Billy Pierce Autographed Brace Postcard Photo Chicago White Sox Baseball PSASLAB

Description

You are bidding on an autographed postcard photo signed by Billy Pierce  ..., includes PSA COA......Original George Brace
Note that items with COAs come with individual COAs, sticker usually on back of item. I do not accept "Best Offer". Prices are reduced every 30 days until the item sells. Thanks for understanding this policy!
Walter William Pierce
(April 2, 1927 – July 31, 2015) was an American
starting pitcher
in
Major League Baseball
between 1945 and 1964 who played most of his career for the
Chicago White Sox
. He was the team's star pitcher in the decade from 1952 to 1961, when they posted the third best record in the major leagues,
[1]
and received the
Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award
for the
American League
(AL) in
1956
and
1957
after being runner-up in both 1953
[2]
and 1955.
[3]
A seven-time
All-Star
, he led the American League (AL) in
complete games
three times despite his slight build, and in
wins
,
earned run average
(ERA) and
strikeouts
once each. He pitched four one-hitters and seven two-hitters in his career, and on June 27,
1958
came within one batter of becoming the first left-hander in 78 years to throw a
perfect game
.
He was one of the principal figures in Chicago's fierce rivalry with the
New York Yankees
; particularly notable were his matchups with
Whitey Ford
, with the two left-handers opposing one another as starters 14 times from 1955 to 1960. Pierce's record suffered from pitching so much against New York – who he faced more often than any other team
[4]
[5]
– when the Yankees dynasty was at its peak; but although his career record against New York was only 25–37,
[6]
that was still slightly better than the 27–41 mark compiled by
National League
(NL) championship teams over 11
World Series
against the Yankees during the same period.
After joining the
San Francisco Giants
in 1962, Pierce played a pivotal role in helping them win the NL pennant, going 12–0 in home games and getting a three-hit
shutout
and a
save
in a three-game playoff against the
Los Angeles Dodgers
to clinch the title. His 1,999 career strikeouts were the fifth most by a left-hander when he retired, and his AL total of 1,842 ranked ninth in league history. He also ranked tenth among left-handers in career wins (211), sixth in
games started
(432) and
games pitched
(585), eighth in shutouts (38) and ninth in
innings pitched
(​
3,306
2
⁄
3
). He holds the White Sox franchise record for career strikeouts (1,796), and his club marks of 186 wins, 2,931 innings and 390 starts are team records for a left-hander. The White Sox retired his number 19 in 1987, and unveiled a statue in his honor at
U.S. Cellular Field
in 2007; he was selected to the White Sox All-Century Team in 2000.
The longest-running operation of all the great early photographers, George Burke and George Brace covered baseball in one form or another for the better part of the 20th century—from 1929 to the 1990s. Their tenure had an auspicious beginning, to say the least. In 1929, Cubs manager Joe McCarthy and catcher Gabby Hartnett sought out the ballclub’s previous photographer. They could only remember his last name, Burke, so they looked him up in the phone book. A listing leapt out at them: studio photographer George C. Burke, whose office was located near Wrigley Field. Thus began the baseball photography career of George Burke, who had no prior sports experience, and thus ended the career of photographer Francis Burke—the Cubs’ time-honored official cameraman and an unwitting victim of mistaken identity.
George Burke hired a young, baseball-knowledgeable assistant named George Brace, and the two soon became a Chicago institution. Ever-present at Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park, Burke and Brace endeavored to amass a complete portfolio of player portraits—a daunting task made possible by the fact that Chicago was the only city with both an American League and a National League franchise from 1929 all the way until Brace’s retirement in 1993. Nary a visiting ballplayer refused a quick sitting during Chicago home stands. Some even stopped by Burke and Brace’s studio for additional, more formal portraits. The tandem was also well-known for endearingly candid pre-game and off-the-field shots—proof positive that both photographers were always welcomed by their famed subjects, embraced by them as friends at the stadium, at parties, in hotels, and on the street.
The Sporting News
,
Baseball Digest
and
Who’s Who in the Major Leagues
were just a few of the publications in which Burke and Brace’s work frequently appeared.
In 1948, Burke suffered a heart attack. Brace carried on the business for several years in order to offset his partner’s medical expenses. Then, upon Burke’s death in 1951, Brace reduced his commitment from a job to an all-encompassing hobby. Though no longer their official photographer, he was still allowed full access by the Cubs and Sox organizations. It was a privilege he would maintain up until his death, a half-century later. With the exception of time spent as a U.S. Army medic in the South Pacific during World War II, Brace attended at least one game of every home series at Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park throughout his entire 65-year career. For many of those years, he worked late shifts or odd jobs that paid his expenses and wouldn’t conflict with the game schedule. He always liked to arrive at the ballpark several hours early, when players were just arriving and fans were nowhere to be seen. In 1994, his age finally caught up with him. Worsening eyesight forced his retirement from this long-time labor of love. Brace followed baseball up until the end and also co-authored a book,
The Game That Was: The George Brace Photo Collection
.
......
Shipping and Packaging details: I ship everything with cardboard backing. Additionally, I slip all autographed photos inside sturdy photo-protective sleeves. Payment details: Typically, I ship paypal payments right away. PAYPAL is recommended. International shipping will be higher as all international orders go through the Global Shipping program.  How I obtained my autographs, and why I promise a FULL MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE: As a kid, from roughly the years 1965 to 1973, and later from 1974-the present, I have amassed an enormous collection of autographed sports and celebrity memorabilia. In most cases, using Jack Smalling's baseball address lists and other assorted address lists, I wrote to both active and retired baseball players, sending them letters, requests for signatures, and self-addressed-stamped envelopes. This is how I obtained thousands of autographs. I also obtained many autographs in person at area parks and hotels.In the 1980's and 1990's, I travelled the country doing shows (20 National Conventions) and would buy quantities of autographs through player signings. I have every reason to believe that all of the autographs I'm selling are absolutely authentic. I stand by every item I sell. Upon purchasing an item from me through eBay, you may return that item, in the condition in which I shipped it to you, within 14 days of receipt of that item if you are not satisfied with the item.   I am selling each item "as is", per the guarantee I've promised above. All the old time autograph dealers know me and the professional authenticators will vouch for my reputation as well. I do this on a part time basis, so sometimes emails take a day. I have worked hard for my feedback rating. The last thing I want to do is damage my credibility, so if you have legitimate concerns about any item you win from me on eBay, I'll make every effort to remedy the situation to your satisfaction. PLEASE NOTE: Most items come with certificates of authenticity from outside companies (JSA and PSA predominantly; they are the best). I have spent lots of money with third party authenticators and have had very few come back without passing. Sincerely, Joe Binder , Downers Grove, Illinois