Sugar Ray Leonard’S Fight-Worn Gloves From 1980 Bout Vs. Roberto Durán (Leonard/Durán Ii “No Más”) (Dundee Family Loa) (Al Tapper Collection)
https://catalog.scpauctions.com/SUGAR_RAY_LEONARD_S_FIGHT_WORN_GLOVES_FROM_1980_BO-LOT48150.aspx
1980 ROBERTO DURAN “NO MÁS” FIGHT WORN GLOVES VS. SUGAR RAY LEONARD (AL TAPPER COLLECTION)
https://catalog.scpauctions.com/1980_ROBERTO_DURAN__NO_M_S__FIGHT_WORN_GLOVES_VS__-LOT48151.aspx
OUTSTANDING MAY 19, 1973 SIGNIFICANT MUHAMMAD ALI THREE PAGE HANDWRITTEN LETTER TO JIM MURRAY (AL TAPPER COLLECTION) – PSA/DNA LOA & MURRAY FAMILY LOA.
https://catalog.scpauctions.com/OUTSTANDING_MAY_19__1973_SIGNIFICANT_MUHAMMAD_ALI_-LOT48149.aspx
HISTORIC 7/31/1969 MUHAMMAD ALI HANDWRITTEN & DOUBLE-SIGNED (“CASSIUS CLAY”) LETTER TO FATHER OF MARY JO KOPECHNE AFTER CHAPPAQUIDDICK TRAGEDY (AL TAPPER COLLECTION) – BECKETT LOA
https://catalog.scpauctions.com/HISTORIC_7_31_1969_MUHAMMAD_ALI_HANDWRITTEN___DOUB-LOT48152.aspx
ORIGINAL UNRESTORED MUTOSCOPE MACHINE WITH 1938 JOE LOUIS VS MAX SCHMELLING FIGHT REEL – ONLY ONE KNOWN TO EXIST WITH THIS CONTENT (AL TAPPER COLLECTION)
https://catalog.scpauctions.com/ORIGINAL_UNRESTORED_MUTOSCOPE_MACHINE_WITH_1938_JO-LOT48147.aspx
RARE 1965 CASSIUS CLAY (MUHAMMAD ALI) VS. SONNY LISTON ON-SITE BOSTON GARDEN POSTER (AL TAPPER COLLECTION)
https://catalog.scpauctions.com/RARE_1965_CASSIUS_CLAY__MUHAMMAD_ALI__VS__SONNY_LI-LOT48148.aspx
A prominent American collection has been consigned to SCP auctions; one of the finest and most important collections of sports and entertainment rarities is part of winter premier auction;discovered – rare lou gehrig 1938 game used bat & “Lost Films Of Pistol Pete” Are Part Of Auction;
BIDDING CONCLUDES SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021
Laguna Niguel Calif. (March 30, 2021) – A collection of ultra-rare and highly desirable pieces of sports and entertainment history is being auctioned off in SCP Auctions’ Winter Premier Auction beginning Wednesday, March 17. The items offered from Al Tapper, A Passionate American Collector, span a near century of American history beginning with the original home plate from Yankee Stadium in 1923. A remarkable piece that surely had many an appointment with the bottom of Ruth and Gehrig’s cleats. The home plate has an aura that captivates the imagination of sports history and fandom that transports you to the Babe’s hay day at Yankee Stadium.
The SCP Auctions’ Winter Premier Auction will be taking bids online through April 3 at www.scpauctions.com.
Included in the eclectic collection are several remarkable PSA/DNA authenticated handwritten and signed letters from the likes of The Babe, Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson, Marilyn Monroe, Jackie Kennedy, Mario Puzo (The Godfather), Mickey Mantle and many, many others. Each letter and note is a delightful sneak peek into the personal and professional lives of the sports legends, Hollywood actors and socialites. Some highlights from the group include a 1922 letter from Babe Ruth to his mistress, Mario Puzo pleading with Marlon Brando to play Don Corleone in his upcoming feature, The Godfather, a correspondence between DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe and a group of five letters from Mickey to Merlyn Mantle during The Mick’s rookie campaign in 1950-51.
Besides Al Tapper’s collection, the Winter Auction will also feature one of Lou Gehrig’s final game used bats from the 1938 season and possibly during that year’s Fall classic. Derived from the personal collection of teammate and Yankee Hall of Famer, Earle Combs and freshly graded and authenticated by PSA/DNA who scored the gorgeous Gehrig monument GU 10; this is one of the most important pieces of lumber ever offered from the Iron Horse. Ordered in September of 1938, this is one of the final bats Gehrig used during his illustrious career and may have been used during the ’38 World Series and possibly during Spring Training in 1939. The order date of this specimen points to September 7, 1938, the last month of his New York Yankees career.
