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Lot # 376: Amazing Negro & Puerto Rico Photograph Collection with Vintage Willie Mays SP (14)

Starting Bid: $1,500.00

Bids: 1 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "June 2005",
which ran from 5/30/2005 12:00 AM to
6/26/2005 9:00 PM



Marvelousl cache of 14 esoteric photos shows the mutually beneficial relationship between the Negro leagues and Puerto Rican baseball. The standout: an incredible 6 x 8 1/2" image snap of Willie Mays taking a cut in his Santurce uniform circa 1954-55, with a vintage personal inscription on the upper right corner in blue pen, "To Teggy, Best Wishes, Willie Mays, Santurce" -- perhaps the only time he added that team to his signature, which is faded a bit and grades a 6/10. Apparently signed for Santurce teammate, pitcher Teggy Esponosa. Other shots include Roberto Clemente (Mays' Santurce teammate) accepting a trophy in Pittsburgh from a visiting delegation of baseball officials from his native country, Jackie Robinson signing autographs for Puerto Rican fans at Ebbets Field, Casey Stengel greeting young Puerto Rican fans at a Met game at the Polo Grounds, 2 great montages of the '47'-48 and '50-51 ("Campion del Caribe") Santurce Cangrejeros that included Negro leaguers, team shots of Caguas and the New York Cubans (which afforded Puerto Ricans a chance to play ball in the U.S.), team shot of the '42-43 Havana club, postcard featuring the Mayaguez team in a beer ad, a 1956 shot of Clemente in a Caguas uniform with a teammate. Condition of the photos varies but average VG-EX and rarely if ever seen in any State.

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