Memory Lane Inc. | The Leader in Vintage Sports Cards & Collectibles
Including 2 Lou Gehrig's; Jimmie Foxx; 3 Joe DiMaggio's; 2 Lefty Gomez's; Ted Williams; Hugh Duffy; 2 Hank Greenberg's; Lefty Grove, etc. JSA/LOA
The 20th Anniversary Auction
Over the past several decades, Memory Lane has handled some of the most significant autographed collectibles, offering scripted artifacts of Ruth, Gehrig, Mathewson, Williams, DiMaggio, Cobb and so more of our National Pastime's greatest players. Presented here just happens to be one of the most extraordinary signed mementos we have ever come across, a 1939 First Edition publication of Mickey Cochrane's ultra-popular "Baseball: A Fan's Game" book that includes a miraculous 220 autographs. Of even greater importance, 34 of those signatures just happen to represent Cooperstown Inductees, with 2 Lou Gehrig autographs affixed to back-to-back photo pages as well as a brilliant Jimmie Foxx scripted photo page paving the way for this "one of a kind' signed 1939 periodical! Published by FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY in May 1939, it is regarded by many historians as one of the most formidable baseball books ever written, with Mickey Cochrane's "DEDICATION" page reading as follows: "To the Fans whose unfailing support has done so much to make baseball the tremendously popular game it is, this book is affectionately and gratefully dedicated, with the wish that it may give them just one moment of pleasure in repayment for their loyalty and the many thrills they provided me."
Even renowned sportswriter John Kiernan commences his forward by stating "Frankly, this is the best book on baseball that I ever read..." He moves on to elaborate that while it is a significantly instructive novel and "honest autobiography" of a man whose personality and career have been admired by millions, it will inspire so many young readers who will truly profit by the example set by the great Mickey Cochrane. Even the immortal Connie Mack always insisted that while Cochrane was not only the finest catcher he ever saw, but the foremost strategist as well, with his overall baseball knowledge and/or prowess shing forth like a beacon of light throughout this classic offering.
That said, consider that this amazing artifact depicts some 220 autographs of players who graced an MLB diamond from the late 1930's and 1940's, and you arguably are looking at the most significant pre-war book extant. Even more incredible is that virtually all of the signatures have been scripted in period-style black fountain pen in the 1939-era or shortly after the book was released to the general public. The luster of that grand period is also accentuated by Cooperstown officially opening its doors to the public in 1939, with some of our National Pastime's greatest stars celebrating their inaugural induction (Ruth, Cobb, Wagner, Johnson, Young, Sisler, Speaker, Alexander, etc.).
Of utmost importance are the two aforementioned Lou Gehrig signatures affixed to "back-to-back" photo pages that stand as near-impossible "Iron Horse" scripts. We cannot overemphasize the significance of finding any Lou Gehrig autograph from 1939, let alone TWO scripts, due to the fact that his tragic ALS disease was quickly taking its toll on many of his motor functions including the simple task of signing an autograph. On April 30, 1939, Gehrig would go hitless against the Washington Senators in a 3-2 Yankee loss.
This would ultimately be a momentous day for Lou because it marked his 2,130th consecutive game and his last. After a day off to travel to Detroit, Gehrig would tell manager Joe McCarthy to remove him from the line-up card on May 2, 1939, now helplessly watching the game from Briggs Stadium's dugout and never again playing in an official MLB game. To reiterate, you would have a better chance of "finding a needle in a haystack" than locating any Lou Gehrig 1939 autograph since most of his signatures from 1939-1941 were signed by his wife Eleanor.
Some of the additional noteworthy scripts include Jimmie Foxx (single signed photo page), "Hammerin Hank" Greenberg, Joe DiMaggio (3), Hugh Duffy, Lefty Grove, Ted Williams, Lefty Gomez (2), Connie Mack, the ultra-popular spy Moe Berg, Jimmie Dykes, Mule Haas, the ever-elusive Cincinnati catcher Willard Hershberger (who tragically committed suicide on August 3, 1940 at the tender age of 30) and so many more of baseball's greatest stars from that by-gone era The book itself is in fine condition, revealing approximate "VG-EX" aesthetics as well as including the original/critical dust jacket.
All of the interior pages including the imposing photos are intact, exhibiting superb eye appeal and no obtrusive flaws. While we have been able to identify most of the 220 autographs, there are a handful of signatures that we were unable to decipher. The book was basically signed in three major areas; the front 14 pages, the interior photos and the final 15 pages.
