The autograph(s) below are historic Pennant Races signed box score game cards. These autograph (s) represent a player(s) who played a significant role either in the historic pennant race game or season. The autographs range from the great Stan ‘The Man’ Musial (1942 game card) to a relatively nobody who hit ‘the Shot heard ’round the world‘, Bobby Thomson’s.
A few stats: This Pennant Races series includes 38 HOF’s and 40+ players that have passed away since signing a box score game card.
Series includes: 102 player signatures (41 HOF’s & 48 players who have since passed away).
Click the box score side for the signature, the back side for the game article.
Pennant Race Card #0011 – September 27, 1942
Autograph(s): Musial (D) – played in historic game.
Comment: What can you say about ‘Stan the Man’ Musial that hasn’t been said … a truly great guy and one of the great players of all time. He was such an admired ball player that in 2011 President Barack Obama presented Musial with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the highest civilian awards that can be bestowed on a person by the United States government. His autograph is treasured.
Box Score Grade Importance: 9.6
Player’s history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Musial
Pennant Race Card #0012 – October 1, 1944
Autograph(s): Gutteridge (D), Hayworth (D) – played in historic game.
Comment: Autographs? Gutteridge was the last living St Louis Brown player and a member of the Gashouse gang. Hayworth played in 17 major league seasons as a catcher and at one point held the MLB record for consecutive chances without an error 439, later broken by Yogi. The autographs speak for themselves … Hayworth was born in 1905..
Box Score Grade Importance: 9.0
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Gutteridge
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Hayworth
Pennant Race Card #0013 – September 30, 1945
Autograph(s): Newhouser (HOF -D), Trucks (D) – played in historic game.
Or select card #2: Newhouser (HOF – D)
Comment: Hal Newhouser was an MVP two years in a row as a pitcher! Add that with the events leading up to Virgil Trucks’ … return at the end of the season to the Tigers what a game … make this a very special signed box score game card.
Box Score Grade Importance: 9.8
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Newhouser
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgil_Trucks.
Pennant Race Card – # 0014 October 3, 1946
Autograph(s): Musial (HOF -D) – played in historic game.
Or select card #2: Slaughter (HOF – D)
Comment: This game is historic in no short order … it was MLB’s first ever playoff series, EVER!. Note: The NL format for a playoff when teams were tied for first … no wild card here … was a best-of-three series. Whereas the AL was one-game winner take all. Either card represents an historic moment in what we now know as the MLB playoffs.
Box Score Grade Importance: 9.5
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Musial
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enos_Slaughter
Pennant Race Card #0015 – October 4, 1948
Autograph(s): Boudreau (HOF -D) – played in historic game.
Comment: One game playoff. Seems unimaginable in today’s world where two teams would have the best record in their league and have to settle the matter with a one-game playoff. Well that’s exactly what the Red Sox and Indians did in 1948 and what a game Lou Boudreau had.
Note: What makes Boudreau signature so special on this box score game card is not only was he the MVP of the game, but of the ’48 season. And he did it all while managing the team. Pretty awesome!
Box Score Grade Importance: 10
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Boudreau
Pennant Race Card #0016 – October 2, 1949 (AL)
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Autograph(s): Rizzuto (D – HOF), Doerr (D – HOF), D. DiMaggio (D), Bauer (D), Coleman (D) – played in historic game.
Or select card #2: Berra (HOF – D), Rizzuto (D – HOF).
Comment: One heck-of-a pennant race. Some old-timers will tell you this is when the Red Sox / Yankee rivalry was revived. Since the 1920’s the Red Sox were just another AL team the Yankees rolled over. But with Ted Williams around no one rolled over the Red Sox. However, when all was said and done who won? The Yankees! A unique collectible (signatures).. Note; Bobby Doerr is the last living player from this rivalry at age 99!.
Box Score Grade Importance: 9.5
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Coleman
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogi_Berra
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Doerr
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dom_DiMaggio
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Bauer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Rizzuto
Pennant Race Card #0017 – October 2, 1949 (NL)
Autograph(s): Newcombe (D) – played in historic game
Or select card #2: Banta (D).
Comment: This was a pennant race that in mid-September you would have thought the Cardinals had the race wrapped up. But the Dodgers never gave up and on the last day … needing a win … sent their star rookie Don Newcombe to the mound. He faltered but Jack Banta didn’t, and the Dodgers won the pennant. Newcombe though not a HOF in many ways does not get his just due. For a six-year period he was the Dodger’s ace … an era that would establish the Dodger legacy.
