REA's Spring Auction has some Fantastic Dodgers Memorabilia

Robert Edwards Auctions, one of the premier sports memorabilia auction houses, is currently running their 2020 Spring offering and it includes a bunch of great Dodger goodies. In fact, if not for a self-imposed moratorium I would likely be aggressively chasing after the item above. What you see at the very top is a 1945 Brooklyn Brown Dodgers stock certificate. (Auction Link)

As you may know, in 1945 the United States Baseball League was born to compete with the more established Negro National and American Leagues, and one of the folks lending public support to this endeavor was Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Soon, the Brooklyn Brown Dodgers were created and it quickly allowed Rickey to scout African-American ballplayers without anyone noticing. From what I understand, the Brooklyn Dodgers didn't actually own the Brooklyn Brown Dodgers, but that didn't stop them from sending scouts under their name.

REA has a Bunch of Dodger Collectibles

Robert Edwards Auctions current 2019 Fall Auction is just days away from closing, so I figured I should take a moment to point out some of my favorite Dodgers memorabilia in it.

At the very top is a Roy Campanella worn warm-up Dodgers jacket, dated to the 1953 season -- the year he won his second MVP award (Auction Link). It was originally attained at a 1986 charity auction held by the Dodgers 65 Roses Club. For those who don't know, this charity focuses on cystic fibrosis.

Couple of Brooklyn Rarities and Ladies in Baseball Memorabilia at REA

Premier sports collectibles auction house REA has just opened up their 2019 Summer offering, so I thought I would take a little bit of time this afternoon to highlight some of my favorite items. As you may know, REA specializes in pre-war cards and vintage/antique memorabilia, and this auction does not disappoint in that area. In fact, there are plenty of Dodgers' T206, Old Judge and other Topps rarities available. Heck, there's also a ton of Jackie Robinson memorabilia/cards available too. None of those items, though provide a glimpse into the face of the gentleman who helped start it all. Featured above is a circa 1910 cabinet photograph of former team owner (the namesake of the stadium that would be the Dodgers home for more than 45 years) Charles Ebbets with his autograph. (Auction Link) Per the auction description:

Apparently, the Dodgers Tried to Trade for Warren Spahn

I usually refrain from writing about trade rumors. After all, we all know that a vast majority of the 'Hot Stove' is bunk. That said, this one vintage, circa 1950's, rumor has my imagination flowing, so I thought I'd share it here. According to a newspaper cutout attached to a letter written by Walter O'Malley -- that's currently available at REA (Auction Link) -- the Dodgers were charging hard to trade for future Hall of Famer Warren Spahn from the Braves prior to the start of the 1953 season.

Some Vintage Dodgers Memorabilia at REA

We are hours away from the start of Game 3 of the World Series, so why not begin the afternoon with some vintage Dodgers memorabilia. Featured here are some Dodger goodies found at REA's current Fall auction.

Directly above is a rarity. It is a 1940's era Ebbets Field employee badge. (Auction Link) To the right is a vintage ticket from the very last ballgame played at Ebbets Field, dated September 24, 1957. (Auction Link) Per the auction description:

While Brooklyn Dodgers fans were always a resilient group, forever buoyed by the familiar refrain of "wait 'til next year," nothing could have prepared them at the start of the 1957 season for what just a few short years earlier would have been the unthinkable: the Dodgers leaving Brooklyn. Yet that is just what happened when, on October 8, 1957, team owner Walter O'Malley announced he was moving the Dodgers to Los Angeles. Rumors had been swirling the entire summer about such a possibility, but most fans chose to bury their heads in the sand and ignore such blasphemous talk. Perhaps that's the only way to explain why, on September 24, 1957, only 6,702 fans attended Brooklyn's final home game of the season at Ebbets Field. It is also possible that some fans just could not bear to say goodbye to their beloved "bums" and the venerable old stadium they called home. The significance of the final out was obviously not lost on longtime organist Gladys Gooding, who serenaded the fans with the tune Auld Lang Syne as they exited the ballpark for the very last time.

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.

