Vintage glossy 3.5 x 5 deckle-edge photo of a young baseball player wearing a Repett Rangers uniform, signed and inscribed on the reverse in black ballpoint, "To Thomas, from, Cassius Clay, 1962" and "Best of Luck, Rudolph Clay," and in blue ballpoint, "Sincerely, Ezzard Charles, 1963.” Laminated and encapsulated in a plastic PSA/DNA authentication and grading holder, evaluating the autograph as "NM 7." In very good condition, with soiling to the signed side, and diagonal creasing to the corners of the image. An exceptional photograph featuring a trio of early autographs—in 1962, Clay was training for his fight against legendary veteran Archie Moore, who had formerly been Clay's trainer. On November 15, 1962, Clay knocked out Moore in four rounds.
By late 1963, Clay was the top threat to Sonny Liston's WBA and WBC titles, and on February 25, 1964, he defeated Liston via corner stoppage in the sixth round. Cassius Clay converted to Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali shortly thereafter. Rudolph Clay, who later changed his name to Rahman Ali, was the younger brother of Muhammad Ali and a heavyweight boxer who finished his career with a record of 14-3-1. Ezzard Charles, a former world heavyweight champion who finished his boxing career in 1955 with a record of 95 wins, 25 losses, and one draw, competed in memorable matches against Archie Moore, Jersey Joe Walcott, and Rocky Marciano.
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