Presented here is wonderful accumulation of classic yearbooks, vintage photographs, special invitations and tickets from legendary Yankees relief pitcher Johnny Murphy, who later went on to become the general manager of the New York Mets in a career that spanned five decades. These artifacts largely stem from that portion of his career as a vice president and general manager of the Mets, including the period of their improbable ascension to the pinnacle of the baseball world in 1969. After his playing career ended, Murphy went right to the Boston front office and ran the Sox’ farm and scouting system for 13 years before joining his former boss, George Weiss, as the pair labored to midwife the brand-new New York Mets who joined the National League in 1962. He played a pivotal role in the eventual success of the Miracle Mets. Only months after the club’s incredible World Series victory over the Orioles, Murphy suffered a heart attack and died in January of 1970.
With that remarkable preamble comes this important grouping that includes some truly spectacular oversized vintage photographs, fascinating 8-by-10’s posing with many of the biggest names in the game, including many with the legendary Mets manager, Casey Stengel. All photos are black-and-white or sepia toned where indicated, with the exception of the oversized Mets team photos, which are in color. Here’s the breakdown: 1) A 9-by-13-inch Johnny Murphy photograph from the files of Life Magazine (Excellent); 2) A grouping of three color 11-by-14-inch photographs of the World Champion 1969 New York Mets (EX-MT); 3) A wonderful array of 8-by-10-inch photos, including several first-generation Wire photos - Casey Stengel in dugout with Wes Westrum (EX-MT), team officials, Ed Kranepool, 24 players in civilian clothes, Murphy and George Weiss at a golf tournament, with former teammates, at dinner at a swanky restaurant with team officials, players and wives including Stengel, Weiss, Berra and Westrum, and lastly at Stengel’s “Welcome Back” celebration with Stengel, Weiss, Berra, Westrum and coaches; 4) Pristine full tickets – largely EX-MT to NM-MT (a couple with perforation residue) - including Games One and Two of the 1969 World Series in Baltimore, Game Three at Shea Stadium (3 tickets), Game Four at Shea Stadium (2 tickets), Opening Day on April 17, 1964 and Opening Day Diamond Club Pass, 1969 World Series Diamond Club Game Three and Game Four tickets with perforation intact, and 1973 World Series Game Three and Game Four, also with perforation intact; 5) Yearbooks and programs, all 8½-by-11 inches unless noted – largely EX-MT or better - including 1964 Dedication of Shea Stadium program, yearbooks from 1967, 1968 and 1969, New York Baseball Writers Annual Dinner programs (most about 80 pages) from 1963, 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970, the famed Baseball Centennial Award Dinner program from 1969 (116 pages), Bill Corum Memorial Dinner from 1965, two Night of the Century Programs of the 1968 Opening of the New Madison Square Garden, a 1970 New York Mets Media Guide (5-by-9 inches), and five other miscellaneous scorecards, invitations, etc. This is truly an extraordinary archive of the history of this beloved franchise in the years leading up to and through the giddy moments when man walked on the moon and the Mets somehow managed to upstage the moment.
Includes Letter of Provenance from the Murphy Family.