March 30, 2023: Spring Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/30/2023
Presented is a neat pair of items commemorating the arrival of the transplanted Philadelphia Athletics in the Midwest in 1955, along with a 1954 Oakland Oaks Team Photo. The 1955 Athletics Team Photo is a 16 ¼-by-12 ¾-inch treasure that presents in Fair fashion, jostled only by noticeable toning, a few small tears at the edges and light paper loss at a couple of corners. Most of the listed blemishes would be greatly minimized by a tight matting and framing. A 12-by-5-inch sepia-toned image depicts 29 members of the club above a 5-inch in diameter graphic of the Kansas City A’s Radio Network, the sponsor of the piece. Facsimile autographs of the team members from that inaugural ball club includes the likes of Hall of Famers Lou Boudreau (manager) and Enos Slaughter, along with standouts Vic Power, Gus Zernial and Bobby Shantz, among others. The companion piece is a 16 ¼-by-12 ¾-inch team photo from the club’s second year in Kansas City that presents in Good fashion, marred only by a few small tears at the edges and small creases at a couple of spots on the border, almost all of which would be greatly minimized or even fully concealed by a tight matting and framing. A 12-by-5-inch sepia-toned image depicts 30 members of the club above a 5-inch in diameter graphic of the Kansas City A’s Radio Network, the sponsor of the piece. Facsimile autographs of the team members from that inaugural ball club includes the likes of Hall of Famers Lou Boudreau (manager) and Enos Slaughter, along with standouts Vic Power, Gus Zernial and Bobby Shantz, among others. The final element of the lot is an important piece commemorating the penultimate season in the storied history of the Oakland Oaks in the Pacific Coast League, a season in which the club would win its final PCL Pennant. The 12-by-16-inch artifact - sponsored by the Oakland Tribune - is printed on a light paper stock in a colorized photo depicting 34 team members, including athletic trainers, the manager and coaches. It presents in Fair fashion, with only a number of small tears and creases, primarily at the edges and light paper loss at one small section, much of which could be minimized to a degree by a tight matting and framing. A 13 ½-by-7-inch black-and-white image has spot color of red and blue for the players’ caps, front number and “Oaks” insignia. It depicts 34 members of the club, including a host of players who would later go on to significant careers at the major league level as players, managers or coaches, including manager Chuck Dressen and coach Cookie Lavagetto, plus George Bamberger, Ernie Broglio and Pumpsie Green, among others.
1955-56 Kansas City Athletics Team Photos, Oakland Oaks Photo (3)
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