“Pistol Pete” Maravich was one of the first sports stars to be a “rock star”, long before that terminology was used. Pete’s scoring accomplishments, ballhandling wizardry and flashy style were unique and groundbreaking in basketball and sports in general. While playing for the expansion NBA New Orleans Jazz franchise from 1974 to 1978, few games were televised nationally or locally. Legendary basketball coach, executive and scouting pioneer Bill Bertka was the General Manager of the New Orleans Jazz during Pete’s years there. Coach Bertka knew the value of game film for scouting and preparation, so he took the initiative to hire a private firm to film Jazz games. Coach Bertka also had the presence of mind to save the films that feature 37 different games in his personal basketball archives and they are now being presented to the public for the very first time as “The Lost Films of Pistol Pete” in the auction.
Other items from the Tapper collection include some incredible boxing relics including Sugar Ray Leonard’s fight worn gloves from the 1980 “NO MAS” bout vs. Roberto Duran that originated from the Angelo Dundee family collection. Duran’s gloves from the same fight are also offered. A unique Ali vs. Liston On-Site at the Boston Garden poster is offered. Perhaps the most intriguing boxing artifact is a letter double signed, “Cassius Clay” to the father of Mary Jo Kopechne after the Chappaquiddick Tragedy in 1969.
Other rare and certainly one-of-a-kind items offered from the collection includes original artwork by Katharine Hepburn. Hepburn’s self-portrait with Spencer Tracy originated from her estate sale at Sotheby’s in 2004. A highly significant 1/1 LeRoy Neiman original drawing of Mickey Mantle in 1967 is also offered.
One of the most unique and likely most sought-after artifacts that will be offered is Knute Rockne’s personally owned Rosary Beads and Cross that were found at the scene of the plane crash in 1931 clutched in his hands. A chilling, yet truly special and unique piece for whomever claims the winning bid. Also included in the extraordinarily rare group of lots is Bobby Thomson’s 1951 New York Giants cap worn to hit “The Shot Heard Round the World.” The cap had previously been on display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and comes with impeccable photo provenance.
The seemingly endless pursuit of a passionate American collector will all be concluded with the unbelievable sale at SCP Auctions from March 17 – April 3, 2021.
The Collection Highlights
1923 Original Home Plate from Yankee Stadium – PSA/DNA – $300,000+
Bobby Thomson’s 1951 New York Giants Cap worn to hit “The Shot Heard Round the World” – $200,000+
Letter from Mario Puzo to Marlon Brando to play the leading role in The Godfather – $100,000+
Highly Important Jackie Robinson signed 2-page letter with original correspondence from sender regarding the holocaust and the slave trade – $125,000+
Rare Babe Ruth handwritten letter to his mistress, Circa 1922 – $100,000+
Knute Rockne’s Personally Owned Rosary Beads and Cross – $100,000+
(more)
Five Different Rookie Era Letters from Mickey Mantle to Merlyn Mantle dating from 1950-1951 – $100,000+
One of a kind 1967 LeRoy Neiman Original Drawing of Mickey Mantle – $75,000+
“The Bloody Sock” worn by Curt Schilling in game two of the 2004 World Series – $75,000+
Joe DiMaggio autographed letter to Marilyn Monroe Circa 1954 – $75,000+
Circa 1960 Katharine Hepburn self-portrait with Spencer Tracy from the estate of Hepburn – $75,000+
Babe Ruth’s Personal Iconic Polo Cap – $50,000+
Marilyn Monroe handwritten letter and envelope to her sister Berniece circa 1948 & signed “Norma Jean” – $50,000+
James Dean signed and handwritten letter of biography file for Theater World in 1954 – $50,000+
Ted Williams Cleats worn when he hit his last home run in the final at bat of his career in 1960 – $50,000+
Ken Keltner Pro Model glove used in the DiMaggio July 17, 1941 56 game hit streak ending contest – $50,000+
Sugar Ray Leonard’s fight-worn gloves from 1980 bout vs. Roberto Durán – $50,000+
1960 Ted Williams signed Boston Red Sox players contract – His final season – $35,000+
Lou Gehrig Signed 8 x 10” Photograph in PSA/DNA MINT 9 Black Pen – $35,000+
Large Bronze Metal Plaque Memorial that Marked the birthplace of Lou Gehrig 1953 – $30,000+
Large Babe Ruth signed 17 x 21” photograph – $ 30,000+
Clark Gable 1928 signed and handwritten letter to his dad – $30,000+
Circa 1950 Bud Abbott and Lou Costello signed, “Who’s On First?” – $25,000+
Rare 1948 original photo “The Babe Bows Out” by Nat Fein – $25,000+
Arthur Ashe’s necklace worn in 1975 Wimbledon win in finals over Jimmy Connors – $20,000+
Mark Scott’s own autographed “Home Run Derby” baseball Circa 1960 – $20,000+
7/31/1969 Muhammad Ali handwritten and double signed, “Cassius Clay” letter regarding Chappaquiddick tragedy – $20,000+
Christy Mathewson’s Personal Dog Tags from World War I – $15,000+
Thomas Edison’s 5 Keys to his Menlo Park Laboratory Circa 1886 – $10,000+
