flare for acting. His hit show, The Rifleman, ran 1958 to 1963.

Legendary Auctions current offering includes various items bearing his name. Below is his 1948 Montreal Royals (the Dodger AAA Minor League club at the time) Governor's Cup Champions ring. It sold for $2,200.00.

Auction Link: Ring:

This is the neatest item of all. Below is a George Sosnak painted ball featuring Chuck Connors. Now you should know why Sosnak artworks are highly prized within the collector community. This ball is stunning. It sold for $4,000.00.

Auction Link: Chuck Conner Sosnak Ball:

Hunt Auctions: Dodger Art and History

Hunt Auction is once again holding their 6th Annual Live Auction at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory this month. There are some "doozies" here including a complete run of autographed & game-used Baseball All-Star jerseys (including Dodgers Broxton, Billingsley & Hudson) from 2009 and Curt Flood's personal collection of memorabilia and drawings.

In fact, I am going to start this post by featuring a one-of-a-kind drawing from Curt Flood of Tommy Lasorda. As some of you know, Flood is an accomplished artist. He initially started painting for other ballplayers, but soon became well known outside that community. A look through this catalog online or in book form will give you a nice peek at some of his work. Check out this incredible painting of Bob Gibson.

(Auction Link: Lasorda Drawing by Flood)

Another very popular Baseball artist is George Sosnak.

Self-taught as an artist, Sosnak (1924-1992) had devoted his life to the game as a fan, player and minor league umpire, even when that meant holding a day job as well. His best-known works are actual manufactured baseballs intricately decorated for a special occasion with India ink and then hand colored.

He painted about 800 baseballs. Below is something a little different from him. It is a 5x8 envelope that has been converted into a canvas and then subsequently mailed in 1988 to a relative. It is a great painting featuring Kirk Gibson's game winning home run blast against Dennis Eckersley during the 1988 series.

(Auction Link: Sosnak 1988 WS Drawing)

The final two items are just incredible. Being made available for the first time are a pair of game-used vintage jerseys from the 1948 Brooklyn Dodger season that were worn by Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson. They came directly from a former coach of one of the Dodger farm teams. Apparently, at the end of each season the big club would hand down old jerseys, pants and caps. Then, they would have the minor league coaches wear them when meeting new incoming players. Afterwards, everything was either sold or just given away.

Below is Pee Wee Reese's jersey. Click on the photo to see a larger view.

(Auction Link: PeeWee Reese Jersey)

Here is Jackie Robinson's jersey. Click on the photo to see a larger view.

(Auction Link: Robinson Jersey)