Summer Premium Live and Catalog Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/4/2016
The 1969 New York Mets were known as The Amazin’ Mets, who overcame the mighty Chicago Cubs to win the National League East by an astounding eight games. This team was built upon solid pitching, including Cy Young winner Tom Seaver, plus a decent lineup boosted by the mid season acquisition of slugger Donn Clendenon, the eventual winner of the World Series MVP award.
This 11 x 14 inch team photo has been signed by EVERY MEMBER of the World Series Championship team, including the signature of manager Gil Hodges, who passed away a during spring training in 1972 and was a notorious non-signer. Includes: TOP ROW - Equipment Manager Nick Torman, J.C. Martin, Ron Taylor, Ed Kranepool, Don Cardwell, Donn Clendenon, Nolan Ryan, Art Shamsky and Jack DiLauro; THIRD ROW - Jim McAndrew, Tommie Agee, Cal Koonce, Ken Boswell, Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Ron Swoboda, Wayne Garrett and Bobby Pfeil; SECOND ROW -Tug McGraw, Gary Gentry, Al Weis, Cleon Jones, Manager Gil Hodges, Jerry Grote, Bud Harrelson, Ed Charles, Rod Gaspar and Duffy Dyer; FRONT ROW - Coaches Joe Pignatano, Rube Walker, Yogi Berra, Eddie Yost. In addition, up in the left hand corner is the signature of Hall of Fame TV announcer Lindsay Nelson, he of the checkered jackets.
While there are several different instruments used to obtain these signatures, included red and blue ink, plus black and blue markers, they are mostly bold beauties scripted right across their images. The actual photo has some wear including several areas of chipping on the face, with some areas of light creasing and scratches. Some small areas of staining adorn the reverse. The keys are all here, the various role players, coaches and even one announcer with many of these keys being deceased. While we have seen several examples of this image signed by various members of the Amazin Mets, this is the first example we have seen signed by all players and coaches, including the all important Gil Hodges. This multi-signed photograph comes with a full LOA from PSA/DNA (X01073).