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Baseball treasures lurk within AOK May 22 auction

Sheila Gibson Stoodley
Sheila Gibson Stoodley
A century of baseball in three baseball cards (left to right): a 1911 Christy Matthewson T201 Mecca cigarettes card; a 1954 Jackie Robinson #10 Topps card; and a 2011 Mike Trout Bowman rookie card (RC) #101. All appear in AOK Auctions’s May 22 sale.
A century of baseball in three baseball cards (left to right): A 1954 Jackie Robinson #10 Topps card; a 1911 Christy Matthewson T201 Mecca cigarettes card; and a 2011 Mike Trout Bowman rookie card (RC) #101. All appear in AOK Auctions’s May 22 sale.

DAMASCUS, Va. – Sometimes, a whole tranche of treasures unexpectedly appears within the lineup of a larger auction. Such is the case with AOK Auction Gallery‘s May 22 sale featuring the Estate of Kelli Martin. Nesting within it is a head-turning selection of scarce baseball memorabilia–autographs, balls, baseball cards, and ephemera. Some pieces are modern, but many are early or vintage. The auction starts at 10 am Eastern time, with absentee and Internet live bidding available through LiveAuctioneers.

Leading the collection of baseball memorabilia, which comes from a separate estate, is a pair of autograph books containing signatures of baseball superstars, including Hall of Famers. AOK is offering these as separate consecutive lots: 213 and 214.

Autograph book containing signatures of more than 60 baseball players, estimated at $8,000-$15,000
Autograph book containing signatures of more than 60 baseball players, estimated at $8,000-$15,000

One of the books contains more than 60 autographs, including those of Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Whitey Ford, Ernie Banks, and Cal Ripken Jr. The second book contains 35 signatures, including Stan Musial, Jock Conlan, and Red Grange. Each book carries an estimate of $8,000-$15,000.

Postcard signed by Babe Ruth, estimated at $12,000-$18,000
Postcard signed by Babe Ruth, estimated at $12,000-$18,000

Also of note is a Babe Ruth-autographed postcard from Deckelmeier’s, an establishment in Greenwood Lake, New York. The postcard has been authenticated by PSA/DNA and carries a pre-sale estimate of $12,000-$18,000.

1934 check that Ty Cobb signed “Tyrus Cobb,” estimated at $6,000-$9,000
1934 check that Ty Cobb signed “Tyrus Cobb,” estimated at $6,000-$9,000

The collection up for sale also features a July 11, 1934 check drawn on the Bank of California, written and signed by baseball legend Ty Cobb. It’s unusual in that the immortal Georgia Peach signed it with his full name: Tyrus R. Cobb. The check is PSA/DNA certified and PSA-graded 9, and is expected to reach $6,000-$9,000.

It also contains a strong selection of baseball cards from across the decades. In fact, an astute and persistent bidder could pick up a trio of choice cards that span a century of the game. The lots on offer include a 1911 Christy Matthewson T201 Mecca cigarettes card; a 1954 Jackie Robinson #10 Topps card; and a 2011 Mike Trout Bowman rookie card (RC) #101. All three baseball cards could sell for as much as $5,000 apiece.

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