The 20th Annual Live Auction at Capital One All-Star Village
Tuesday, July 16th at 10:30am CT
Welcome to the online catalogue for the The 20th Annual Live Auction at Capital One All-Star Village.
Online pre-bidding ends Monday, July 15th at 10:00pm ET for Lots 1-473. Lots 1-473 will re-open for live bidding on Tuesday, July 16th 10:00am CT. After online pre-bidding closes on our website, the auction will move to the live format, with bidding available via telephone, absentee, and online interactively via Invaluable (see below). High Bids & Ceiling Bids placed on these lots during the online bidding period will be executed competitively during the Live Auction. If you wish to phone bid during the Live Auction please call 610-524-0822 or email info@huntauctions.com before July 16th. Please note, you do not have to pre-bid in order to bid during the live auction.
Lots 474-End will remain open for online bidding and will subsequently close individually the evening of the 16th, with the 30 minute extended bidding rule kicking in as of 10:00pm.
If you have any trouble bidding on auction day, July 16th, please call our office at 610-524-0822 so we can assist you as quickly as possible.
Live Interactive Online Bidding will be available to all registered Hunt Auctions bidders.This bidding platform will provide Hunt Auctions bidders the ability to participate with real time interactive online bidding during the live auction. The interactive bidding will be powered by Invaluable and may be accessed via a link that will be available closer to the date of the auction. Bidders must have a valid Hunt Auctions username and current email address to bid interactively online during the auction. Please note, unless you have already received premiere bidding status and plan to bid live online for item(s), $40,000 is the total bidding limit, you will need to be preapproved as such.
Selections from the Geddy Lee Collection: Part II
Geddy Lee is universally known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the iconic rock and roll band Rush. Geddy also enjoys a deep passion for the game of baseball. During the late 1970s, while on tour with Rush in the Unted States, Geddy’s pursuit to collect artifacts from the National Pastime was ignited and continued for over 40 years. The Geddy Lee Collection contained hundreds of signed and historic milestone baseballs, spanning over three centuries of Major League Baseball and American history.
The initial offering from the Geddy Lee Collection took place in December of 2023 within a partnership auction conducted by Hunt Auctions and Christie’s garnering national interest. We are pleased to present this second installment from the collection highlighted by select offerings from Geddy’s stunning collection of U.S. Presidential signed baseballs some of which were thrown out for the ceremonial first pitches. President Hoover famously stated, “Next to religion, baseball has furnished a great impact on American life more than any other institution.” Of particular note within the current offering are single signature examples from Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy both of which were also thrown out for the ceremonial first pitch to open their respective MLB seasons.
Each lot within the Geddy Lee Collection will be accompanied by appropriate documentation of same. A select number of Geddy’s favorite items are featured within a forthcoming limited edition book, “72 Stories from the Collection of Geddy Lee” and are noted as such in their respective auction catalogue descriptions. For those noted, the winning bidders will receive a copy of the book signed by Geddy.
Paul Basile Collection: Important Archive of 19th Century Baseball
Lots 70-83 represent one of the most significant single owner collections of 19th century baseball artifacts to have ever been publicly offered. Paul Basile grew up in Woburn, MA playing in both Little League and The Babe Ruth Leagues. Along with his brother Charlie, he developed a passion for collecting especially early photography. Fascinated with images of the huge crowds watching baseball games in the 19th century Paul switched to collecting related baseball artifacts. This passion led to his methodical assemblage of an amazing total of nine silver trophy baseballs in addition to the stunning Trimountain baseball ambrotype and trophy bat. Paul Basile was a champion in his relentless pursuit to research the baseball materials he sought after and acquired equaled by very few. Paul passed away in November of 2023 after a lengthy battle with cancer and had the hope that these scarce baseball artifacts would bring enjoyment to other collectors just as they did him.
The Anthony Brizzolara Collection
Lots 84-138 originate from the Anthony Brizzolara Collection which is one of the definitive American baseball autograph collections containing thousands of signatures. Anthony started collecting in the early parts of the 20th century and amassed this treasure over five decades including Hall of Famers as well as the most obscure of utility players. The most noteworthy aspect of this unique collection is that Anthony did not pay for a single signature. He spent many of his working years as a passenger service representative for the New York Central Railroad in Chicago, Illinois. His main responsibility during the summer months was to facilitate Major League teams traveling in and out of Chicago by rail for games against the White Sox and the Cubs. Anthony utilized this unique access to the ballplayers to accumulate much of his collection. He supplemented the ever-growing collection by traveling with his railroad pass to minor league ballparks, obtaining autographs from players yet to appear in the Majors. After retirement, he went through various publications checking additions to the Major League roster of all the ball clubs. When a new player appeared on the roster, he would write to that player, tell him about the collection and ask for an autograph. Anthony Brizzolara passed away 30 years ago in his beloved Chicago. The Brizzolara family is offering the collection with the hope that autograph enthusiasts around the world can enjoy this unique piece of history. The proceeds from the sale of Anthony’s collection will go to a charitable foundation dedicated to advancing the interests of baseball, youth baseball in particular. In honor of Anthony Brizzolara we present this monumental autograph collection.
Preview Exhibition & Appraisal Fair
Choctaw Stadium
July 13 - 16, 2024
Live Auction
Tuesday, July 16th at 10:30 am CT
Choctaw Stadium
1000 Ballpark Way
Arlington, TX 76011
Bidding Inquiries:
Hunt Auctions
256 Welsh Pool Road | Exton, PA 19341
Ph: 610.524.0822 | Fax: 610.524.0826
info@huntauctions.com