Dodgers Artwork - Pee Wee Reese 1953 Topps Original Drawing at REA

This is absolutely gorgeous.

Currently ongoing is REA's spring auction, and one of the items that I came across there is the above original drawing of Pee Wee Reese that was used for his 1953 Topps Baseball card. (Auction Link) It had originally sold in 2010 and came directly from the personal collection of Topps legend Sy Berger -- considered "The Father of the Bubble Gum Card." 

Check out what Reese's card from 1953 looks like on the right.

With just 12 days remaining this item is already $3,500, and I suspect it'll close for significantly higher than that.

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"It Happened on Flatbush" - an Vintage Movie Poster at REA

Robert Edwards Auction is closing up on their current Fall offering this weekend, so I wanted to point to one particular item I ran into while thumbing through the catalog. Check out the above circa 1942 vintage movie poster put out by Twentieth Century Fox. It is for a film called, "It Happened on Flatbush" -- a Baseball comedy that is inspired by the 1941 Brooklyn Dodgers. (auction link)

I mention this because as I was doing a little bit of research I discovered that someone had uploaded it onto youtube, and I figured this is a perfect opportunity to let you all know about it (if you've haven't already seen the movie). Watch it at the very bottom, or go here (youtube link).

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As you may know, the 1941 team is considered by many to be one of the best to have ever played and not win a championship. In fact, noted sabermetric guru Bill James referred to the club as, "The Greatest Teams That Never Was."

Jackie Robinson 1949 Dodgers Contract Sold for Big Bucks at REA

This sold at a huge price. Far more than I ever expected.

As you may know, REA recently concluded their Spring 2017 auction and it included a somewhat historically important document - a Jackie Robinson signed MLB contract with the Dodgers from 1949. It sold for the princely sum of $276,000.00 (auction link here).

More Vintage Dodgers Memorabilia at REA

Last week I pointed to a couple of fantastic vintage photos featuring the famed clown Emmett Kelly as the Brooklyn Dodgers "Bum" in 1956 that is currently for sale at REA.  Below, I take a closer look at some other Dodgers-related goodies from that same auction.

Above is a very rare 1888 Joseph Hall team cabinet photograph of the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. (Auction Link)  Both Bob Caruthers and Adonis Terry are featured in the photo.  BTW, please note that photo was taken at teams home field at Washington Park located on the corner of 3rd Street and 4th Avenue in Brooklyn.  In fact, the photographer, Joseph Hall, had his studio in Brooklyn, so nearly all of his Baseball pics (including his Old Judge's) were taken there.

Emmett Kelly as the Brooklyn Dodgers Bum at REA

Emmet Kelly and his depiction as the tragic clown "Weary Willie" is one of the more iconic figures in both the clown world and to Brooklyn Dodgers fans everywhere.  So, it is my pleasure to share with you a couple of vintage photographs of Emmett Kelly at Ebbets Field that are currently available on auction at REA.

An Invitation Game to Circumvent Blue Laws - Let's Play Some Sunday Baseball

Once upon a time it was illegal to have any fun on Sundays.  It was the day of prayer and reverence, and folks throughout America were required to abstain from leisurely activity.  This even included a restriction on professional Baseball teams playing a game on that day. 

How crazy is that, right?

It's hard to imagine a Sunday afternoon in the middle of summer without Baseball.  They go hand in hand, and I dare say that if not for the melding of the two it would be that much harder to get up the next day for the start of the work week.  I think that we as a country and culture need Sunday Baseball, and from what I understand Baseball owners needed it too.

Billy Sunday's Message of Temperance to a Brooklyn Dodger

If you study the game long enough you start to realize that those early days hardly provided the kind of family entertainment we come to expect today.  Instead, Baseball was a rough and tumble sport.  It was filled with ruffians and gadfly's bent on ranting like a sailor and partying like the end of the world was around the corner.  Some of the games earliest heroes were known to fight with the fans (like Ty Cobb) and imbibe in all hours of the day (like Babe Ruth, Mike Kelly and just about everybody else).  So, it's no surprise that some thought that Baseball was a game for delinquents.

