1947 New York Cubans Signed Team Photo

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1947 New York Cubans Autographed Team Photo

Original large format presentation photograph (10" x 13 ½") of the 1947 New York Cubans. In 1947, the New York Cubans were the Champions of the Negro Leagues, winning the Negro National League pennant and defeating the Cleveland Buckeyes in the Negro World Series. This rare team photo is signed by 21 team members, including Sylvio Garcia, Luis Tiant, Sr., Claro Duany, and future major leaguer Minnie Minoso. Signatures range in grade from "4" to "7" on a scale of "1 to 10". The photograph has imperfections which include creasing and some tearing at the top, but this is still an extremely rare image of one of Negro Leagues' last great Championship teams, with tremendous display value, and including many rare signatures. This signed photograph has all the greater historical significance dating from 1947, the year of Robinson's major league debut, which ironically spelled the beginning of the end for the Negro Leagues. This is a signed photograph of the Champions of an alternate universe, the Negro Leagues, just before being made to "disappear," just as they might on a Twilight Zone episode, with little or nothing to prove that they ever existed. Fortunately, this photograph survives. The signed photo is beautifully framed to dimensions of 18 ½ x 15 inches. LOAs from Mike Gutierrez/GAI and James Spence & Steve Grad/PSA DNA. Reserve $200. Estimate $400/$600.