Coveted 1911 World Series press pin debuting in Feb.

DALLAS – Heritage Sports Collectibles Auctions will present a collection of “fresh to the hobby” World Series press pins. The pins are from the Stephen O. Grauley World Series Press Pin Collection. Heritage's February Platinum Night sports collectibles auction will feature the items.

Grauley was a sportswriter for The Philadelphia Inquirer. This allowed him to forge a close friendship with Philadelphia Athletics manager Cornelius McGillicuddy (Connie Mack). Grauley’s loyalty to Mack led to the creation of a World Series press pin. The press pin tradition remains in action today.

The A’s met the National League champions, the New York Giants, in the 1911 World Series. Grauley was concerned the New York manager would try to grant press box access only to his friends. This left little space for accredited members of the media.

“Giants manager John McGraw was notorious for cramming his buddies into the press box for important games,” Heritage Sports Collectibles Director Chris Ivy said. “With Philly within easy striking distance of New York City, Grauley suspected McGraw would attempt the same for the 1911 World Series games at Shibe Park. The press pin was born as a means of regulating entry to the limited square footage of Philadelphia’s home field journalist quarters.”

The handsome pin sparked a tradition. Grauley’s 1911 example (est. $40,000) is one of only five or six known to survive to this day, and its pristine condition and special significance establish it as the most desirable World Series press pin ever offered, Ivy said.

Additional pins include Grauley’s 1913 (est. $6,000) and 1914 Athletics (est. $6,000), and the 1915 Philadelphia Phillies (est. $8,000), each likewise among the rarest and finest press pins known.

For more information, visit www.ha.com.