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First National Baseball HOF program sells for record $315K
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First National Baseball HOF program sells for record $315K

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  • Dan HajduckyAug 18, 2025, 05:01 PM ET

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      Dan Hajducky is a staff writer for ESPN. He has an MFA in creative writing from Fairfield University and played on the men’s soccer teams at Fordham and Southern Connecticut State universities.

A program from the first National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 1939 signed by all 11 living inductees at the time has sold via Lelands Auctions for just over $315,000. It’s the most ever paid for a program, beating out the $241,500 paid for a 1903 World Series program in 2011.

The Baseball Hall of Fame program is believed to be the only ever signed by all the living inductees present at the event: Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb (who signed the program twice), Walter Johnson, Honus Wager, Cy Young, Tris Speaker, Grover Alexander, Nap Lajoie, George Sisler, Eddie Collins and Connie Mack. The program is also signed by Hall of Famers Mel Ott, Lefty Grove and Johnny Vander Meer, among others.

The consignor’s parents, who were engaged at the time, attended the ceremony on June 12, 1939. They both purchased a program and tried to obtain as many signatures as they could, and the consignor’s mother obtained the autographs of all the living inductees.

The Baseball Hall of Fame program is believed to be the only ever signed by all eleven living inductees present at the ceremony in 1939. Courtesy of Lelands Auctions

“My mother and her fiancé wanted to collect all the autographs of the living HOF players while at the opening of the HOF,” wrote the consignor, whose name wasn’t disclosed. “She got autographs from all except for Ty Cobb who was late. In fact he missed the famous photograph with all the other inductees.”

The consignor went on to write that his mother waited for Cobb, who agreed to give his autograph only if he could have a kiss.

“She gave him a kiss on the cheek, but as she pulled away, he kissed her,” the consignor wrote. “When signing, he said ‘Well, since I got two kisses, I’ll sign it twice.’ Thus the ‘Double Ty’ signature.”

The program includes a letter of authenticity, verifying the veracity of the signatures, by grader and authenticator Professional Sports Authenticator.



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More parity in college baseball? 2025 MCWS could be a glimpse of things to come
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More parity in college baseball? 2025 MCWS could be a glimpse of things to come

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  • Elizabeth MerrillJun 15, 2025, 09:00 AM ET

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      Elizabeth Merrill is a senior writer for ESPN. She previously wrote for The Kansas City Star and The Omaha World-Herald.

OMAHA, Neb. — Every time a new team makes it to Omaha, Shane Hughes gets a hat.

The Nebraska native has seen hundreds of games at the Men’s College World Series, many involving schools such as LSU and Stanford. But Hughes loves it when a first-time team prompts him and his buddies to google the school to find out where it’s located, like they did last week when Murray State, which is in western Kentucky, was beating Duke in a super regional. Hughes likes to commemorate those rare years when upsets bring new blood to Omaha by buying the first-time qualifier’s hat.

On Saturday morning, he walked past the farmers market and stopped inside the Hyatt Place in downtown Omaha, Murray State’s team hotel, and bought a Racers’ hat at a merchandise stand. Hughes figured the unique logo — a horseshoe wrapped around a jockey and a horse — would probably make for a good conversation piece, much like his 2012 Stony Brook lid.

“I think Omaha old-school fans that go every year like to root for that newbie, that underdog,” Hughes said, “because baseball is a romantic sport, man. … We always like to see the little guy on the big stage do well.

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“We like seeing the look on the peoples’ faces when they think Omaha is nothing but a cornfield, and they get here and they realize it really is baseball’s Disneyland.”

The college baseball postseason was a bumpy ride for blue bloods in 2025. No. 1 Vanderbilt and No. 2 Texas were gone in the first weekend. Only three of the top 10 seeds survived super regionals, making this one of the most diverse Men’s College World Series in recent memory. Soon, it might not be an anomaly.

