Auction Item Details
Lot 35
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Lot Number: 35
Description: Unique Scouting Report from the Willie Mays Collection c.1950-72. Tabulated form card with typewritten scouting report for Willie Mays featuring unique perspective as to his ascension from the Negro Leagues to Major League Baseball. Top of the form features typewritten biographical data about Mays with the bottom displaying three reports from scouts George Genovese, Hank De Berry, and Wes Westrum, respectively. Genovese's report is dated Sept. 1950 and rates Mays around 3/4 with "Strong arms and wrists" and comically "has some power". Genovese further notes Mays as a "winning type player." Second scout De Berry raves about Mays, partially using unfortunate language of the period, in a lengthy entry dated May 6-10, 1951 in which he notes, "Sensational negro boy is the outstanding player on Minneapolis club and probably in all minor leagues for that matter." and "This player is the best prospect in America, it was a banner day for the Giants when this boy was signed.". Lastly, Westrum notes in a much later March 1973 entry: Still bailing out. Hits mediocre pitching." The Westrum entry has clear tape over top and at the top of the form There are several dates relating to the scouting entries ranging from 1950 to 1972 with the later (1956 and up) appearing to have been added to the form over time from its original issuance. Although unclear as to precise date of origin, the offered report is noted as very significant which was carefully archived by Willie himself among several other important period documents. Includes certificate of provenance from the Willie Mays Collection: EXEstimated Price Range: ($2,500-$5,000)
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