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(LOT 48)
Extremely Scarce 1949 Complete PSA Graded 1949 Bowman PCL Set w/an Incredible 5.861 Weighted G.P.A.
Many collectors are not even aware of the existence of the ultra-scarce 1949 Bowman PCL 36-subject set that was a secondary issued 1949 Bowman compilation. After the outstanding success of issuing their inaugural 1948 Black & White gathering, the now popular Bowman Gum Co. issued a large 240-card set in 1949, now utilizing colorful player images. Hobbyists are all too familiar with this admired 1949 issue, but the extremely rare 36-card PCL secondary set only issued on the West Coast typically eludes even the most sophisticated post-war collector. Many hobbyists believe these obscure cards were not even issued in Bowman Wax Packs, substantiating their extensive scarcity. No wonder the PSA Current Set Registry only includes 4 reported sets, and with that in mind, presented here is a remarkable fifth completed 36-card set depicting a sensational 5.861 Weighted G.P.A! Substantiating the set's unquestionable obscurity is the fact that PSA has only encapsulated 409 examples at the time this was written, with this single offering accounting for nearly 10% of the total graded specimens.

Included are 5 "NM-7's", 23 "EX/MT-6's", 6 "EX-5's", and only 2 "VG/EX-4's". While currently not registered on the illustrious PSA Registry, its stellar 5.861 G.P.A. places it as the third finest set extant, and we would expect any meticulous post-war type card enthusiast to jump at the opportunity to seize this remarkable compilation! Listed below are all 36 cards in checklist# order along with their respective PSA grades: #1-Lee Anthony (5); #2-George Metkovich (6); #3-Ralph Hodgin (6); #4-George Woods (6); #5-Xavier Rescigno (7); #6-Mickey Grasso (6); #7-Johnny Rucker (6); #8-Jack Brewer (6); #9-D.Dallessandro (6); #10-Charlie Gassaway (6); #11-Tony Freitas (7); #12-Gordon Maltzberger (6); #13-John Jensen (7); #14-Joyner White (7); #15-Harvey Storey (6); #16-Dick Lajeski (6); #17-Albie Glossop (6); #18-Bill Raimondi (6); #19-Ken Holcombe (6); #20-Don Ross (5); #21-Pete Coscarart (6); #22-Tony York (6); #23-Jake Mooty (7); #24-Charles Adams (6); #25-Les Scarsella (6); #26-Joe Marty (6); #27-Frank Kelleher (6); #28-Lee Handley (6); #29-Herman Besse (6); #30-John Lazor (6); #31-Eddie Malone (5); #32-Maurice Van Robays (5); #33-Jim Tabor (5); #34-Gene Handley (5); #35-Tom Seats (4); #36-Ora Burnett (4). assigning him to play with the renowned Montreal Royals.

After a single season with Montreal, the Pirates would eventually select Clemente in the rookie draft, signing the star right-fielder on November 22, 1954. Clemente would capture a championship with the 1954/'55 Cangrejeros club, and made his Major League debut with Pittsburgh on April 17, 1955. Although his rookie season would see the future Cooperstown inductee only bat .255, his combined hitting, fielding and base running skills excited the Pittsburgh fans who certainly appreciated his flashes of overall brilliance. Clemente continued playing Puerto Rican Winter League baseball and in the 1955/'56 season, was joined by fellow future Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda on the Cangrejeros club; a season in which Clemente would lead the league with a staggering .396 batting average! It is no secret that in our illustrious hobby, collectors actively seek any related Clemente artifacts tied to his rookie playing days with one of his most coveted mementos with respect to both desirability and value a high-grade 1955 Topps Rookie card. Substantiating that notion is the summer 2015 sale of a PSA Mint 9 specimen for the incomprehensible sum of $310,000!

With that said, we at Memory Lane are ultra-proud to present one of the most extraordinary Roberto Clemente rookie-era artifacts extant, a spectacular 1955 Cangrejeros de Santurce team signed baseball that includes 23 signatures including Roberto Clemente's bold blue ink script as well as fellow Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda! Amazing as it may seem, this seemingly priceless treasure has been kept in outstanding condition since it still resides in its original Wilson issue box. Fully authenticated by PSA, the blue ink signatures have been graded "NM/MT-8" with a PSA "NM-7" overall grade (signature & baseball). The tightly red-stitched baseball has been graded a "6", revealing mild toning along with some modest yellowing along the stitches. Roberto Clemente's miraculous signature on this 1955 horsehide sphere resides directly beneath the black "Wilson" stamp on the side/east panel with Orlando Cepeda's autograph situated on the sweet spot near the upper red stitching.

Interestingly enough, Cepeda has signed the ball utilizing his extremely rare Puerto Rican name "Peruchin Cepeda", a name handed down to him directly from his father. While Cepeda was an incredible power-hitting machine for the Giants and Cardinals and easily merits his hall of Fame stature, it is Clemente's hallowed script that steals the show! Roberto Clemente's legendary status amongst the Hispanic baseball community is unquestionably synonymous with the magnitude of Jackie Robinson's legacy to all African Americans. Clemente's accomplishments include a .317 lifetime batting average, 3,000 career hits, the 1966 regular season MVP award, four batting titles, 12 consecutive gold glove awards, and if that isn't enough, in 1971 he won the World Series MVP when he dominated the Baltimore Orioles via his stellar hitting and fielding prowess.

Yet, as is the case with the immortal Lou Gehrig, he will always be best remembered for his tragic death when, after the 1972 season, his plane crashed carrying supplies to assist earthquake victims in Nicaragua. For these reasons, Clemente eclectic collectibles are highly sought after by advanced enthusiasts, and we cannot imagine a more desirable keepsake than this extremely rare Puerto Rican signed baseball from his 1955 Major League rookie season. To reiterate, with high-grade Clemente rookie cards now achieving stratospheric price tags, we can only begin to estimate the ultimate value of a virtually unique signed 1955 Puerto Rican League "rookie era" baseball that miraculously includes its original box and unquestionably belongs in one of the finest world-class autograph gatherings! - Full PSA/DNA LOA

MIN BID $2,500
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