Auction Item Details
Lot 575
LOADING IMAGES
Lot Number: 575
Description: The Billy Sullivan Jr. collection of baseball related documents and ephemera. Vast and impressive grouping of materials that originated directly from Sullivan's files encompassing all manners of paper items, letters, photographs, and general ephemera. The following is a general inventory with highlights but we fully encourage interested parties to contact us for more details or to set up a private viewing as the breadth, quantity, and quality of this lot warrant significant attention. Includes the following: (2) Kennesaw M.Landis auto. typed letters (1934 and 1943) regarding contract assignment and retirement; several publications and pcs. of correspondence regarding League reinstatement after the war; Wheaties cereal endorsement correspondence; 1961 handwritten letter from Billy Sullivan Sr. signed "Dad" (envelope is hand addressed w/return address constituting (2) 'signatures' of the rare 19th century catcher); 1935 two page handwritten letter from Billy Sullivan Sr. signed "Dad" (envelope is hand addressed w/return address constituting (2) 'signatures'), three 1950's handwritten letters from Billy Sullivan Sr. each signed "Dad" (All three include hand addressed orig. envelope w/return address constituting (2) 'signatures' per letter); Approx. (25) vintage photographs with relation to Sullivan Jr. incl. Burke portraits (4"x6")/stadium views/images of Sullivan as young player; Correspondence with St. Paul Minor League team c.1935 incl. several Steve O'Niell handwritten letters; J.Louis Comiskey auto. typed letter and Billy Sullivan 1934 White Sox player's contract; Numerous Billy Sullivan Jr. Major League contracts with key signatures (if any) in parenthesis: 1935 Reds (MacPhail)/1937 Indians/(7) copies of 1938 Browns contract w/William DeWitt signed letter/1947 Pirates/ 1932 White Sox (C.Comiskey stamp, signed by father Billy Sullivan Sr.)/ 1933 and 1934 White Sox contracts/1939 Browns contract/(2) copies of 1943 Dodgers contract (Branch Rickey) and Branch Rickey auto. typed letter; 1965 Joe Cronin auto. typed letter; John Kieran reference letter; numerous pieces of general correspondence including several signed by Bill Sullivan Jr.; 1947 Billy Sullivan Jr. handwritten letter to Commissioner Chandler regarding reinstatement; numerous telegrams relating to W.Series/contract negotiations/congratulatory reasons; 1931 Chas. Comiskey auto. typed letter incl. Wh. Sox envelope; 1930 Chas. Comiskey auto. typed letter incl. Wh. Sox envelope; (9) J.Louis Comiskey auto. typed letters regarding Sullivan's 1932 contract; 1940 W.Series program at Cincinnati; Group of 1947 correspondence pertaining to Brooklyn Dodgers/B. Sullivan Jr. incl. Branch Rickey auto. typed letter; 1940 Tigers contract (W.Briggs); (2) W.Briggs auto. typed letters; Christy Walsh related correspondence incl. several signed letters; 1938 Browns and 1942 Tigers rosters; File of items relating to Billy Sullivan Sr. incl. several photos and signatures form corres./letters (this group includes some damaged pieces from moisture); 1942 FBI letter signed by J.Edgar Hoover; file of referral letters regarding Billy Sullivan Jr. from notables/company executives; (2) vintage film reels with both Billy Sullivan Jr. and Sr.; and "Hansul Co." related items incl. corporate seal and correspondence (Company formed by Sullivan Jr. and Hank Greenberg). In addition to the listing above the lot includes an entire docket of correspondence and related items from Hank Greenberg. Sullivan Jr. and Greenberg were close friends on a business and personal level. As such, the group includes over (20) pieces of correspondence relating to Greenberg including numerous handwritten (most are multi page) letter signed by Greenberg. Given the quality and historical significance of the offered grouping we felt it to be appropriate to sell the collection as a unit affording bidders the opportunity to keep it together if so desired. Wonderful period collection relating to a legendary baseball family with superb breakdown value and equally impressive historical import as a unit. Includes LOA from PSA/DNA J.Spence-S.Grad: Range GD-NM
Estimated Price: ($7,500.00-$10,000.00)
Sold for Price: Login or Register