Box Score Grade Importance: 9.3
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Newcombe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Banta_(baseball)
Pennant Race Card #0018 – October 1, 1950
Autograph(s): Roberts (HOF – D) – played in historic game.
Comment: An era where you sent out your best pitcher and never looked back. Robin Roberts for the Phillies and Don Newcombe for the Dodgers, in a classic confrontation between the Wiz Kids and the Bums. And if it hadn’t been for a blunder by the Dodger’s third base coach, Newcombe would have been the man. However, Roberts was the better pitcher that day and he won.
Note: Having both Roberts & Necoombe’s autographs on this historic box score game card … a true treasure!
Think about it. You could have Roberts & Newcombe’s autograph on a photo, a ball , a jersey or whatever, how distinct is that?
Box Score Grade Importance: 9.9
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Newcombe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Roberts_(baseball)
Pennant Race Card #0019 – October 3, 1951
Autograph(s): Thomson (D), Branca (D) – played in historic game.
Comment: This is the greatest game ever played in MLB history … no ifs, ands or buts. First off, from a national interest it rivaled Merle’s Blunder, a re-match game between the Cubs & Giants (1908). Secondly, the teams, their players, the New York neighborhoods, you name it, … Dodgers and Giants of all strips hated each other. I mean hated each other. And for walk-off home runs … there’s no comparison … this is the grand daddy!
Add the autographs of the two players that played the final role in this historic game … enough said.
Video Highlights: 1951 Playoff Video
Box Score Grade Importance: 10
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Newcombe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Branca
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Thomson
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Irvin
Pennant Race Card #0020 – September 25,1954
Autograph(s): Doby (D), Lary (D), Stickland D), Glynn (D) – played in historic game.
Comment: This Cleveland Indian team won 111 games to end a Yankee run of five straight World Series championships establishing at the time an American League record, only the 1906 Cubs had won more in a season (116). And yes, since this set was produced there’s been some great AL regular season teams such as the Mariners (2001 – 116 wins) and the Yankees (1998 – 114 wins). But this team was special including the Larry Doby (HOF), the first Afro-American to play in the American League … an exceptional box score game card.
Box Score Grade Importance: 9.2
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Doby
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Glynn
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Strickland_(baseball)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Lary
Pennant Race Card #0021 – September 29,1959
Autograph(s): Snider (HOF – D), Sphan (HOF – D), Wills, Burdette (D), Williams, Moon (D), Fairly (D) – played in historic game..
Comment: Yes, the Dodgers moved to LA in 1958 and finished next to last in the NL. Yet here they were in 1959 winning a playoff series against the Braves. It would be the pre-curser to LA Dodger mania.
The signatures are very symbolic. First you have Duke Snider who represents the old Dodgers (Brooklyn). Next,you have Maury Wills who represents the new Dodger (LA). Next, you have Wally Moon ‘The Moon Shot’ who represents their odd ballpark the ‘Coliseum’. And then, you have Chuck Essegian who will hit two (2) pinch hit homers in the ’59 World Series, first man ever to do it. And next, you have Warren Spahn & Lou Burdette, the Braves two aces who led Milwaukee to two pennants and one World Series title (1957 & 1958). And lastly, you have the winning pitcher Stan Williams who will walk in go-ahead run in the final game of the 1962 NL playoff.
Box Score Grade Importance: 10
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Snider
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Spahn
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maury_Wills
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lew_Burdette
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Williams_(baseball)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wally_Moon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Fairly
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Essegian
Pennant Race Card #0022 – October 3, 1962
Autograph(s): Mays (HOF), McCovey (D-HOF), Cepeda (HOF), Perry (D-HOF), Marichal (HOF), Snider (D-HOF), Wills, T. Davis – played in historic game.;
Comment: Not only is this an historic game between two of baseball’s most bitter rivals but this will be the Giants’ only pennant in San Francisco for almost 50 years. With the players they had, it’s hard to believe.
As for the signed card it’s as rare as they come. You have five legit Giants HOFs including one of the greats of all time, Willie Mays. Next, Duke Snider, a HOF connecting Brooklyn & LA. Next, Maury Wills, whom on this day would steal his 104th base, a record few people thought would ever be broken. And for good measure Tommy Davis who would end up the 1962 NL’s batting & RBI champ. A very, very valuable box score game card.
