Search Results: Athletes from Main Street Fine Books & Manuscripts, ABAA

This shortstop debuted with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1921, retiring the following year. ANS, 1p, heavy stock lined 5" X 3" card, n.p., n.y. Near fine. Bold full signature and "Phila. Athletics 1921-22," followed by comment: "Good luck & if you are ever in or near Knox ville come to see me. I have 9 nine Sporting Goods stores.

Under Hamey's management (1961-63), the New York Yankees won two World Championships and three American LEague pennants. Partly-printed ADS, 1p, 6¼" X 3", New York, NY, 1961 October 26. Very good. Check drawn on the Bankers Trust Company, entirely filled out in Hamey's hand to Harry S. Stockwell for $10.50 and boldly signed. Perforated cancellation does not affect signature. Handsome and unusual.

Washington & Jefferson College football star (1932-35), later played guard for the Pittsburgh Americans, Boston Shamrocks and Pittsburgh Pirates. ANS (below which he adds "Skulos") and three-line credentials, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1987 May 10. On the verso, he notes: "I changed the spelling of my name in order to better my chances of getting a teaching and a coaching job back in the 30s." Very good. With original envelope, addressed in Schooles' hand.

All-American fullback with Amos Alonzo Stagg's famed University of Chicago team, and member of the group that beat Princeton 9-0 in their first game in 1921; later a long-time respected coach of the University of Wisconsin's Blugolds basketball team. ANS, 1p, 6" X 6", n.p. [Eau Claire, WI], n.y. [1983 March 11]. Addressed to Richard Laade. Near fine. On pale green stationery, Zorn packs good content into this brief note: "You are going back a long ways. 'Timme, Thomas, and Zorn will wish they had never been born.' Quote from papers in 1921 Chicago 9 Princeton 0. I have an autograph which says, This is the way I look at 99 and this is the way I write signed Amos Alonzo Stagg. He kept going until 102. Many of my team mates are gone. Fritz Crisler the last one Ive heard off...." Boldly penned in black ballpoint.

All-American at University of Detroit, then played with the Chicago Cardinals; elected in 1986 to the College Football Hall of Fame. ALS, 1p, 8½" X 3½", n.p., n.d. Fine. On the verso of a collector's misaddressed letter, Banonis recaps his career. Also, a bold signature, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1990 January 6. Very good. Very, very slight smudge to last couple letters of last name and to date. With original envelope.

The Cornell All-American football guard later coached the University of Cincinnati and at Pennsylvania College; in 1918 he was elected to Congress from New York as a Republican and was reelected 20 times, serving until his death. ALS, 2pp (single leaf), 8½" X 11", "In France" [postmarked Paris], 1918 January 4. Addressed to "Aunt & Auntee." Near fine. Excellent World War One content penned on the evee of his election to Congress, reading in part: "We are leaving for England... after a short time in London, we will start for home. I have seen a great deal since leaving home. We have travelled more than 1000 miles in France by auto & I don't know how far by train... I shall bring pictures of most that we have seen & notes that will explain all that we have seen. Aside from this, we will have lantern slides & moving pictures...." He also notes, "It has been a great & thrilling experience to see the battle fields along the entire front. I never thought so much destruction of homes, happiness & resources… Read More

Well-known Lafayette University football star who played halfback on their 1921 national championship team -- the last living member of that team at his death; later a running back for the Pottsville Maroons and Philadelphia Quakers. ANS, 1p, 5½" X 7", Easton, PA, 1977 May 31. Addressed to Richard C. Laade. Near fine. In response to a plea (also present) from this researcher "attempting to locate a number of Lafayette alumni who have played in the N.F.L.," Marhefka replies boldly in blue ballpoint, in part: "In addition to making necessary corrections, I have added three names of Laf. alumni who were quite prominent in pro football, their names are Leonard Brunner '24 Bull Lowe '19 and John Scott '19...." The researcher's 8½" X 11" query for assistance in locating Lafayette alumni is present, on which Marhefka has inked the names he referred to. With original envelope, addressed in Marhefka's hand and signed again.

This Wichita State University basketball player joined the first-ever U.S. Olympics basketball team, which won the gold medal in Berlin in 1936. ANS, 1p, 5" X 7¼", n.p., 1984 June 13. Addressed to Richard C. Laade. Near fine. "And now a favor for me," writes Ragland to an admirer. "If you have the address of Frank Lubin who played with me on the 1936 Olympic Basketball Team, would you please forward it to me. I know it is in the Los Angeles area...." Boldly penned in black fineline on beige lined paper. Unusual.

This Lafayette College football star later played guard for three seasons with the Frankford Yellow Jackets (their first NFL season, 1924-25) and New York Giants (1925-26). ANS, 1p, 5 3/4" X 7 3/4", Wilkes-Barre, PA, 1977 June 2. Addressed to Richard C. Laade. Near fine. Cordial note to an admirer, noting that "Lafayette College forwarded to me your request for my address," adding "Please note that the correct spelling is BEDNER," and enquiring "May I ask what is this for." Boldly penned and signed in blue ballpoint. With original envelope, partly addressed by Bedner. Rather uncommon.

