Step right into the time machine that is RMY Auctions’ latest offering. This offer travels through pivotal moments of sports and entertainment history, all captured in the optics of rare historical photographs. The auction house’s May event is replete with delightful rarities, including a standout image from the year 1948. It’s not just any black-and-white image; it features celebrated baseball maestros, Satchel Paige and Bob Feller. This 7 x 8 ¾” photograph holds a special place in sports history as it went on to feature on Paige’s coveted rookie card by Leaf in 1949, post his groundbreaking transition from the Negro Leagues to Major League Baseball with Cleveland.
Beyond the pictures of Paige with Cleveland, the auction includes a rare photograph of Paige playing an exhilarating round for the Kansas City Monarchs, quite the noteworthy addition! Spanning a century’s worth of unforgettable moments, the catalog parades over 900 items, offering glimpses of the past that are seeing the light of day for the first time. One such striking example is a silver gelatin image dated 1910, presenting a 23-year-old Jim Thorpe lensed by renowned photographer George Grantham Bain. This adds an enriching historical depth to the collection.
The auction will tickle the fancy of both stalwart collectors and newfound enthusiasts. Especially enchanting are the lots featuring a 1905 PC782 Rotograph postcard picturing Jack Chesbro – the early 20th-century baseball sensation, and a 1934 photograph of Carl Hubbell which later became the graphic for his Diamond Stars baseball card. These visuals are accompanied by an array of photographs of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, encapsulating crucial moments such as Ruth’s debut season with the Yankees in 1920 and a heated tableau from the 1928 World Series.
Contemporary memorabilia collectors too are in for a treat, as a 1972 image of Roberto Clemente noting his 3000th career hit, a commemorative snapshot of Wilt Chamberlain post his record-breaking 100-point single game, and Michael Jordan’s prime NBA glory days captured by the shutterbugs from Chicago are all up for grabs.
Not entirely steeped in machismo, the collection adds bits of whimsy. A nostalgic photograph of Joe DiMaggio within the Yankees’ locker room and Ted Williams astride a zebra add an entertaining lens to this assortment. The panoramic view of the 20th century represented in this diverse collection is bound to appeal to collectors of historical memorabilia and photography aficionados alike. With a shedding closure on May 11, the auction came as a much-needed celebration of the past, streamlined for the present. Keep an eye on this space, for RMY’s historical image treasure trove has a lot more to offer over time!
