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This
sign sold in the May 2008 Robert Edward Auction for $9,500.00.
Over the last 20 plus years I've only see it pop up in auctions
few times. I've always liked it, but never even bid on
one as I figured I'd get outbid. But when I saw this bring
$9,500.00 I was taken back. I knew it was nice but I was
thinking more like $3,000.00 nice. It's
interesting the brand name "Home Run" was used a few
different times for different tobbaco products. There's this
Home Run Cigaraettes, then there was Home Run Stogies, and Home Run
Cigars. I think there's even a home run coffee. But they
all appear independent of each other. Home Run Stogies was
produced by the J. A. RIgby Cigar Company of Mansfield Ohio.
Home Run Cigars was produced by You
see packs of Home Run Cigarettes for sale in the hobby once in a
while.
Heritage Auctions for $13,145.00 in October 2005. 
Now this is an exciting piece! If you click on the photo you'll see
it's been framed. However
it was originally designed as an easel back standup. When you frame a sign like this you protect it from
damage, but you loose it's full visual impact. Personally, I
prefer to display easel back signs standing up as they were
intended. We
can only view this sign on our monitors, but I can tell you from
experience, at 42" tall this sign would be very impressive
in person. If
you were a heavy duty Pittsburgh Pirates collector, this would
most likely be your center piece, seeing it features Paul Waner. Even
if you didn't know who Paul Waner was this could be a center
piece. First of all it's for Spalding, king of sports equipment
makers. Then you have the jumbo size, then the period
illustration style that announces it's age. Then you have the fact
it's a die cut standup; attributes that generally make signs more
interesting and deluxe. Lastly it features a Hall of Famer, Paul
Waner. Antique
sports related advertising signs don't get a whole lot better
than this. I wish I could walk into the National and find a sign
this great! However, the hobby has evolved to where things of
this quality are usually auctioned thru the major sports auction
houses. Here we have a perfect example!
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