Step right up, sports enthusiasts and history buffs! Ready your wallets and prepare your display cases, as an extraordinary collection of pre-war baseball memorabilia is about to be auctioned off, promising a day of vigorous bidding. This isn’t just any auction—it’s a treasure trove from the extensive Harry W. O’Brien Collection, under the gavel at Paul McInnis Auctioneer. The best part? It’s all for a noble cause, benefiting the University of New Hampshire Scholarship Fund.
Located in the quaint town of North Hampton, NH, the auction house will soon buzz with excitement, as items from a collection meticulously amassed by Harry W. O’Brien, and initiated by his father Daniel during his service in both World Wars, go under the hammer. Imagine the dust of the dugouts, the cheers from the stands, and the crack of the bat as these memorabilia once coexisted with legends of the baseball diamond.
What’s on the block, you ask? The auction roster is nothing short of spectacular, with over 300 T206 cards that include 48 Hall of Famers such as Christie Mathewson and Cy Young. If that’s not enough to get your heart racing, perhaps a complete set of 1911 T201 Mecca Folders will. And let’s not forget about the 80 Goudey cards from the 1930s featuring none other than Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. These relics are not just cards; they are gateways to the past, each holding stories of heroic feats and days gone by.
The thrill does not stop with baseball. The golden gloves of the squared circle make an appearance with 1910 T218 Mecca boxing cards featuring the legendary heavyweight Jack Johnson among others. To add even more flavor to the mix, the auction also offers an assortment of Philadelphia Caramels cards, 19 4-in-1 Exhibit cards starring the dynamic duo of Ruth and Gehrig, and numerous other treasures from the 1930s George C Miller issue—all professionally graded by SGC.
For those who lean towards the fantastical, this auction offers a journey into the superhero realm with high-grade 1940s comics starring cultural icons like Superman and Batman. These vibrant pages, once the escape of many a youngster dreaming of heroics and adventure, are expected to draw crowds both nostalgic and new.
Collectors and enthusiasts will also have a chance to bid on rare ticket stubs from monumental historical events, including one from the inaugural game at Fenway Park in 1912. With over 500 lots available, this event is more than just an auction; it’s a festival celebrating the rich history of sports, entertainment, and collectibles.
Pre-bidding is now open for those looking to get a head start before the main event, which is scheduled as a live virtual webcast on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 11:00 AM on the Paul McInnis website. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a curious newcomer, the auction promises not just memorabilia, but a palpable connection to the past, all while supporting the future through the University of New Hampshire Scholarship Fund.
Imagine the thrill of owning a piece of sports history, of holding a card that Babe Ruth himself might have touched, or displaying a comic book that once inspired a child during the war years. This is more than an auction – it’s a chance to own a piece of history, to preserve it for future generations, and to help those generations through education. What a pitch!