Still, America embraced the sport, and not everyone was uncouth.  In fact, America's most successful evangelist was a former Baseball star himself (also known as a straight-laced church going fella during his playing days) in the late 19th century.  His name was Billy Sunday, and as the letter above shows (currently on auction at REA) he would take an interest in a talented Brooklyn player that appeared to be going astray.

Scarce Dodgers Memorabilia at REA

REA has also decided to join the Spring Baseball auction party.  Featured here are several Dodgers-related collectibles that struck out to me.

(Auction Link)

One of the hallmarks of REA is the outstanding selection of vintage (typically pre-war) cards and memorabilia.  As an example, check out the rarity below.  This is an 1889 Police Gazette cabinet card of the ever-popular William "Adonis" H. Terry.  These cards were issued as premiums that readers of the Police Gazette could purchase for a dime.  At the time, this weekly magazine was one of the more prominent periodicals in the country to provide in-depth stories on the game. 

Adonis Terry, as you may know, was a very popular Brooklyn ballplayer.  In fact, he was the franchise's first star.  Per the auction description.

He was also the first pitcher in Dodger history. Terry led the Brooklyn Grays to the Interstate Championship in 1883. Following this success, the team was admitted to the Major Leagues in 1884, and Adonis Terry became the first pitcher in the franchise's history. Over the next thirteen seasons, Terry recorded 197 wins and had four 20-win seasons. He also has the distinction of having two no-hit games. He no-hit St. Louis in 1886 and Louisville in 1888, both while pitching for Brooklyn. His 22-15 record led Brooklyn to the American Association Championship in 1889.

Brooklyn Memorabilia at REA - Dodger Stock, an Old Pin and a Jersey from "The Natural"

Yesterday I wrote about a vintage letter from an old Brooklyn coach to one of his top players (check that out here) that is available at REA's current auction.  Now, I wanted to point out a few more Dodgers related collectibles that struck my fancy.

Above is an old Brooklyn Dodger uniform.  (Auction link here)  It is a reproduction that was created for the Robert Redford movie "The Natural".  As you can see, it is meant to represent the jersey's worn in 1939, as evidenced by the Baseball Centennial patch on the left shoulder, and sports the iconic number "42".  It was obviously created in homage to the great Dodger barrier breaker - Jackie Robinson.  The listing claims that it was worn in the movie, but I don't actually recall seeing a Dodger uniform in it.  If you know differently please pass that along. 

BTW, a similar jersey sold last year at Lelands Auctions at $388.00.  I do not know if the above example is the same item.

(Auction Link)

Everytime I see the item above for sale I get exciting.  For a fleeting moment I imagine myself emptying out my bank account to add it to my collection.  Then, I'd try to claim partial ownership of the team to fulfill a lifelong fantasy.  Of course, it would be stupid for me to do that; especially since these documents have long since been cancelled.  Still, it would be cool to have.

Featured above is a 1948 Brooklyn Dodgers stock certificate.  It has been signed by then President Branch Rickey, team treasurer John Smith and former owner Marie McKeever Mulvey.  BTW, Marie remained an owner of the club until 1975.  Having featured this kind of certificate numerous times before, I know that an example just like this routinely sells for about $4,500 to $5000 a piece.  That's quite an expensive piece of paper.

(Auction Link)

This last item is a pin you just don't see very often.  It is a large-format composite pinback celebrating the 1947 National League pennant winning Brooklyn Dodgers.  They were originally sold only during the ensuing World Series played that October against the Yankees.   There are 22 faces on the pin; including Jackie Robinson.  Considering this was Jackie's first year as a Dodger makes this a unique and extremely desirable collectible.  I am uncertain how much an an example like this is expected to sell for, but I imagine it would be in the low four figures.

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Lobbying Zach Wheat in a Letter from Uncle Robbie at REA

In case you don't already know, I absolutely love running into old letters written by former Dodgers'.  Oftentimes, they provide a little glimpse at their personalities, and insight into their character.  Other times, we get a look at what's going on behind the scenes.  Go here to check out all of my previous post on Dodgers' Correspondence.

