1947 US Open Press Badge- St. Louis Country Club-Very Scarce

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/9/2012

Surprising as it may seem this 1947 badge to date has been elusive to the golf collecting world.So scarce that even the image of this badge has never appeared in a golf collecting guide. In the very comprehensive, well done "GILCHRIST'S GUIDE TO GOLF COLLECTIBLES" second edition authors Roger Gilchrist and Mark Emerson list the 1947 U.S. Open badge as examples unknown. Well here it is a simple two color button which measures 2 1/8 in diameter. The reverse is stamped by its manufacturer"St. Louis Button Co. St. Louis, Mo." Its fully intact clasping mechanism remains attached to the back. There is hints of rust on the the backside of button, and some foxing along perimeter of front side but the major surface area is bright and clean enabling this example to still display beautifully. Lew Worsham was the champion of the 1947 U.S. Open played at the St. Louis Country Club. His playoff victory over Sam Snead was most likely the most disappointing of Snead's long run of sorrows at his countries Open championships. This badge PRESS 49 comes with unimprovable provenance coming from the estate of long time St. Louis broadcaster France Laux. It was Laux, who was the first full-time radio voice of baseball in St.Louis. His work covering various sports for K.M.O.X., CBS radio coincided with the 1947 Open in St.Louis. Whatever the final auction result, it is exciting for The Golf Auction to properly document this badge for the golf collecting community.