Rare 1941 Homestead Grays Negro League championship trophy, in the form of a baseball figural radio, attributed to Hall of Fame pitcher Ray Brown. The history of this piece is well known to us because it was originally discovered by the parents of Josh Evans, founder of Lelands. Josh’s parents, who were antique dealers, purchased it during the early 1970s while on a buying trip in Maine. Although there is no accompanying documentation from Ray Brown or the Brown family, the radio originally came with a second trophy presented to Ray Brown (for his performance in an exhibition game against the New York Yankees); hence its “attributed to” designation. Josh later sold the trophy to pioneering Negro League collector Elvin Rawlins and it passed through several collector’s hands over the years until once again returning home now to Lelands.  

The radio, which is fashioned to resemble an “Official League Ball,” complete with painted laces, features speakers at the top and base. Knobs controlling the tuning and volume are located, respectively, on each side. The metal band around the black Bakelite base is engraved “HO Grays/Champs/1941.” A die-cut metallic plate, reading “Trophy,” which once sat above the top speaker, is no longer present. The radio displays heavy wear, including cracks, crazing, and tape repair to the main seam, The original electrical cord is badly torn and frayed, and the radio is not operational. In Fair condition overall.