1937 Negro League East-West All-Star Game Large-Format Presentation Photograph (Ex-Buck Leonard Personal Collection)

Sold For:

$4,994

Year:

1937

Auction:

2008 Spring

Lot #:

1334

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

Original presentation display photograph (10.5 x 14 inches) of the Negro League East-West All-Star game East Squad team taken on August 8, 1937, at Comiskey Park, where the annual classic was played. Each player is wearing his respective Negro League team's uniform. The photographer, L. L. Foster, is identified in the lower left. The photo is captioned in white lettering in the lower right "East-West Game - Aug 8, 1937 - Comiskey Park - Chicago, IL." This team includes Hall of Famers Buck Leonard, Leon Day, Ray Dandridge, Willie Wells, Biz Mackey, and Mule Suttles. Buck Leonard's home run helped the East to a 7-2 victory. The East-West Classic started in 1933, the same year as the Major League All-Star game, and was the Negro League's annual showcase event. The East-West All-Star game drew enormous crowds, and was considered to be a more important event than even the postseason World Series. The historical significance of this photo is equaled only by its provenance. This photo originates from the personal collection of Buck Leonard and was later obtained by famed Negro League collector Jeff Eastland, where it remained for many years before being sold, along with his entire collection, in Robert Edward Auctions' 2004 sale. These large-format display photographs were presented to each player on the team. This was Buck Leonard's personal presentation photo, given to him as a keepsake in honor of his participation in the 1937 Negro League East-West All-Star game. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only surviving example. Buck Leonard neatly wrote the score of the game, "East-Winner - 7-2," at the top of the photo, above the players. When Robert Edward Auctions originally offered this piece in 2004 it was accompanied by a photo (copy) of Buck Leonard and Jeff Eastland posing together in Leonard's den, with this very photograph hanging on the wall behind them (unfortunately, that photo is not included here). Exceptionally high quality photograph with tremendous detail. In Excellent condition. Beautifully matted and framed to dimensions of 17 x 20 inches. Reserve $500. Estimate $1,000/$2,000. SOLD FOR $4,993.75