Property from the Buzz Aldrin Family Trust
Buzz Aldrin's Lifetime Passes to the National and American Leagues of Major League Baseball
Auction Closed
July 26, 06:15 PM GMT
Estimate
1,200 - 1,800 USD
Lot Details
Description
Group of two passes:
- American League Lifetime Pass [1969]. 4 3/16 by 2 9/16 inches, rectangular metal plate with rounded corners, gold-colored alloy, observe with American League logo, reading, "The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs Presents This Lifetime Pass to Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. In Appreciation of Long and Meritorious Service." Signature of American League President Joseph E. Cronin [1959-1973] to bottom right corner, the year "1969" to bottom left corner, reverse blank.
- National League Lifetime Pass [c. 1966-1969]. 3 3/4 by 2 1/8 inches, rectangular metal plate with rounded corners, gold-colored alloy, observe with National League logo, list of National League cities c. 1968, reading, "The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs Proudly Presents This Lifetime Pass to All Its Parks to Edwin Aldrin & One in Grateful Recognition of Your Patriotic Contribution to Our Country's Space Program." Signature of National League President Warren Giles [1951-1969] to bottom right corner, reverse blank.
Directly from the Personal Collection of Apollo 11 Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin
BUZZ ALDRIN'S LIFETIME PASSES TO THE NATIONAL AND AMERICAN LEAGUES OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
The first lifetime pass to minor league professional baseball was presented to President Theodore Roosevelt on May 16, 1907, and bestowed upon him "life membership in the National Association of Professional Base Ball Leagues, with the privilege of admission to all the games played by the clubs composing the association." The first non-President to receive a lifetime pass - this time to National League games in the major leagues - was former Cincinnati Red Stockings shortstop George Wright in 1935, given to him by National League president Ford Frick (Babe Ruth also received a lifetime pass from Frick in the same year).
Although most current recipients of lifetime passes are players with at least eight years of service, or team executives with at least 25 years of service, those who have made great accomplishments outside of baseball have sometimes been rewarded with lifetime passes. Other notable recipients include Charles Lindbergh (to National League games) and the 52 Americans held in Tehran during the Iran hostage crisis (to all Major League games).
REFERENCES:
Swanson, Ryan. The Strenuous Life: Theodore Roosevelt and the Making of the American Athlete. Diversion Books, 2019
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