JULY 19TH AUCTION
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/20/2013
It was late in the 1972 season, early September to be exact, and the San Francisco Giants were in Pittsburgh on their final east coast swing playing out the string. It was just a season earlier, when the Giants lost the NLCS to Pittsburgh. However, during this three game series in September, the Pirates were cruising to another NL East title and looking to defend their World Series championship. This program is pretty unremarkable except for the bold, blue ink Roberto Clemente signature over his bio on page 10. Clemente penned this signature sometime during or after the series with the Giants, but less than four months later, Clemente was dead in that plane crash New Years Eve 1972. The Giants were in Pittsburgh from September 1-3, 1972, and a small box on the National League pitchers page (page 21) advertises “Philadelphia Phillies Here Monday, Sept. 4th – 10:35 Labor Day Double Header.” According to the schedule, the Phillies came into town right after the Giants left in early September. We do not know for sure how many signatures Clemente penned after this one, but we definitely know this signature was signed early September or later. Four months before he died. This is a wonderful signature of the great Roberto Clemente, signed late in his career and late in his life. This signature has been authenticated by PSA/DNA and comes with a full letter.LOA and multiple images available at goldinauctions.com.