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Lot # 1095: 1976 Thurman Munson and Johnny Bench Photo with President Gerald Ford (ex-Munson Collection)

Starting Bid: $200.00

Bids: 5 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "2023 Fall Classic",
which ran from 10/29/2023 7:00 PM to
11/18/2023 10:00 PM



Displayed is a color photograph taken at the 1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Philadelphia of United States President Gerald Ford flanked by the game's starting catchers: Thurman Munson of the New York Yankees for the American League and Johnny Bench of the Cincinnati Reds for the National League. The game was played at Veterans Stadium on July 13th before 63,974, and the National League won, 7-1. Because Philadelphia was the site of the U.S. Continental Congress and the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the "City of Brotherly Love" was chosen as the site as the Major League All-Star Game, the NBA All-Star Game, the NHL All-Star Game and as the host city for the NCAA Men's Final Four Basketball Championship as part of the United States Bicentennial celebration. Hall of Famers chosen for that season's All-Star team: American League - Rod Carew, George Brett, Catfish Hunter, Rollie Fingers, Goose Gossage, Carlton Fisk, and Carl Yastrzemski. National League - Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tom Seaver, Mike Schmidt, and Tony Perez. Darrell Johnson, of the Boston Red Sox, managed the American League and Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson, of the Cincinnati Reds, skippered the National League. Randy Jones, of the San Diego Padres took the win, and amazing Detroit Tigers rookie Mark Fidrych took the loss. President Ford, a former star college athlete, threw out the first pitch. Ford was an outstanding center, linebacker and long snapper on two University of Michigan National Champion football squads, and he was selected in 1934 for the Shriner's East West Shrine Game, played on Jan.1, 1935. He had several pro football offers. Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn is pictured to Bench's left and then all-time MLB homer king Hank Aaron is shown to Munson's right. The photo size is 18.5x13", matted and framed to 24x17.5". The photograph is in excellent condition, and it comes from the personal collection of Thurman Munson, as a stamp in the lower right corner attests.

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