Lot # 221: 1973 signed program w/Cool Papa Bell Rod Carew and more HOFers and stars

Starting Bid: $50.00

Bids: 0 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed


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Item was in Auction "Inaugural Auction",
which ran from 10/5/2012 4:00 PM to
10/28/2012 3:27 AM



This is a unique and extraordinary item one of those keepsakes that reminds us that sports memorabilia collecting is filled with mysteries.At its core the piece is a Wrigley Field game program for a Cubs/Dodgers game in 1973. A simple 4-panel program with a color illustration of a Cubs catcher (ostensibly Randy Hundley) for an August 17 1973 game (which the Cubs won 5-1 behind the pitching of Bill Bonham and a three-run HR by HOFer Billy Williams).What makes the program extraordinary and improbable are the signatures on it not one of which had anything whatsoever to do with the 1973 Chicago Cubs or Los Angeles Dodgers from what we can determine.First comes the inscription. Dated August 24 1973 (a week after the game that the program is for) the inscription comes from Hall of Famer James "Cool Papa" Bell and reads simply "To Mr. Dave Hurely Best Wishes- Sincerely - James "Cool Papa" Bell." Next there are a number of seemingly unrelated but very interesting signatures. Included on this scorecard are signatures of Maury Wills Minnie Minoso Rod Carew (HOF) Jim Lemon Wally Post Harmon Killebrew (HOF) Eddie Sawyer (who signed both the front and back of the scorecard) Roy Sievers Johnny Logan and Frank Sullivan.Lastly there is a signature of Satchell Paige (HOF) that has been deemed by James Spence Authentication to be a clubhouse signature likely secretarial.The signatures appear in various shades of blue red and black ballpoint pen and marker. Clearly the signatures were obtained at different times. But why would the owner have chosen this simple program from a relatively obscure and meaningless game in 1973 as the vehicle to collect a

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