Rare Sports Memorabilia, Pop Culture and Toys Highlight Fine Estate, Inc. Auction

(March 16, 2021) – A collection of rare sports memorabilia, including autographed baseballs and game bats by legendary players such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmy Foxx, and Mel Ott highlight the upcoming, March 21, Fine Estate, Inc. auction catalog.

The auction offers worldwide bidding, live across the Bidsquare auction platform.

Rare Sports Memorabilia

Lot 251, Rockola Rock-Ola 1937 World Series Baseball Arcade Game

 A fully-working, 1937 Rockola Rock-Ola 1937 World Series Baseball Arcade Game is on tap (est. $20,000). The coin-op collector favorite, yet rarely seen in near mint condition, the cabinet is pristine and all players are intact and seem to work correctly. The players are in good condition with expected age wear and all are intact. The piece presents nicely and would be a fantastic cornerstone to any pre-War baseball memorabilia collection. A second rare sports coin-op game, a 1947 Chicago Coin Basketball Arcade Machine survives in very good cosmetic and working order (est. $4,000).

Lot 241, Babe Ruth Lou Gehrig Signed Spalding Baseball JSA

 A crisply-signed Spalding “King of the Diamond” ball autographed by both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig is a collector’s dream acquisition (est. $10,000). The ball features steel tipped fountain pen signatures and is a strong example of a ball of this type (est. $10,000).

 A unique framed display of bats featuring Babe Ruth, Jimmy Foxx, and Mel Ott hasn’t seen the auction block in years. The first is a Louisville Slugger Babe Ruth 40 B.R. baseball bat, a Louisville Slugger Jimmie Foxx 40 J.F. baseball bat, and a Mel Ott Rawlings brand Mel Ott Model baseball bat. All three are accompanied by clipped signatures and a check signed by Ruth (est. $7,500).

Another exciting find is a circa 1927 photograph signed by the Sultan of Swat, Babe Ruth, when he visited a “base ball club” of children who called themselves the “Big Bayou B.B.C.” (est. $2,000).

 A highly rarely-seen, 88-pound bound Super Bowl XL The Opus MVP Edition Book, presented in its original slip cover is an instant collection of 35 surviving Super Bowl MVP signatures. The volume is No. 112 of a limited printing 400 (est. $2,000).

 The sale also presents a large assortment of team-signed San Francisco 49er’s footballs.

Lot 46, Group of 115 Early Prohibition Buttons

 Rare Pinback and Americana Political Button Collection

Making its auction debut, a fine single-owner collection of rare pinbacks and Americana memorabilia features items rarely seen on the market. The collection is comprised of thousands of buttons and pins dating from the late 1800s through 20th century presidential campaigns.

An extremely rare pinback features a circa 1894 portrait of noted Italian American mobster Vito Cascio Ferro, also known as Vito Contessa (est. $400). The noted mafia kingpin was a prominent boss of the Sicilian Mafia and began operating in the United States in 1901. The legendary figure in Italian Organized Crime, Ferro is considered to be the mastermind behind the murder of New York policeman, Joseph Petrosino, head of the force’s Italian Squad in 1909.

 In addition to the hundreds of pinbacks on offer, rare pieces of early 20th century Americana in display condition come from the same, single-owner collection. Items include Women’s Suffrage memorabilia, Spanish American War buttons and pins, medals, vintage political ribbons, campaign buttons and much more.

Lot 248, Wurlitzer 1015 Bubbler 78rpm Jukebox

 Rare Pop Culture and Toys 

A stunning, 1940s Wurlitzer 1015 Bubble 78rpm Jukebox in very good cosmetic condition is a star feature in the sale (est. $4,000).  With minor condition issues, the machine is complete and appears to function correctly. Dazzling lights and the coveted bubbler function work well.

Additional highlights include two, original Steiff Vintage Mohair Humpback Teddy Bears, measuring 31-inches and 22-inches tall, respectively (est. $1,500 to $2,000). Another Steiff rarity is a large Elephant Pull Toy On Wheels, measuring 20-1/2-inches tall and 23-inches long (est. $900).

Fine Estate, Inc.’s March 19 Collectibles Auction is March 21 and will offer online bidding via Bidsquare.