A year after the SEC and ACC accounted for all of the MCWS berths (four each), six conferences are represented this year, as well as an independent (Oregon State). The SEC has won the past five national championships but has only two contenders this year. None of the teams in this year’s MCWS field made it to Omaha last summer. It’s the first time since 1957 that has happened, according to ESPN Research.

Dan Tauken (left), Jonathan Hogart and Murray State are representing the Missouri Valley Conference in this year’s MCWS. Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images

Kendall Rogers, co-owner of D1Baseball.com, said college baseball — and college athletics in general — is becoming a place of parity.

“I’d be lying if I said [the MCWS field] didn’t surprise me a little bit,” Rogers said. “But I do think this is a glimpse of the kind of things to come in college baseball.

“When you look at the finances, when you look at the scholarship situations and you look at the fact that now we’re about to go to 34 roster spots, you’re going to see more College World Series fields like this.”

In the recent settlement of the House v. NCAA, scholarship limits for Division I baseball nearly tripled, going from 11.7 to 34, which would seem to benefit the power conferences. But Rogers said he thinks the new 34-player roster limit (previously 40) will help mid-major teams because the players who don’t make a big-school team will need to go elsewhere, and that it will have a trickle-down effect to the lower mid-majors.

Rogers said that some athletic programs are also pouring more money into baseball as an easier pathway to exposure than bigger money sports such as football. Coastal Carolina, one of this year’s MCWS participants, is an example of a nonpower conference program reaping the rewards for its commitment to baseball. Coastal Carolina is making its first trip back to Omaha since 2016, when the Chanticleers won the national championship in their first appearance.

“I just think the pathway to exposure in college baseball on the national stage is a lot easier than some other sports,” Rogers said. “Especially, I mean obviously — football.”

A few longtime Men’s College World Series observers noticed that the vibe around town this week seemed a little more subdued than in years past. Rogers figured that most fans were gearing up for Saturday night’s clash between No. 3 Arkansas and No. 6 LSU. The SEC schools are the highest seeds in the field, and one of them will be eliminated at some point next week because they’re in the same bracket.

It’s another example of the oddity of 2025 at the MCWS. Heath Mello, CEO of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, laughed when asked whether his office was rooting for LSU to beat West Virginia last weekend in its super regional, because SEC teams traditionally bring a throng of fans and because no fan base follows its team more to Omaha, or has a reputation for spending more money in bars and restaurants, than LSU.

Mellow said it was “exciting” to see the diversity of teams, which gives his group a chance to show off the city to new people. UCLA, for example, hasn’t been to the MCWS since 2013.

But of course he’s happy to see LSU.

“They bring in a special energy,” Mello said. “We know that our local restaurants, our small businesses, they appreciate everybody who comes in. But they do notice the fan base that LSU brings year in and year out. And particularly that they bring a fan base when they don’t make the series. Which is why you see a lot of camaraderie, I would say, with Omaha’s CWS faithful and LSU.”

Last year, sans LSU, was the biggest Men’s College World series in the city’s history, Mello said. It garnered an estimated $115 million in economic impact, supported more than 22,000 local jobs and filled 75,000 hotel room nights.

He said it’s too early to know if this year’s event will be bigger.

UCLA last won the MCWS in 2013. Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images

Around lunchtime Saturday, Hughes arrived at Barry O’s Tavern, a four-decades-old establishment that has signs touting itself as “Baseball Central.” Bar manager CJ Olaez had just opened the front door, readying himself for Day 2 of the MCWS crush. Olaez, a San Antonio native, is wearing a cowboy hat and a Longhorns’ T-shirt.

He is long over his team’s loss in regionals — he’s more of a football fan anyway. Besides, he’s too busy to keep track of scores this time of year. He has noticed the absence of some of the regulars — and some new faces. UCLA is staying across the street at the Embassy Suites, and newcomers are coming in asking for dinner menus unaware that the only food they have are chips and peanuts.

