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Springfield, Massachusetts-born Walter James Vincent "Rabbit" Maranville (1891-1954) was one of the premier shortstops of his era. Standing a mere 5'5" tall and weighing around 155 pounds, Maranville played his 1912-1935 major league career with the Boston Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Brooklyn Robins and St. Louis Cardinals, amassing 2,605 hits, 884 runs batted in, 291 stolen bases and a lifetime batting average of .258. Renowned for his fielding skills, hard drinking, practical jokes and feisty play on the diamond, Rabbit Maranville was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954.
Here are ten valuable Rabbit Maranville baseball collectibles that are sure to interest sports memorabilia collectors. Now taking the field once again #1 Rabbit Maranville...
Card #117 Walter (Rabbit) Maranville graces the 1933 Goudey Gum baseball series. One graded example in SGC 88 near mint/mint 8 condition sold at auction for $1,527.50.
Rabbit Maranville 1933 Goudey card $1,527.50 - Robert Edward Auctions
Schmelzer's Sporting Goods of Kansas City issued a Rabbit Maranville advertising pin in 1915. One graded example in PSA excellent 5 brought $940 at auction. The actual date is 1915 – and not 1910 as featured by PSA.
Rabbit Maranville 1915 Schmelzer's Sporting Goods pin $940 - Robert Edward Auctions
A 1914 Charles Conlon photo of Rabbit Maranville as a member of the 1914 Boston "Miracle Braves" sold at auction for $588. The photo had been culled from the archives of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Rabbit Maranville 1914 Charles Conlon photo $588 - Robert Edward Auctions
After being released by the Brooklyn Robins in 1926, Rabbit Maranville was able to hook on with the St. Louis Cardinals organization. Maranville spent most of the 1927 season with Rochester of the International League before being called up to the Cardinals in September of that year. Maranville's one-year contract with the Cardinals called for an annual salary of $7,500. That historic four-page agreement, signed by Maranville, St. Louis Cardinals president Branch Rickey and National League president John Heydler (facsimile), brought $2,938 at auction.
Rabbit Maranville 1927 St. Louis Cardinals contract $2,938 - Robert Edward Auctions
Rabbit Maranville's signature on a pink autograph album page authenticated by Beckett Grading Services sold at auction for $529. On the reverse side is an autograph of fellow Hall of Famer Bill Terry.
Rabbit Maranville signed album page $529 - Robert Edward Auctions
Card #7 Rabbit Maranville appears in the rare 1914 Boston Garter baseball issue. One graded color example in SGC 40 very good 3 condition fetched a top bid of $17,925 at auction.
Rabbit Maranville 1914 Boston Garter card $17,925 - Heritage Auctions
Rabbit Maranville single signed balls are rare. Maranville died at age 62 of coronary sclerosis in New York City on January 5. 1954 – several weeks before he was elected to the Hall of Fame. A circa 1930 Official National League baseball signed by Maranville on the sweet spot sold at auction for $3,107.
A 5x7-inch photo autographed by Rabbit Maranville brought $448.13 at auction.
Card #10 Rabbit Maranville graces the 1932 U.S. Caramel baseball issue. One graded example in SGC 70 excellent+ 5.5 condition sold at auction for $507.88.
Rabbit Maranville 1932 U.S. Caramel card $507.88 - Heritage Auctions
Card #112 Rabbit Maranville appears in the 1916 Sporting News baseball series. One graded example in PSA near mint-mint 8 condition brought $776.75 at auction. An ad for Gimbels Department Store appears on the card's back.
Rabbit Maranville 1916 Sporting News card $776.75 - Heritage Auctions
Copyright © 2011 William J. Felchner
These are interesting collectibles. You have detailed them well.