This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/3/2018
Starting his career as a photographer in 1927 with the Milwaukee Sentinel newspaper, Frank Stanfield worked in Milwaukee for over 40 years. During his award winning career, he worked for the Milwaukee Brewers / Borchert Field (AAA), Green Bay Packers at Milwaukee State Fair, and the early Milwaukee Braves at County Stadium. His work appeared on card sets, programs, and yearbooks. He won the 1961 Life Magazine “Best Sports Picture” for one of his Milwaukee Braves entries.
MEARS company president purchased a very rare, exclusive collection of Frank Stanfield’s personal 4”x6” oversized acetate negatives direct from the family estate. Using the same printing methods used for nearly a century, each print was painstakingly hand developed from Stanfield’s original negative. The results are simply amazing.
The color, contrast, and clarity are unrivaled amongst period images. Quite simply the finest image of the player ever produced! Anybody that has seen this print in person can only marvel at the clarity of the hand developed image. The image was shot during the Milwaukee Braves spring training camp in Bradenton; FL. Andy Pakfo is centered in the shot, with the clear Florida sky in the background. A picket fence flanks the outfield wall and several Braves players can be seen tossing the ball in the outfield.
Pakfo is posing for the camera, aware of its presence. With both hands on his hips, it appears he wants to get back to the business of baseball. Maybe slightly overweight, his rubber sweat suit sleeves peak out from under his uniform. The days of yearlong training had not been practiced by the players in the 1950s. As per all Stanfield Braves photos, the details of the uniform can be clearly seen. The two color piping, “BRAVES” and full tomahawk logo, leather belt, cream flannel pants, multi-color stirrups, and black leather cleats with tan tongue all give the viewer a snapshot to the equipment of the 1950s. Simply stated, the finest oversized signed image of Andy Pakfo ever taken.
On May 20th, 2001, MEARS conducted a private autograph signing with Andy Pafko. A very limited number of these prints were signed, personally witnessed by MEARS President Troy R. Kinunen.
A simple, understated “Andy Pafko” signature was applied in near mint blue sharpie marker. Great care was taken during the signing; with new blue sharpie markers being rotated after just a few signatures were signed, insuring only the highest quality signatures appeared on this remarkable print.
To my knowledge, this is the only Andy Pakfo oversized 16x20 photo ever signed, and the only image from the Frank Stanfield Collection.
JSA hologram applied to lower right corner.