Dodgers’ Hall of Fame Mgr. Walter Alston’s Memorabilia Headlines SCP Auctions Mid-Summer Classic PR
Tag Archives: Dodgers
SCP Auctions is honored to present the Walter Alston Estate Collection as part of its 2016 Mid-Summer Classic Auction. Nearly 100 outstanding lots will go up for bid on Wed., August 3, 2016.
A single at-bat, which resulted in a strikeout, comprised the playing career of the late Alston. But four World Series titles, seven National League pennants, and 2,040 regular-season triumphs later – all realized in a managerial capacity at the helm of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers – cobbled his path to Cooperstown.
A native Ohioan, Alston earned the nickname “Smokey” in high school because of his blazing fastball. He attended Miami of Ohio University where he lettered in baseball and basketball before
signing with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1935. In 1940, when it became apparent he wasn’t in the Cardinals’ future plans as a player, Alston was given the opportunity to play and manage in their farm system. He was released by St. Louis in 1944, but was spotted by the keen eye of former Cardinals General Manager and then-Brooklyn President Branch Rickey who signed him to play and manage in the Dodgers minor league system. Following the ‘53 season, Brooklyn Skipper Charlie Dressen insisted on a multi-year contract to continue as Dodgers’ skipper. Brooklyn Owner Walter O’Malley balked at the demand and to everyone’s surprise chose the little known Alston to pilot the club.
He led the Dodgers to a second place finish in 1954, then won Brooklyn’s first World Series title in 1955, defeating the Yankees in seven games. Always displaying a calm, professional demeanor, the unflappable homespun Ohio farmer managed the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers for the next 23 seasons. His teams won 90 or more games in 10 different seasons. On July 17, 1976, Alston became only the sixth manager in MLB history to win 2,000 games. Just before the end of that season he retired as Dodgers’ skipper with 2,040 wins. He was named N.L. Manager of the Year six times, and led N.L. All-Star teams to seven victories. He was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983. -Terry Melia
Two items have crossed the $300,000 mark heading into the final hours of bidding in SCP Auctions’ Spring Premier catalog. The groundbreaking and much publicized 1857 “Laws of Base Ball” documents soared to $379,757 on Friday. Originally purchased at auction years ago, the documents have since been discovered to be in the handwriting of Daniel Lucius “Doc” Adams, who was then serving as President of the New York Knickerbockers Base Ball Club. Adams drafted the manuscript for presentation at the historic Base Ball Convention of 1857 in New York City.
With just 72 hours remaining in the initial bidding phase of SCP Auctions’ 2016 Spring Premier – just before the frenzied extended bidding begins – a rare, impeccably preserved 1956 Sandy Koufax Brooklyn Dodgers game-worn jersey is leading the way with a high bid of $285,316 at SCP Auctions. 
One of the most historically significant Brooklyn Dodger jerseys ever offered for sale, the home flannel was worn by the Hall of Fame Dodger great at the dawn of his epic career. This remarkable, museum-quality treasure is the hobby’s only fully authenticated, original, unaltered home jersey worn by Koufax in the hallowed confines of Ebbets Field.
Currently sitting in second place with a high bid of $259,378 is the groundbreaking 1857 “Laws of Base Ball” documents whose author has been identified as Daniel Lucius “Doc” Adams, who was then serving as President of the New York Knickerbockers Base Ball Club. Adams drafted the manuscript for presentation at the historic Base Ball Convention of 1857 in New York City. Adams’ “Laws of Base Ball” were the focal point of the convention and among dozens of newly proposed rules and guidelines established for the first time including setting the base paths at 90 feet, the number of men to a side at nine, and the duration of the game at nine innings. This lot is expected to fetch much more before the auction closes on Saturday night.
Other top bids are coming in from graded cards and sets including a 1952 Topps baseball complete set, $78,469; a 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente rookie card (#164), $55,612; an extremely rare collection of unused, graded tickets representing all 50 Super Bowls, $51,880; and a 1936 R327 Diamond Stars baseball one-of-a-kind uncut sheet, $32,211.
The prestigious Don Drysdale Estate Collection, the largest personal assortment of Dodgers memorabilia ever offered publicly, is also recording its fair share of noteworthy high bids led by the late Hall of Famer’s 1962 Cy Young Award, $38,911, his Dodgers World Series championship rings from 1963, $29,233, and 1965, $26,575; and his 1956 Brooklyn Dodgers game-worn rookie season uniform, $19,965.
Bidding is open to registered bidders only at SCP Auctions through Sat., April 23. Initial bidding closes at 5 p.m. PDT on Saturday. For more information on how to participate and take part in the bidding, please call 949-831-3700 or visit SCP Auctions. -Terry Melia
Ann Meyers Drysdale, the Hall of Fame basketball player who was married to the Hall of Fame pitcher, is putting the items up for auction starting Wednesday. The collection is unusual in that it covers Drysdale’s entire career – from his days at Van Nuys High in suburban Los Angeles to his minor league stints with the Bakersfield Indians and Montreal Royals to his major league stardom with the Dodgers in Brooklyn and Los Angeles.
Over 1,300 lots hit the block Wednesday as bidding began in SCP Auctions Spring Premier catalog. The auction, which continues through Saturday, April 24, includes dozens of items from the estate of Hall of Fame pitcher Don Drysdale, including his 1962 Cy Young Award, 1963 and ’65 Dodgers World Series championship rings and other game-used items from his career.
SCP Auctions is extremely excited to announce that it will offer the personal memorabilia collection of former major league pitching great Don Drysdale. The late Hall of Famer’s unbelievable lineup of baseball heirlooms and mementoes – dating as far back as 1954 during his senior year at Van Nuys (Calif.) High School – encompasses more than 200 lots and will hit the online auction block on Wednesday, April 6, at www.scpauctions.com. 
Drysdale’s most prominent awards and game-worn uniforms are included: 1963 and ’65 World Series championship rings; 1956 National League championship ring; 1962 MLB Cy Young Award; a host of game-worn Dodger uniforms from his playing days in both Brooklyn (1956, rookie season) as well as Los Angeles (1965, ‘66 and ’69); and the actual game-used baseball from the final inning pitched of his then-MLB record streak of throwing 58-and-two-thirds innings of scoreless baseball in 1968.
“We feel honored to have been chosen by the Drysdale family to bring this extraordinary collection to auction,” said SCP Auctions President David Kohler. “Don was among the most accomplished and revered pitchers in Major League Baseball history and his impressive assemblage of awards and accolades speaks volumes as to his winning ways out on the mound.”
A standout baseball player from more than half a century ago, Drysdale was drafted by the then-Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954 right out of high school. Within two years, the 6’ 5” right-hander was brought up from the minors and eventually earned a spot in the Dodgers starting rotation at age 20 when he posted a team-high 17 victories in 1957. A nine-time MLB All-Star, Drysdale posted 209 career wins, struck out 2,486 batters and led the N.L. in K’s in three different seasons (1959-60, ’62). He also played a major role in helping the Dodgers reach the World Series five times and winning it all thrice. A torn rotator cuff forced “Big D’ to retire during the 1969 season and he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. A long time radio broadcaster after his playing days ended, Drysdale died suddenly of a heart attack on July 3, 1993, during a road trip with the Dodgers to Montreal. He was 56 years old. -Terry Melia
Last summer, we told you that items from the personal collection of Hall of Famer Don Drysdale would be coming to auction. Now, we know a little more about what items from the late pitcher’s career will be offered and when. Game-worn uniforms and other game-used gear, signed photos, trophies and other career memorabilia were part of the collection that will be sold on consignment by SCP Auctions.