Four years ago, when Mississippi State made it to the MCWS, the bar was hopping, he said. Busch Lights and Old Fashioneds flowed, and Olaez heard their stories, like the guy who kept saying he needed to go home and go to work, but then the Bulldogs kept winning and he didn’t go anywhere.

LSU is also staying across the street, so Olaez figures it won’t be boring next week. It never is.

“It’s nice to have new faces around,” he said.



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Fantasy baseball: Phillies plan for lineup without Harper
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Fantasy baseball: Phillies plan for lineup without Harper

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Everything that happens in and around MLB has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy baseball perspective. From lineup changes to minor league call-ups to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy baseball.

Our fantasy baseball buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around MLB.

Key links: RP depth chart | Player Rater | Scoring leaders
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June 8: What you need to know for Sunday

Todd Zola: Early game alert: today’s first pitch is at 12:10 p.m. ET with the Tampa Bay Rays hosting the Miami Marlins. The week’s finale features the Boston Red Sox visiting the New York Yankees in the ESPN Sunday night showcase.

  • Julio Rodriguez left last night’s game between the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Angels after he was struck on the foot on a line drive hit by Randy Arozarena. Rodriguez was headed to third base when he was hit on his ankle. He gingerly left the field with the trainer. X-rays were negative, so Rodriguez’s status is day-to-day with a bruised foot.

  • Ryan Weathers was removed from the Marlins’ matchup with the Rays after completing just three innings on Saturday. Initially, it appeared that the lefty was dealing with an arm issue as he was seen flexing his arm and his velocity was down a tick. However, after the game it was revealed that Weathers left the game due to concerns about being hit in the head by C Nick Fortes’ throw to second following first inning warmups. The injury isn’t considered serious, though Weathers’ status for his next start is unclear.

  • Francisco Lindor’s pinch-hit double on Friday night was a harbinger of his return to the starting lineup yesterday, despite playing with a fractured pinky toe. He clearly wasn’t bothered after collecting three hits and stealing two bases in the New York Mets 8-1 win over the Colorado Rockies in Coors Field. This isn’t to suggest there won’t be flare ups, but a pair of swipes is a great sign.

  • The Philadelphia Phillies placed 1B Bryce Harper on the 10-day IL with right wrist inflammation. He missed Friday night’s game, and with lingering soreness on Saturday, the club made the move. Otto Kemp was called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take Harper’s roster spot. Kemp earned his first taste of The Show with a .313/.416/.594 line over 58 games. He appeared at first base, second base, third base and outfield, suggesting the Phillies are grooming Lopez for a utility role. It’s unclear how much he’ll play with Alec Bohm shifting to first base and Edmundo Sosa covering the hot corner.

June 7: What you need to know for Saturday

Anthony Volpe is dealing with an elbow injury after being hit by a pitch in the second inning of Friday’s game against the Boston Red Sox. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

Todd Zola: Saturday’s action begins at 1:10 PM ET with an interleague clash in the Motor City, featuring the Detroit Tigers hosting the Chicago Cubs. Nine more matinees are staggered throughout the afternoon, followed by five evening affairs.

  • The Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks will resume their game from last night with the clubs tied at three entering the seventh inning. In ESPN leagues, only players active in Friday’s lineup will get credited for stats generated during the resumption. The teams will start at 2:10 PM ET, then play the regularly scheduled game approximately 40 minutes after the completion of last night’s contest.

  • Anthony Volpe left last night’s game after being hit on the elbow by a pitch. X-rays and a CT scan came back negative, rendering Volpe’s status as questionable for the second game of the weekend set between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the Bronx. Oswald Peraza took over at shortstop and is the likely replacement if Volpe remains sidelined.

