Amazing Dick Perez Ripken Family Original Artwork Auction Win

[ironmanfan]

Every year, I volunteer at the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation "Aspire Gala" which is their big fund raising event of the year (usually raises in excess of $2 Million Dollars annually). Anyways last years event program featured on the cover a picture of the Ripken Family (Jr., Sr. & Billy) from a painting that was done by famed baseball artist, Dick Perez (of Perez-Steele Galleries fame). After the event last year, I emailed Mr. Perez and inquired if lithographs of this painting were available and he responded that unfortunately there wasn't and that he donated his original artwork to the Ripken Sr. Foundation for fundraising purposes.

I then checked with the Ripken people and was told that they yes, indeed they had the original and it would be auctioned off sometime in the future at another event.

To make a long story short, the 2012 Aspire Gala was last evening and included in their auction was indeed the original Perez painting. Even though I was a volunteer at the event, I was permitted to bid and I am pleased to announce that I now own it......The actual size is 24x24 and is stunning..(now I have to find some wall space to display it)...

The 2011 Gala Program:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k172/whhp72/Misc%20Ripken/1Gala001.jpg

The painting as it was displayed in the auction last evening:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k172/whhp72/Misc%20Ripken/baa7db54.jpg

[geoff]

Bill wow now thats a sweet looking painting.Great pickup.

[otismalibu]

Now that's a 1/1. Nice!

I emailed Dick Perez regarding his artwork below. He was very helpful and sent a 2 paragraph reply with quite a few details about the piece. How often does that happen?

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/otismalibu/th_Prism.jpg (http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/otismalibu/?action=view&current=Prism.jpg)

[frikativ54]

That's pretty cool.

-Frik

[both-teams-played-hard]

Nice painting. Also nice to hear that Perez is a thoughtful dude.

[David]

That the Ripken Foundation owned it increases it's value. Known as good provenance. Keep record of the auction

[jppopma]

Awesome pickup. Call me old school, but I still like Dick Perez paintings over all of these newer painted cards that have come out in recent years. Nice to see this painting landing right where it belongs in Ironmanfan's collection.

[ironmanfan]

Thanks for the kind comments. For comparison sake, here is the photograph that Dick Perez used for his painting:



http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k172/whhp72/Misc%20Ripken/ripkenboys.jpg

[xpress34]

Bill -

Beautiful piece...

I have to that you mentioned Perez-Steele Galleries but omitted the fact that Dick Perez is also the Official Artist of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Congrats on the pick-up!

- Smitty

[xpress34]

I need to learn how to write!

The previous post should have read:

'I know that you mentioned...'

- Smitty

[ironmanfan]

I need to learn how to write!

The previous post should have read:

'I know that you mentioned...'

- Smitty

Perez also designed the 1976 National League Centennial logo that was worn as a sleeve patch on NL uniforms that year...