Rittgers figures peaked in popularity during the early 1940s. However, three of these 13 statues are truly one of a kind, as three baseball figures (two arguing players and an umpire) are distinguished by the year 1939 carved into the backs of their legs. Finding Rittgers characters prior to 1941 is extremely rare as these may have been prototypes or part of a special collection meant to be sold at the opening of the Hall of Fame Museum in Cooperstown. The other items in this lot are from the 1940s. The Lafayette Rittgers Studio of Chicago was responsible for manufacturing these compelling works, with their comically expressive faces.