Above, is a letter currently on auction at REA that I wanted to pass along.  It is written the day after Christmas 1917.  Hall of Fame manager Wilbert "Uncle Robbie" Robinson reaches out to fellow Hall of Famer Zach Wheat about the upcoming season.  Check out the auction here.

In the midst of World War I in Europe and a difficult past year at the turnstiles throughout the league, Robbie does a little bit of contract negotiating on behalf of Charles Ebbets.  After all, of all the players on that club Wheat was the one guy they had to make sure stayed on.  Check it out in full below:

Dear Buck [Wheat's nickname]:

In talking various matters over with Mr. Ebbets a few days ago, he informed me that the club would exercise their options upon the services of all the players on our list and then he would write you asking what salary you expected or should like to have for season of 1918, which will be from April 16th to Sept. 30th, exactly 5 1/2 months: he wants to agree with the players upon a salary which will be fair to the player and to the club. I hope you will be fair in your answer to Mr. Ebbets. You know he was the first who said base ball must continue when others were talking of quitting; neither he nor his partners have hollered "calamity"; but for all that you and I know that base ball conditions were bad all over the country and not likely to be any better in 1918 unless we should get better weather conditions; the weather of 1917 could not be much worse. Mr. E. told me that they would try and meet near as possible the conditions of 1913, which was, he said, the last normal year they had had; the years 1914, 1915, 1916, being covered with high Federal League contracts and 1917 suffering by reason of the World War.

I hope you will carefully consider all this and too the conditions that confront us in 1918; almost fifty thousand men have been taken by the government out of Brooklyn and more will be drafted in the next few months; so be fair when you write Mr. Ebbets. I am sure he will be fair with you, everything considered.

I want you when you have finally signed your contract to come to me satisfied and work your head off; you know next year all clubs will get a piece of the World's Series; that is, all but the last club; besides, when the war is over and Cadore, Pfeffer and Smith come back to us we will be in a good position to improve our position and with better times get better money.

Contract will be for 5 1/2 months; training about three weeks; this will give you more time at home, but you must do some preliminary training prior to March 19th. 

I find it interesting that during an era when players were roundly beaten up by the owners, Zach Wheat appears to have significant leverage.  He was their top player; therefore their top draw.  Considering, as Robbie mentions above, that a large swath of fans were off to war the Dodgers needed to make sure there was someone on the field the populace would enjoy watching.  Clearly, Wheat was that man, and as the stats tell us he definitely proved to be a keeper.  In 1918 he hit a league leading .335.  Unfortunately, the Robins, as they were known back then, finished the season in 5th place in the National League.

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REA: Dickey Pearce - The Greatest Shortstop You've Never Heard Of

I was going through the current REA auction, searching under Brooklyn, and came across a circa 1908 cabinet card of a former player that I had never heard of named Dickey Pearce.

I thought to myself, "who is this Dickey Pearce guy and what does he have to do with Brooklyn?

Naturally,  I did a little bit of research, and what I found was spectacular.

(Circa 1876)

Born in Brooklyn, Dickey Pearce was a legend.  Short and stout, he battled against men bigger and stronger than he.  Nevertheless, Pearce would be revered as one of the greats to play the game.  Dickey came onto the scene during the middle of the 19th Century and along the way revolutionized the shortstop position, was one of the first to be paid to play the game, and no doubt to the consternation of todays statheads invented the modern bunt (bunt for a hit, that is - not as a sacrifice).  Furthermore, he became one of the more famous and popular players in the game as a member of the Brooklyn Atlantics from the 1850's to 1870's. (Not exactly a part of the Dodger franchise, but certainly a precursor to them)  Although currently not a member of the Hall of Fame, he is oftentimes found on the shortlist of players who should be.

Via John Thorn at his blog "Our Game":

That accidental chance to play made Dickey Pearce. He was put on the regular team and placed at shortstop, for the reason that he was considered to be too short-legged to cover ground in the outfield. It was a fortunate selection, for Dickey took to shortstop like a duck to water, and in the first game he played in that position, he showed such ability that none of the old-timers on the team had a chance to beat him out of the job. And none did that that for years and years. Dickey Pearce’s name at shortstop for the Atlantics was stereotyped, and the scorecards always had his name in that position as long as he played baseball with that club, and that was for many years.

