March 19, 2020: Spring Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/19/2020
To say this is an unusual lot doesn't do it justice: here are six spectacular original paintings of the irascible Alfred E. Neuman invading the world of baseball cards by appearing on iconic pasteboards in blazing full color printed on pristine, never-worn T-shirts. The artwork is as legendary as the baseball Hall of Famers who have been supplanted here by Neuman in all his sartorial splendor. We'll start with the fabled T206 White Border card of Honus Wagner, with Alfred pinch-hitting in the title role, then Babe Ruth gets to play second fiddle with Neuman where The Bambino should be on his 1933 Goudey. The avatar of Mad Magazine steps in for Joe DiMaggio on a 1938 Goudey, behaving in a manner decidedly unlike The Yankee Clipper in a card entitled “Joe Di Neuman.” The postwar victims roll on with Neuman in for Mantle on the Mick’s classic 1951 Bowman Rookie card, then he adds insult to injury by turning up on Mantle’s 1956 Topps card in what can only be described as a mildly R-Rated bit of silliness. The final piece has Neuman sharing one of those “floating head” ovals on Pete Rose’s coveted 1963 Topps Rookie, with Pete still there in the lower left-hand corner and the pesky Alfred subbing for Ken McMullen to grand effect. And that’s your lineup. As noted, the shirts have never been worn by anybody and are in as-issued condition, with blazing, vivid colors almost jumping off the snow-white T-shirts. The shirts are made in Brazil, Size GG, which we believe is around Medium. This is seemingly a collector-generated homage to both baseball cards and the legendary magazine that has done for satire and pen-and-ink artwork what Babe Ruth did for power hitting. Which is to say, this is a home run by any definition.
Alfred E. Neuman of Mad Magazine on Iconic Baseball Cards (6)
Click above for larger image.