  • Denzel Clarke left last night’s game after crashing into the outfield wall while chasing down a long fly ball. The Athletics outfielder initially stayed in the game for a couple of innings but was eventually replaced by Seth Brown. Clarke has been diagnosed with a left shoulder contusion, but his status is unclear. Brown was designated for assignment earlier in the season but went unclaimed, so he reported to Triple-A Las Vegas. The 32-year-old veteran earned back his spot on the 40-man roster and a major league promotion after batting .500/.512/1.071 in nine games, albeit in one of the friendliest hitting environments in the minors.

  • Gabriel Moreno left last night’s game after a ball in the dirt skipped past his glove and hit his bare hand. The Arizona Diamondbacks catcher left the game with Jose Herrera taking over behind the dish. X-rays were negative, but Moreno’s hand is swollen. He’ll be reevaluated later today. Elsewhere with the Diamondbacks, Corbin Burnes needs Tommy John surgery, so he’ll miss the rest of this season and most of next year.

  • Francisco Lindor’s fractured pinky toe kept him out of the New York Mets lineup last night in the opener of their road series with the Colorado Rockies in Coors Field. However, he was able to pinch hit and delivered what ended up being the game winning hit when he doubled in Juan Soto and Pete Alonso to put the Mets up 4-2 in the ninth inning. Edwin Diaz sealed the deal with a clean frame for his 14th save. Lindor’s appearance doesn’t guarantee he’ll start today, but at least he can come off the bench if needed.

June 6: What you need to know for Friday

Francisco Lindor could play on Friday, but only if the pain in his toe isn’t too great. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO

Todd Zola: Action gets underway early today with the Tampa Bay Rays hosting the Miami Marlins at 1:10 p.m. ET. The remaining 14 games are all evening affairs.

  • Eduardo Rodriguez of the Arizona Diamondbacks is slated to come off the 10-day IL in advance of tonight’s opener of a three-game series at the Cincinnati Reds. Rodriguez last pitched on May 14, then missed time due to shoulder inflammation. He was off to a rough start with a 7.05 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP in nine starts spanning 44 2/3 innings. Rodriguez is filling the rotation spot vacated by Corbin Burnes, who is seeking a second opinion on his sore right elbow.

  • St. Louis Cardinals SP Matthew Liberatore managed only four frames in last night’s nightcap with the Kansas City Royals. The lefty came out for the fifth but signaled towards the dugout and left the game with the trainer. Liberatore was diagnosed with arm fatigue, though no timeline for his next start was reported.

  • Shea Langeliers left last night’s contest during an at bat as he reportedly hurt his left flank while swinging. He’s scheduled for an MRI today. Langeliers was serving as the DH for the Athletics last night with recent callup Willie MacIver behind the plate. MacIver could be in line for more starts going forward if Langeliers is forced to miss time. MacIver posted a .393/.472/.557 line for Triple-A Las Vegas prior to his late May promotion. The production is impressive, but realize he’s 28-years-old and was playing in one of the best hitting environments in the minor leagues.

  • The New York Mets were without Francisco Lindor last night after he was diagnosed with a broken right pinky toe. The shortstop was hit by a pitch in the first inning of Wednesday’s contest but stayed in for the rest of the game. Lindor’s availability will be on a day-to-day basis and revolve around his pain tolerance.

  • Luis Robert Jr missed his third straight game last night. The first two were planned maintenance days to help him “snap out of his funk” but last night was due to a ball deflecting off the cage and hitting him in the head during batting practice. Roberts is expected to return tonight when the Chicago White Sox host the Royals. However, Roberts’ main asset is stolen bases, and the Royals are far and away the best team at defending the running game. Teams have tried only 18 steals facing the Royals, with only nine successful stolen bases.

June 5: What you need to know for Thursday

Pablo Lopez was off to a fast start for the Twins, but the righty now will be on the shelf for 8-12 weeks with a shoulder injury. Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire

Todd Zola: Wednesday’s rainout in St. Louis makes it a baker’s dozen games for today, beginning at 12:15 p.m. ET with the Atlanta Braves hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks. While a couple of the 13 games may see a sprinkle or two, they are all supposed to play without a hitch.

