WLS Radio Show - 2025-08-02 E04 - Babe Ruth

Searching for great finds and expert advice? Look no further than The Donley Auctions Hour Podcast! This is your go-to source for all things antiques, broadcasting every Saturday at 7pm CT on WLS 890AM. Join Randy, Mike, and Susan Donley of Donley Auctions as they reveal the secrets of the auction world and help you understand the value of your collectibles. This episode is packed with an exciting discussion with special guest Ted London, who shares details about his incredible arcade collection. To catch up on past episodes, visit DonleyAuctions.com/radio, and be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform for new episode notifications.

Highlights of the Show

• Babe Ruth Photograph: A rare framed Babe Ruth photograph, which hung in the New York Yankee Stadium front office from the mid-1920s to the late 1970s, was recently discovered. The background of the photo was hand-painted out, and it's still in its original frame.

• Jackie Robinson Baseball: The team also acquired a 1950s Brooklyn Dodgers team-signed baseball with a young Jackie Robinson's autograph, still in its original Spalding wrapper.

• 1977 NFL Players Association Football: A football autographed by the 1977 NFL Players Association was also found, featuring two Walter Payton signatures and one from Muhammad Ali.

• Betty Boop Collectibles: The trivia question answer was Betty Boop, and the hosts revealed they have a 5-foot tall Betty Boop fiberglass figure and umbrella stand in their upcoming August auction.

• Tiffany-Style Window: They discussed a massive 9-foot tall, 6-foot wide Tiffany-style leaded glass window featuring Romeo and Juliet. Randy explained the importance of provenance and the difficulty in identifying true Tiffany pieces, noting that many artists created similar styles.

• Ted London's Arcade Collection: Special guest Ted London joined the show to discuss his impressive arcade collection of slot machines, jukeboxes, and trade stimulators. Ted, who owns the Roscoe Woodstock Antiques Mall, has been in the business for over 40 years and was a pioneer in slot machine auctions with the Donleys.

• London's Auction Items: A significant portion of Ted's collection is being sold in upcoming auctions, including a rare matched set of six Jennings slot machines, a Pace Kitty slot machine, a Voit Cigar Company match vendor, and a rare Craigston Astronaut Robot wind-up toy.

• Other Auction Highlights: The hosts also mentioned other items in the August auction, such as a Philip Morris cigarettes standee, and a 1969 Dodge Charger being sold at no reserve.