Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction March 2010
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/16/2010
The forever-in-demand signature of the great Roberto Clemente has not often surfaced on a ball from his lone season with the Montreal Royals of the International AAA League, rendering this fabulous find tantalizing and tempting indeed. Scout Al Campanis signed Clemente for the Brooklyn Dodgers with a $10,000 bonus in 1953 after Clemente was first noticed playing winter ball in Puerto Rico alongside Willie Mays. The Dodgers however were unable to fit him into a star-studded outfield and rules of the time required a team signing a player for a bonus, including salary, of more than $4,000 to keep him on the major league roster for two years or risk losing him in an off-season draft. Nevertheless, the Dodgers chose to have Clemente spend the 1954 season with Montreal, even though it meant they could lose him at the end of the year. Roberto's autograph appears here near the stitching of the panel that includes the Spalding stamp, with signatures of Dixie Howell and Bob Wilson nearby. Official International League ball with league president Frank Shaughnassy's facsimile signature also is autographed by Jack Cassini, Wally Fiala, Rocky Nelson, manager Max Macon, Chico Fernandez and Ed Roebuck on one panel, and Wally Hood, Ron Owen(?), Art Fabbro, Dick Young, Glenn Cox, Gino Cimoli and Joe Black on another, while completing things on another are Don Thompson, Joe Carbonaro, Dick Whitman and Ken Lehman. Blue ballpoint signatures are in the "8" range with moderate even toning to the leather. The sweet spot features "1954" in bold blue pen. The tattered Official National League Baseball box that our consignor had stored it in (inside a bag), will be included. Sensational treasure offers Clemente/Montreal Royals aficionados an extraordinary opportunity.
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