Unfortunately, statistic during the time he excelled on the diamond are virtually nonexistent.  What we do know is that he was an able fielder with an uncanny ability to get on-base.  He was the first person to place the shortstop position where it is today and revolutionized how you hit by utilizing the bunt and placing a batted ball in areas fielders where not stationed.  In other words, he was an early innovator of the scientific game.

Per Bill Whelan at Wareham Village Soup, "Baseball legend called Onset home":

"Yes I was the first to introduce the bunt hit," Pearce said in a 1905 article in The Boston Globe.  "While with the Brooklyn Atlantics, in 1867, the idea came to me, and I figured out just how a ball would bound when met from different angles. First I practiced bunting, then hitting the ball on top so that it would carom from the fair ground to the ground back of third base."

...

"I played ball about 20 years too soon."

Below are some links and articles about Dickey Pearce that I thought you should check out:

• John Thorn at Our Game, "The Men Who Invented Shortstop."
• A SABR biography written by Brian McKenna.
• What stats that do exist can be found at Baseball-Reference.

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Campanella's Contract, Labine's Lifetime MLB Pass and Roger Craig WS Watch at REA

Following up on yesterdays post featuring some Brooklyn Dodger relics from Ebbets Field and the front office, I now share with you some player related memorabilia to gawk at. 

Below is Roger Craig's 1955 Dodgers World Series Championship watch.  For the Dodgers very first championship each player received a ring and a watch.  Unlike the rings, very few of these watches remain.  Check out the auction here.

(Auction Link)

(Auction Link)

How great would it be to be a bearer of one of these? 

All Major League ballplayers with a certain amount of playing time within the league (I'm uncertain what that is today 8 years for players and 25 years from front office executives) receive a Lifetime Pass to enter into any Major League Baseball game, and below is former Dodger Clem Labine's pass.  It was given to him in 1959.

These items are certainly unique and highly desirable to collectors.  It is the size of a credit card and is made of metal.  The one's I've seen at card shows are far more shinier than this one.  As the auction description states, this pass has moderate tarnishing, including surface blemishes.  No doubt it was well used by Labine.

(Auction Link)

Last year, Roy Campanella's player contract for the 1947 season with the Nashua Dodgers came up for sale (you can see my post about it here), available at REA today is his 1946 Nashua Dodgers contract.  Check it out below.  This is his very first contract with a Major League affiliated club.

Per the auction description:

The one-year agreement calls for Campanella to receive a salary of $185 per month for the 1946 season. However, in addition to his monthly salary, a special clause grants Campanella a bonus of $2,400, payable in unequal quarterly installments. That bonus is important, because otherwise his monthly salary would have amounted to just $1,100 for the season, which was $2,000 less than we was making as a member of the Elite Giants in the Negro League the year prior. 

The following year, 1947, he was granted a monthly raise to $250.00.  BTW, the 1947 contract sold for $7,170 through Heritage Auctions last year.

(Auction Link)

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Some Brooklyn Dodger Rarities Available at REA

One of the more anticipated sports memorabilia auctions in the hobby just opened up, and there are some fantastic Dodger related collectibles up for sale.  Over the next few days I'll share some of my favorites from the REA Spring Auction.  You can check out the entire REA catalog here.

I thought I start by taking a look at some notable Brooklyn Dodger memorabilia.  Featured below is a circa 1950's Brooklyn Dodgers usher's cap dating from Ebbets Field. According to the consignor, it was found in a secondhand store in Brooklyn in the 1970's.

(Auction Link)

I first spoke about this next item back in January.  Featured below is the Brooklyn Dodgers official ledger (penned by Charles Ebbets) showing the teams day-to-day financial operations from April 1899 to December 1900. That's right.  This tattered book tells us everything about how they funded and operating the franchise during its more formative years.

According to the owner, it was originally retrieved from the trash as works crews began tearing down Ebbets Field after the Dodgers left for Los Angeles for the 1959 season.  I can only imagine what other items might have been discarded at that time.