  • Minnesota Twins SP Pablo Lopez is estimated to miss 8-12 weeks with a Grade 2 teres major strain (upper arm). He was off to a solid start, recording a 2.82 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over 11 starts spanning 60 2/3 innings. David Festa will replace Lopez in the rotation, as he’s being called up to start Thursday’s matinee with the Twins going for the sweep of their series with the Athletics in Sacramento.

  • The Twins offense might be short-handed after Carlos Correa missed last night’s contest with a tight back. He was replaced by Brooks Lee. Correa is considered day-to-day.

  • San Diego Padres SS Xander Bogaerts left last night’s game with a sore left shoulder. His status is unclear for the finale of a four-game road set with the San Francisco Giants. The Padres enter Thursday’s matinee having won two of the first three games of the NL West showdown. If Bogaerts is out, Jose Iglesias is the likely substitute.

  • Kyle Tucker is questionable for Thursday’s rubber game of the Chicago Cubs’ road series with the Washington Nationals. Tucker missed the first two games after jamming his finger on Sunday. Seiya Suzuki took over in right field with Justin Turner serving as the DH in the first two games of the series. Tucker is No. 6 overall on the ESPN Player Rater.

  • Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto was forced from Wednesday night’s game after taking a foul tip to the groin area. His status for Thursday afternoon’s rubber game of the three-game interleague series in Rogers Centre with the Toronto Blue Jays is unclear. Rafael Marchan would fill in behind the plate If Realmuto needs more time to recover.



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Fantasy baseball waiver wire: Three hitters to add power to your infield
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Fantasy baseball waiver wire: Three hitters to add power to your infield

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  • Todd ZolaMay 26, 2025, 10:00 AM ET

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      Todd Zola is contributing writer for fantasy baseball at ESPN, specializing in game theory and player analysis. Todd is a member of the FSWA Hall of Fame. He won LABR and Tout Wars championships in 2016.

The proliferation of all the newfangled data is certainly exciting, but when it comes to successful waiver wire pickups, it can be information overload. Take a step back and understand that sometimes simple minds — as in, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” — are more effective than launch angles and Barrel rates. The top fantasy baseball pickups in Week 10 seemingly fell off the radar but are potentially more productive than players with much higher ESPN rosterships.

Matt Shaw, 2B/3B/SS, Chicago Cubs (available in 74% of ESPN leagues): Shaw isn’t the first heralded prospect to struggle initially in the majors and then settle down after a minor league reset. The 23-year-old broke camp with the club, but after putting up a .172/.294/.241 line over 18 games, Shaw was optioned to Triple-A Iowa. After batting .286/.409/.560 with five steals in five tries over 24 games on the farm, Shaw returned to the bigs. In six games since returning, he is hitting .360/.385/.560 with two swipes. Most telling is that Shaw struck out at a 26.5% clip in his initial foray in the majors, but he has only four punchouts in 26 plate appearances (16.5%) since his return. He’s earmarked to be the Cubs’ regular third baseman, but based on his 2024 positions played in the minors, he’s also eligible at second base and third base in ESPN leagues.

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Zach Neto, SS, Los Angeles Angels (available in 70%): Neto enjoyed a breakthrough sophomore season, but he injured his right shoulder sliding during the final week last September and required offseason surgery. Rehab extended through the spring and into the early portion of this season. Since power is often slow to return following a shoulder injury, Neto’s draft stock tumbled heading into the 2025 campaign. But in 34 games since debuting in mid-April, Neto is batting .284/.326/.537 with eight steals. He’s striking out at a higher rate, with the tradeoff being that he’s hitting the ball with much more authority. Neto has gained 5.0 mph of average exit velocity, fueling a leap from a 38.2% HardHit% last season to 50% so far this year. While Neto’s current level might not be sustainable for the final four months, it’s apparent that he’s experiencing no ill effects from the shoulder surgery. Additionally, the fact he was injured while running hasn’t curbed his aggressiveness on the basepaths.

