C. 1960s (1937-38) CIUDAD TRUJILLO CHAMPIONS TEAM PHOTO WITH HOF'ERS JOSH GIBSON, SATCHEL PAIGE & COOL PAPA BELL PSA TYPE IV.
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Item Description
Presented here is a truly historic photo of the Ciudad Trujillo baseball club posed on a ballfield, including three Negro League all-time greats: Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige and Cool Papa Bell along with several Latin American stars of the day. Printed text on bottom margin includes "Campion 1937-38." This powerhouse team was hand-picked by dictator, Rafael Trujillo, to overwhelm the competition from the Dominican Baseball League during the 1937 season. The stacked ball club would go on to win the Caribbean Series championship that season, defeating another outstanding baseball team, Las Aguilas de Vera Cruz, in the finals. Satchel Paige would be the first of the Hall of Fame trio to join Los Dragones. Like many of the other Negro League stars that would join this club, Satchel spent the early part of his career playing for the powerhouse, Pittsburgh Crawfords team during the early 1930s, where he was surrounded w/unprecedented talent, including Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, Oscar Charleston and Judy Johnson. During the late 1930s, Satchel would go on to star for the Kansas City Monarchs, making up one half of the greatest pitching duo in Negro League history along with Hilton Smith. Cool Papa Bell and Josh Gibson would join the Ciudad Trujillo ball club midway through the 1937 season, in time for the playoffs and championship game. Bell was widely regarded as the fastest man in professional baseball, starring for the St. Louis Stars early in his career and later for the Pittsburgh Crawfords and Homestead Grays. At the same time, Josh Gibson was terrorizing Negro League pitching as the "Black Babe Ruth". Historians have credited Gibson w/over 800 career home runs, playing primarily for the Pittsburgh Crawfords and Homestead Grays in the Negro Leagues. 5x7.75" glossy photo w/blank reverse. Minor handling wear, front remains clean w/sharp image. Minor wear/age on back. A more affordable alternative to the upper five-figure price that a Type I photograph would bring, this beauty is 60+ years old and would surely make a fantastic addition to any Negro League baseball memorabilia collection. A different studio posed image of this team, also designated by PSA as Type IV, sold in our November, 2024 auction for $4,428. Richard Merkin Collection.
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