Auction Item Details
Lot 16
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Lot 16
Description: Interesting lot of material from the estate of Negro League player Willie Pope including baseball documents, handwritten letters, World War 2 Victory medal, 1954 Blossom Dairy cards, and others (PR-EX) Interesting assortment of pieces all originate from the estate of former Negro League player Willie Pope. All post-dates his Negro League playing career but much relates to his days in the Minor Leagues and there are some later in life Negro League related items. Please note - it appears that nearly all of this material has suffered from water damage to varying degrees. Includes what appears to be his personal World War 2 Victory Medal; approx. (50) letters write by Pope to his wife (most, if not all, in the 1950s) while he was on the road playing baseball (note - nearly all, if not all, have suffered from water damage); several later playing career related documents from Minor League days including (8) player transfer documents and Pope's copies of his class 1954 AAA Charleston (unsigned) and 1952-53 San Juan (signed) contracts; (4) non-baseball related Pope signed documents; 1933 Sectional Champion "Pittsburgh Press Marble Tournament" award metal; "1939 Pittsburgh Sun Telegraph Diamond Belt Heavy Weight" boxing award Championship style belt with cast metal buckle that is engraved with the text noted above; (21) cards from the obscure 1954 Blossom Dairy Charleston Senators set including (2) Bill Pope; (3) Tom Hurd, Al Ware, (2) Al Baro, (2) Bill Killinger, (3) John Kropf, Bill Voisells, (2) Sam Hairston, Ross Grimsley, and (4) Alex Garbowski. These are in average GD/VG-VG condition. There are additional cards from this set included however they are far lesser grade (some adhered to each other); additional Pope card which is in small double sided framed with what is likely an image of him in uniform on the other side; bronze medallion (on ribbon) which has the Hall of Fame logo on one side and a "Black Living Legends of Negro Baseball" logo on the other; a related medallion with Legends logo on one side and 1997 Braves Touching Home logo on the other; Rawlings "Pirates" logo baseball which has been signed by (18) incl. Leon Day, Buck Leonard, Fergie Jenkins, Double Duty Radcliffe, Wilmer Fields, Tony Stone, Lester Lockett, and others. Signatures rate 7 to 8 out of 10 with a few lesser; several vintage snapshot photos (all water damaged), 2 of which show a player in Jalisco uniform (unknown if this is Pope), others show non players/scenes; Spalding F.Frick ONL ball (toned with some other scattered wear) which has Western League President signature stamped on side panel; Willie Pope single signed Rawlings "Pirates" logo ball; what appears to be a c.1950s Minor League team ball with numerous signatures incl. Willie Pope (water and other damage/wear); and some additional pieces. Varying degrees/types of wear throughout: PR-EX ($750-$1,500)Final Bid: $1,325.00
Current EST: 04/24/24 4:09:48 PM