This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/4/2022
1954-56 Warren Spahn Milwaukee Braves “On His Way To 363” Frank Stanfield Autographed Original 16x20 Hand Developed Photo (JSA) “Finest Signed Oversized Image Extant!”
“After personally viewing 100’s of autographed Warren Spahn photos, it is my professional opinion that this is the finest signed image of him extant”…Troy R. Kinunen / MEARS President.
Starting his career as a photographer in 1927 with the Milwaukee Sentinel newspaper, Frank Stanfield worked in Milwaukee for over 40 years. During his award winning career, he worked for the Milwaukee Brewers / Borchert Field (AAA), Green Bay Packers at Milwaukee State Fair, and the early Milwaukee Braves at County Stadium. His work appeared on card sets, programs, and yearbooks. He won the 1961 Life Magazine “Best Sports Picture” for one of his Milwaukee Braves entries.
MEARS company president purchased a very rare, exclusive collection of Frank Stanfield’s personal 4”x6” oversized acetate negatives direct from the family estate. Using the same printing methods used for nearly a century, each print was painstakingly hand developed from Stanfield’s original negative. The results are simply amazing.
The color, contrast, and clarity are unrivaled amongst period images. Quite simply the finest image of the player ever produced! Anybody that has seen this print in person can only marvel at the clarity of the hand developed image.
With a perfectly controlled studio setting (background, lighting, pose), Stanfield created an absolute masterpiece of the subject, Warren Spahn. Dominating the frame, Spahnie is featured at the forefront of the picture with an even gray tone backdrop, which immediately draws the viewers’ attention to the main attraction.
Wearing his cream home shirt, with much fanfare you can see the teeth of the zipper, braiding of the piping, double tackle twill of the team name “BRAVES” & “21”, and all of the detail of the team’s trademark tomahawk logo. The right sleeve has the Boston Braves carryover full headdress Indian patch, which was replaced in 1957 by the laughing Indian logo.
For true photo connoisseur, this image is the perfect blend of artistry, photography, and solid subject matter. A finer image of Spahn doesn’t exist.
Although MEARS had the distinct honor of hosting Spahn for his last Milwaukee Private autograph signing (2001), this signature was obtained August 19th, 2000 at a Milwaukee appearance. This distinction is important, as the quality of the signature remained very high, which wasn’t the case in his final signing appearance. Each signature was bold and vibrant, and the viewer can clearly see the formation of each individual character.
With great vigor and a throwback to his youth, each piece was proudly signed “Warren Spahn, 363 Wins” Each autograph was signed in near mint blue sharpie marker to the left of Spahn’s right cheek. Great care was taken during the signing; with new blue sharpie markers being rotated after just a few autographs were signed, insuring only the highest quality signatures appeared on this remarkable print.
Only a few select individuals can own this 16x20 original image taken from the Frank Stanfield Archives, personally signed by Warren Spahn. A rare opportunity to obtain an authentic autograph of a member of the famous 1957 Milwaukee Braves World Champion team and arguably the finest image of Warren Spahn extant! JSA hologram applied to lower right corner.