CHAMBERSBURG – Nellie Fox baseball cards, Fox autographs and Chambersburg High School football and basketball programs from 1954 will be among the sports treasures offered for sale at a February 6 auction in Chambersburg. Gateway Gallery Auction, 643 Kriner Road, is selling a Washington Senators yearbook autographed by Fox, as well as vintage baseball cards and other memorabilia (including a graded baseball signed by Satchel Paige). Nearly all of the 350-plus items offered for sale are baseball-related.

Fox, inducted posthumously into baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1997, was a native of St. Thomas and a former Chambersburg resident.

Other Fox items up for auction include:

• Numerous Topps baseball cards from the 1950s and 1960s.
• Public Opinion newspapers featuring coverage of his Hall of Fame election, induction and career, along with memorabilia of Fayetteville resident and former major leaguer Tom Brookens.

In addition to the 1954 high school sports programs, which include photos of the players and cheerleaders, other items to be auctioned include Chambersburg Cardinals programs from the 1970s and a Shippensburg State College football program from 1958. Other items of local interest include a 1960 Forbes Field World Series program autographed by former Pittsburgh Pirates executive Branch Rickey, and Pirates players Bill Virdon and Bob Friend; Washington Senators and Baltimore Orioles memorabilia.

The sale will begin at 10 a.m. and will also feature items signed by Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Don Drysdale, Al Kaline, Richie Ashburn, Robin Roberts, Bob Feller, Fergie Jenkins, Johnny Mize and others. Rookie cards include Jim Palmer, Ozzie Smith, Cal Ripken Jr., Derek Jeter and Roger Clemens.

The items are from a private collection, the fourth and final sale of an outstanding and diverse collection. Rare items include Babe Ruth photos and negatives from his historic farewell and the first issue of Beckett magazine, autographed by Dale Murphy. High-number cards sought by baseball set builders also will available. For a complete listing, visit our calendar page or call 263-6512 or 1-800-315-3265 and request a catalog. There will be an opportunity to view the items prior to the sale, both online and at the auction location.

More recent cards will be available, too, including about 75 uncataloged lots. Items will be available at every price range.