1941 BASEBALL HISTORY – BROOKLYN DODGERS’ MICKEY OWENS’ LEGENDARY DROPPED 3RD STRIKE

thebigmuff5.jpgDODGER CATCHER MUFFS 3RD STRIKE IN 9TH INNING ALLOWING
YANKEES TO EVENTUALLY WIN A KEY WORLD SERIES CONTEST

INCREDIBLE FRONT PAGE HEADLINES AND GRAPHIC PHOTOS OF THE LEGENDARY PLAY!

The Boston Post
October 6, 1941

Of all the rare newspapers we have EVER owned (and this includes Babe Ruth’s 60th Home Run), this complete issue of the Boston Post is one of our personal favorites.  One glance at the scans will convince you–it is simply chilling!  My father told me a great deal of Major League Baseball lore, and Mickey Owens muff of what should have been the final strike in the 9th inning was the one I really remembered.  But, to actually see it in print as those did back in 1941 when this newspaper was put out on the stands–priceless!!

As the beginning of the front page report opens, “It could have happened only in Brooklyn.”  Mickey Owens couldn’t catch pitcher Hugh Casey’s low curveball to Tommy Henrich (who had swung and missed for the third strike and final out of the game), who ended up on first base.  Casey never recovered after this play as the Bronx Bombers, starting with Joe DiMaggio, belted the Dodger hurler for four runs to win the fourth game of the 1941 World Series, 7-4. The front page contains two huge graphic photos of the play while the Sports page continues the massive game coverage with three additional photos, big headlines and even a large cartoon. The complete story of the game is included plus the box score and composite WS box score.  The hapless “Bums” never recovered from the 9th inning debacle as the Yankees would go on to win the Series, 4 games to 1.

This remarkable issue has other news and features as well including the Death of Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, a great photo of Shirley Temple and a huge (3/4 of a page) Oldsmobile advertisement (it just leaps out at you)!

This is the complete 18-page newspaper as printed back in 1941 – one of the top sports newspapers (for my money, that is) I’ve yet seen.  Condition is very fine with no problems or tears noted.  I’d recommend reading it cover to cover a few times, show my friends, and then have it framed!

$2,150

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Posted by mmitchell | Filed Under All Historic Newspapers, Sports History, The 20th + 21st Centuries 

MICKEY MANTLE HITS THREE HOMERS IN ONE GAME…FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE PLATE!

MANTLE BECOMES FIRST PLAYER IN BASEBALL HISTORY TO HIT HOME RUNS
BOTH LEFT-HANDED AND RIGHT-HANDED….IN ONE GAME!

YANKEE SLUGGER ACCOUNTS FOR ALL FIVE RUNS IN VICTORY OVER DETROIT TIGERS

ALSO…TED WILLIAMS SIGNS WITH BOSTON RED SOX FOR $75,000

The Detroit Free Press
May 14, 1955

The Sports Page headlines say it all: “MANTLE PUTS SLUG ON TIGERS, 5-2.”  “3 HOMERS TOO MUCH FOR GROMEK.” The Free Press publishes both the fantastic achievement from Yankee Stadium in New York, the complete box score, PLUS a great photo of “The Mick” handling three bats at one time!  

Also in this issue is a report that the great Ted Williams is glad to be “back to work” with the Boston Red Sox for 1955.  “The Splendid Splinter” had considered retiring, but decided to come back once again. During the season, he appeared in 98 games hitting an amazing .356 with 28 home runs.  Nice photo of “Teddy Ballgame” practicing a bunt of all things!

The complete issue contains 24 pages and is in nice shape.  The paper has some pages wholly or partially separated at the spine apparently when the issue was disbound from a 1955 volume years ago. The only damage I see is to the last unimportant page (23-24).  With Mantle rookie cards selling for as high as $1.1 million (!), this historic issue is quite the bargain to say the least!  I seldom, if ever, see a newspaper on Mickey Mantle.

$1,750

Posted by mmitchell | Filed Under All Historic Newspapers, Sports History, The 20th + 21st Centuries