This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/7/2014
The proud Detroit Tigers franchise has captured four World Series titles and secured 11 American League championship pennants. Countless standouts including 21 Hall of Fame players and seven Hall of Fame managers have worn the Tigers uniform. This lot includes nine single-signed baseballs from some of the organization’s greatest talent ever. Seven of the nine players have signed official American League (Brown) baseballs on their respective sweet spots in blue ink: Gates Brown, George Kell, Charlie Gehringer, Al Kaline, Sparky Anderson (Mgr.), Denny McLain and Prince Fielder. Hard-throwing McLain added the inscription: “31-6, 1968.” One of the other baseballs is a Wilson official approved Major League Performance Specifications baseball signed in blue ink on the sweet spot by Mark Fidrych who added an inscription of his nickname: “The Bird.” The final baseball, an official American League (Budig) baseball, sports a very faint signature of pitching great Mickey Lolich in faded black ink on the sweet spot. Collectively the signatures all rate 8-9/10, except for Lolich’s due to its faint appearance.
Pre-certified by PSA/DNA.
Includes Letter of Provenance from collector Bruce Tennen.
Bruce Tennen grew up in Detroit and has been a loyal Tigers fan for over 50 years. He began attending games at Tiger Stadium in the early 1960’s with his father and grandfather — longtime season ticket holders — and would typically don the full uniform (pictured with his dad and sister in 1968 Tigers yearbook taking photo of pitcher Pat Dobson). Bruce has attended every Tigers home playoff series since 1968 and has been fortunate enough to build relationships with dozens of players. His passion for Tigers baseball and sports eventually lead him to pursue a career in the industry, covering Arizona sports teams for the AP in the late 70’s and working in the front office for the San Diego Clippers in the early 80’s while moonlighting as a law student. He would later move on to a successful career in mortgage banking, arranging credit and acquisition funding for numerous Pistons players, executives and broadcasters. There may not be a bigger supporter of Detroit sports teams than Bruce Tennen.