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Spencer Horwitz, 1B/2B, Pittsburgh Pirates (available in 90%): Horwitz’s calling card is plate patience and putting the ball in play. While not completely devoid of power and speed, Horwitz’s willingness to coax walks and limit strikeouts plays better in a points format than rotisserie scoring. While there is still is time for the left-handed swinger to demonstrate he can handle southpaw pitching, the 27-year-old is in danger of being pigeonholed as a platoon player. But his allure stems from a huge spike in exit velocity and HardHit%. It has only been nine games spanning 34 plate appearances, and the improved quality of contact has not translated to production, but fantasy managers can no longer wait for further proof. Someone will take note of Horwitz’s 5 mph average exit velocity gain and 60.2% HardHit% (compared to 36.6% last season) and take the chance. Dual eligibility at middle- and corner-infield helps assuage missing a game or two a week against a left-handed starter.

Rotisserie-style player to add

Robert Hassell III, OF, Washington Nationals (available in 98%): At just 23 years old, Hassell is a bit young for post-hype status, but this once-bright prospect’s star dimmed considerably since being a centerpiece of the haul the Nationals received from the San Diego Padres in the Juan Soto deal. He was batting an encouraging .288/.337/.405 with nine pilfers in 10 attempts for Triple-A Rochester before being summoned for his MLB debut last week. The club needed outfield help with Dylan Crews sidelined with an oblique injury and Jacob Young dealing with a shoulder issue. Hassell might not continue to play every day, but he has started all four games since his promotion. His rotisserie appeal stems from the Nationals’ propensity to run (tied for sixth for the most steals in MLB). Hassell is far from a slugger, but he has more pop than Athletics OF Denzel Clarke, another recent call-up whose primary asset is stolen bases.

Closer to add

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Daniel Palencia, RP, Chicago Cubs (available in 98%): With Porter Hodge on the IL and Ryan Pressly fanning only 10 with nine walks through 18 1/3 frames, Cubs manager Craig Counsell has tasked Palencia with sealing the deal lately. Palencia has the last two Cubs saves, along with five holds. He’ll need to display better control (seven walks in 16 2/3 innings), but Palencia has a chance to serve as the closer for a team destined to generate a bevy of chances.

Two-start value pickup

Jameson Taillon, SP, Chicago Cubs (available in 72%): Pickings are slim with a light 91-game Week 10 schedule, including only four games on Thursday, but Taillon has points-league charm with a pair of home starts against vulnerable lineups. The 33-year-old veteran has rung up only 44 batters in 56 2/3 innings, but he has registered a quality start six times in 10 outings, so what Taillon lacks in strikeouts, he adds in innings pitched. He’s slated for a pair of home starts, first against the Colorado Rockies and then a weekend tilt with the Cincinnati Reds. The temperatures are still mild in the Windy City, helping Wrigley Field to play big. The Rockies sport the worst lineup in the league when facing righties. The Reds are more dangerous, but they’ll be experiencing a park downgrade and offer some strikeout upside.

Deeper league pickup

Hayden Birdsong, SP, San Francisco Giants (available in 92%): Birdsong was so dominant in relief that it was fair to wonder if he’d transition back to the rotation. With Justin Verlander on the IL with a right pectoral strain and Jordan Hicks demoted to the bullpen, the Giants tabbed Birdsong and Kyle Harrison as their rotation additions. Birdsong needs to outpitch Harrison to stick once Verlander returns. Week 10 doesn’t offer the easiest schedule with a pair of road tilts, including a Memorial Day visit to Motown, but Birdsong’s 96-mph four-seamer heads a four-pitch repertoire generating a 12.6% swinging strike rate, which would rank 17th if Birdsong compiled enough innings to qualify. If Birdsong can handle the Detroit Tigers in his first start this week, he has a more favorable follow-up in Florida against the Miami Marlins.



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