My father-in-law, William H. Rudy (1910-1980), was a distinguished sports reporter throughout his career, first covering the Chicago Cubs (and also the White Sox) out of Chicago for the Chicago Evening Post, later covering horse racing for the New York Post, and then Blood-Horse magazine based in Kentucky. In 1974 he was honored with the Eclipse Award, for "Outstanding Newspaper Columns on Thoroughbred Racing." I have six box score booklets, numbered No 1 to No 6, plus a 7th, covering the 1931 and 1932 seasons, that Rudy reported on. After the games, obviously, he would have consulted these as he wrote up the game for the Post. Future Cub Hall of Famers, recorded in these pages, are Billy Herman, Rogers Hornsby, Gabby Hartnett, Hack Wilson, George "High Pockets" Kelly, Kiki Cuyler. The manager, also a future Hall of Famer, was Joe McCarthy. The 1932 Cub team won the National League pennant, but lost the World Series to the New York Yankees. That series was made famous in Game 3 when Bath Ruth "predicted" a home run, pointing to the seats before launching it in the 5th inning. I attach a photo of the box score for that famous game. The Cubs were owned by William Wrigley Jr., who made an immense fortune manufacturing and selling Wrigley's chewing gum. Wrigley Field in Chicago, along with Fenway Park, are two of the most beloved ballparks in the country. In 1919 Wrigley purchased most of Santa Catalina Island, off the southern California coast, and from 1920 to 1952, the Cubs played spring training games there, in a stadium Wrigley built to the same dimensions as Wrigley Park in Chicago. Rudy covered these games as well (as did Ronald Reagan, for radio broadcasts), and contributed columns to the The Catalina Islander, the local paper. I have the front page of issue No. 11 (Vol. XVII, March18, 1931), where Rudy wrote his last article as the team packed up and went off to Chicago to open the '31 season. What I have 1) Six bound box score booklets, covering the 1930 thru 1932 Cub seasons. Booklet No. 4 covers the 1932 White Sox, many Hall of Famers (among the visiting teams) are recorded there, the best known of whom were Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees. Booklet 5 has, on its inside rear cover, some jottings by Rudy of a shooting incident he evidently covered, describing the various gunshot wounds victims had suffered; he may have been filling in for a fellow reporter covering the crime beat. Each of booklets 1-6 is 6 3/4" x 4" and were evidently supplied, gratis, by A. G. Spaulding, a well-known supplier of athletic uniforms and equipment. 2) A seventh scorecard booklet, of different size than the others (7 1/2" x 5 1/2"), internally numbered No. 3B, and covering just a few games. 2) Bill Rudy's Base Ball Writers of America membership card, in a leather billfold/wallet. 3) A Chicago Cubs medallion/keychain fob. 4) A b&w photo of Rudy at the Catalina training camp complex, with 4 other sports writers, all id'ed on the reverse side. 5) Front page of The Catalina Islander, noted above.
Photos in order: 7 scorecards; 3rd World Series game 1932 box score; Rudy Baseball writers assn ID card; leather wallet for same; photo 5 Chi Cub beat writers, with ids on reverse side; front page Catalina Islander with Rudy article; Chi Cub fob
Hi James,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
What an interesting - and possibly unique - baseball ephemera archive!
As you might imagine, it could be difficult to find comparable lots that have sold at auction but I've formulated my valuation based on these following auction sales of other baseball ephemera archives, noting that its provenance to William Rudy improves its chances of selling well at auction.
($400) https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/126782220_baseball-programs-scorecards-etc
(180) https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/156675292_baseball-lot-varied-scorecards-and-baseball-cards
($320) https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/163699592_incredible-1920-s-1930-s-world-series-diary-scorecard
($275) https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/138704603_lot-30-asst-1950-s-80-s-phillies-yearbooks-and-related
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:
William H. Rudy's early 1930s Chicago Cubs Ephemera Archive
comprising: 7 box-score booklets, 3rd World Series game 1932 box score; Rudy Baseball Writers Association ID card with leather wallet; photo of 5 Chicago Cub beat writers with ids on reverse side; front page Catalina Islander with Rudy article; a Chicago Cub fob
CONDITION: Not examined in person but this archive appears to be in all-original condition.
PROVENANCE: Original owned by Baseball / sports reporter Wm H. Rudy
$ 800-1,200*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia