This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/21/2017
One of the things not often talked about in baseball history is the complex planning that went into moving a ball club from city to city throughout a season. Besides the players, management and support staff and their personal items, there are the uniforms, equipment and many other things needed by a team on the road. Back in the 1950’s the best way to get these things from point A to point B was in custom made travel trunks. If you look closely in photographs taken in locker rooms, you will notice all kinds of large hard-sided traveling trunks. One such photograph was taken by a Sports Illustrated photographer during spring training in 1956. The very film noir-ish shot shows Alston behind his desk consulting with his minor league managers. Right behind Ft. Worth skipper Clay Bryant is a trunk that appears to match the design and dimensions of this one.
The trunk is made by Priemeyer Brother of St. Louis and measures a large 36” x 39” x 22”. It weighs just over 90 lbs. The body and hardware of the trunk has several layers of paint, the last being black, no doubt due to the scuffs and scratches acquired during its thousands of miles of travel. Two sides have the numbers “1256” in rivets and there are several period repairs evident. A United Airlines luggage tag is still attached bearing the hand written notation “Walter Alston Hamilton, Ohio”. The trunk includes the 12 1/4” x 17 1/2” Sports Illustrated photo of Alston and his managers. A great piece of Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers history attributed to the man who managed them for over two decades.
LOA from Alston Family.
NOTE: Due to the size and weight of this item, excessive shipping or freight charges are required and may be substantial.
Local pick-up recommended.