Listed below are a majority of the autographs portrayed in each of those segments with this breathtaking offering truly residing as one of the most extraordinary baseball books on the planet, courtesy of its seemingly countless array of awe-inspiring fountain pen signatures! Recognizable signatures scripted within the first 14 pages are as follows (there are a handful of autographs we could not identify): Oral Hildebrand, Red Ruffing/HOF, Buddy Rosar, Spud Chandler, Lefty Gomez/HOF, Red Rolfe, Tom Henrich, Joe DiMaggio/HOF, Earl Combs/HOF, Art Jorgens, Johnny Murphy, John Schulte, Arthur Fletcher, Paul Schreiber, Marius Russo, Monte Pearson (clubhouse), Joe Gordon/HOF, Babe Dahlgren, Steve Sundra, Doc Painter, Bill Knickerbocker, Charlie Keller, Jimmy Sullivan, Lou Gehrig (clubhouse), Frank Crosetti, Bump Hadley, George Selkirk, Atley Donald (clubhouse), Bill Dickey/HOF, Bill McKechnie/HOF, Jimmie Wilson, Al Simmons/HOF, Lew Riggs, Ival Goodman, Bill Myers, Whitey Moore, Willard Hershberger, Gene Thompson, Wally Berger, Milt Shoffner, Ernie Lombardi/HOF, Frenchy Bordagaray, Harry Craft, Henry Johnson, Bill Werber, Nino Bongiovanni, Dick West, Les Scarsella, John Niggeling, Bucky Walters, Lee Gamble, Frank McCormick, Eddie Joost, Harry Geisel, Cal Hubbard/HOF (Ump), Steve Basil, George Pipgras, Bill Summers (Ump), Red Ormsby, Bill Grieve, John Quinn, Joe Rue, Bill McGowan/HOF (Ump), Earle Brucker, Lena Blackburne, Dario Lodigiani, Les McCrabb, Dick Siebert, Wally Moses, Frank Hayes, Earle Mack, Sam Chapman, Bill Nagel, Fred Chapman, Sam Page, Chubby Dean, Charlie Berry, George Caster, Lynn Nelson, Jimmy Bloodworth, Rick Ferrell/HOF, Bucky Harris/HOF, Charley Gelbert, Johnny Welaj, Jake Early, Taft Wright, Dutch Leonard, Sam West, Buddy Myer, Ossie Bluege, Joe Krakauskas, Mickey Vernon, Mike Martin, George Case, Alex Carrasquel, Pete Appleton, Robert Estabella, Cecil Travis, Buddy Lewis, Al Pitko, Lou Herman, Joe Haynes, Walt Masterson, etc.
Of utmost significance, full-page signed images are as follows with a remarkable "back-to-back" photos signed by none other than the immortal Lou Gehrig: Lefty Grove/HOF, Tommy Bridges, Bob Feller/HOF, Lefty Gomez/HOF, Jimmie Foxx/HOF, Mule Haas, Hank Greenberg/HOF, Joe DiMaggio/HOF, Connie Mack-1939/HOF, Joe McCarthy-1939/HOF, Joe DiMaggio/HOF, 2 Lou Gehrig's/HOF (2 Gehrig autos on back-to-back pages), Joe DiMaggio/HOF, Chas Gehringer/HOF, Rollie Hemsley, Jimmie Dykes.
Identifiable signatures appearing on the last 15 pages are as follows: Jim Tabor, John Peacock, Fritz Ostermueller, Lefty Lefebvre, Bosey Berger, Tom Carey, Joe Heving, Tom Daly, Charles Wagner, Roger Cramer, Eldon Auker, Bobby Doerr/HOF, Danny Galehouse, Joe Vosmik, Joe Cronin/HOF, Ted Williams/HOF, Hal Finney, Moe Berg, Leo Donnenkamp, Hugh Duffy/HOF, Lefty Weisman, Hal Trosky, Willis Hudlin, Bruce Campbell, Oscar Vitt, Roy Weatherly, Ken Keltner, Skeeter Webb, Frank Pytlak, Oscar Grimes, Jeff Heath, Odell Hale, Mel Harder, Luke Sewell, Joe Dobson, Al Milnar, Paul Sullivan, John Broaca, Harry Eisenstat, Floyd Stromme, Marvin Owen, Jack Hayes, Eric McNair, Gee Walker, Ted Lyons/HOF, Johnnie Marcum, Harry Boyles, John Rigney, Muddy Ruel, Rip Radcliff, Mike Tresh, Tony Rensa, Thornton Lee, Clint Brown, Eddie Smith, Luke Appling/HOF, Monte Stratton, Larry Rosenthal, Bill Dietrich, Mike Kreevich, Billy Webb, Dizzy Trout, Jim Walkup, Al Benton, Slick Coffman, Bing Miller, Bo Bell, Pete Fox, Roy Cullenbine, Bill Rogell, Merv Shea, Birdie Tebbetts, Gordon Hinkle, Red Kress, Earl Averill/HOF, Barney McKosky, Rudy York, Schoolboy Rowe, Hank Greenberg/HOF, Buck Newsom, Bernie McCoy, Denny Carrroll, Myril Hoag, Harland Clift, Fred Haney, John Whitehead, George Gill, Joe Glenn, Joe Grace, George McQuinn, Harry Kimberlin, Vernon Kennedy, Roxie Lawson, John Berardino, Fred Hofmann, Chet Laabs, Don Heffner, Bob Harris, Jack Kramer, Mark Christman, etc.