February 2013 Auction Ends Wednesday, February 6th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/6/2013
Arthur Ashe's 1976 day planner. Journal was consistently used by Ashe all year to keep track of his busy life in the first year following his historic victory at Wimbledon. Ashe's concise entries appear in his hand on nearly every leaf in the book and serve chiefly as reminders for tennis events and various public engagements including television and radio appearances, dinners and extensive travel. He also used the planner to record events of sentimental significance to him such as his late mother's birthday and his first few dates and even phone calls with his future wife Jeanne Moutoussamy. On their respective dates he jots, "FRENCH OPEN", "WIMBLEDON", "WCT Doubles", "WCT Singles" and "ROTTERDAM". This was the year Ashe set a standing record number of wins at the Rotterdam Open with his third title. He lists his opponents during the French Open: on 1 June he "played Ray Reid" and then, "played Moore…played Fassbender…played Janocsy". He would continue to list his matches and the results periodically throughout the year. An intriguing note on 5 October reads, "Revamp / Davis Cup / Tennis / Olympics / Oversize Rackets / Legal? / Coping w. Troublemaker". Ashe's hectic schedule includes several engagements with ATP, the organization for tennis pros he was instrumental in founding, as well as with Head brand sporting equipment, likely regarding his line of tennis gear with the company. Book promotion appearances are listed, along with "RFK Celebrity [tournament]", "Hickok Belt Award", "Washington Shriver affair", "Copenhagen exhibition?", "Africa Interview", "P.E.I. meeting", "Forbes mag" and "Bud Collins Roast". The occasional page marked "REST" is usually smattered with additional dates and to do lists. Ashe marked the date of the 28 September "ALI FIGHT" in which Ali defeated Ken Norton III at Yankee Stadium in one of the most disputed decisions in boxing history. He also makes mention of Larry King several times as well as Alex Haley. Pages also contain Ashe's scribbled math calculations and names of his contacts, including celebrity astrologer Frederick Davies, author of "Signs of the Stars." It is unknown whether he saw the astrologer, perhaps the only person who ever could have guessed Ashe's career would be cut short by a heart attack just three years later, or that tainted blood Ashe received in a subsequent heart surgery would infect him with AIDS, from which he would perish in 1993 at age 49. A fantastic memento from one of Ashe's best years professionally and personally. Spiral-bound Day-At-A-Glance planner measures 5.75" x 8.25". Features brown faux-leather soft covers. In very good condition, with moisture damage to the first three leaves and light wear to edges of leaves and covers. With an LOA from Arthur Ashe's widow. For many more photos detailing this lot please copy and paste the following link: www.photobucket.com/1976journal
Arthur Ashe's 1976 Day Planner -- His Busy First Year Following His Historic Championship Victory at Wimbledon -- Also the Year He Set Record Number of Wins at Rotterdam Open
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