2020 April Memorabilia Auction Featuring Ken Venturi Collection
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/12/2020
1927 Ryder Cup Banquet Menu Signed by Sixteen! Night Before Inaugural Ryder Cup Match - RARE
To encourage the intended gentlemanly,friendly nature of the Ryder Cup event a dinner honoring the teams of Great Britain and the United States was held on June 2 the night before the first match in Ryder Cup history. With a very limited number produced, and a scant few that remain almost 100 years after the event this menu is high on the list of the most prized items for Ryder Cup collectors. This 1927 center compacted four page menu for the inaugural match is in top condition free from the often seen heavy center creasing that is frequently seen on these types of items due to placement in the breast pocket of suit coats of the day. It does however present with chipping along the right side of the front cover that extends to the back cover as well. This area of chipping on the verso cover however does not detract from a Ryder Cup autograph collectors dream - the complete 16 players consisting of both full Britain and America squads (Of note both captains signatures who also played do not appear, and teams were comprised of eight players for the first event not the standard 12 we are accustomed to today). Listed as they are signed in clear 9 or 10 strength fountain pen autographs that appear top to bottom on page with team designation following are: Al Watrous (A), Audrey Boomer (B), Leo Diegel (A), George Duncan (B), Johnny Farrell (A), George Gadd (B), Arthur Havers (B), Herbert Jolly (B), Fred Robson (B), C.A. Whitcombe (B), Joe Turnesa (A), Al Espinoza (A), John Golden (A), Gene Sarazen (A), Archie Comston (B) and Wild Bill Melhorn (A). Lets dig deeper, and take a look at two signatures which appear on this tremendous collectable, flying under the radar so to speak. First we have the valuable signature of Hall of Famer Leo Diegel. He was elected to the Hall in 2003 some 52 years after his passing in 1951. Diegel was selected for each of the first four Ryder Cup teams in the same time frame he was able to capture back-to-back PGA Championships in 1928,29. Adding to the scarcity of this signature was a car accident Diegel had in 1938, while he was in his 30's, that ended his Tour career and many signing opportunities. Of note also when it comes to scarce golf autographs is the autograph of Johnny Golden who played in each of the first two United States Ryder Cups matches teaming with Hagen for foursome wins in both and adding a singles win in 1927 for a perfect 3-0-0 career mark. Golden, however, passed away at only 39 of pneumonia in 1936. The first of the inaugural Ryder Cup Matches to decease, a seldom seen signature in any format. In any condition this first dinner menu is prized, predating any Ryder Cup match in history, it ascends to its own stratosphere of collectable hierarchy with the treasured team autographs it retains. James Spence Authentication (JSA) has reviewed each of these signatures and their letter of authenticity will come with this lot.
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