Enormous 1929-1981 Baseball Film Library Collection (167 Reels)

Sold For:

$117,500

Year:

1950

Auction:

2007 Spring

Lot #:

1051

Category:

-

Barry Halper began collecting over a half-century ago, long before the advent of video recorders and DVD players. As a result, his collection included an extensive archive of baseball films, many of which are extremely rare today. Offered here is an extraordinary collection of 167 individual baseball and sports films, spanning seven decades, representing the complete baseball film library of the Barry Halper Collection. This is by far the most substantial and comprehensive collection of vintage baseball films we have ever seen, let alone offered. All of the films are 16 mm unless otherwise noted. The films all appear to be in stable condition and can be viewed with a standard projector. All but four of the films are accompanied by a protective canister. Of special note in this collection are the fifty-seven reels of NBC Gillette Cavalcade of Sports television films from the 1950s (some as late as 1960) featuring extremely rare footage of players which was specially produced for viewing during the early days of television. These films have probably not been seen in decades and we are not aware of their ever having been commercially released in a modern viewing format. These are true relics of a bygone era and are highly collectible today. This comprehensive collection may have value for potential commercial use as well as for personal viewing. It is interesting to note that Barry had a few of the canisters signed by players and these are duly noted in the listing. If the year of issue is known, it will be noted in parenthesis next to the film. The titles listed here were taken from the written notations on each respective cannister. The acutal, formal titles of the film may be slightly different. World Series Highlight Reels (46 total): 1) 1929 (32 mm, Movietone News). 2) 1937-1957 (ten years of highlights on one reel), 3) 1943. 4) 1944. 5) 1945. 6) 1946 (the outer case is inscribed "To Barry - a great fan - Stan Musial" in black marker, grading "5"). 7-8) 1947 (2 separate copies). 9-10) 1948 (two separate reels, one is silent, the outer case of the other film is inscribed "To Barry - Best of Luck - Bob Feller, grading "8"). 11-12) 1949 (2 separate copies). 13) 1950. 14) 1951 (the outer case is inscribed "To Barry - Kind Regards - Monte Irvin" in blue marker, grading "8"). 15) 1952. 16) 1953. 17) 1955. 18) 1956 (the outer case is inscribed "To Barry - Best Wishes - Johnny Kucks in blue marker, grading "7" and "Good Show - Bob Feller" in red marker, grading "7"). 19) 1957. 20) 1958. 21) 1959. 22) 1960. 23) 1961. 24) 1962. 25) 1963. 26-27) 1964 (two separate copies). 28) 1965. 29) 1966. 30-31) 1967 (two separate copies). 32) 1968. 33) 1969. 34) 1970. 35) 1971. 36) 1972. 37). 1973. 38) 1974. 39) 1975. 40) 1976. 41) 1977 (the outer case is inscribed "To Barry - Best Wishes - Paul Blair" in black marker, grading "5"). 42) 1978. 43) 1979. 44) 1980. 45) 1981. 46) 1982. Miscellaneous World Series Reels (4 total): 1) 1949 (w/other footage). 2) 1951 (Game 6). 3) 1952 (Game 4). 4) 1960 (Games 4 and 5). Team Highlight Reels (8 total): 1-2) Chicago Cubs 1938 (spring training) and 1939 (silent, spring training), 3-6) Milwaukee Braves 1956, 1958, 1959, and 1961. 7-8) Phillies 1950 and 1974/75. General Baseball Reels (29 total): The titles given here are the titles on either the canister and/or film. 1) 50 Years of Baseball. 2) 50 Years of Baseball Memories (the outer case is inscribed "A Great Show - Bob Feller" in red marker, grading "9"). 3) 1950s highlight reel. 4) 1953 Time Out for Sports with Marty Glickman (Whitey Lockman). 5) 1952 All-Star Game (35 mm). 6) 1953 Time Out for Sports with Marty Glickman (Joe DiMaggio). 7) 1967 Baseball Highlights. 8) 1978 All-Star Game. 9) A Star For All Diamonds. 10) Baseball (1938, silent, includes Cub/Yanks World Series highlights). 11) Baseball Greats. 12) Baseball Is Back (the outer case is inscribed "Great Show - Bob Feller" in red marker, grading "9"). 13) The Baseball Stars. 14) Big League Baseball (1939). 15) Clemente. 16) Connie Mack Show. 17) Democracy of Baseball. 18) Casey at the Mets. 19) Double Play Kings. 20) Home Run Heroes (1971). 21) Horsehide Heroes. 22) Lou Gehrig - King of Diamonds. 23) Right Handed Batters (1964 w/Mantle, Richardson Howard and other Yankees). 24) Say Hey (1954 plus the final games at Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds). 25) Sports Thrills (silent, 1941 All-Star Game and World Series). 26) The Story of the Washington Nationals, 27) The Sultan of Swat (35 mm). 28) Take Me Out to the Ballgame. 29) Tools of Ignorance. Baseball Instructional Reels (2 total): 1) Batting and Bunting (Sports Training Film Series sponsored by Coca Cola). 2) Infield Play At First & Third (1949, w/Gil Hodges, George Kell and Ferris Fain). Gillette Television Shorts (57 total): These are small reels in 3.75-inch diameter canisters that feature player interviews done on television during the 1950s and 1960s. Listed are the years represented and the player(s) featured on each individual reel. 1947: Hank Aaron, 1953: Simmons/Bauer, Durocher/Mays. 1954: Willie Mays (2), Leja/Ford, Piersall/Crandall, Bob Grim, George Kell, Al Hefer, Del Crandall, Ashburn/Erskine, Leo Durocher. 1955: Lou Boudreau, Al Rosen, Hodges, Coleman, Kell/Pierce/Fox, Ken Boyer, Bob Turley, Don Zimmer, Marty Marion, Duke Snider, Pee Wee Reese. 1956: Campanella/Newcombe, Jackie Jensen, Jimmy Piersall, Casey Stengel, Whitey Ford, Dick Pierce. 1957: Early Wynn, Casey Stengel. 1958: Skowron. 1960: Jim Landis, Elston Howard, Duke Snider, Willie Mays, Don Blasingame, Bill Rigne. 1961: Ralph Houk, Bobby Richardson. 1962: Don Drysdale, Brooks Robinson, Bill Mazeroski, Maury Wills, Dick Radiz, Wally Moon, Woody Held, Ken McBrid. Unknown Years: Luis Aparicio, Wally Moon, Hank Bauer, Rich Ashburn, Ted Kluszewski, Casey Stengel, Red Schoendienst, Pee Wee Reese. General Sports Highlight Reels (7 total): 1) The Big Play Back (includes the '39 Kentucky Derby, Sammy Snead 1954, Masters w/Ben Hogan). 2) Greatest Moments in Sports. 3) Sports Immortals w/Mel Allen, 4) Swiss Sports (1935, St. Moritz). 5) Tele Sports Digest (1953). 6-7) Tele Sports Digest (two separate reels, years unknown). Miscellaneous Baseball Films (11 total): A number of the films in this collection are not titled and only offer a few identifying notations. We have described these films here as they are described on the canister. 1-2) Two small reels that are labeled "Babe Ruth - Sweden." One is further labeled "Babe Ruth and Family - Ruth in Switzerland -Babe on Ice." 3) Lou Gehrig's Farewell. 4) Rizzuto 5) 1951 (Kuzava/Morgan/Lopat and one other (name illegible). 6) Yankees. 7) World Series. 8) Phillies Clinch Pennant. 9-11) Three films that appear to offer a number of highlights from various eras. Unidentified (3 total): Three reels are unidentified in any manner. From the Barry Halper Collection. Please Note: Due to the size and/or weight of this lot, shipping costs (depending on where it is sent and its method of shipping) may be substantial. Total: 167 films. Reserve $2,500. Estimate (open). SOLD FOR $117,500.00