In the early 1950's Major League Baseball ruled the minds and hearts of sports fans. One particular teenager during the era, Dorothy Stockbridge of Sarasota, Florida, was fortunate enough to live near the sites where several teams, including the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals held spring training. Her family's celery farm served the area and many of the players were customers, including the great Ted Williams. Dorothy built a massive autograph collection from the players of the era at spring training, including Williams, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Casey Stengel, Stan Musial and countless others. She was an avid fan and kept meticulous notes on the players, including what kind of cars they drove. Born in 1938, Dorothy's letter-to-the-editor as a 13-year-old praising the underappreciated skills of Red Sox outfielder Dom DiMaggio was published in the Sarasota paper. Dorothy's spunk and investigative skills served her well later in life, as she became a journalist for the Tampa Tribune and other publications. This extensive collection was recently discovered by the family and is proudly presented here, fresh to the hobby, after over 70 years. Each of the cut signatures included in this collection were carefully preserved, hundreds in total, each uniform in size. We have taken many of the key signatures, which appear to have been acquired in the very early 1950s, and had then authenticated and encapsulated by PSA/DNA. The remaining signatures have been authenticated by James Spence Authentication and will carry auction LOAs.

Incredible grouping of autographed cuts, each fairly uniform in size, as amassed in the early 1950s by Dorothy Stockbridge, a testament to her diligence and persistence. The overwhelming majority of these cuts were obtained in person during spring training, though there is some evidence that some were acquired by mail. Stockbridge took detailed notes about individual players, including information about their vehicles, license plate numbers, even in some cases family members' names - anything to help in her quest to meet players and acquire their signatures. While we have removed most of the keys to be sold individually in this auction, this collection is packed with regional favorites, minor stars, and tough signatures.  An incredible collection of 354 autographs. Auction LOA from James Spence Authentication.

A list of signatures includes: Mickey Owen, Bob Wiesler, Karl Olson, Dick Fowler, Alex Kellner, Bill Skowron, Al Sima, Pete Runnels, Ken Wood, Walt Masterson, Les Peden, Bobby Hogue, Chuck Stobbs, Dick Littlefield, Jim Sucheki, Vic Wertz, Frank House, Frank Bolling, Dick Kryhoski, Sonny Dixon, Don Lenhardt, Clarence Marshall, Sibby Sisti, Dick Starr, Harley Grossman, Randy Gumpert, Clyde Kluttz, Mickey Vernon, Lou Sleater, Mickey Grasso, Ed Watkins, Steve Bilko, Tom Harmon, Herb Gorman, Dizzy Trout, Vern Bickford, Herm Wehmeier, Babe Elliott, Karl Drews, Jim Konstanty, Willie Jones, Benny Bengough, Cy Perkins, Nippy Jones, Tom Casagrande, Dick Sisler, Larry Miggins, Virgil Stallcup, Wilmer Mizell, Vern Benson, John Riddle, Bob Stephens, Tom Glaviano, Cliff Chambers, Jay Van Noy, Ralph Beard, Del Rice, Ted Kluszewski, Gus Bell, Rocky Bridges, Bud Podbielan, Ed Bailey,  Bobby Adams, Billy Hitchcock, John Baumgartner, Johnny Bucha, Bob Nieman, Mickey Harris, Birdie Tebbetts, Barney McCloskey, Sam Chapman, Merril