This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/26/2012
More than 200 Negro Leaguers signed this extraordinary piece that neatly commemorates more than three decades of Negro League history in a massive 41-by-35-inch piece. An Ebbets Field replica jersey of the Homestead Grays, arguably the greatest ball club in Negro League history boasts a remarkable grouping of carefully produced autographs, with the vast majority now long deceased. The 200-plus signatures were done with a care and precision that defies conventional belief of modern reunion signings, with fine and medium-point black Sharpies signatures (7/10 to 9/10) and revealing a commitment to the project from both the players and the consignor that is rarely matched in the hobby. Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, Monte Irvin and Larry Doby headline a roster that features dozens of players who eventually found their way into the major leagues, including George Altman, Joe Black, Bob Boyd, George Crowe, Churck Harmon and Connie Johnson, plus Negro Leaguers who gained considerable renown, like Lyman Bostock Sr., Mahlon Duckett, Josh Gibson Jr., Lester Lockett, Max Manning, Buck O'Neil, Art Pennington and Double Duty Radcliffe. The piece is elegantly matted and framed in white and navy blue, with separate cutout matting depicting a top nameplate and 17 black-and-white Negro Leagues team logos on each side.
Pre-certified by PSA/DNA.