Box Score Grade Importance: Priceless
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Mays
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_McCovey
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlando_Cepeda
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Marichal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaylord_Perry
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Snider
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maury_Wills
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Davis
Pennant Race Card #0023 – October 4, 1964
Autograph(s): Gibson (D-HOF), Brock (D-HOF – D), McCarver, Kranepool – played in historic game.
Comment: Four intriguing autographs. First you have Bob Gibson an ace by anyone standard. Then, you have Lou Brock whom 10 years later would smash the MLB record for most stolen bases in a season with 118. Next, you have Tim McCarver whom would become a national icon on radio & TV. And lastly, you have one of the most beloved original Mets Ed Kranepool. All this on a box score game card that represented an incredible pennant race.
Box Score Grade Importance: 9.8
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Brock
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Gibson
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_McCarver
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Kranepool
Pennant Race Card #0024 – October 1, 1967
Autograph(s): Yaz (HOF), Petrocelli, Lonborg, Gibson (D), Tartabell, Harrelson, Andrews, Smith, Scott (D), Oliva (Twin), Carew (Twin – HOF) – played in historic game.
Comment: This game card is a relic if you consider where the Red Sox franchise was in 1966 and where it is today.
This Impossible Dream team captivated the city of Boston only to be surpassed by 2004 Sox team. Yaz,the ’67 triple crown winner and Jim Lonborg the Cy Young winner were the big shots but the other guys were quite a cast of characters and certainly did their part. It’s a cherish card with all these signatures. Checkout the links below and you’ll see what we mean.
Box Score Grade Importance: Priceless
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Yastrzemski
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Lonborg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rico_Petrocelli
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ_Gibson
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Tartabull
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Andrews
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggie_Smith
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Scott_(first_baseman)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Harrelson
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Oliva
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Carew
Pennant Race Card #0025 – October 6, 1969
Autograph(s): Gasper, Kranepool, C. Jones (D), Boswell – played in historic game.
Comment: The Miracle Mets … what a team. As for the autographs on this box score game card? Jones was their leading hitter (.340, etc.); Kranepool was ‘the’ original Met;’ Gasper (a rookie) would always be remembered when just before the World Series, Frank Robinson said, “Bring on the Mets and Ron Gaspar!”; and Boswell whom on September 10th had the game winning hit for the Mets in the 12th inning which put the Mets in first place … for the first time in their history, And they never looked back. A very nice box score game card.
Box Score Grade Importance: 9.6
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Kranepool
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleon_Jones
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Gaspar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Boswell
Pennant Race Card #0026 – October 1, 1973
Autograph(s): Seaver (D – HOF) – played in historic game.
Or select card #2: Seaver (D – HOF), Hooton; Card #2 –
Comment: Tom Seaver is Mr. Met, so his autograph is always valuable and particularly so on this box score game card when he pitched the and won the clincher for the Mets … barely a .500 team. Also included on the first card is Burt Hooton autograph, the opposing pitcher.
Box Score Grade Importance: 9.4
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Seaver
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burt_Hooton
Pennant Race Card #0027 – October 9, 1974
Autograph(s): Fingers (HOF), Tenace, Blue, Rudi, Bando, Jackson (HOF), Campaneris – played in historic game.
Comment: When you talk about the great teams of the 20th Century, this A’s team maybe at the bottom of the ‘great’ list but they are on the list. These are seven of the key players (autographs) from those 1972, ’73 & ’74 world championship teams. Missing is Catfish Hunter’s autograph … unfortunately he was too ill to sign the card. Quite a box score game card.
Box Score Grade Importance: 9.7
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollie_Fingers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Tenace
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vida_Blue
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Rudi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sal_Bando
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Campaneris
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggie_Jackson
Pennant Race Card #0028 – October 14, 1976
Autograph(s): Chambliss & Brett – played in historic game.
Or select card #1 & 2: just Chambliss to be posted.
Comment: This is an historic game in Yankee lore. Chris Chambliss’s home run in the bottom of the ninth is as dramatic home run as any in Yankee history … it ended a Yankee twelve-year playoff drought. Add HOF George Brett’s autograph to the box score game card, who’s 3-run homer knotted the game at 6-6. And WOW!
Note: And for good measure let’s not forget Brett’s July 24, 1976 ‘Pine Tar Game’.
Box Score Grade Importance: 9.6
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Brett
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Chambliss
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Rivers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Figueroa
Pennant Race Card #0029 – October 2, 1978
Autograph(s): Guidry, Gossage (HOF), Rice (HOF), Evans, Torrez. – played in historic game.