This American athlete won bronze in the decathlon in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London and earned the same medal in the same event four years later in Helsinki; a film and television career ensued and he appears in "South Pacific" (1958). ANS (initials), 8½" X 11", Charlotte, NC, n.d. [postal cancellation 1 July 1983). Addressed to Richard C. Laade. Near fine. Original folds. On letterhead of his photography studio, Simmons pens a huge but brief note in black fineline to an admirer: "Always willing to help out. Good luck to you in your future 'autographing'." Signed with an enormous "F.S." With original envelope.

Rock Island Rockets football star. On the verso of a heavy stock 5" X 3" card, which Schimmel boldly signs and dates 1983 February 22, is a nice little ANS: "I graduated from Marietta College in 1912. I played as a professional as a Rock Island Rocket during the 1923 and 1929 Seasons. I was freshman baseball coach at Purdue in 1914. I coached High School foot ball basket ball and Base ball in 1916 thru 1924." With original envelope.

This heavyweight boxing contender is famed for proclaiming "I'll moider da bum" before each bout. ANS, 1p, irregularly-trimmed (roughly rectangular) 7½" X 4" sheet, n.p., n.d. [ca. 1957]. Addressed to "Friend Donald." Very good. Several small tape stains at the margins touching upon several words (including the "to" in "Galento"). "I am down in the Everglades, Florida," Galento writes an admirer, "playing the part of a character called 'Beef' in a movie called 'Across the Everglades' produced by the Schulberg Productions, look for it this winter in your local movie house. Keep punching...." "Wind Across the Everglades," a drama set in early Florida, was written, produced and directed by Budd Schulberg and starred Burl Ives, Christopher Plummer, Gypsy Rose Lee and Peter Falk. It was released in 1958, thereby dating this undated piece to approximately 1958. An interesting item written from on location. Uncommon.

Debuting in 1932, this Cleveland Indians catcher also played for the Boston Red Sox, retiring in 1946. ANS, 1p, 4" X 5", n.p., 1973 June 28. Near fine. "I want to thank you for the priviledge of rendering you my autograph. I think it's very gracious of you...."

The Fillmore Flash," Canadian ice hockey star who played left wing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Americans, Brooklyn Americans and Boston Bruins between 1933 and 1944. ANS ("Buzz"), 1p, 5" X 3", n.p., n.y. [1981]. Addressed to Richard. Fine. Cordial note to an admirer: "I feel honored to think you would want my autograph after so many years.

This German soccer star played defender for seven seasons with Cologne and Darmstadt in the 1970s before switching to coaching. Color PS, 4" X 5 3/4", n.p., n.y. Fine. Color glossy head-and-shoulders portrait of a young Gerber during his FC Koln years, signed large and bold in black marker across the bottom. Undated, but circa 1980 vintage. A sharp example.

This midfielder was one of the most successful Icelandic soccer stars ever, and in a lengthy career won the Icelandic championship three times and the Icelandic Cup four times; he debuted with Valur in 1974 (until 1980) and played for a half dozen other teams until 1994 before turning to a second lengthy career as soccer team manager. Color PS, 4" X 5 3/4", n.p., n.y. Fine. Head-and-shoulders closeup of a young Edvaldsson in Fortuna Dusseldorf uniform, signed large and bold in black fineline at lower left.

German soccer star who played defender debuting with 1. FC Nurnberg in 1974, retiring with FC Zurich in 1989. Color PS, 4" X 5 3/4", n.p., n.y. Fine. Full-length informal pose in 1. FC Nurnberg uniform, signed in black fineline across the bottom large, bold and sloppy.

Austrian soccer star considered one of the greatest defenders ever, which he did for Wacker Innsbruck (1974-78), Eintracht Frankfurt (1978-83) and other teams before dying suddenly of heart failure at age 39. Color PS, 4" X 6", n.p., n.y. Fine. Half-length informal portrait as an Eintracht Frankfurt player, signed bold and sloppy across his jersey in black fineline. With original envelope, cancelled in Frankfurt, Germany on 14 September 1982. A superb example signed at the height of his fame. Uncommon.

This German midfielder played eleven seasons with Werder Bremen. Color PS, 2" X 3", n.p., n.y. Fine. Color head-and-shoulders portrait in uniform, signed boldly in blue ballpoint across green jersey. Undated, but printed text on verso notes 1979. A sharp early example.

The Baseball Hall of Famer (elected 1966) played outfield for the Boston Red Sox (1939-42, 1946-60) and was the last major leaguer to bat over .400. Color PS, 8" X 10", n.p., n.y. Fine. Modern high-quality glossy print of an early pose showing Williams half-length in Red Sox uniform and batting pose -- signed large and bold in blue fineline across the light lower portion. Tiny official 1988 Major League Baseball logo sticker affixed at lower left corner. This photo is positioned on a heavy 10½" X 13" walnut-finish bevel-edged wall plaque and held in place via a thick 8½" X 11" slab of clear plexiglass affixed at corners with decorative-headed tacks. Gold plaque at bottom (6 3/4" X 1¼") bears printed caption: "'The Splendid Splinter' / TED WILLIAMS / Hall of Fame 1966." Wonderful presentation.