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Lot # 12: Circa 1934 Autograph Album Signed by Every American League Team - Collected by Mrs. Rommel (160+ Signatures)

Starting Bid: $1,000.00

Bids: 23 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "2019 Spring Classic",
which ran from 5/7/2019 10:00 AM to
6/7/2019 10:00 PM



From circa 1934 is this incredible autograph book completely collected by Mrs. Eddie Rommel. Consisting of 160+ authentic signatures, this book features all of the American League teams and many of the stars are included. 1) New York Yankees (22): Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri, Gomez, Chapman, Fletcher, Rolfe, Taylor and more. 2) Cleveland Indians (18): Walter Johnson, Moe Berg, Sam Rice and more. 3) Philadelphia A's (24): Jimmie Foxx, Connie Mack, Eddie Rommel and more. 4) St. Louis Browns (26): Rogers Hornsby and more. 5) Detroit Tigers (14): Hank Greenberg, Goose Goslin and more. 6) Boston Red Sox (26): Grove, Harris, Ferrell. 7) White Sox (17): Al Simmons, Luke Appling and more. 8) Washington Senators (15): Heinie Manush, Altrock and more. Some non-baseball signatures are noticed in the back but they do not affect the overall quality of this album. Some water damage, mostly on covers, is present but the most important pages are stain free. Not to mention a beautiful page with adjacent Ruth and Gehrig signatures! The album's first page is torn and has some stamped signatures of Detroit players such as Hank Greenberg and Pete Fox, but immediately starts with authentic signatures on the reverse.

 

Ed Rommel had the unusual distinction of being a top-flight Major League pitcher, for the Philadelphia A’s (1920-1932), and then becoming a successful American League umpire (1938-1959). What a baseball life! What a great situation for him as a collector! Rommel, regarded as the father of the modern knuckleball, won 171 games, twice led the American League in wins, and pitched in a World Series. As an umpire, he took part in two World series, becoming only the third man to both play and umpire in the World Series. In between his long stints as a Big League pitcher and umpire, Rommel spent several years as a major league coach, a season as a minor league manager, and two years as a minor league umpire. Thus, Rommel was around baseball almost continually for forty years, and his long playing and umpiring careers gave him tremendous access to players and managers. As a collector, Rommel knew baseball personages from the early days of baseball through players who debuted in the 1950s and played into the 1970s. Thus, Rommel’s likeable personality and baseball connections meant that he could obtain practically any autograph or photo he desired. Thus, from Cobb and Hornsby and Home Run Baker; from Connie Mack, Ruth, Gehrig, and Foxx; from Mantle, Ted Williams, and Jackie Robinson, Ed Rommel obtained great autographs on baseballs and photos from players and managers who were only too happy to oblige their friend. A wonderful, unique find.

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