Comment: An historic one game play-off between the Yankees and Sox.
Obviously, Dent’s autograph is significant but Guidry with the season he had. Then add HOFs Gossage & Rice … both had great years. And, then Dwight Evans, a beloved Sox who had almost 2500 career hits, with Torrez. A special box score game card.
Box Score Grade Importance: 9.3
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucky_Dent
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Guidry
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goose_Gossage
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Rice
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_Evans
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Torrez
Pennant Race Card #0030 – October 12, 1980
Autograph(s): Carlton (HOF), Schmidt (HOF) – played in historic game.
Comment: For Mike Schmidt this was his best year (1980) and Steve Carlton, his second-best year behind 1972. Both top tier HOFs. This was Carlton’s best post season with a 3-0 mark.
Box Score Grade Importance: 9.6
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Schmidt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Carlton
Pennant Race Card #0031 – October 19, 1981
Autograph(s): Dawson (HOF), Monday, Garvey, Cey, Baker, Russell, Valenzuela or
Monday, Valenzuela, Rogers -played in historic game
Comment: First the MLB strike. Then, the decision to split the season. Then, the first ever post-season series outside of the USA. And then, Rick Monday’s dramatic 9th inning home run off of Steve Rogers to win it for the Dodgers. Add Garvey, whom will be the ’81 WS MVP but more importantly Fernando Valenzuela would this ‘ 81 season would become the only player in MLB history to win Rookie of the Year and Cy Young in the same season. For Dodger fans the season would be known as ‘Fernandomania’. Other Dodger signatures Cey, Russell and Montreal’s HOF Andre Dawson as well as Rogers.
A pretty special card.
Box Score Grade Importance: 9.8
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Valenzuela
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Garvey
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Cey
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dusty_Baker%MCEPASTEBIN%
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Russell_(baseball)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Monday
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_Dawson
Pennant Race Card #0032 – October 3, 1982
Autograph(s): Molitor (HOF), Yount (HOF), Murray (HOF), Palmer (HOF), Sutton (D – HOF), Ripkin (HOF), Ted Simmons (HOF) – played in historic game.
Comment: This one-game playoff game did not live up to the hype when considering the lineups and starting pitchers. However, if you are a collector, it’s a valuable box score game card when you consider the significance of the game and HOFs who sign it.
Box Score Grade Importance: Priceless
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Molitor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Yount
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Murray
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Palmer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Sutton
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cal_Ripken_Jr.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Simmons
Pennant Race Card #0033 – October 12, 1986
Autograph(s): Henderson (D), Hurst, Gedman, Carew (HOF) – played in historic game.
Comment: Henderson’s autograph representing his dramatic 11th inning home run that capped an unbelievable 9th inning … awesome! Card #2 autographs pretty cool too …Henderson’s, Gedman’s (had a heck-of-a-game), Hurst’s (starting pitcher) along with HOF Rod Carew ‘Mr. Halo’.
Box Score Grade Importance: 9.5.
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Henderson
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Hurst
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Gedman
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Carew
Pennant Race Card #0034 – October 15, 1986
Autograph(s): Orosco – played in historic game.
Comment: Orosco did what no other player has done in since MLB incorporated this playoff system … win every game in the series … three in all. He had quite a career … retiring at 46 after playing in four different decades. Special single signed box score game card.
Box Score Grade Importance: 9.1
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Orosco
Pennant Race Card #0035 – October 4, 1987
Autograph(s): Tanana; & Herndon – played in historic game.
Comment: This was a classic pitching duel between two of the best in 1987. Frank Tanana for the Tigers and Key for the Blue Jays. Key made one mistake, it cost him and the Blue Jays the division title – Herdon’s home run. . The autographs? Card #1 – Herndon; Card #2 – Tanana; Card #3 – the gem – Herndon & Tanana.
Box Score Grade Importance: 9.5
Player’s history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Herndon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Tanana
Pennant Race Card #0036 – October 17, 1991
Autograph(s): Smoltz – played in historic game.;
Or select card #2:Smoltz, Glavine, Maddux.
Comment: Card#1 – John Smoltz (autograph)at his HOF best, pitching Atlanta to its first ever senior circuit title. Card#2 – autographs Smoltz, Tom Glavine & Greg Maddux. Yes, Maddux did not play for this ’91 Braves team but the three HOFs autograph on one card is pretty cool.
Box Score Grade Importance 10 (#2)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Smoltz
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Smiley_(baseball)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Pendleton
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Glavine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Maddux
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