Combs, Lou Brissie, Sam Miele, Ray Scarborough, Ed Lopat, Wally Hood, Paul Hinrichs, Art Mazmanian, Fenton Mole, Bob Keegan, Jerry Coleman, Bob Wisler, Bobby Shantz, Cass Michaels, Eddie Joost, Walt Kellner, Sherry Robertson, Ed Burtosky, Tex Hoyle, Arnie Portocarerro, Pete Suder, Billy Loes, Bob Morgan, Del Wilbur, Gus Niarhos, Sam White, Dick Gernert, Ted Lepcio, Billy Goodman, Milt Bolling, Jimmy Piersall, Hoot Evers, George Susce, Paul Schreiber, Floyd Baker, Ed Baker, Ben Flowers, Harry Taylor, Chuck Wilson, Bob Gillespie, Jack Hartfield, Jim Busby, Ed Yost, Spec Shea, Gil Coan, Mel Hoderlein, Gene Verble, George Myatt, Joe Adcock, Ebba St. Claire, Walker Cooper, Sam Dente, Harry Dorish, Vern Stephens, Bob Scherbarth, Ferris Fain, Tom Wright, Charley Schanz, Lou Stringer, Oscar Melilla, Jim Atkins, Bob DiPietro, Johnny Lipon, Al Richter, Dave Jolly, Clyde Vollmer, Bill Evans, George Copland, Al Zarilla, Cliff Coggin, Ralph Brickner, Stan McWilliams, Bill Kennedy, Hal Buckwalter, Faye Throneberry, Hayward Sullivan, Ken Holcomb, Rollie Schuster, Al Evans, Dick Brodowski, Al Cicotte, Leo Cristante, Gene Stephens, Earl Johnson, Ray Herbert, Doc Daugherty, Art McConnell, Paul Campbell, Cliff Mapes, Al Garbowski, Paul Foytack, Dave Hand, Russ Sullivan, Rick Ferrell (HOF), Al Federoff, Don Lund, Pat Sullivan, Fred Hatfield, Dick Marlowe, Matt Batts, Dave Madison, Jim Deshong, Johnny Pesky, Walt Dropo, Bill Wright, Jerry Priddy, Bob Swift, Ed Kazak, Billy Johnson, Joe Astroth, Don Holloway, Mel Parnell, Ellis Kinder, Tom Herrin, Russ Kemmerer, Bob Consolo, Bob Chipman, Frank Smith, Paul Calvert, Eddie Lake, Johnny Groth, Gil McDougald, Hank Bauer, Don Bollweg, Frank Verdi, Kal Segrist, Loren Babe, Johnny Mize (HOF), Ewell Blackwell, Irv Noren, Jim McDonald, Joe Collins, Johnny Sain, Harry Schaeffer, Tom Gorman, Jim Brideweser, Bob Cerv, Bill Miller, Andy Carey, Willard Marshall, Bobby Thomson, Jim Hearn, Roger Bowman, Clint Hartung, Don Mueller, Monte Kennedy, George Spencer, Monte Irvin (HOF), Jimmy Bloodworth, Paul Stuffel, Connie Ryan, Stan Lopata, Johnny Wyrostek, Preacher Roe, Don Thompson, Ron Negray, Don Zimmer, George Shuba, Ray McMillan, Alex Grammas, Hobie Landrith, Ford Garrison, Ed Roebuck, Charlie Maxwell, Marv Grissom, Al Van Alstyne, Bill Werle, Hal Brown, Al Curtis, Hersh Freeman, Ike Delock, Sid Hudson, Willard Nixon, Bing Miller, Joe Haynes, Bob Porterfield, Bob Usher, Jack Parks, Tommy Holmes, Cookie Lavagetto, Chuck Tanner, Harry Hanebrink, Jack Daniels, Bill Wilson, Jack Dittmer, Andy Pafko, Alex Grammas, Johnny Logan, Bill Klaus, Sid Gordon, George Crowe, Bill Bruton, Jim Hughes, Russ Meyer, Clem Labine, Glenn Mickens, Joe Black, Bob Milliken, Johnny Podres, Roy Hartsfield, Solly Hemus, Al Papai, Al Brazle, Art Passarella (umpire), Bill Grieve (umpire), Augie Guglielmo (umpire), Bill Jackowski (umpire), Bill Summers (umpire), Grover Froese (umpire), Charlie Berry (umpire), Augie Donatelli (umpire), Jim Duffy (umpire), Buddy Rosar, Dave Ferriss, Vernon Kennedy, Ben Chapman, Luke Sewell, Johnny Stevens, Hank Soar (umpire), Harry Byrd, Joe Coleman, Gus Mills, Earle Brucker, Niles Jordan, Bubba Church, Hank Edwards, Bob Addis, Bud Byerly, Floyd Merriman, Rudy Minarcin, Frank Hiller, Joe Nuxhall, Ken Raffensberger, Harry Perkowski, Wally Post, Bob Borkowski, Johnny Temple, Eddie Pellagrini, Grady Hatton, Hank Foiles, Jim Greengrass, Andy Seminick, Ed Erautt, Art Wilson, W