(Auction Link)

Hidden these pages are player salaries, gate receipts and even the mundane cost of mowing the grass.  Via the auction description:

This book is a treasure trove of financial information. All incoming and outgoing funds of the club are recorded. Included are the exact attendance records for Brooklyn's games, with gate receipts broken down by seat prices. Also recorded are all of the concession sales, including peanuts, refreshments, and scorecards. Included on the expenditure side are both player and employee salaries (team owner Charles Ebbets' salary is also recorded numerous times, including in his own hand), as well as the cost for general repair and maintenance of Washington Park, equipment (balls, bats, uniforms, etc.), team stationery, newspaper advertising, a subscription to the Sporting News, and, of course, peanuts (150 pounds of peanuts cost $7.75 in 1900). Players on this powerhouse team include stars such as Hughie Jennings, Joe Kelley, Joe McGinnity, and Willie Keeler, as well as manager Ned Hanlon (all future Hall of Famers). With that remarkable roster of talent, Brooklyn captured the pennant in both 1899 and 1900. Each of the future Hall of Fame players is listed numerous times in the ledger with regard to salary payments and special compensation. The ledger also records the payment of fines to the National League levied against Kelley, Keeler, and Bill Dahlen in 1899; bonuses to McGraw and Wilbert Robinson in 1900; etc. In short, virtually all financial information relating to the business of the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1899 and 1900, this volume was Charles Ebbets' single most important record of the club's finances.

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Blog Kiosk: 1/13/2104 - Dodger Links - Kapler, Puig and a 19th Century Dodger Ledger

You wouldn't know from just looking at the cover, but the book featured above holds some fascinating historical information about the Brooklyn Dodgers.  It is the Brooklyn Dodgers official ledger (penned by Charles Ebbets) showing the teams day-to-day financial operations from April 1899 to December 1900.  Per Robert Lifason at REA Blog (BTW, this item will be on auction at REA this coming April):

This book is a treasure trove of financial information. All incoming funds and outgoing funds of the club are recorded. Included are the exact attendance records for Brooklyn’s games, with gate receipts broken down by seat prices. Also recorded are all of the concession sales, including peanuts, refreshments, and scorecards. Included on the expenditure side are both player and employee salaries ( team owner Charles Ebbets’ salary is also recorded numerous times, including in his own hand), as well as the cost for general repair and maintenance of Washington Park, equipment (balls, bats, uniforms, etc.), team stationery, newspaper advertising, a subscription to the Sporting News, and, of course, peanuts (150 pounds of peanuts cost $7.75 in 1900). In short, virtually all financial information relating to the business of the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1899 and 1900, there is no doubt this volume was Charles Ebbets’ single most important document of financial records of the club. It was literally the heart and soul of the business of The Brooklyn Base Ball Club.

Wow!  Go to Rob's post detailing it even more. 

Below are some more links to check out:

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Mind matters: Gabe Kapler on changes to Winter Development Program."

“I think in the past, guys have had opportunity to display their athletic prowess,” Kapler said in a conference call with reporters today. “We have leaned against that this year, in favor of creating a more mentally inviting environment. We wanted our players to stay on their offseason programs … and not ramp up in the middle of winter to impress physically. Rather, we wanted them to be open-minded and flexible and nimble of thought.

• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Dodgers retain all six minor league managers for 2015."
• Panini's 2014 Elite Extra Edition Baseball set officially comes out tomorrow, so they shared some preview picks on their blog.  Check those out here.  Below are Dodger cards of Mike Piazza and pitching prospect John Richy.

• With five Dodger players expected to file for arbitration Eric Stephen at True Blue LA writes, "Dodgers last decade in salary arbitration." 
• What a lucky kid.  Via Yasiel Puig's instagram, he provided free private hitting lessons to a kid:

 

My #job for the day my turn to give back and give a free private lesson. Who will be next? #mlb #nextgeneration #littleleaguer #fundamentals practice makes perfect

A video posted by @yasielpuig (@yasielpuig) on Jan 12, 2015 at 2:55pm PST

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