2016 Ryder Cup Week Golf Memorabilia Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/2/2016
1938 Masters Tournament Series Ticket - March 27th-April 3rd
This lot is one of four joining lots 5,6,8 which come from the family of an early Augusta National member. We are excited to bring this new material which has been in the families possession since the infancy of the Masters tournament to the golf collecting community. The first round of the 1938 Masters was played through a steady rain before players and spectators were pulled off the course, Eugene Serafin had reached 5 under after a blazing 32 on the front side that rainy Thursday in Augusta. Hall of Fame sportswriter Grantland Rice's coverge of the courses condition stated, "But the greens, or many of them, had become young lakes. You had to use a gondola in place of a putter." Among the many logistics to get the tournament back underway, which did not resume until Saturday(an event that did not conclude until 36 holes on Sunday and the final 18 on Monday), was the reissuing of the many members cardboard series tickets which had been destroyed while they were out watching first round play in the rain. The offered Series Ticket in this lot is the result of those efforts. The point to consider here is how few of the salmon colored tickets, condition sensitive enough due to design, survived the damage of the Saturday 18 holes. Then how many of the cherished four round ducats made it through the long 36 hole Sunday rounds, and Monday's final 18. The answer, NOT MANY, just like the number of tickets which were even issued to begin with. After 1934, ticket sales for the Masters decreased for the next five years with the spectacle of the first year having worn off, and many fans realizing that they could simply walk on the un-fenced course without a ticket to watch the tournament. These factors in part have helped to contribute to the scarcity of late 1930's Masters tickets. This was the first year that the tournament came to be known officially as the Masters. In 1934 Co-Founder of the Augusta National Clifford Roberts had wanted to call the event the Masters, but Bobby Jones vetoed such a designation on the grounds that it was too presumptuous. However in 1938, Jones relented and the name Masters is seen on an official round of play ticket for the first time. This 1938 ticket which retains its original string is rectangle shaped with 2 1/4" X 3 1/4" inch dimensions. Through the use of this item as an admittance source to the Masters and subsequent wear during the event (by this time Pinkerton Security teams were reviewing the crowd for the unpaid attendees) condition flaws are present on this ticket in two areas: 1)Front lower right corner has surface abrasion and discoloration 2) Blank verso side features paper loss and glue residue from apparent placement in the ever popular scrapebook of the day. These flaws are brought to light for accuracy and do not detract from this tickets overall excellent appearance. A historical moment in golf as the event we know and love today grew to be known officially as the Masters. Desired, seldom scene SERIES TICKET, in visually pleasing condition for display, the answer to many collectors prayers.
Please note: This auction will end at 7:00pm EST on Sunday, October 2nd with EXTENDED BIDDING to follow. All items in the auction will remain open until no items have received a bid within a 15 minute time period. All lots are free to be bid on until extended bidding has ended
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